Above par!

 

 

When Hubster suggested we pop up to his golf club to watch some amateurs in a competition, it was one of those situations where I thought, "ok I'll do this for you and suck it up".

Hubster is generally known for his lack of verbal detail with most things really.

We pitched up at Riversdale golf club and it is indeed extremely beautiful. Cedars, gum trees, pines and lakes teeming with birdlife.

Hubster failed to say that we were about to watch the Australian Open Amateur Golf Championship, "as what is also televised!"

It was very hot (again) today but if you are well armed here you will be ok.

Hat, umbrella for shade, sun block, water, sensible footwear.

Bobs your uncle.

We had a lovely lunch first in the clubhouse and then pootled out onto the course and followed the lead group of 4.  The cedars provided wonderful shade between holes.

My goodness these young lads were good and kept their composure in the heat too.

I tried to keep well away from the camera but I am sure Hubster got in a few shots, only because he had to get as close to the action as etiquette would allow.

He was very enthusiastic about describing his course to me, the lie of the greens, the speed, the up and down and left to right. It was lovely to see his passion for his hobby.

Well I will eat my hat. Contrary to all expectations it was a lovely way to spend an afternoon, appreciate some new up and coming young talent and all in all, an above par day I'd say.



 

Hairdryer Day

We have had consistently high temps in the 30's now for whats seems like weeks on end. Across the whole of Australia it is the hottest Summer ever recorded.

This is the Australia that many Brits relate to and certainly I know I did but it really isn't the norm. We are now in Autumn and it is unusual to be clocking up these temperatures still.

So glad I managed to swerve Hubster from cycling to lunch today, it registered 38 degrees in the car and on top of that it is a hair dryer day.

You know those days back home when they say it is 10 degrees but with the wind chill factor it actually feels like 3 degrees?

Well if you reverse that idea and factor in the hot north winds blowing south from the out back desert and all of a sudden a mid 30's becomes quite unbearable. Just like standing beneath a very hot and relentless hairdryer.

It's one of those days today.

We personally seek the aircon but not the Aussies they seek the beach.

That's when I know we are not truly acclimatised, how can they do that?

Now a beautiful lunch with pink bubbles, oysters and Barramundi and aircon whilst watching the Aussies play on the beach? Now you're talking.

A symbolic lunch at Cerberus Beach House.

A toast to absent family.

A toast to the end of a traumatic time.

A toast to Hubster's first year in the job and his year end results.

A toast for being so blessed to have the chance to live the Aussie way of life.

 

Disappointed.com

The past week has seemed like the longest and certainly one of the most fraught.

We had all been looking forward so much to the arrival of our parents in law, Ce and Tam.

We had planned and plotted for months and were very excited at showing them and sharing with them our home and our life in Melbourne.

However, it wasn't meant to be.

Everyone is gutted, no-one more than our parents I am sure.

The journey is a gruelling one, even for the fully fit. I remember being totally wasted when I first arrived here.

You cannot get over just how long that trip is - until you do it.

Mum did her very, very best, that we know but the travel proved too much. We would never want any unnecessary risk and so it was best that she get better and return home.

On the positive, Mum is out of hospital and the careful process of getting her and Dad safely back to Hay on Wye will shortly begin.

Another positive, is that no matter where your life takes you, it is always good to see a family pull together in time of crisis.

Disappointed yes but also very proud of my family T-J.

Radish says follow the 3 r's Rest, Revive and Recuperate Mum. He really is the world champion at that.

 

I cannot lie

....we really are having the most beautiful Summer down under. The like of which I had long forgotten existed.

Friday night and when Hubster came home at 7.15pm it was still 27 degrees. At 7.45 the sea was still lovely and warm and plenty of people still in it.

I had prepared a supper of tail on king prawns, homemade marie-rose (with a good dash of Worcester sauce and tobasco, thats the secret), Thai Chicken skewers and a zingy, crispy Asian salad.

I threw in a couple of tins of non-alky beer. We are having a dry run at the mo.

