CUWAM: The fourth Beach of Christmas: Little Austi and a child’s first swim

29 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment

by Catch Up With A Mate in Beaches, South Coast Tags:

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The fourth beach of Christmas is a beach in my childhood home, Austinmer. Little Austi Beach, a unpatrolled strip of sand and surf nestled in between two headlands.

A beach which is perfect place for a summer dip, to float and frolic in the clear blue ocean. My Father refers to Little Austi beach as ‘ Tea Bag Beach’, for on hot summer days, as far as the eye can see are people, young and old, bobbing up and down in the water. I rather like this name and think that Dad should put this suggestion to local council.

Ah Little Austi / Tea Bag beach….you are a friend to all. Dogs roam off leash, children collect shells and swim in the rock pools, surfers catch waves that form out past the rock shelves, teenage girls soak up the sun, and in the good old days, when Headlands Hotel served ice-cold beer all summer long, locals and tourists alike sat on the hill, looking out at the sublime view that encompassed both Tea Bag and the Illawarra coastline….

Today my cousin from Victoria, his wife and baby treated us to a post-Christmas visit on their homeward journey. Tea Bag beach had been mentioned as the perfect place for their daughters first ever swim.

With most of the Illawarra beaches still closed due to dangerous surfing conditions, an alternate swimming hole was required. As luck would have it my family have been entrusted to look after a backyard swimming pool till January 2nd. And whilst it seems indulgent to bathe in a home pool with the ocean minutes away,with the beach off-limits today, it was perfect for our 8 month old visitors first ever swim.

My family felt very privileged to watch in wonder and amazement at the joy the water brought to our little guest…The backyard swimming pool was perfect, the water temperature was mild, the swimming conditions mostly calm ( except for the occasional water splash….mandatory pool behaviour!!)

And whilst it had been hoped that Little Austi/ Tea Bag Beach would provide the essential ingredients for an important milestone to be reached today, that of a child’s first swim, the beach was trumped by the humble backyard swimming pool.

Pool or beach, salt water or clorine….a swim is often just a swim, but it is the people who you share it with that add the magic and create lasting memories.

CUWAM- The Fifth beach of Christmas: Port Kembla Beach and seaside pool

28 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment

by Catch Up With A Mate in Beaches, South Coast Tags:

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Todays beach venture taught be a valuable lesson….It is best to avoid making assumptions in life.

As a child, growing up in the Northern suburbs of the Illawarra, there was little need to venture past my local beach, Austinmer,  for a swim. Why get in the car and drive miles when you can walk to the ocean in a matter of minutes?

While that philosophy has been in operation almost every time I have returned home to the South Coast,  my 12 Beaches fo Christmas ode, has forced me to travel further afield.This Austinmer local has travelled to beaches South of Wollongong, to destinations better known for it steel works plant, soot and smog.

Christmas catch ups with my London friends Jo and Yo, it town for the silly season, meant that I did not venture South till almost 2pm. Abandoning plans to explore the seaside town of Kiama, I took a left hand turn on the freeway at the  Port Kembla exit and never looked back.

Not certain of the direction I was heading I entered what must have once been the bustling Port Kembla high street. It was all but a ghost town. Shop fronts were boarded up, tumble weeds blew down the streets, business for sale.  I counted 3 pubs on the main drag, on a street deserted of people. I took this as a sign that Port Kembla has once been a  thriving commercial area….The steel works providing hundreds of jobs, pouring money into the local economy, enabling the beer taps to flow…

Times have changed, and with it the town has suffered, it looks sad and tired….but the sea is its saving grace.

Port Kembla Beach and Pool is simply stunning….an oasis in a town that is in need of a bit of cheering up. The Olympic sized pool is newly renovated, and also contains two wading pools for little children. The well manicured lawns are tiered and provide great ledges from which sunbathers can take in views of both the pool and ocean.

I ate well priced fish and chips for the pool’s kiosk and then took a walk to the beach.

Getting back in my car, I continued on to another prime swimming and fishing spot in Port Kembla, Hill 60. The view from the Hill was divine, had the council had not chosen to instil a waste management site nearby, I would give the place a bigger write-up!!

I learnt a valuable lesson today, that making assumptions about places,  means that you miss out on the joy of discovering things for yourself, coming to your own opinion. Port Kembla is not only part of the steel city that is Wollongong, but a breathtakingly beautiful seaside town….I would encourage everyone with a bit of time to discover the suburbs charm for yourself.

