Marguerite
Active Member
Happy Australia Day, everyone!
We had a wonderful day today. I'm still recovering from yesterday's exhaustion and missing my medications, so I took it easy. At the zoo I had a good look around at the wonderful improvements to the place - it's looking fabulous. They have Tasmanian Devils now - very privileged, because there's still strict controls on moving these animals around Australia, due to deep concerns about risks to the species with the contagious face cancer. The crocs - they're Freshwater crocodiles, an Aussie-only species. On the website there's a photo of the lace monitors (flamin' big goannas) - we saw a 2 metre one two days ago, eating a dead wallaby by the side of the road. When we drove past at sunrise next morning the wallaby was gone.
Symbio has tiny marmosets now, too - so adorable! And lots of roos and wallabies to hand-feed.
http://www.symbiowildlife.com/
After a look at everything I headed for the swimming pool area and cooled off. difficult child 3 came and joined me for a while, before we left for Stanwell Park and our "best hamburger on the south coast". difficult child 3 actually wanted a second one - I don't know where he put the first. But it had filled him up enough to wait for a few hours.
We drove further south across the wonderful, new Seacliff Bridge - the road there was one of those "falling rocks do not stop" places (yeah, we KNOW falling rocks don't stop, they just keep going) where the road finally collapsed into the sea three years ago. In the time it took to build a replacement, the area suffered from the isolation and loss of through business. But the new bridge still follows the curves of the cliffs but stands a little out to sea, it's now a tourist attraction. It's beautiful, it's white, it curves around three cliffs and bays and you can see the ocean underneath. There is a tourist walk and gardens alongside (on the sea side) and you can still see the impressive cliffs close on the land side.
Then we drove further south to the trains - they had a holiday members only day, we dropped in to cut a small cake for difficult child 3 and give him a train ride. A small steam engine pulled in and we all got on it. difficult child 3 then headed up to the loading bay to help unload some more miniature steam trains, then, to his delight - he got to drive a train! husband sat behind him to keep him safe, but difficult child 3 concentrated on getting it right and drove two entire loops of the track. A very happy boy!
On the way back we drove past a lot of street parties. People were picnicking in their front gardens or on the footpaths, where anybody passing by would be invited to share a drink or a snack. People drove past cheering any flying flags and it was fun. We met some people returning from fun in Sydney - one day we'll have to do Australia Day in the heart of the city again. Maybe it's like 4 July, but more relaxed, less formal. Instead of being like a brass band street parade, this is more like a huge family backyard party.
We bought some fish on the way back, and prawns (giant shrimp) so we're having a seafood dinner. husband is cooking, but I'd better head kitchen-ward and make some salad. difficult child 3 got a second burger, with a huge serve of hot chips (fries, only bigger, thicker and fatter). Somehow he's eaten the lot and is heading for the bath.
I've still got some work to do tonight and some shopping tomorrow with easy child, her boyfriend and difficult child 3.
I love days like this - hot summer sun searing down, but a cool ocean breeze to take out the sting. And maybe the promise of a small cloudburst later in the night, so I don't have to water my garden!
Enjoy your Friday, everyone. Have a Vegemite sanger (sandwich) on us! (just make sure you spread it as thin as possible - it's not meant to be thick like jam)
Marg
We had a wonderful day today. I'm still recovering from yesterday's exhaustion and missing my medications, so I took it easy. At the zoo I had a good look around at the wonderful improvements to the place - it's looking fabulous. They have Tasmanian Devils now - very privileged, because there's still strict controls on moving these animals around Australia, due to deep concerns about risks to the species with the contagious face cancer. The crocs - they're Freshwater crocodiles, an Aussie-only species. On the website there's a photo of the lace monitors (flamin' big goannas) - we saw a 2 metre one two days ago, eating a dead wallaby by the side of the road. When we drove past at sunrise next morning the wallaby was gone.
Symbio has tiny marmosets now, too - so adorable! And lots of roos and wallabies to hand-feed.
http://www.symbiowildlife.com/
After a look at everything I headed for the swimming pool area and cooled off. difficult child 3 came and joined me for a while, before we left for Stanwell Park and our "best hamburger on the south coast". difficult child 3 actually wanted a second one - I don't know where he put the first. But it had filled him up enough to wait for a few hours.
We drove further south across the wonderful, new Seacliff Bridge - the road there was one of those "falling rocks do not stop" places (yeah, we KNOW falling rocks don't stop, they just keep going) where the road finally collapsed into the sea three years ago. In the time it took to build a replacement, the area suffered from the isolation and loss of through business. But the new bridge still follows the curves of the cliffs but stands a little out to sea, it's now a tourist attraction. It's beautiful, it's white, it curves around three cliffs and bays and you can see the ocean underneath. There is a tourist walk and gardens alongside (on the sea side) and you can still see the impressive cliffs close on the land side.
Then we drove further south to the trains - they had a holiday members only day, we dropped in to cut a small cake for difficult child 3 and give him a train ride. A small steam engine pulled in and we all got on it. difficult child 3 then headed up to the loading bay to help unload some more miniature steam trains, then, to his delight - he got to drive a train! husband sat behind him to keep him safe, but difficult child 3 concentrated on getting it right and drove two entire loops of the track. A very happy boy!
On the way back we drove past a lot of street parties. People were picnicking in their front gardens or on the footpaths, where anybody passing by would be invited to share a drink or a snack. People drove past cheering any flying flags and it was fun. We met some people returning from fun in Sydney - one day we'll have to do Australia Day in the heart of the city again. Maybe it's like 4 July, but more relaxed, less formal. Instead of being like a brass band street parade, this is more like a huge family backyard party.
We bought some fish on the way back, and prawns (giant shrimp) so we're having a seafood dinner. husband is cooking, but I'd better head kitchen-ward and make some salad. difficult child 3 got a second burger, with a huge serve of hot chips (fries, only bigger, thicker and fatter). Somehow he's eaten the lot and is heading for the bath.
I've still got some work to do tonight and some shopping tomorrow with easy child, her boyfriend and difficult child 3.
I love days like this - hot summer sun searing down, but a cool ocean breeze to take out the sting. And maybe the promise of a small cloudburst later in the night, so I don't have to water my garden!
Enjoy your Friday, everyone. Have a Vegemite sanger (sandwich) on us! (just make sure you spread it as thin as possible - it's not meant to be thick like jam)
Marg