Canooing trip through Kangaroo Valley

We have just returned from a fantastic weekend canooing through the Kangaroo Valley. The scenery was gorgeous and we were with a great crowd (Kerri, Katrin, Charles, Ellen and Greg) and all was fun. Except the first day's paddling! We had the strongest head wind imaginable and even the most frantic paddling didn't seem to help us make headway. 13 km's we rowed, against the wind, and by the time we hit camp, we were beyond exhausted and feeling very sore indeed. After a delicious meal (Ally excelled herself with a chicken and chorizo salad), we hit bed just after dark (after watching a stunning sunset.)

Then at first light, we discovered that (of all the places we could have settled), we had set up camp on a 4wd track and we woke to the thunderous roar of 4 wheel drives coming down to the river to launch their boats. But it was the most beautiful still morning without a hint of even a breath - so we were delighted and relieved.

Rowing along the crystal clear water with forests and granite rocks on each side was a wonderfully relaxed experience (without the wind) and by the time we arrived at the end of the stint, we were all ready to come back again (having forgotten the agony of the previous day.) Enjoy the photos below - they were taken with my small camera as I wasn't brave enough to bring my Cannon SLR. In retrospect, it would have been fine - there was no capsizing by anyone.

All in all, a great weekend...

Cupid

Sam as a cupid in her school concert the other night. How grown up she looks!

Steve and Colleen's new baby, Thomas

Email from Colleen

Here are a few pics of the wonderful Thomas Watson. He has brought so much joy and pleasure to our lives already and he is only 16 days old. He was born on the 9th Oct at 8.21am weighing 3.62kg (8llb). We are starting to settle into family life at home and trying to get him into a routine of feeding at the same times every day. Part of that daily routine includes a walk on Wimbledon Common, we are lucky to have the common so close to where we live. It has been great having Steve around since the birth, he is back at work on Monday so that will be the true test. We already have a few doctors appointments both for me and Tom early next week, so nothing like getting out and about straight away. It's amazing how the days pass so quicky and how they all merge into one another, between feeds and trying to catch up on a bit of sleep, there is not much time for anything else, but it's all wonderfully exhausting!

Tilt Shift Video

Charles and I met a photographer at Bondi who was using a Nikon camera with a tilt shift lens (quite specialised) and a tripod and taking one photo a second of the ocean. His name turned out to be Keith (we got talking) and it turns out he specialises in his own special form of "photo delay" videos that make Sydney look like a tiny model city. Its amazing and so original - check out the video below for an example. He's been written about recently in the Sydney Morning Herald.


Bathtub II from Keith Loutit on Vimeo.

Sculptures by the sea (Bondi)

Charles and I made an early start (7:15 am) to go to Bondi to see the sculptures. This is an annual events that always attracts multitidues of crowds. There were a lot of sculptures on display and we had a good morning out.

Life's good with a large Dutch beer in hand...

Mike gets home from Amsterdam

Here are some pictures of the grandkids as well as a big fish (pike) he caught!
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Ingrid's 40th birthday in the park

Ingrid celebrated her 40th birthday in the park outside our house. Her delicious black cherry and chocolate muffins were a highlight. As was Ally's strawberry and honeycomb icecream - made with the ice cream maker that Ingrid and Andreas gave us as a house warming gift. We look forward to sampling all kinds of ice creams with it - what a great gift to be sure.

Kittie and Sebastian - best of friends. They are so cute together...

Gratitude (2008)

King Street

• Got gazumped on Neutral Bay, so got King Street
• Buying our house when we did (before prices started to rise fast beyond our budget)
• Mum's generosity

Home life

• Getting Mack
• Andreas and Ingrid in our lives

Travel

• Uluru
• New Zealand
• Tasmania

Jo's photo collage

Jo has made a great collage of her trip to Australia. Very nice...
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Dinner party at Brendan and Eva

Shaving has its benefits

Jo's stay with us in Sydney

Well, after a wonderful 10 days, Jo has returned to South Africa. Having her to stay has been a real tonic for me and I know Ally has loved it too. She has been a bright beam of sunshine in our lives.

Highlights of her stay

• The way in which Jo navigated her own way to Manly by foot and ferry like a true Sydney pro
• A great weekend away, shopping and picnicking at Berry and munching hot doughnuts - and lazing on the white sands of Jervis Bay. Not to mention a game of Articulate where Jo amazed us with her brilliant skills in describing obscure words like "catalyst". Kerri and I were severely trounced.
• Our joint efforts in re-writing the legal affidavits for Jo's visa (a real joint effort) and the great way in which it paid off when Jo was granted her visa (in Parramatta of all places)
• Running up the stairs to catch the trains with Ally
• Shoe shopping in Parramatta
• Exploring the coves around Waverton with Ally
• A brisk and refreshing walk at Bondi beach, followed by lots of shopping and perusing at Bondi Junction
• A special day at Watson's Bay exloring the cliffs and houses, lazing on the beach (Camp Cove), walking to the lighhouse and enjoying fish and chips
• Catching our first McMahons Point bus almost to our door
• Enjoying my birthday dinner of lamb, salad and scrumptious roast potatos
• Picnicing in our park with Andreas, Ingrid and Sebastian. Poor Jo was attacked by mozzies after dark - a bit of a lowlight
• Lots of lovely cups of tea - never knew Jo loved her tea so much
• Lots of Muscato wine - delicious sweet wine that tastes like grape juice
• Walking further than I've walked before along the Manly Scenic Walk (on a swelteringly hot day), including a swim in the rock pools and lazing in the shadows of a lovely cove
• A day of house viewing in St Ives where we saw 2 nice places
• Getting to know the Sydney suburbs
• A dinner party with lots of great laughs at Eva and Brendan's.
• My mankini (can't believe Jo saw me in it!)
• Our house warming party where Jo got to meet all our friends. Her carrot cake and chocolate cake were definite winners
• Her lovely card and nougat and Xmas Koala that she left for us in her room when she left

All in all, its been a great time and we'll sorely miss Jo. We wish her a safe trip home and a happy reunion with her family.

Jo has such leaping style, you'd almost think she was a Myburgh !

Housewarming party

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Ally getting broody


Lucas loved exploring the steps
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Sebastian loves Skype
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Manly Scenic Walk

Manly Beach itself was packed
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