CUWAM: The Sixth Beach of Christmas: Coledale Beach and Camp Ground

27 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment

by Catch Up With A Mate in Beaches, South Coast Tags:

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Coledale Beach and Camping Reserve

King tides have closed the majority of beaches along the South Coast…For those who have packed up everything from the kitchen sink to the Christmas tree, and unpacked it at Coledale Beach and =Camp Reserve, things are looking pretty bleak.

There must be around 200 people in around 50 tents camping over the Christmas/ New Year period. A picturesque beach side camp ground, it is one of the few spots in the Illawarra that allows you to set up camp a stones throw from the ocean.

At this time of year it is a site to behold….Grumbling about the weather and lack of excitement at the Wollongong Boxing Day sales that I ventured to this morning, my father told me to go ‘cruising’??!! By that he meant, cruising for some beach front inspiration. I had asked my father for guidance as the lack of sunshine and heat was hindering my spirits and ability to tackle the task at hand: the half way mark in my beach odes.

‘Head up to Coledale’, suggested my Dad ‘ It will be packed’

And that is was….. On arrival I entered a temporary village, a make shift town of tents, caravans and campervans. Clothes lines were erected between pine trees, surf boards were being used as card tables, people were walking about, eating left over fruit cake from Christmas lunch,  merrily drinking beer whilst kids sat beach side eating soft serve ice-cream cones.

The place even seemed to have it own code of conduct. It soon became clear that you had to say hello to everyone you walked passed…a genuine hello, you had to say it like you meant it….I kind of liked that!

Despite the jovial mood of the camping reserve, the ocean was not in a good mood. Large waves broke on the shore line, the sea was grey and angry….Life savers sat on the sand watching the fury of the sea, their presence a gentle reminder that the water was a no go zone.

With the water the focal point of any beach outing there was an amazing amount of activity at Coledale this afternoon…but then I guess if you have set up camp and you are in it for the long haul ( ie NYE) you have to make the most of a beach side holiday…regardless of the lack of sun and angry surf.

So I witnessed other seaside pass times this afternoon: photography, sand castle making, ice cream eating, picnicking, gossiping, pondering, beer drinking and general all round relaxing.

And yes, despite my initial hesitation to abandon ship and stay indoors today, I am glad I ventured to Coledale Beach and Camping Reserve…a hive of activity on an otherwise average summer day.

CUWAM: The Seventh Beach of Christmas: McCauleys Beach

25 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment

by Catch Up With A Mate in Beaches, South Coast Tags:

This post is dedicated to my beautiful Uncle who passed away yesterday. A  man who had life’s priorities in the right order: family and friends always come first. My Uncle was also a passionate writer, so the written word seems a fitting way to pay tribute to a life well lived.

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Christmas day, you arrived and brought summer with you!! That in itself if the best present one could ask for. A beach Christmas, thank you Santa!!

It is 5pm in the evening and I have had two oceans swims. Whilst I sit a recall my first seaside dip I am contemplating a third in a backyard swimming pool….

Over sparkling Shiraz, Christmas Ham and hot English mustard sandwiches, and the eve of St Nick’s arrival, my childhood friend Steph and I devised a plan to squeeze in an early morning swim the following morning. Steph’s schedule was packed, a brunch, a lunch and then a three course dinner!! Me on the other hand only had a lunch to contend with.

The lucky beach we picked for our Chrissie dip: McCauleys beach Thirroul. My love affair with Mc Cauleys beach has been ongoing since the early 1990′s, when Steph’s parents brought a two bedroom cottage one street away from the beach.

From that point on my summer swims were often at McCauleys, a unpatroled beach just south of the ever popular Thirroul Beach and pool. On hot summer days, Steph, her sister Alison and I would see dense crowds at Thirroul beach from the quiet and calm of McCauleys and feel ever so smug!

At the prearranged time of 8.30am Chirstmas morning, Steph, her Mum and Dad, pooches Carlos and Chelsea and I headed on foot in the direction of the water. On arriving at the beach, we quickly set up camp. Steph and her Dad headed to the water first, whilst Steph’s Mum and I did dog sitting duties. Ten minutes later it was Anna, Steph’s Mum and my turn for some McCauleys action. The water was warm, frothy waves broke over our heads, and we dived and ducked beneath them.

It was a glorious way to start Christmas Day 2011, for that matter, any day….Bathing in the ocean, natures own water park, offering cooling relief, restoring energy, providing clarity.

All too soon the Christmas schedule kicked in, the brunches, lunches and dinners…..But what would Christmas be without them!!

So three cheers for Christmas 2011 and the early morning swim at McCauleys…a swim that took place at a beach rich in family and friendship history. Thank goodness for local knowledge and thank goodness for life long friendships….the perfect ingedients for celebrating.

