Beachy romps in Bermagui.

 

I'm about to make you pretty jealous.

Not like, "I just ate 4 kilos of Tim Tams and look like Heidi Klum" jealous, but close enough.

I'm going to show you some beaches that will make you want to romp and frolic.

Beaches that will make you yearn to be walking on their cool soft sand.

Now, I know there are countless beautiful and picturesque places in Australia, but I can't help but think that Bermagui has the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen.

 

 

I am forever in awe of Bermagui's breathtaking landscapes and could take a gazillion pictures of the many different views and aspects. Actually I did take a gazillion pictures. Maybe even a gazillion and two.

 

 

How can I be blamed though. Just look at those beaches!

There are cliffs, crashing waves, soft clean sand, cool shells  just itching to be collected and the greatest rock pools to explore. My little clan was in heaven.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Give me a good rock to sit on; to climb; to explore and I am a happy lady.

 

 

We had heard of an amazing beach in the Mimosa Rocks National Park which was made up entirely of varying sized round and egg shaped rocks, but after driving down 6km of perilous dirt road, braving a horrendous eco toilet and hiking along the beach for hours, we were no closer to finding it.

We did discover this AMAZING driftwood hut that someone had built on the beach.

 

 

It even had a shell curtain and a "Home" sign hanging over the door.

Whilst exploring the hut we were visited by a wallaby having a late lunch on the beach.

I'm at home now, surrounded by the mundane and suburban, but if I really try I can almost feel that sand between my toes!

 

 

Has anyone else been to beautiful Bermagui?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



The house of a million treasures.

 

We have just returned from our little holiday in beautiful Bermagui after an eight hour car trip (eeeeuuuurrrggghhhh!!) and I am now surrounded by towers of suitcases and unpacked clothing that needs to be put away. I'm hoping that as I write this the cleaning fairies will pay me a visit and magically, wash, iron and hang everything.

(One day they will come, they really will!)

Whilst I procrastinate I thought I would share some pics of Gran and Pop's cool and uber kitsch abode in Bermagui.

Gran and Pop are my husbands grandparents and are in their 80's but continue to be pillars of the community, with Pop entertaining "the old folks" in aged care facilities with his piano accordion prowess, and Gran being on every committee, donating countless hours to all manner of organisations (she was awarded an Order of Australia for her voluntary work) as well as fitting in golf, tennis, bowls and darts.

These people are amazing and down to earth and not a little quirky and their house reflects their wonderful personalities. They come from an era when you had to make do and mend and almost every aspect of their home reflects this ethos with patchwork like repairs and  hand made modifications to their tiny dwelling.

Why throw away that broken toilet when you can use it as a plant pot?

Why not use a car door handle in your outdoor dunny?

Why throw away those food scraps when you can feed them to the cows that live in a paddock across the road?

They are both firm believers in the repair, reuse and recycle lifestyle, which is so refreshing in this throw away age.

They haven't really updated their decor (why bother if it still works?) since the 50,s and 60,s and so their house and sheds are full to bursting with retro furniture, bits and bobs and thingy-ma-jigs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yeah, I went a little crazy taking photos but I just kept finding more and more that I fell in love with. 

 

I was so sorry to leave and say goodbye to those special people (and that cool aqua bathroom!) but I have soooo many more pics to share of our Bermagui adventures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Birthdays, breakfasts, bling and bands.

My clan is currently having a wee break in stunning Bermagui, which is the sweetest little coastal town in NSW. We are staying with my husbands grand parents who are just awesome, and I have gone absolutely bonkers taking photo's of our trip and of Gran and Pop's house which is full of retro kitch-tastic treasures.

But I will bombard you with those later because I have only time for a quickie (ooohhhh, missus!) to fill you in on my birthday celebrations of last week.

Now I am not one to go cra cra on my birthday because I really don't want to admit to anyone I'm getting older. I am constantly trying to tell myself that I am still a young slip of a girl and hate when birthdays burst my bubble and inject that awful harsh reality stuff into my life.

I try to not act my age, not dress my age and generally not think of my age if I can help it.

