Month: January 2017

A Beach Break Refreshes

/ brisbanefrannie / 4 Comments

What do I have to show after nearly 5 weeks at the coast?

Not a lot……….

But Steve and I have settled into a very low key pattern of R& R.

We had a lovely Christmas Day with our good friends Carmel and Peter Harrison and their three daughters and their partners.


I made my famous trifle!


And met Victoria’s beautiful dog. He’s in training to be a guide dog and is more than attached to Victoria.


Since then its all been about swimming, a little walking, sitting on the beach chatting to friends , coffee dates, afternoon drinks and a few lunches and dinners. I must admit to being very lazy and not doing too much in the way of entertaining friends here!

After every everything that happened last year I figure we needed the rest.

So what are my favourite things about the coast? Here’s my

Top Ten

1. Watching the sun rise over the water before the heat of the day.

2. Walks along the coastal path. Passing other walkers who offer a cheery ‘good morning’

3. Swimming. If it’s calm out the front I swim in the ocean. If not then I head to the Caloundra Aquatic Centre. Swimming clears the head. Almost like meditation.

4. Reading. Who doesn’t like taking time to read. I’ve churned through the books these holidays. I’ll do a seperate blog post on books I’ve enjoyed.

5. Umbrella hopping! There are always lots of friends here over Christmas and it’s great to spend time on the beach chatting. Moving from one group to the other.

6. Eating prawns and other delicious summer foods – especially with friends. Yotam Ottolenghi salads have been a feature this year.

7. Discovering a new summer drink. I’m afraid to admit my current favourite is still an Aperol Spritz. It’s always ‘summer in a glass’. And tastes better when shared with friends on the new verandah at the surf club

8. Coffee at Coofee Cat –  a retro style cafe a minute walk from our place. Good coffee and always a paper to read.

9. Riding around summer style in the new mini moke. It’s Steve’s new car and has been great over summer for heading to the pool or out to lunch. It’s always attracts comments from the young and not so young.

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10. Afternoon naps. And watching the tennis or the cricket. Very Aussie way of spending time at the beach.

 

What are your favourite things to do on holidays? Please use the comment box to let me know.

Happy New Year

/ brisbanefrannie / 2 Comments

The passing of one year and the beginning of another gives us the chance to look back, reflect and then begin again.

Would I change things?

Last year was wonderful in many ways but so hard in others.

We faced all kinds of challenges. A swim trek in Montenegro where I swam long distances so much more confidently and made a whole new group of friends.

The weekends away with my gorgeous friends  to Byron Bay and to Sunshine Beach –  the bonds of many years being reinforced.

Our family visits to Sydney to my beautiful sister and her fun loving  children and grandchildren. Two family weddings

Visits and a wedding with Steve’s sister and her children. So many laughs together.

Lots  of lovely weekends at the coast with Rob and Jordan.

Then the accident. A life changer.

But it made me realise how important family and friends are to our life. Without our family and friends it would have been so much harder.

Just to recall the messages- emails, texts, phone calls, received during those weeks in Cambodia and Bangkok. It makes us feel gratitude.

The hugs, the food, the offers of help – all so appreciated.

The way Peter’s friends, our friends, acquaintances and complete strangers donated money to try and make life a little easier for he and Elena. It was a little overwhelming.

The quickly organised Brisbane wedding where everyone rallied offering help  for the wedding party.

The trip to Cambodia for the wedding. It all turned out as they had planned. Such a happy momentous occasion.

So we move into 2017 recharged after our holiday at the beach: swimming , chatting on the beach and driving around in the new mini moke. This year has plenty on offer.

Travel, family occasions, fun things with friends, another family wedding in Sydney and a new leg and new life for Peter and Elena.

What do we want this year? We just want good health for all.