Merry Christmas everyone!!

CUWAM: The tenth beach of Christmas: Coal Cliff Rock Pool

21 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment

by Catch Up With A Mate in Beaches, South Coast Tags:

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Again I have to confess that whilst we are well and truly into the summer season, with St Nick arriving in 5 sleeps…. whilst this is the third beach in the Chrissie cronicle…I have yet to take a dip in the water….but…it…will…happen..

But I fear my beach ode’s may suffer as a result of remaining dry and my writing may fail to capture the true joy that a swim in the sea evokes…But the end is in sight!!

Today I am submitting this post in my home town of Austinmer, at the parental home. I have driven down South today to catch up this evening with some wonderful girlfriends for a meal and a few drinks. I am staying the night, and in my overnight bag, I went all out…for a I packed my swimmers, sun cream and beach towel…for tomorrow, I believe, might be the day of days to finally get amongst some seaside action!

But back to today, before leaving Sydney, I committed to the idea of taking the Coast Road home, for one simple reason, it would take me to the sea. So leaving the Princess Highway, I took the Helensburgh turnoff, and embarked upon a piece of road that would take me from mountain to sea.

My destination of choice was Coal Cliff rock pool and beach. I glanced out at Stanwell Park Beach…and tough tempted by it the surf and sand, I had a predetermined date with a coastal hidden treasure.

As a young girl I have vague memories of swimming at the Coal Cliff rock  pool…of getting c into my swimmers in the change rooms, and being surrounded by numerous old ladies…all doing the same thing, their large naked bodies shaking as they heaved and hoisted themselves into their swimming trunks….As I took the path down to the rock pool today, this memory came flooding back…..But to be  completing honest, it was probably only one old naked lady that day in the change shed. but when you are young, and possess a vivid imagination…anything is possible!!

Coal Cliff rock pool, a hidden gem, one of many along the northern parts of the Illawarra / South Coast Region..To bask in its beauty you need to leave the main road, taking a sharp left, to enter into a sleepy residential street full of big homes, which prevent the beach seeker from seeing the pool and sea…But it is there, it is well signed, and once you visit this place once…like an old friend…you will be back to see her!

It must have been 20 years since I have visited Coal Cliff rock pool…but in an instant I was taken back to my childhood, of fun times in the sun ( with old naked women!!) Whilst today’s visit was short and I was there to merely reacquaint myself with the place…it definelty has a hold on me… I ache to go back…Lucky I packed my swimmers in my over night bag…..

CUWAM- Coming full circle

21 Nov 2011 Leave a Comment

by Catch Up With A Mate in South Coast Tags:

An ordinary week in for an ordinary girl living an ordinary life.

Gym sessions in Kings Cross, a night out in Darlinghurst to see a play at the Tap Theatre ( it should be called the Tapped Theatre….is was a very ODD production), lunch with family, drinks with friends, shopping for underwear in Target, cups of coffee in Clovelly, grooming a cat whose winter coat must have been of such exceptional quality that there is enough loose fur to knit a matching scarf, hat and gloves for next season….Life as only I know it….

And a weekend road trip to the South Coast…leaving home at 7am, with Flora the cat in her car capsule, a seasoned traveller who only meowed a few times on the journey ( and I think it was more a meow in protest of my attempts to sing along to Washington’s fantastic cd ‘ I believe you Liar…a cd still on high rotation)

Off loading Flora and a load of dirty clothes to the parental home in Austinmer, I headed further South, a good 45 minute drive to Shellharbour, were I treated myself to a cut and colour at D’Luxe Hair and Beauty….A cup of coffee, a chance to catch up on magazine gossip ( Kim Kardarshians 72 day marriage it OVAH screamed every glossy cover) , and local salon gossip,  I chimed in on chatter about all things beauty, Hilary Duff and her baby bump, fashion tips and fake tans….I emerged from the salon a new women, a smattering of golden highlights and a freshly cut mane…thank you D’Luxe ladies….

A afternoon spent admiring the delightful baby DPA….who’s Mum and Dad looked a little worse for wear, with little DPA desiring little sleep between the midnight hours…But while my friend Kate and I were in his company that afternoon, DPA slept soundly in his little cot,and though his song choice to sleep was slightly worrying ie Michael Jackson, ‘ Man in the Mirror’,  Mum Alison was as proud as punch that MJ was able to sooth her son to sleep.

