Whale Watching in Eden.

Friends that are family...we are so lucky to have them in our lives. It's been a while since we'd been down to Eden and it was lovely to spend some time at the beach house with the Middletons. It made me so proud to watch my boys play with Pierre in such a gentle and nurturing way. He adores Harry and Jack and his laughter is contagious. It was lovely to hang out, eat good food and enjoy good conversation.

  

Sunday morning Paul took us through Ben Boyd National Park to Haycock Point for a bit of whale watching. The wind whipped up the waves but we still managed to spot quite a few whales playing in the bay. Jack kept back from the cliffs, no longer fond of heights since the fall that broke his arm, so Shannon and I took turns to sit with him and distract him by searching for the telltale signs of flippers and spray. We took the little track down to the beach and explored the rock pools for a bit, then headed back up just in time to see a mother and calf surfacing near the other side of the headland.
It was breathtaking to see.

It was such a lovely experience for the boys...I remember when I was their age and saw whales playing in Hervey Bay...you never forget that kind of natural wonder. On the way back to the car Shannon spotted wallabies and kangaroos who were surveying us with quiet indifference. The weather took an even wilder turn during the afternoon so we all decided to head home a little early. Thanks Claire, Paul, Holly and Alessandro for a beautiful weekend away.

Til next time...xx Em

Eden Escape

We’re home from a lovely long weekend at our friends beach house in Eden.

A few days immersed in salty air and water have recharged our batteries, leaving us ready to face the first week of the new school year. Cocora Beach was as beautiful as ever...calm and quiet save for a few raucous seagulls. We spent Friday afternoon swimming in the shallows.

Both boys are competent swimmers now and loved learning how to body surf in the teeny waves that seemed to sigh rather than crash into the shore...although they seemed to think they were monster waves that elicited squeals of excitement with each approach. 

On Saturday, after another morning at the beach, we lunched at the Seahorse Inn on the opposite side of the harbour and explored Quarantine Bay on the way home. We came across the largest stingrays I’d ever seen in the wild. They were feeding on the fish offcuts tossed back into the water by fisherman. It was fascinating to watch. Jack was keen to befriend the older boys fishing off the boat ramp, eagerly helping one chap with his catch of mullet. He so desperately wanted to be like the big kids and seemed so little and next to them.

In the afternoon Shannon napped and I curled up with a book and a glass of wine, listening to Harry tinkling on the piano and Jack in the garden vainly attempting to catch a lizard. 

Dinner Saturday night was at Drift in Snug Cove. 

We hadn’t tried it before but it’s a confirmed favourite now! The decor and atmosphere were fun and family friendly, with a view looking onto the wharf. The boys settled on mini cheeseburgers and fries while the Husband and I indulged in the house platter and a dozen oysters, half Kilpatrick and half Chilli, Ginger and Lime. They were utterly, UTTERLY divine, washed down with a refreshing mojito and glass of rose.

Sunday’s drive home along winding country roads was a bit of a revelation to me. I’d always thought the rolling green hills around Candelo were pretty but it struck us for the first time that it was the area and community we both want to eventually move to. Finally we can put a location into our long term dream. Hurrah! 

Normally we would drive straight through the tiny town as it’s not very far from Eden, but this time we stopped for coffee at the Candelo General Store and Cafe and I’m so glad we did. It’s utterly gorgeous and serves the best coffee and cake.

I’m always so completely chuffed (though never surprised) whenever I come across vibrant, thriving hubs in  rural communities. 

This long weekend was such a lovely way to round out the school holidays, time to dive back into the fray of school and routine. 

xx Em

Christmas by the sea.

We're home from a fabulous christmas in Eden.

Family, food, sunshine, beach time, a little adventure and a lot of R&R.

It was magic!

 

 

Husband taught Harry the art of chess.

 

 

I got to hang with my beautiful nieces.

 

 

Christmas Day was excitement and joy and tantrums and laughter and talking to loved ones far, far away.

 

 

Sisterly selfies.

 

 

Curious cousins.

 

 

Pool sharks.

 

 

A summery feast with prawns fresh from the trawler.

 

 

A stroll through the bush to the old jetty for fishing and leaping into the water.

 

 

Boxing Day was adventure and discovery in Ben Boyd National Park.

 

 

 

I want to live in that house! So does my sister-in-law Margie.

 

 

 

The weather rolled in and the rain came down so we settled for an afternoon of game playing in the beach house. Yesterday the wind was blowing a gale so we packed up and headed home a day early. The cats and chickens were just a little bit happy to see us.

 

 

Hope you had a beautiful holiday, wherever you were.

Looking forward to welcoming in the New Year.

 

xx Em

 

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