We got a rental car, part of The Man's package for moving, a 6 week rental. It's a Ford Wagon. It is big. So, we had to go drop a grand on Aussie approved car seats. Honestly, wish we could use ours. Part of it is the familiar, part of it is that they lack the center click thing we have. So, here we go, driving on the opposite side of the road in the opposite side of the car.
Saturday-we head out to Wollongong and are planning to drive this scenic route, but it is mostly shut down due to the flooding from all the damn rain last week. But, once we get to scenic drives, WOW! The sky is so blue here it seems fake and the ocean is a beautiful blue, too. I could never have driven this path hanging over the ocean. Locals call this area "the gong". It didn't seem very crowded. We went to a playground, walked the boardwalk, watched some surfers. We did not step foot on the beach! Ahh. I just hadn't planned for this and we knew we would be going out to eat. So, we have a beer at a brewery along the beach, stride back to our car to find this seafood restaurant Da Man read about. He has been anxious to try mudbugs, etc. He loved the food. Muffin loved the calamari. I thought it was ok. Would love to try something else there sometime. Nicole Kidman has been there before! The picture they show looks like it is from the '80's...like Days of Thunder days. Wasn't that her?
Sunday, we did went by the rental house and to the grocery store. It was small and difficult to be in with two kids and a lost list. So, we will continue to have the groceries delivered. Poor me, I know. I love it! I took Muffin for a walk in Hyde Park across the street. It is always loaded with the ibis breed of bird. But we also saw several Kookaburra's. Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree, merry merry king of the bush is he. Laugh kookaburra, laugh kookaburra, how gay your life must be!
* a little bummed that we missed the Santa Fest in my favorite place, Darling Harbour, but we had no idea it was going to clear up and get so nice. We just needed some space to breathe from city life.
Monday comes and though I feel like doing nothing, I take us out on the town. I end up at this mall that you can walk through outdoors. Seems every time we go by it, there are live performers, so we listen to a guy singing and playing guitar for a while then hit David Jones department store to get the skinny on Ole Santy Claus. We enjoy the marionnette caroling window decorations on our way in. Well, there is an ENTIRE floor of kids clothes, and toys...shoes??not sure where they are...and the Santa Cave. Creepy sort of. Kids were not dressed for Santa photos but we went to say HellO. Well, clearly, this was a Santa helper as he truly was a skinny youthful Claus. The little girl rushed ahead to go see him, but once there got very shy. Not sure what she was thinking? Why is he so skinny and why does he talk Australian? Why does he look like one of my older boy cousins wearing Santa's suit?
The toys there are great. Muffin leaves screaming for a toy. I feel a bit guilty since she has so few toys here. But her bday is coming, Xmas is coming and she was being bratty. Not asking nicely. Demanding. Screaming and crying. We did get a Christmas book and I suspect when we go back Wed. or Thurs. in their picture finery, we may have to get a toys or two. Just have to be sure it isn't something Santa already got as he whispered a few things to me. He and the elves are mostly finished for Huck and have a bit to do for Muffin. Also, he's not finished with the "Stocking Fillers".
Some things you might want to know in case you come to Australia:
Cantelope= Rock melon
Pide= Pita
Capsicums=Peppers
How are you going? = How are you? though it seems like a mix between "How are you and where are you going?"
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