Kitchen Capers, Part 4 and other bits.

Just to start with, a lovely Crucifix Spider.






Alex watching early Sunday morning childrens TV wearing his new Dinosaur dressing gown. Anyone would think that its cold.

And now back to the Kitchen.

The final stage was to get the floor relayed. We have decided to use cork again which we love for its warmth and texture.



It took nearly a day to lift the old tiles in the kitchen and down the hall to the bedrooms. By the time I finished I needed a new pair of knees and a new back.



The layers arrived on what was to turn out to be a 38C day. A bit hot for this sort of thing but the underlay is beginning to go down.



Cork is looking good!




The floor had three coats of sealer with a sanding in between each. This photo was taken just after the last coat was put on, a very smelly process. We are unable to walk on it for 24 hours and then only in stocking feet as it will take some time to reach full hardness. I will probably wait a week before I start to worry about moving the refrigerator back into position.

Our next door neighbours very kindly invited us around for dinner on the day that the floor was laid and the next day we had a day out in the mountains, to get away from the smell.

Its now three days since the floor was laid, the smell is dissipating and it looks great.

Alex's Day Out.

As its getting close to the end of the summer school holidays we thought we would give Alex a treat. We decided to take him for his first visit to the Sydney Opera House to see a stage version of one of his favourite TV shows, Charlie and Lolla.




Yesterday, we picked Alex up on the way to the ferry terminal at Rydalmere and rode the Rivercat into Circular Quay. When we got to the Rydalmere ferry terminal, the car park was full so Alex was quite worried that we wouldn't be able to go. We found the over-spill car park which was much better as it had lots of shade protection from the trees. All the way down Parramatta River, Alex followed the route on the time table brochure in case the ferry captain got lost. We arrived safe and sound, mainly due to Alex's navigation, and walked round to the Opera House.




Here we split up with Alex and Nana going into the Opera House while I roamed around the Opera House vicinity taking photographs.



Looking back towards the city and Circular Quay with a building nicknamed 'the toaster', due to its boxy shape, in the foreground.




There are lots of different shapes, angles and plains around the sails and building of the Opera House.






The old 'coat hanger' from the water side of the Opera House.




Just in front of the Opera House, on the other side of the harbour, is Admiralty House with Kirribili House behind. Kirribili House is the Sydney residence of the Prime Minister.




Sun on the sails.



On the foreshore of Farm Cove is the open air cinema. Elin and Jim will recognize it.













The ceramic tiles that cover the sails and give the Opera House that shimmery look.







Walking around to the forecourt I came across these huge weird shapes.



They are a collection of air inflated shapes, with connecting tunnels, all of which are illuminated inside.






The following is from the companies brochure.

"Built in 2010, Mirazozo makes extensive use of an ‘illuminated seam’ feature where luminous seam lines create a scintillating lattice of light.

The pattern of these neon-like strips induce the viewer's gaze to shift between different perceptions of the same view – an effect one encounters in the contemplative geometric surface design of Islamic art and architecture.

Mirazozo’s center dome is the largest open space structure that Architects of Air has built - one particularly suitable for hosting performances. Mirazozo was conceived to be very modular and to permit compact configurations."

What ever it all means, it was very impressive. I could see a certain way inside but didn't have time to go inside as the queue was too long.

Figs growing in the gardens opposite the Opera House. A lot of the foreshore is home to very old Morton Bay fig trees.






Waiting inside for everyone to come out of the Playhouse Theatre.



Alex had a good time so we had to take his photo on the way out.






Heading back towards the Quay.



Circular Quay with the constant movement of ferries and boats.



A mixture of old Sydney sandstone and modern buildings.



Circular Quay.



A very happy Alex having lunch at one of the waterside Italian restaurants.



Back to Wharf 5 and the return trip up the river. Another great day out!

Sorry about all the different types of font but I don't seem to be able to fix them this time.

I've been told that some of my blogs have too many photographs but when we live in such a lovely part of the world its hard not too. I love this city!!!

Unexpected visitors.

Early morning and there seems to be a lot more bees in the air than normal. This time of year there are lots of flowers and blossom for them.



We noticed that they were mainly in an area around the Jacaranda near the back door, which has no blossom.



Then we noticed this, bees swarming.










They are quite passive while swarming. Next morning they just disappeared on their search for a nesting spot.

The first for 2011

So here we go again, a new year and a bit older.

Today is Becky's birthday, so Happy Birthday daughter. We wont mention how many!!!



Not really the New Year, but close, the 30th December. A car club blat up to Bathurst via Oberon and lots of nice twisty turny bits.



Lined up on the starting grid. There was 9 of us all together but I'm right at the back because I was having fun and did an extra lap.



All lined up at the top of the mountain and having a bit of a break. I also drove around the opposite way and realized how steep the circuit was for the hillclimbers.



At this time of year funny things happen to a lot of our trees. Instead of loosing leaves, the bark starts to split .......



........ and we have big strips of bark every where.



We can't match the Swedish photos of trees covered in frost and snow but we do have our own lovely, heavily blossomed, Lilli Pilli tree. This one is the smallest in the garden but looks good with the light behind it.



It looks as though its covered in snow but its actually lovely delicate blossom.



The birds love the nectar but when they move the blossom falls to the ground in a soft white cloud.



We end up with our own 'snow'.