Picnic, blanket, wet wipes and insect repellent all packed up in my basket, loaded on the front of my bike, ready for the off....oh and camera of course

It was a top idea on such a gorgeous night and a great way for Hubster to shrug off the working week.

We were rewarded with a beautiful sunset and a great picture of the Spirit of Tasmania ferry in silhouette at sun down.

What would a trip to the beach be without a Mr Softy 99? Some things have to be done.

I cannot lie, what isn't there to love about Summer in the Bay in Melbourne?

 

How will you say it?

 

Flowers? Chocolates? Champagne? A little extra loving?

Perhaps all of the above.

I fell in love with Hubster when I was a wee sapling of 22, some 20 odd years ago. I think he has got the message by now that I love him very much. I tell him every day and he does me.

It would seem silly for us, even comical, to suddenly make a big fuss on Valentines day.

True love manifests itself in the little acts of kindness and consideration, putting yourself out or doing something with them or for them because you know it will make them happy. Even when it's not your thing, especially when it's not your thing.

Listening, properly. Reading between the lines, picking up the body language and knowing when 'Yes' really means 'No'.

All that stuff and so much more.

Sometimes we do have a glass of bubbles together but not this year. We are signed up to Feb Fast for the next 2 weeks. We are doing the "half arsed" version, that is the Aussie terminology for it not ours, see the link above!

However, this year I have said it with Cheese cos I know he loves it. Especially this kind.

I found a little deli yesterday selling 'proper' imported French cheese, rarest of the rare. Yes it was an exorbitant price for the minutest amount but I know how he loves a bit of Beaufort and an oozy, buttery Brie from Breton.

Roses are red, Brie is creamy
Beaufort is nutty and so are you! (and me!)

 

Simplicity

Chores done.

Hubster is on the golf course, so enjoying some special time with my joy, my boy.

The lawn is verdant if not a little long but its cooling on our feet under the hot sun.

The sky is just beautiful today and the temperature is perfect.

We laze in the shade together savouring the exquisite laziness of it all whilst marvelling at the artistic spider's web.

I can't take my eyes off my boy, he is an angel with a furry coat and so very wise.

I feel peaceful and cheerful and oh so very blessed.

 

Mary

Mary was quite exhausted by the time I scooped her up at the airport and it was a relief to see her arrive safe and sound.

I was quite emotional, as ever it is always the friends and family you miss the most and just the thought of seeing Mary walk through those sliding doors into the arrivals hall was making me teary.

When you have guests you become a tourist yourself once more. Doing all the touristy things you wouldn't normally do.

The pace was genteel, impossible to cover everything, so we picked a few things and did them well and it was cherished and precious time, with plenty of stops for endless chats.

So much to catch up on.

Here are some of the beautiful scenes we shared during our 5 nights together.

 

 

Can you spot me?

 

 

 

With friends over time you cross the slopes of despair, you share trodden trails paved with tears, you share anger, fear and dismay but what you truly remember is the laughter and the good times you have shared.

 

............and the love. Love is all that matters. Truly.

 

 

 

Fay ce que voudras

...in Latin means "do as you please". It is also the motto of one of my favourite places; Hambleton Hall.

We like those kind of days best.

I know I have posted about this before but our linky lonky days are very comme ci, comme ca and we go with the flow and we cherish them.

It all began with Hubster's excellent bacon & egg muffins on the barby. Eat your heart out Macca's. Hubster then had some chores to do so I went and did a session at the gym.

We set out on our bikes and the beachfront was buzzing because today is a public holiday. It was a hard ride into the wind but bracing and refreshing.

We got lost in the menu of a great tapas bar called Lost. Tapas is perfect for such days, a bit of this, a bit of that and whatever else takes your fancy.

Patatas Bravas with garlic sauce

Persian Lamb Koftas with Greek yogurt dressing and feta salad
Always the fave, salt & pepper squid with a paprika & lemon mayo

Chicken Skewers with pomegranate molasses and pistachios

The platters look huge in the photos but they were sharing/nibble size, we then settled down to some acoustic tunes in the bar.

The cycle back is always tough with a replete tummy but we found our sofa for cuddles a trois with some 20/20 cricket before slumber.

We did as we pleased.