Rainy day walk

We woke up to a windy, rainy day this morning on Anzac Day.  So in-between the rain we decided to go for a walk from Spencer Park to Bar Beach in Merimbula.  We were lucky to avoid the heavy rain and thoroughly enjoyed the walk and scenery.

Tathra Enduro

Richard competed in the Tathra Enduro 100km mountain bike race today. Jack, Josie and I dropped him off at 7am and then hung out in Tathra until we had to pick him up again.  We got there to see him cross the finish line at 5 hours and 55 mins, finishing 5th in his category.  Good effort mad husband.

 Hanging out at the skatepark

 Waiting for Daddy at the finish line in the rain

Just about to cross the finish line

Living in limbo

Richard and I have moved a few times since we met, from Perth to London twice, London back to Perth twice, from Perth to Chamonix in France, and now from Perth to NSW.  Each time we have moved, we hadn't arranged anywhere to live beforehand and we hadn't organised jobs.  As is the case this time.  For me, the process of getting 'settled' doesn't get easier at all.  The uncertainty of not knowing where we will live and how we will get a job, and more importantly WHEN this will happen doesn't sit that easily with me.  I tend to go through all the 'what ifs....' and get myself stressed out.  You would think I would learn from past experiences that it all works out in the end (as it did for us each time we moved to London, back to Perth and also France), that things can change quite quickly with one phone call or conversation, and enjoy the 'experience' of settling into a new place, but no - I just want to be all sorted and settled now.  

So thats me - living in limbo.

Windy walk along Short Point

The weather has turned wet and windy, so this morning we put on our wet weather gear and went for a lovely walk along Short Point.

Emily Lane!

Just around the corner from our new home in Tura Beach is Emily Lane!! Ha ha!

Morning at Tathra Skate Park

Our local beach

We decided to head down to our local beach this afternoon, its a 5 minute walk from our house through the bush.  We had a great time, chasing the waves, sliding down the sand dunes, collecting shells and drawing in the sand with sticks.  We even saw a pod of dolphins surfing the waves. Lovely.

 Following the bush path

 Nearly there

 Short Point beach

 Sliding down the dunes and drawing in the sand

School

We have enrolled Jackson into the local pre-school, and today was his 'trial' day to see if he liked it.  Needless to say, he loved it.  So he will have his orientation later on this week and then go two days a week after that.  Such a big boy now.  Sniff sniff.

Ready for school (Josie insisted on taking her backpack too!)

Our new home

We have moved into a short-term rental in Tura Beach, which is 4km from Merimbula.  Its a small 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom place and is a definite upgrade from the tent.  Its in a pretty special location with views across to Short Point beach.  Not a bad view when your having your weetbix.

 Our unit is the one on the end

 View from our balcony

This picture was taken from the window on the side of the house

Easter

We have had a great Easter with the Rice Family.  It started early with a great Easter egg hunt.

The stash of eggs for all to share

 Munching on their chocolate eggs

Canberra

We have had a fabulous week staying with the Rices again.  Dad (Grandad) was also with us up until yesterday when he flew back to Perth.  We have been to Cockington Green (a great place where they have miniature villages - great fun), the Botanical Gardens, Stomolo Mountain, local parks, and the shops.  Jackson and Josie have loved hanging out with their cousins and will miss them when we go. Tomorrow we head off to our short term rental in Tura Beach.

Me and my little bro

Playing 'Whats the time Mr Wolf?' at Stromolo

Goodbye Tent

It is with great sadness I write this post (...not!) as tonight is the last night we will spend in the tent for a while!!!  We are off to Canberra for Easter then we move into our short-term rental in Tura Beach.

Since we left Perth we have spent 57 nights in the tent.  We have had two much needed breaks, one in Ballarat and Bendigo when we had lots of rain and wind and checked into a cabin, and one in Canberra whilst hanging out with the Rices, apart from that it has been tent-life for us.

The tent has done so so well.  Its a very large family tent, not necessarily designed to be put up and down so often.  It has endured lots of rain, wind and also hot temperatures and its kept us dry and comfortable.  We have reduced our tent set up time from 40 minutes to 20 minutes, we have had one broken pole (which Rich fixed), lots of bent tent pegs and a mouse that decided to stow-away inside a tent pole for a week.  Apart from that, all good.  Looks like we might be packing it up wet tomorrow, so I have a feeling we will be getting it out to dry in Canberra.  So its not the last I've seen of it but at least I won't have to sleep in it for a while.

Thank you tent.

This was taken in Ballarat in 40 to 50 km per hr gusts of wind.

The Roulettes

It was Merimbula's Centenary this weekend, and to celebrate the Roulettes did an aerial display over the town.  We watched it from beautiful Bar Beach.

Merimbula

Spent the last 5 nights in beautiful Merimbula. We have been really impressed with the area, the beaches, countryside, towns nearby, shops and facilities etc.  We have been out to Eden, Pambula, Bega (home of Bega cheese) and Tathra.

In fact we like this area so much that we have organised a short-term rental in Tura Beach (4km from Merimbula) that we move into after Easter, and we have enrolled Jackson into a pre-school.  So, hopefully, we can make it work.  Off to Canberra to spend some time with the Rices over Easter, then back to Tura Beach to see if we can make a life for ourselves in this area.  Exciting and interesting times ahead.

 The local beach from our new short term rental in Tura Beach

 This is called Short Point.  Our short-term rental is in the distance on the headland, roughly in the centre of this picture.

Bar Beach, Merimbula

Central Tilba

Stopped in Central Tilba on the way to Merimbula from Batemans Bay.  A National Trust town.  Lovely town to wander around.