We planned to start our holidays with a getaway in beachy Avalon. On our way through the city, we’d call in at my office to see my boss who was up from Melbourne. She hadn't met baby yet. After a mad morning packing, we learned there was a severe weather warning for Sydney: tornado strength winds and heavy rain.
We cancelled our Avalon plans but pressed on to meet up with my colleagues. Traffic was crawling and baby screeched endlessly as if she was being murdered, as she always does when strapped in the baby seat. Some way into our harrowing drive, my colleagues called to say my boss wasn't going to meet us. The storm had grounded her plane in Melbourne.
Still we drove on! After all that, and 90 minutes on the road(!), we ended up just going out for sushi with the girls from work. I am taking every chance I get to enjoy sashimi since I couldn't have any while pregnant. It was a good catch up even if nothing exactly went to plan!
 |
| Baby being spoiled by my colleagues |
Our next attempts at beachy getaways have been way more successful. We spent a night at North ’Gong, waking to a Diggies coffee and toastie on the beach. We took turns swimming laps in the ocean pool while the other watched baby. The sun on the water turned the surface into a million sparkling diamonds.
 |
| Sea pool at North Wollongong |
I had never swum in an ocean pool before, and let me tell you it is an experience! There’s so much lateral turbulence from other swimmers and the salt water is so buoyant I felt as if I was swimming through jelly. I was completely exhausted after just a few laps.
Dane also left an elaborate treasure hunt for his cousin (who lives in the unit we crashed at) ending in her Christmas pudding, which he had taken and hid. He spent hours leaving clues, and I was starving by the time he’d finished and was ready for lunch.
We tried Pepe's on the Beach, underneath the Novotel. 45 minutes after ordering, our “share platter” arrived and was pretty miserable - a few meat skewers, soggy flatbread and a very limp salad. The food was poor and seriously overpriced, serving size skimpy, service slow. Zero out of ten and we won’t be going back.
A few days later, we journeyed to Vincentia to stay with Dane’s cousins, who were very smitten with our little girl. The weather wasn't quite right for swimming but we rambled about on long walks, read, played a boardgame, ate fish and chips.
Baby got played and played with. Dane’s aunt brought out all her primary school instruments and baby chewed on them.
One morning while baby napped, Dane and I escaped and had a fancy brunch at 5 Little Pigs, along the esplanade at Huskisson. They have really creative menu with heaps of international influences, although I just had a tasty zucchini fritters dish with halloumi and smoked trout.
 |
| L: Dane's cousin playing with baby. R: Fritters with smoked trout at 5 Little Pigs, Huskisson |
We were home in time for a big Christmas Day and Boxing Day with our families. Baby got absolutely spoiled with gifts. We tried out our new Christmas games, Dane played a bit of backyard cricket, I cooked an enormous sticky date pudding that we’re still slogging through. I felt how special baby’s first Christmas was.
 |
| Merry Christmas! |
So now we are hurtling towards the New Year. Church youth camp begins the day after tomorrow. It’s a bittersweet feeling, coming to the end of the year. I try not to feel sad about it by thinking of things to look forward to.
No comments:
Post a Comment