An evening meal at my favourite cafe, Fireworks , on Moore Street, Austinmer…..Dining with Mum and Dad, we devoured sumptuous meals of trout and sorrel sauce ( a green leaf used in soups and sauces..with a taste similar to kiwi fruit and or sour wild strawberries…who knew…it sounds a bit Willy Wonker to me!!), pan friend chicken with kipfler potatoes and octopus salad with chilli, mint, pomegranate and labneh….Dessert was just as heavenly…Portions of Lime and ginger cheesecake and Pineapple and coconut cake….And whilst my Mother declared she wanted to savour the taste of her main meal, for the sorrel sauce was to die for, when desert hit the table, I know Mum was secretly glad that the waitress had provided her with a spoon so she could sample both dishes…

Fireworks Cafe, Moore Street, Austinmer

Sunday was a day of general relaxation, a swim in the ocean at Little Austi beach, a quick trip down to the Thirroul High Street for some lunch time shopping, and afternoon sunning session with Flora, where I was able to collect more fur for next seasons garmets…..A afternoon storm started to clear as my wonderful friends Jess and Wade, with Ms Mae in tow arrived at the homestead. Ms Mae soon f0und herself surrounded by 5 ‘big people’ , eyes glued on the precious little bundle of joy,  who was flexing her legs and arm strength and showing us her new crawling skills….

And then to ‘ The Bar Next Door to Samuel’s’ in Thirroul, to celebrate the 30th birthday of true blue local Adam….After downing two vodka lemon and limes, Jess, Wade, Mae and I high tailed in to another truly local Thirroul establishment, Mars Cafe…Chinese Restaurtant Emporium…..Meals Are Really Satisfying….For vegetable chop suey, Mongolian chicken, dim sums, spring rolls and boiled rice….One knows not to expect the world from Mars cuisine…but one will ALWAYS be satisfied and look forward with eager eyes and salivating mouth to the next encounter with this Thirroul staple…

Dinner was devoured, conversation flowed and Mae crawled and crawled and crawled…..We parted ways at 7pm, and I packed the car, put Flora back in her capsule and drove home along the coast road, joining the Princess Highway, Sydney bound….

And I am back at my desk, it is Monday, I write in my lunch break…I have come full circle, and I took Flora the cat along for the ride….and what a ride it was….

CUWAM- Earth Bound and Aware

16 Oct 2011 2 Comments

by Catch Up With A Mate in South Coast, Sydney : Home Sweet Home Tags:

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It is hard to come down to earth  when you have spent the last 4.5 weeks gallivanting in Paris, parts of Denmark, the United Kingdom and the U. S of A….but a trip to my home town, the Gong aka Wollongong, was the perfect way, the only way to return to ground level….to street level anyway (in all honestly it threatened to put me 6 feet under )

Reality you are no friend of mine….

I am on struggle street….struggling to embrace the life I left only one month ago, the lifestyle I loved and the city I called home…Travel has a funny way of doing…A way of turning everything on its head…a way of making you question your life choices, your perceived happiness…question the bus route you take to work and the job you do day in and day out….

The desire to lodge a green card application has never before entered my mind, but I have spent a good part of each day since returning to OZ fantasising about getting Flora the cat a passport and relocating to NYC, so I can be closer to Wholefood Supermarket, the High Line Park and the atrocious Starbucks Coffee houses….

Yet, for better or worse, I am a realist….I understand that the lifestyle I lead whilst overseas was above and beyond that of a normal everyday routine…If I was to relocate to London for example, I could not afford to live by the Thames River in Canary Wharf as do my friend Jo and Yo….My weekend would not be filled with movie screenings in private bars, charity function dinners in Mayfair…If I was to relocate to the Big Apple, I could not afford to swan about, eating cakes and sipping lattes in Soho…chances are I would be serving them!!

Reality you are no friend on mine…Fo my travels now seem but dream….and I am left questioning if it ever happened at all…But travel, you have made me realise how incredibly lucky I am to have had the month of September spent in far-flung places, global hotspots with great friends, fabulous weather and mouth-watering cuisine.

And the crash back to earth, back to work and to routine…..onlycements the belief …I am one lucky girl, for the month of September, the shared experiences, the laughter and the tall tales, will forever be in my memory ( till alzheimers strikes anyway!!)…and that is the beauty of travel…though the adventure may be over…the memories stay with you, become part of your day-to-day and help to shape the type of person you are, person you want to be…curious, inquisitive…a dreamer…

And with a huge thud, the crash landing occured…the return to work, and the ho-hum, high ho 9-5 daily grind…made only slightly more bearable by a morning coffee from my friendly local cafe…Parc cafe…the silent barista not so silent anymore…whilst away, I had sent a postcard, ‘Greeting from Brooklyn’…and it paid off….My Monday morning coffee was delivered with a huge grin ‘Welcome back to Australia…Have a nice day’….Damm the silent barista…Did he really have to talk??..

