A Week at the Gold Coast.

We have been on holiday in Coolangatta for the past week, staying on the 12th floor at the Beachhouse. It was actually our Son's week but the Government suddenly decided to have the  Naplan tests for the children,  so they weren't able to go. 

We have had a very relaxing week doing nothing. We know the area well so no need for the touristy stuff. I did though bring some of my new art stuff and been having a lot of fun experimenting and teaching myself about watercolours.

The view has been very interesting with lots of things going on everyday. We had breakfast on the verandah each morning before the weather got too hot.

Left of the top one

Coolangatta Shopping Centre

The inside is just your normal small unit, but very comfortable. Meals have been very simple also, whenever we felt like it.

Very well equipped kitchen

Spinning turntable on dining table.

Lounge with View 

 I have been spending most of my time,  following several online classes

Watercolour beginner exercise

Feather exercise Watercolour.

Of course there is way more practice stuff, of which I am putting in a journal.

Pen and watercolour tulips

Our last night, was last Friday, and we had dinner at the Surf Life Saving club, arriving at 5.30 to get in early and it was packed,  also was very hot inside as was 35C all day, and no air con. I enjoyed a delicious lamb rump roast with a salad. We then had Tirramisu and coffee at an Italian restaurant, which was also super busy, but they had a local musician to listen too.

Abstract flowers in acrylic and gouache

Lincraft opened up a brand new shop round the corner, last Thursday,  with huge sales, so I got a few canvases( $10) for multi packs,  and a 3 tier trolley ($19) for my paints as I have decided to use the front bedroom. It is air conditioned and has mum's round table  there.

Acrylic, just for fun.

I start at the local Art studio next Saturday morn. Which is their no class morning, and I need to join the Studio for the annual fee, covering insurances etc.

 I am not sure what to do yet, but most likely will take my oils and a canvas to start with, as I am used to them for many years. I will try and start it this week.

I am not pleased to be back, there is still a great deal of work here, and after a pristine unit all I see is the mess. Oh well, time to make a plan

Till Next Time.

Trip to Burleigh Heads

 We finally made it to Burleigh Heads to choose the colours of the new van. Had to leave at 6.15am for the 3 1/2 hrs. it took which was a bit of a shock to get up at 5, but managed to pack morning tea and lunch in time. What a beautiful day it was also, coolish in the morning but the day was lovely. We had morning tea at New Italy sitting on a log in the sun and arrived in time to the Caravan place for our 10am appointment.

Entrance area

 

The office was at the end of an entrance of caravans, and a fairly large back area.

Workshop are as they do repairs as well.

Walking back down a hill to the office.

The service was great tea first when we arrived and cappucino when we finished.

We checked out the van that was at the show as I liked the colours in that. We also had a 2nd look at the outside swirls and lines as we had to choose that as well. In the end chose aqua plain stripe with the Hinterland icon which had a sun and what represented leaves and again chose aqua, with silver/grey above the black metal around the bottom, and silver wheels.

This is a red version, but painted wheels was not our thing.

 The interior is white gloss cupboards around the top, and what I thought was grey is actually a bronze colour on the leather seats and cupboard doors, and a motley bronze/grey bench, and brown grain floor. 

Extras John added were a camera for backing and seeing cars behind as we drive, a heavy duty wire to hook up the big fridge separately to an anderson plug as we drive along, and a electronic stability control system so the van doesn't accidently sway and fishtail from the car in case of some accident, this makes the insurance cheaper as well. My thing to add was two 12 volt fans in the bedroom area one on either side as it is 2 single beds.

As it was nearly lunch time we headed down to the beach area. What a wonderful area Burleigh Heads has. Fabulous board walk and the beach was very clean. Loved the seat made to look like surfboards. 

Park seemed very busy for a Friday morning.

Gold Coast high rise in the distance.

Life saving area we overlooked.

On the way home we called in at Woodburn and had a coffee at the oldest cafe. There was a huge cup and saucer and next door John took a couple of photos at a gift shop while I waited. Luckily didn't go in looked really good, but we are saving hard at the moment. 

I would have bought a little dog if I had seen them.

So true.

As we were sitting there a huge flock of  Blue Eyed Cockatoos flew and landed in all the trees on the opposite side of the road and went to sleep. Amazing to watch. 

 

 It was a great day overall and lovely to get away from the house. Now we wait till maybe late August, as there is a bit of a backlog after the caravan show. Suits us as we can save more.

Till Next Time. 

Sydney Family Visit.

 Well it is school holiday time and the Sydney Family and my 3 gorgeous grandchildren have come for a visit, and staying at a time share and enjoying the facilities it offers. Miss J who received the quillo a few weeks ago has grown so much. She started high school this year and seems to have doubled in height. Officially past me now, but only just lol. Confirmation that I am shrinking. 

Miss P  my little apprentice and Miss V from the local family arrived on Saturday for the helping grandma session and this time I chose to start organizing the craft rooms.

This is where I work for my sewing.

 I am getting bogged down with everything and need a major tidy up. 

