Sunday, January 30, 2011

Ab Fab Sunday

Gorgeous doesn't begin to describe this weekend. Hot, breezy, sunny. I was to have gone to a friend's place on Saturday night to meet up with an old school buddy who's up from Tasmania but when I tried to confirm, the phone wasn't answered. She lives in Avalon on the Barrenjoey Penninsular about an hour and fifteen minutes from me so I wasn't going to turn up on the off chance.  All dressed up and nowhere to go, I put on my comfies and relaxed at home. Anyway, turns out the gig did happen and I received a message at 2am this morning to come over 'today'. So, willing to catch up with John from Tassie and share a bevvy with Steve and Ros, I mosied over to Avalon Beach with 200,000 other Sydneysiders who decided that the last weekend before school goes back would be a good day to visit the seaside.


All in all, a lovely day. Al fresco lunch on the balcony, a walk down to the rock pool for sun and a swim and a few drinks before heading home. Sadly, I forgot to take my camera so these are from the iPhone. Not the best but show you the best. Hope these warm up some of you who are freezing in the northern hemisphere. We're in for a couple more super hot days this week so I'm quite grateful to have the aircon at work:

View from My Friend's Balcony

The Back Yard

Avalon Beach from the Southern Headland

Avalon Beach

The Rock Pool

Looking SouthFrom the Rockpool

Tessilated Pavement for Jeffscape (Love it when I know something he doesn't)

Tassie John and Son James who 'said' he could swim!
You know the great thing about living here, isn't the culture, there's very little. The wildlife is great but hard to find . . it's the lifestyle. Absolutely fabulous.

30 comments:

Carolina said...

Thanks for that. Feeling all warm and sunny now. Until I look outside and see a dull grey mist hanging over our garden. Can barely see the end of our backyard that doesn't look as gorgeous as your friend's garden anyway ;-) I'd love to have such an ab fab lifestyle. *sigh*

Grannymar said...

Another cold dull grey day here today. Maybe by tomorrow I'll be able to drive again and get out and about to enjoy the countryside.

Tom said...

super. now the kids are back in school, you'll have the beaches to yourself.

Brian Miller said...

gorgeous pics baino...i could use some warmth...rather chilly here still....

Roy said...

Definitely nice pics. But I don't need to be warmed up up here in the northern hemisphere; I actually like snow and cold air and all.

Gledwood said...

WOW! Is that your back garden?

I hope there aren't Naughty Mouse Spiders and Funnelwebs (not to mention Redbacks) as well as various species of snakes in that shrubberie of yours. When it comes to Australian Wildlife (especially of the toxic variety) I'm a Typical Whingeing Pom I'm afraid...!

Gledwood said...

ps the beaches don't look bad either

e said...

Lovely. The beaches especially, and culture is what one makes of it. Hope you are feeling better.

Betsy Brock said...

tessilated pavement? Well, it's beautiful!

I think your iPhone took great pictures! Almost makes my toes thaw out to look at all of that warmth! :) Winter is half done here!

Looks like you had a fun time Helen.

Kath Lockett said...

I wish my phone took pictures like that - instead it features Mr Divvy Van being carted off to the police station and heaps of rubbish (all taken on my ninja trips)

Mim said...

iphone or no - it looks gorgeous and warm and delightful.

Janice said...

Lovely scenery...

xxx said...

There's a culture unique to this land... in some ways we really are like no other.
Thanks for sharing these fab pics... was a nice little trip down memory lane for me.

Now that I'm not living on your side of the country... it feels more appealing than when I did.... funny how distance can do that.

x Robyn

Kate Hanley said...

I wish my phone took great pics like that. What a great place, I'm relaxed just looking at the photos.

River said...

What a great beach! Adding it to my list of places to see.
Kath, you need to take your phone to the beach.

Megan said...

I agree with the other comments, phone held up well although I bet you were wishing for your camera!

I want that back yard.

Bimbimbie said...

Not a bad place to be on a hot day ;) Nice that you got to spend some time with your old friends. It's been slightly cooler up here today*!*

Alan Burnett said...

Who needs culture - it's over-rated anyway - when you can have a lifestyle that lets you sunbathe in January.

nick said...

There must be something wrong with my face. It's gone all green.

PattiKen said...

Wow. These are beautiful, like a paradise. Lucky you.

Tina said...

I've been intrigued with Australia ever since watching The Thorn Birds as a teenager...gorgeous photos! Thanks for sharing.

Jen said...

What a beautiful yard. If I lived there, nothing but the beach could drag me from the garden.

i beati said...

stark raw beauty''glad to see a b ig change in the weather

Lisa Ursu said...

what a day!
thanks for sharing this.

Jill from Killeny Glen said...

Lovely photos with your phone! Good times.

I long for the warmth of your sun!

jay said...

Oh, good LORD, look at the colour of that sky!!! Just beautiful. And the rocks and sea and all. Gorgeous.

I've just lit the fire. I had to open windows and doors for a while, because the wind is blowing so hard out there that the smoke was coming right back down the chimney till the bricks warmed up, but it's blazing nicely now.

I'd rather have your rocks and sky though!

I've heard very good things about the iPhone camera. I might have to swallow my prejudice and look at one next time I need to replace my phone.

California Girl said...

My son's best friend left for Melbourne last week. He's planning to find work somewhere down there at a vineyard and learn to farm grapes for wine. He found Melbourne too expensive for his meager savings and headed to Tasmania where he is basking in the beauty which he shares with us via Facebook.

Some day, I shall get there. Your photographs create an even greater longing than I've had for years.

Sarah Lulu said...

OMG feeling a bit vulnerable today and your photos brought me unexpectedly to tears.

My hometown. Avalon is my beach ...I lived there as a child from 5 to 25 ...

Everything is still so familar 30 years later ...

All of my important child and teenage events (yes even the ones with boys) ... happened right there.

My wedding reception was at the Surf Club ..my ex was a Lifesaver at Avalon ...

Yep ...

Anonymous said...

hard not to feel jealous as I read this from under 20 cms of snow :-)

Carole said...

What Conortje said. lol