But by 9.02am..the effects of coffee had worn off, and I was faced with the horrific task of surviving another 7 hours and 58 minutes…desk bound, staring mindlessly at the computer screen, air of some condition being pumped into office cubicles,  surrounded by colleagues who looked as though they could all do with a holiday…there was nothing else I could do but pray….’Dear God…please end this nightmare!’

Not being religious, I did not expect a response and none was given…. dazed and confused, probably still jet lagged and always underwhelmed, minutes rolled into hours, hours into days.

Colleagues took me out to lunch for dumplings, a lunch date at the Opera House complete with beverages, picnics in the park….During the evening I went to the Cinema, and to the Hyde Park Night Noodle markets and outdoor art exhibition ‘Art and About’….and still I felt detached, uninterested even….from the city of Sydney, from myself….

And to the weekend….an early morning departure, with Flora in her travelling capsule…Gong bound for some birthday action of my dear friend Rebecca….A birthday party at the German Club in Port Kembla….celebrating Octoberfest…W0llongong style…..And my crash landing was complete…

Driving to a beer drinking festival is not normally a good idea, but at this particular event, I was happy with my descision…At this particular event the attitude appeared to be drink hard or not at all…Well, I went against the grain and drank in moderation….preferring to spend an entire 5 hours locked in conversation with one person…my friend Jess….It had been 5 weeks since we had talked…really talked……this converstaion was epic…and included almost every topic known to man….martial status…..salt content of food….ear lobes….and whilst the conversation went on and on and on….and a strange feeling came over me….contentment……I was glad to be back…..I finally felt grounded.

And to herald such a feeling, the sun came out..finally…a day of warm weather….Sunshine where the hell have you been this past week?

The much awaited catch up with my brother and his beautiful bride to be….the ring…ah the ring…..Wow wee…A Sunday breakfast date at Fireworks Cafe , Moore Street, Austinmer, possibly my most favourite cafe in the WHOLE world…with travel nomad Brendan Lee, Michael and Tennelle….another special moment….Over coffee, fresh juice and big breakfasts I guess I started to feel at home, but at home more so with those with whose company I shared….location seemed to be irrelevant…xx

And as I brace myself for the drive back to the city….the thought of another working week creeps into my mind… I have come down to earth with a thud…but slowly but surely I will pick myself up….

Steering my mind toward the happy memories of the weekend down south…..the 6.30am garden session with Flora, picking strawberries and mulberries from my parents garden…Rebecca,the birthday girl, enjoying the sun, the beer and the company of her many friends, time with Jess, her partner Wade and the divine Ms Mae…conversation with the loved up Michael and Tennelle….

Enough to get me through another week? Who can say…but it is all that I have…That my current dream of winning the green card lottery, relocating to Manhattan Island, hand in hand with Johnny Depp and Flora….

CUWAM……Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho…It’s off to work we go…..

01 Aug 2011 1 Comment

by Catch Up With A Mate in South Coast, Sydney : Home Sweet Home

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Is it cheating to start writing a summary of the week before the week even officially ends? Am I counting the eggs before they hatch? Am I assuming people are actually reading or tuning in to this blog? Is Saturday the new Sunday? Oh the questions that haunt the mind of those in their early 30′s…..

Writing the start of this CUWAM week summary on Saturday and from 3pm this afternoon, I have 5 catch ups planned, which will this prevent the usual lazy Sunday summary of the week that was….It would be cheating to summarise events with friends that have not actually happened, and that will not be tolerated on this page…but I can honestly report on the last 5.5 days…and basically they sucked….

Work….Work….Work….Long hours of non stop administration, student pastoral care, presentations, consultations, mediations, I was the 7-11 of the of student exchange this week….And I am glad that it is all over… For it was the week I reverted to behaviour last seen during my teenage years, so many moons ago, when I was prone to eat breakfast, many meals in my bedroom, and place the dirty dishes under my bed….And my parents would be forced to open my bedroom door, the smell of rotting food no longer able to be ignored ( not me….the smell of my dirtywashing repulsed me more, but in typical teenage fashion, I tolerated it!!)

And this week in the office, that unpleasant teenage behaviour reared its ugly head, for I ate at my desk every work day, the meal of choice was soup, whatever could be heated and eaten quickly….And by Friday 5.10pm I was faced with the task of washing up 5 bowls, 1 plate, 5 spoons and one vegetable peeler….I congratulate myself for washing up my eclectic mix of kitchen items, for had I been 15 years of age, those items would not have hit the detergent till they were no longer visually recognisable as eating apparatus!!

