West Head Hike

The day before New Year's Eve, Sam and I wanted a bit of exercise
and a change of scene.

I also wanted to test out my recently sprained ankle, and needed
exercise after being sedentary for a few weeks.

Sam drove us out to West Head within Kuringai Chase National
Park. We decided to do the 1 hour West Head Beach track.

It hadn't quite got hot then, but the climb down was challenging
and the steps not constructed very broad, so great concentration
was required on my part.

We made it down safely, and the tide was coming into the beach
fast. So a few quick photos and back up the hillside.

Ankle did well, but I'm not obviously aerobically fit currently,
however still getting over congestion from a bad cold Sam and I
had both had.

 Lion Island viewed from the top lookout.

 Barenjoey Lighthouse on the headland up from Palm Beach.

 Zooming in on the lighthouse, somewhere Chris and I want to visit.

 Part of the track seen here, apparently it is a steep walk. It is used for 

some shots in the TV show 'Home And Away'.

 Looking back up from the beach it looks quite like a blend of tropical and rainforest.

 Looking across to Pittwater, and some local fishermen.

 I love honeycomb sandstone rocks.

 Sam obliges some other people by taking a photo of their family group.

This shot doesn't really show how steep the walk back up is. After arriving back up at 

the top we needed a relaxing lunch so we drove around to Akuna Bay.

A little more Christmas

 Today is New Year's Eve. What a big year we've had.

Tomorrow is the start of a year with so many plans, so
many things that are very new and challenging to tackle.

A few more reminisces from last week.

 This Summer we have used the deck a lot for meals, including Xmas.

 The boys got hampers full of edible home-cooked treats, to save money 

but also to give them something useful after.

 Bobbie is endlessly entertaining, and encouraged lots of smiles and laughter with his antics.

 Ben got involved and seemed to enjoy himself. 

 A (paws) pause between prawns for Bob.

 We managed to bring out the Wedgewood, a garage sale bargain.

 In the afternoon I relaxed with fresh magazines, part of my present. 

Country decor, new age woman's mag etc.

 Changed the look from informal for brekkie to more glam for lunch 

and dinner. Black and gold and neutral check.

Bob thought after all the unwrapping effort, this basket was empty of gifts and surely for him?

Tree cutting day

A long overdue task was tackled yesterday. We had really
been struggling to keep up with pool maintenance, as our
neighbour's Jacarandas got impossibly tall over our pool.

What they dumped seasonally, flowers and seed pods was
a huge bulk of waste.

Luckily for us, Mike and Gordon offered to come to the
rescue and cut them down.

This is a before shot showing the girth of these trees.

 This tree was right over the pavilion.

 This Tawny Frogmouth was in a tree to be chopped, 

so slowly he got the message and relocated a safe distance away.

 Mike did all the ladder work.

 Everyone is kitting up. Bec makes a cute little lumberjack.

 Going, going...

 A swimming tree.

 Chris reluctantly did a shift at the fire, he wanted to watch cricket more.

  This is the fire I constructed, which burned well. Not bad for a girl?

 Nearby was a terrible ruckus all afternoon, as this little fellow, 

a Southern Boobook Owl was discovered by the local birds.

 Bec investigated originally and found the pair in a overhanging sandstone feature. 

They flew out right in front of her. His or her offspring was separated for the rest 

of the day, but at nightfall we watched and heard them reunite.

 Finally - no overhang of either Jacaranda or Cotoneaster.

 This stump will no doubt regrow, but it is low and now can be kept easily maintained.

 Now we get to appreciate more attractive native gumtrees.

 Finally one last job, install a possum box, and attach a bridge. 

Their evening route includes from our roof corner across to next 

door's garden. It is quite a long span.

Christmas Preparations

All the fun things of Christmas we have been experiencing,
baking, decorating, gift giving.

Everyone contributes in some way, even though we tried to
hold back a lot expense-wise this year, much creative effort
was evident.

In the end it was quite pretty with decorations, and much
neater than before.

We had just a nice number of visitors, and saw all our own
family.

 Home made truffles are a messy business!

 The healthy side of Xmas breakfast.

 Our deck with a view, an Australian Bush Christmas.

 Even some of the decorations are edible.

 Everything looks better with a bauble or two, and a borrowed branch sprayed copper.

 Bec lays it out, just a little bit of the naughty and a cuppa.

 Bobbie is rearing to go, let's open the pressies!

 Our pretty tree plus lights for the first time, found at Nanna's.

 Nothing is safe from the Christmas Fairy, tinsel even on the Bowerbird.

 You can almost hear Bob thinking, ' Do I have to wear this dumb bow?'

 Bec finishes wrapping the boys hampers. Practical with homemade edibles.

 Bring out the retro cake tin.

 Sam takes charge of gift giving.

 Bob helps of course.

 He's got his new toy, has given a performance - now sleep, in the gift basket.

 He decides it's just right. zzzzzz

 The engaged ones.

 Lunch begins, Bob likes his prawns.

 A bowl from Nanna's.

 Tricks for prawns.

 Our buffet.

 Ben adds to the decorations, height is an advantage.

 Eat and rest.

 Another piece of vintage, for the condiments.

 Experimental dessert, Rocky Road Icecream.

 Hopefully we didn't see the bottom of too many glasses.

 Dinner was light, a baked Brie, walnuts, thyme and home harvested honey.

 Finishing a great day with a full moon.

 Boxing Day dawn.

 Bob plays with his new duck toy, and then more sleep. Christmas is exhausting!