So we took everything off the shelves and Miss V who is 7, sprayed everything and wiped it all clean. 

Area behind the sewing table. with Mum's lovely tapestry.

More bits and pieces

Separating it all out.

We got going really well for an hour or so, then the Sydney kids turned up so I offered to mind them while the parents went and shopped for food, and had lunch out. So all this was stopped and we did some cake baking, 3 in all which mean 3 groups. One banana cake, a batch of chocolate balls and a choc chip coconut slice, and toasted cheese sandwiches for lunch as it was all I had. Luckily!!!

Then they went off and ran up and down the hill till mum and dad arrived. I think this project will be a slow one.

 Today though I got picked up for Brunch at a local cafe, via the garden where John was packing up the market tables. 

                                                       The flowers are looking lovely.

I actually had a bunch to bring home as they didn't sell. So a nice change from my sweet peas.

The garden is really impressive, just as you would  think for Spring. 

Taken through the hanging baskets.

One of us got roped into help pack up.

Brunch was very nice, and I was surprised they found a table for all 7 of us. The street seemed to be full of diners along the sidewalk.

 

 

 We then went off to the Headland but it was super windy. Caught a couple of whales also in the water,  and again seemed like everyone was out for a Sunday stroll even if they got blown away on the hill.

Overlooking the Rock Pool where there was a group thing.

My family

There is a few things planned getting both families together, so fingers crossed the weather stays nice, at least for the wind to stop blowing.

Hope everyone is also having a good weekend 

Till Next Time. 

Manly Ferry Trip Sydney

Welcome back to our Weekend away and today is about the Ferry trips. Sydney uses the Opal Card system for transport and on a Sunday only costs $2.80 per trip, unless you have a seniors/pension Opal card from the Government in which case you spend $2.50 and that's it, free for all other fares. So it is not surprising that the Ferries are crowded on that day especially the Manly one. We first took the ferry alongside the Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour across to the main area of Circular Quay via four stops.

Waiting for the first Ferry

View of the buildings across from the Pier

Interesting stairs we passed to go outside

Sitting up the front while John runs around, all the  time taking photos

Passing a wharf that held very expensive private ships.

One of the stops Luna Park

Balmain having its own pier I would think an expensive suburb. You can see the main street from the bay.

My view of John in passing.

 There are at least 4 or 5 very large cruise ships in the harbour at one time, we could see two from our room. Ones that don't fit under the bridge are put in the Circular Quay area, only one at a time, so very handy for the tourists.

Looking at cruise ships from room. They only stayed a day or two then new ones appeared.

Same ships we passed

Another large ship.

Circular Quay spot, notice the swimming area on top with a water slide.

There was a large crowd waiting at Circular Quay Manly Ferry and a much larger boat.

By the time we walked around to the other side this crowd had tripled.

Up front again while John ran around. I did get up but you have to be quick so you don't lose a seat.

Both sides on ferries have seats as well.

Manly Ferry Stairs much wider.

Automated lighthouse we passed.

Looking to the "Heads" where all the cruise ships come in  and go out. Manly is to the left of the cliffs.

It is amazing what is on the water, canoist clubs that look really tiny in the waves, Dragon Boat, speed boats, family motor boats, ferries, it is quite busy on a Sunday.

Club Rowing  Boat

Another Club

The Manly Ferry takes half an hour to travel across, you go past the Opera House and  the bridge, so very popular with the tourists. I was speaking to a French girl who was traveling with a German backpacker girlfriend.

Manly Pier

Intriguing to see the  upper level drop down walkway, of the ferry, as we waited to get off. Very long pier to the street full of shops, where on the way back I found a new hat.

Lolly stand

When the huge crowd disembarked everyone all walked as one down the street, very funny. We went much slower. I was surprised how green the mall area was  after crossing the main road you headed into it. At the end was a local monthly market. John went on ahead to take a million photos and I rested and waited, then walked a but further to meet him. Lots of dress shops in the mall, and usual shops you would find anywhere. Not sure what the tourist gets out of actual Manly, except the Ferry ride of course, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera house, and somewhere to go. Every shop was open.

Area before the Mall.

A couple of these fountains were installed and the kids loved them.

Mall with Markets

John walked down to the beach area where a carnival was on. By the huge blow up things the fathers were carrying on the ferry I would say this was a popular beach for Sydney. It is a very long beach.

The Markets took up the following side street and also partway down the Mall.

Waiting for John.

The ride back much the same, same view only reversed. Ferries go every half hour approximately as there are two. We spent about an hour which included getting a cup of tea and having it on the run.

Hills filled with lots of expensive houses

I went and found John so I could have a photo of the Opera House and Bridge, after all I was a tourist.

So back at Darling Harbour after 4 ferry rides. There is one that goes to Parramatta, takes  about 90 mins. Maybe next time in the city could take the grandkids. Great way to spend the day on the water.


I was going to do the Chinese Gardens but as before this is long enough. John took 2500 photos of the trip so a great deal of choice. Will do it next week, they are lovely.


Till Next Time.