Heigh Ho…..For those under time pressure, fast foward to about 1minute 15 secs to get the Heigh Ho effect!!

Ah, the joys of intense spurts of office work…But with it the sense of satisfaction that comes for a job well done, the hug from a student genuinely happy to be in Sydney for a year-long exchange, the phone calls and emails of thanks for the effort it took to get a student through the French administration process…the change in confidence level of the shy 2nd year engineering student who spent a year in London at one of the worlds best Universities ( and the weight gain from a year of English student food and pints!!)

The meeting with the academic from Bristol, her excitement at being in Australia for the first time, mixed with the intense sadness that only months earlier, her husband has passed away…Over a coffee and a stroll, we talked about University administration and the important things, love, life and personal happiness….

After work beers, one gym session, quiet evenings indoors with Flora, my little princess with the crystal kitty litter ( gift from parentals last week….actually a big hit in the toiletries department)

Midweek anxiety at the loss of the weekly tv ‘ Offpring’ from free to air tv, what to do with my Wednesday nights now? Get a life….No way….Tune in earlier to the box and watch Dr Chris on Bondi Vet….The most angular jawed and sensitive male on tv are ask? A man able to be reduced to tears when a python snake looks like he won’t make it through surgery…The kind of man we need more of…..

Which brings me to mid-week anxiety of another type…My friend Suzanne barrage of texts, detailing a local Hornsby’s cats attempts to take up residence with this wonder woman. Suz was clear to point out via text that this was indeed a real animal, not imaginary, and it was quote ‘ reaching out to her’ and as a result ‘ heart-strings were being pulled’….Suz wanted Flora, my feline’s opinion on what it is like involved in ‘ cat smuggling’…as Flora came to be under dubious circumstances ( more on that later, after Flora and I have relocated to Dubai) While Flora is yet to response ( such a slow letter writer) and have emailed Dr Chris, and I am expecting advice that will induce tears….

And that was Monday to Friday…..Saturday, I was treated to a visit from Steph and her canine children Chelsea and Carlos….A stroll around Centennial Park in the blissful winter sun, coffee and catch ups, photos and territorial markings…a lovely way to welcome the start of the weekend.

And I know write in retrospect for all that was Saturday afternoon and Sunday….An epic catch up with mates session in numerous South Coast suburbs…Dinner with Jess, Wade and Mae in Berkeley ( Bezerkeley) for a fantastic roast and the all important accompaniments Malteses, Smith Chicken Chips and Coca Cola…..Then an evening on the couch watching Australia’s Next Top something with Megan Gale…I think Jess and I amazed even ourselves at how critical we both became…the bitchy comments took to the air as we mouthed off about all things ‘ fashion’…..

Sunday morning, cuddles with the South Coasts most splendid baby, Mae Bremner…..a breakfast date at the Lee and Me, with Jess and Rebecca Wearne ( aka Crowe)….followed by another cafe  catch up at Fontana cafe, when the pressure from Sunday diners became too much and we gave up our current table and relocated three doors down…..

A baby shower  and catch up with friends past and present…..Ms Leonie glowed, and I was reacquainted with girls I had last seen out during the Wollongong club scene days ( was there EVER a scene I ask)….Catch ups 10 years in the making, quite a lot to discuss whilst we basked in the afternoon sun and commented in unison at how good Leonie looked….Not long to go till the bub arrives….

Feeling the pressure to continue on the path of friendship, I made a pit stop at Helensburgh Bi-Lo, so that I would not arrive empty-handed at the home of Andrew and Alison, H-burgh’s finest residents, home maker renovator extraordinaires, and soon to be family of three…Exciting times!! Over homus, crackers and cups of tea we caught up on the past couple of months and laughed, sighed and lamented and the trails and tribulations of life in general….I sighed the loudest as I had run out gas….My commitment to an evening meal with A and A had waivered…and I desired to be home with Flora, on my coach / bed, and giving my self a chance to recharge ever so briefly before I propelled myself into the Monday to Friday abyss of data entry….

So I hit the highway in my Hyundai Getz, tears welled in my eyes as I left behind the wafts of a meal of Lamb shanks and roast vegetables…..for I knew were I was heading….Home to Flora and a meal of reheated cauliflower and rice….and beyond that was work………..Heigh Ho Heigh Ho………..

