Monday 30 March 2015

Beach camping

We are fortunate enough to live about an hour's drive south of Noosa.  Not that we go into Noosa because it's a bit overated and we don't like it, but it is the gateway to the Noosa North Shore and Double Island Point.
 
I used to go camping up there a bit with my family and some good friends (hello Kylie :) ).  Hubby had only been up there once when he wasn't even old enough to go to school and my kids hadn't been up there at all.  Time to change that.
 
The first exciting thing for the kids was going across the Noosa River on the ferry. 
 
 

 
Then it was out onto the beach for the first time.  There were a few squeals in the back when we first got onto the beach and then pretty well all the way up the beach as they watched some of the bigger waves crash down.
 
Hubby and I were more interested in the really dark clouds we were driving towards because the camping area is further up the beach...right where the clouds are.



 
We did get some heavy rain, especially during the morning so we had to set up our camp in stages.  The first thing to go up was the tarp as soon as we got there so we could at least get dry before the next shower came through.
 
As we only went up for one night we just took the tent and made a basic camp.  We are intending to go back up for a bit longer over the Easter School holidays and we'll definately take the camper trailer then.


(Yes the tarp is on an angle.  We did that purposely so the rain could run off into a bucket and wouldn't settle on top of the tarp).
 
The kidlettes really loved swimming in the surf and using the body boards.  There was plenty of playing in the sand, kicking a soccer ball and playing tennis too but it was mainly swimming. 
 
Hubby fished of course and I was left to my own devises which meant doing some crochet, going for a nice, long walk along the beach and feeding the hungry hoards.  Kids are always hungry no matter if you're at home or camping so that doesn't change.


 
After a lovely night where the sound of the waves sent you to sleep, it was up early to watch the sunrise and another spot of fishing.
 


 
This time of morning is absolutely beautiful up the beach and it made me realise just how lucky we are to be able to experience something like this.
 


It truly is wonderful to be able to walk out of your tent and go for an early morning wander along the beach.
 


 
At least there was no rain when we were packing up the camp so that made things a bit easier.
 
We headed home via Rainbow Beach this time which is definately the long way home but as hubby hadn't driven up there before we decided to do the loop to see which way he liked going best.
 
The kids were disappointed that we didn't take the ferry again but we'll be back up there in a couple of weeks for a bit of a longer stay so they'll get their ferry ride then.
 
 
I'm certainly looking forward to having 5 days or so break with my family then too. 
 
Watching the waves crash on the water at night around the campfire after the kids have gone to bed is probably one of the best ways I find to relax.
 
xx Susan
 
P.S.  This is for Kylie:  I realised that the last time I went camping at D.I was when we went up in your old Hilux when we were working together.  That was about 13 years ago!  I was well past due for another trip I think.
 



Tuesday 17 March 2015

Where we are today.

Skippy Park (between Beerwah & Landsborough)


I don't think it's been a great day at school. Before we even got in the car it was all drama and lots of fighting. 

To save my sanity this evening I decided to bring the kidlettes to the park so they can get some of the widgets out. 

It worked & they even got to play with kids from school.



I got to work on my latest project, rest my toe and relax for a bit. Lovely!

xx Susan

Sunday 15 March 2015

Hold the renovations...

We're holding the renovations for a bit because I've ripped off a toenail.


I've shown you the nice view with the bandage & not the actual wound.

Take my word for it, it's not pretty! It's also very sore so I thank my family for their help over the last few days.

This wound has also made me realise that I don't cope too well with open wounds. Who knew that I was such a wuss!!

Xx Susan

Wednesday 4 March 2015

Hubby is bored.....

One day last week hubby decided he was hot and bored.
 
We do have quite a hot house, especially the lounge room which faces full west and hubby decided he had a solution.
 
Rip the carpet up!
 
 
Now I can't really complain too much because I've wanted the carpet in the kitchen/dining room gone ever since we moved in nearly 10 years ago (yes we had carpet in the kitchen...ridiculous).
 
The carpet came up easily except we found a layer of old lino underneath.


 
Then another layer of lino underneath that one!

 
He also got half the carpet in the lounge room pulled up too and then remembered that he was going back to work the next day so he'd better fix up what he had done so far to make it safer for the kids and I over the next week (remove nails and staples etc).

 
The house already feels completely different with the little bit that's been done so far and I'm excited about finally getting my polished floors.  It seems to be the original hardwood floor so hopefully it will end up looking really nice.
 
Wish me luck getting him to finish it within the next 5 years!
 
xx Susan

Beach outings

It's now officially Autumn here although it is still pretty hot and muggy.  Autumn means the end of summer so we decided to get a few more beach outings in with the kids while hubby was home on the weekend.  The previous weekends plans went out the window with all the flooding we had around here so we jumped at the chance to get out and about.
 
On Saturday we went up to the Maroochy River to throw some lines in.  The kids had been harassing their father to take them fishing for weeks but with cyclones and flooding, it wasn't possible.
 
The trip wasn't a great success.
 
 
After having his rod in the water for about 1 minute, Master M kept asking why he hadn't caught a fish yet.  After about 15 minutes of repeatedly pulling the line in, nearly hooking himself in the face, then complaining that he was soooo hungry, Master M declared that fishing wasn't as fun as he thought it would be.
 
Little Miss R wasn't much better except all she wanted to do was go swimming and not fish.  Daddy didn't cope with all of this very well although it was to be expected.  He decided to go fishing by himself that night so in next to no time we were packed up and on our way.
 
Late Sunday afternoon we headed the other direction and went to Toorbul which is on Pumicestone Passage and looks across to Bribie Island.

 
The tide was still out a bit so the kids got to kick a ball around the mudflats, paddle in the water and dig in the mud of course.

 
Even Patch got to come for a drive and a play this time which made him happy.  He's not in the good books with me right now as he keeps running away so I have to keep him chained up because I really don't feel like driving the streets all day looking for him.

 
It ended up being quite a lovely weekend with a good mixture of everything to make us all pretty happy.
 
xx Susan