I even work in an aged care facility where I can be guaranteed that I will look like one of the youngest there. (There is that damned Betty, who is 89 and has the best skin EVER and hardly a wrinkle. She tells me that it is all due to wearing a hat and having a brandy every night.

Damn you Betty!)

Any whoo I had a wonderful breakfast out with my kids where we feasted on only the healthiest fare.

 

As you can see I have to really watch what I eat now I'm getting older!

 

Yeah, he ate all of that. I really don't understand where he puts it.

The kids where dropped off (thank the lord for  the parents in law) and the Mr and I were joined by friends for a night of hilarity and loud music.

 

 

There were blinged up glasses.

 

 

There was a blinged up elephant. (Oh if only he had fit in my handbag)

 

 

There were beverages. With novelty sized pink parasols. As you do.

 

 

And there was punk music. A lot of loud and energetic punk music.

 

 

Go Pennywise!

So all in all, a great birthday of not acting my age.

Hurrah!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Tales from the sewing pile

 

This is what my sewing pile used to look like.

Poor forsaken souls lying crumpled and unloved in a corner, desperate to be hemmed; to be taken in; to be mended; to live again!

 

(Drum roll please)

 

Now behold!

 

 

Look at those happy content little possums.

All feeling fresh and newly invigorated. But most of all feeling pretty and purposeful once more.

Yes, I finally tackled some of my lovelies that needed some TLC and attention.

I'm not joking when I say that some of those poor dresses had been waiting in that dusty heap for a good year. I know, I know. For shame!

But now I can show off these lovely ladies in all their stitched and altered glory.

 

 

 

 

This 1960's "Alcorso" dress was burdened with oddly unflattering sleeves, but now with a nip and tuck she is finally fit to be worn. I love the roses on the cool black and white geometric pattern.

 

 

The middle frock is a divine "Geoff Riddell" shirt dress and was rescued from a Savers. It fitted like a glove everywhere, except the length which skimmed my ankles. Now it sits at a perfect below knee length that is much more me.

I had to hack off the sleeves of the amazing homemade vintage black dress with great bright green, orange and purple floral pattern as the style was doing nothing for me. And now with the new sleeveless design and a cute bow at the front it is ready to worn.

 

 

Now I am very likely upsetting many a vintage purist with my hacking and hemming. Sacrilege!

But in my defence I'd like to ask that isn't it better that I alter these frocks so I can actually wear them and thus these lovely dresses can be worn, appreciated and be loved again? I think so.

What do you think?

Have I committed the cardinal sin of the vintage loving girl?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Easter!

Image found here

 

I hope everyone had a marvellous Easter!

I had a super / busy / fun / manic / wonderful day yesterday with all my favourite people, gorging on chocolate (chocolate is OK to eat for breakfast on Easter, right?) ,cakes, pastries and then more chocolate. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm.

As non religious people Easter is more about spending time with family for us, and it is a bit of a tradition for the extended family to flock to my house for afternoon tea and an Easter egg hunt in a park across the road from us.

Oh, and chocolate.

But mostly the day is all about hanging out with loved ones and making sure the kids are having

a hoot.

This year my kids and I got good and messy making an Easter egg tree inspired by Aunt Peaches fab creations.

 

 

 

 

And "ta-dah", the finished product.

 

 

 

We were pretty chuffed with our lovely centrepiece, even if it did try and poke every ones eye out!

The weather tried to sabotage our Easter egg hunt (I knew I'd be cursing the rain soon enough - I'm never happy am I?), but thankfully we were spared a downpour and a very fun hunt ensued.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the gazillion chocolate eggs that the Easter bunny was kind enough to leave for us, we retired to a groaning table full of cheesecakes, custard tarts, lumberjack cakes, cheeses and yeah, chocolate.

 

 

 

Yum yum yum!

What does one wear for hunting eggs and gorging on chocolate?

 

 

Stupidly, I didn't wear a skirt with an elastic waistband. When will I learn?

Even now, on Monday, I'm still high on sugar and happiness.

I do hope that Easter brought everyone love, family and yes, lots of chocolate!