CUWAM- Baby you can drive my car

17 Jul 2011 2 Comments

by Catch Up With A Mate in South Coast, Sydney : Home Sweet Home

Another week ends, and time for self reflection…A rather painful task when on reflection you realise that not much was achieved over the last 7 days..a couple of hissy fits, endless emailing, strong coffees and a stale sandwich or two for good measure!

The highlight of the week that was the 11-17th of July was driving my Hyundai Getz too and from work…Oh the luxury of removing oneself from the daily grind that is the Sydney public transport system…Sitting next to commuters who look just as upset as you that the majority of the day will be spent in a sterile, white-walled office block, illuminated by fluorescent lighting, with a group of people they would struggle to hold a conversation with in ‘ real life’…oh the plight of the modern-day office worker….This was all avoided by driving to work, singing along to David Guetta feat. Kelly Rowlands ‘ When Love Takes over’, cruising at a leisurely pace, and eventually finding a park on Vine Street, Darlington…casually strolling to Cafe Ella for a large cappuchino….and then begrudgingly heading off in the vague direction of work.

I completed the same ritual of driving, vehicle karaoke and coffee slurping from Monday to Friday…..And as a result, My days in the office speed by from 9am-1pm and the coffee at Ella affected me on many levels…for a start I am convinced each coffee is injected with three shots of caffeine, far more than I am used too…So mornings speed by, conversations with colleagues and students sprung from my mouth faster than my brain could actually formulate meaning..new words were invented such as ‘Ha-stounding’ ( a word uttered when trying to describe something as astounding??!!)…It was both awkward and fun at the same time…

And each day at approximately 1pm I would collapse, the caffeine would wear off and I would search for anything that could give me a little buzz…Alcholic hand sanitizer, glucose riddled jelly beans, tim tams….These were indeed tough times…I turned to Youtube and data entry to counter balance my sudden mood shifts and apologised to work mates who had to deal with my ever erratic outbursts!

The week that was, Kenny Lowe, the Zen master, returned to the office after an 11 month sabbatical at the Sydney Business School. I was happy to see him back in our team, as he brought with him an endearing attitude that is so welcome in any modern workplace….’ It doesn’t matter’….

There was a picnic in Victoria Park with the glorious April Morley, and the exchange of half a packet of Arnotts Mint Slices for a bag of home-grown lemons….A tennis match with work mates and an evening meal at the Royal Hotel Darlington…a $9 steak meal and a glass of house red….perfect way to end a work day….Gym sessions at Fitness First followed by nightly grazing sessions on the previous weeks Wollworths special…the humble Tim Tam.

A mid-week highlight was a very special meal at ‘ The Nourishing Quarter’ with the divine Fernanda and Ms JK. Though JK and I still were suffering from a bit of post traumatic Melbourne stress, the pesticide and chemical free, organic and entirely vegan meal, restored our fragmented sense of self….Pure heaven…as was the comment of the ‘ Nourishing Quarter’s head chef as we paid the bill, ‘ Only models and athletes have been eating here!’…’ Say that again’ I begged…Ah the Nourishing Quater….a definite place for both inner and outer replinsihment…Get oneself to this Surry Hills hot spot asap…

And then onto NIDA ( National Institute of Dramatic Arts) were Ms Melle Stewart ( wife of Phantom Ben Lewis) was performing in the play Tick Tick Boom…Melle, the consummate performer, was wonderful…A real treat to see live, her voice, amazing,….JK, Fernanda and I sat mesmerised by this women that yes, we had all done data entry with!!

A quick Friday lunch catch up with a couple still basking in wedded bliss, Bec and Mike Trimmer. A 12 noon lunch time catch up in Newtown, we reminisced about their February Wedding and the joy surrounded that day, their decision to leave Sydney and set up house in Adelaide with staffy Cooper and cat Meeko…Love you guys.

And now I have blogged myself up to the weekend, Saturday, an early morning drive down South, and I launched an early morning visit on friends Phillippa and Gordon. With present in hand to present to their daughter Phoebe, who had just turned one, we all marvelled at Phoebe’s attempt to walk and new habit of hugging her toys. At Gordon’s request I stayed to watch the side-show that is Phoebe attempts at feeding herself breakfast…A wonderous sight!! Phoebe shovelled mushy weetbix and sultanas in the general direction of her tiny mouth, then moved onto juicing mandarins segments with her two front teeth and discarding the fruits flesh on the floor…Unsure if I needed any further entertainment after the feeding session, I decided to continue along my set path and, after happy goodbyes, I headed to Shellharbour.

D’Luxe Hairdressing Salon for a two hour make over with my friend Jess in tow…..Whilst I was thrilled with my new and colour, Jess took some convincing to embrace her new purple highlights, complete with red tips ( just joking..Jess perfect red ringlets remained intact, just graced with a warm brown rinse)

D’Luxe Hairdressing salon is run by my brother’s girlfriend Tennelle and her sister Sharna….It is a magical place, where hair dreams can come true….thank you for taking on my no frills approach to hair colours and cutting and introducing me to the GHD, hair tinting and foils…amazing!!

Hairdresser’s Extraordinaire…the lovely girls at D’Luxe Hair and Beauty, Shellharbour

And to lunch by the sea in Shellharbour with Jess and our friend Rebecca Wearne ( formally Crowe), conversation about love and life, trials and tribulations, a takeaway piece of pineapple cheesecake and then cuddles with Mae in the suburb of Flinders.

Sunday, a day of rest, a sleep in and then a catch up with a friend who has been part of my life since I was a mere 8 years old, Ms Rhonda Pietrini ( welcome to my blog)…Rhonda and I meet when we were thrown together at the Anglican Youth Group for girls, GFS ( Girls Friendly Society…enough said) Years of therapy have helped this good Catholic girls come to terms with the devils work that was GFS, but out of the rubble, Rhonda and my friendship remains…..And I love her dearly…A great friend, and I will thank the god of any religion fo her in my life!

Coffee and cake with Rhonda, followed by a short stroll to Fox studio markets, Moore Park. Meandering around, stopping my the petting zoo ( and secretly wishing Rhonda’s 1-year-old, Harry was with us so that I could justify cooing over the lamb’s and rabbits)

An aside, I spotted the silent barista at Fox Studio’s, with his be-speckled girlfriend, who happens to be…his wife!! The silent barista does not wear his wedding ring to work, but in the midday sun, his wedding band shone …and I merely smiled. He had a coffee in his hand, and I wondered…’ Who would make a coffee good enough for you’…I was left with that thought for sometime….

And with Flora on my lap, my little portable hot water bottle, I look with a fresh eye to the week ahead, bring it on I say, Que Sera Sera….

Vehicle Karaoke song of choice…..

The Nourishing Quater, Surry Hills…restore your inner Zen….

CUWAM….A street party in a bowling club and cuddles with Mae

27 Jun 2011 Leave a Comment

by Catch Up With A Mate in South Coast

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Sunday, Sunday ,Sunday….Tomorrow will be Monday, Monday, Monday…So aim was to make the most of the day!!

A sleep in, early morning gym session and then short stroll to my local cafe, Parc, on Clovelly Road for the mid morning kick start….And then behind the wheel, and beginning the journey south for a street party farewell being held, not in a street, but a bowling club.

My good friend Colleen, mother of two, friend to many, after 25 years residing in Asquith Street, Austinmer, was selling up and moving to the far South Coast,  to Calalla Bay to be prescise…I have found memories of Calalla Bay as a child, and family holidays spent in a fibro shack on a large block of land that was directly opposite the bay…the sand and surf seeped inside our small cottage, we transported it there in our swimmers and beach towels…

A favourite memory of Calalla was being barely 5, and reminding my parents that it was my brother’s birthday, he would be turning 2 and there were no gifts, no cake and not even the faint suggestion of celebration in the air…And then the mad dash to Nowra Fair Shopping Centre to buy what ever gift would suffice…..from memory a Fisher Price Helicopter was purchased…I don’t think my brother had any idea what the commotion was all about…

Well Colleen was moving to Calalla and her children, friends and neighbours had gathered at Thirroul Bowling club to farewell the great lady….Colleen will be sadly missed, the street not the same…but Calalla should be advised that they are inheriting one of Austinmer’s finest, and her new four bedroom home, ensures that many of those who celebrated with her yesterday will be eager pay her a visit!!

And then onto Berkeley ( or Bezerkely as my friend Jess prefers to refer to her home town) to hand over the little red coat to its rightful owner, Mae Patricia Bremner…what a cutie pie! The coat could not be going to a more deserving owner, for someone who is that beautiful deserves beautiful things….Cuddles with Mae and an afternoon of fine delights…Chicken Twisites, Peanut M & M’s and Coca Cola….Devine….A couple of cheese  Twisties would compliment such a spread, but it would be inappropriate to be critical of the shortcoming of the hosts!!..Thank you Jess, Wade and Mae for your company…it cannot be beaten and I love spending time with you.

And homeward bound…..a quick dinner snack and a quick status update on facebook declaring to the world that my hope to awake tomorrow to a day not called Monday….One can only live in hope, without hope you have nothing!!

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