Wet & Wild August; End of Soccer

This August has been extremely wet and cold.  Meterologists confirmed Sydney had it's wettest and cloudiest August since 1998.  The last 30 days have been the wettest in a long time.  Usually winter is dry and sunny, so this weather is extreme.

The ocean has been very rough and stormy, making for dramatic views.   On the day I took these photos, Dave and I were on our walk on the beach in the sun.  The rain clouds moved inland and we were drenched before we arrived home.

Rain falling over the ocean 

Dramatic rain clouds over rough sea

Blue skies with cloud cover overhead

Because of the big storms, the tidal lines along the beach have been especially heavy with washed up sea life, including these bluebottle (Portuguese Man of War) jellyfish.  

Neo's team with Coach at Soccer Gala day

 Zoe and Neo's soccer season ran for several months prior to this streak of wet weather.  Fortunately, they were able to complete most of their games.  Zoe's team did remarkably well this season - they made it into the Grand Final.  It was an exciting season.

Zoe played goalie in one of the final games of the season (a first for her)

Zoe's soccer team took 2nd place in the Grand Finals for U11s

Dave's Odyssey - Outback New South Wales

The car as camper

The last week of August, Dave drove to Outback New South Wales alone in our white station wagon.  The station wagon was set up to provide a place to sleep, in the event no accommodation was available or if Dave wanted to "camp" somewhere.  He left on Monday and returned on Friday before noon.  On the first day, he drove 12 hours from Copacabana to Cobar (point A to C on the map).  Monday night I called every hotel in Cobar, but everything was booked.  Cobar is near to the mines - present day miners sleep in the hotels during the week.

Dave drove down the road to a roadside rest area where a few other people were already camping.  He slept over night in the sleeping bag and on the air mattress in the back of the wagon.  On Tuesday morning, Dave drove another 8 hours from Cobar through White Cliffs (point D) on to Tibooburra, his destination.  It's 200 km of dirt road from White Plains to Tibooburra.  He spent 2 nights at the Tooles Family Hotel .

While in Tibooburra, Dave went fossicking.  He said he found metal cans left by the miners a century ago.  The soil is red with iron.  The car still oozes the red soil from crevices.  Dave saw a mother emu and young just a few feet away, red and grey kangaroos, wild pigs, lizards, sheep.  He didn't take many pictures - and the ones he did take were corrupted.

Dave on his return

Dave chose to drive "The Cut Line" - 400 km of dirt road from Tibooburra to Bourke - for his return journey.  He said it was amazing.  He saw kangaroos boxing in the middle of the road.  They would stand there and watch as the car approached, before eventually moving off the road because there was no human around for miles.


View Larger Map

Winter on Lake Cochrane

Clara sitting on the rail of the Mac Masters Beach Rock Pool.

The kids and I arrived at Sydney airport on Saturday 21 August at 6am. We had no waiting in the immigration lines. We gathered our luggage but could not find 1 bag. As we were looking, the crowds grew. The bag was recovered and we made our way to the long line to exit. Fortunately, a customs agent took pity on me and reviewed our declaration documents, and sent us through the exit from the back of the line!

Dave met us with a rented mini-van. We were very glad to see him! All the luggage and passengers fit and Dave drove us to MacMasters Beach and our holiday rental just up the street from where we lived previously.

Our Holiday House as seen from the walking path near the Lake. This is how we saw it whenever we would walk by. The house is on small stilts, in the event of flooding.

Lake Cochrane is literally outside the sliding door. Within 4 hours of arriving, I saw our neighbor from last time! It was great to see her and be welcomed back.

This holiday house is great for the kids. They love feeding the birds and ducks. A pair of kookaburra have the tree out back here. It's in close proximity to the beach, and we have been at the beach everyday - several times a day, even though it's winter. The nights have been cold, but the days warm up beautifully. Since we've arrived, there was one wet and rainy day.

Interior of the Holiday House. As you can see, the Lake is right out the door. The full wall of windows is amazing to view wildlife.

Our days have been spent getting the cars registered (rego). The registration process has 3 parts: insurance (called a Green Slip), Proof of Road Worthiness (Blue Slip), and a trip to the Roads & Traffic Authority (RTA) for fee payment and licensing.

Livingroom of Holiday House.

Yesterday I went to rego Dave's car, but they would not allow me to do it since his car is registered in his name. Shortly after he arrived, the computer system went down, so he had to wait until that recovered so he could get his car's license plates.

The Trajet is looking worse for the year in the sun. We are going forward to repair it, only because it will hold the entire family. We'll consider looking at a replacement family vehicle in 6 months or so.

We needed to get some electrical work done on the Trajet and the tail light replaced. The rats had chewed the wiring. The rego on that vehicle went smoothly at the RTA.

Kookaburra eating bread. Another kooka stole Clara's sausage roll out of her hand as she was about to take a bite. He just flew past her and grabbed it away from her.

We signed a 12 month lease on our permanent rental. We will take possession and collect the keys on Monday 30 August. Dave is the only one that has seen the inside of the house. Having said that, I have seen the house from the front and the back. I've also walked around the backyard and looked at the pictures from the estate agent.

The red arrow marks our Holiday House location. Our permanent rental is on the left above the trees - which is part of the Bouddi National Forest.

The house is within walking distance of the beach - but it's a steep climb through part of Bouddi National forest. We'll be on the other side of MacMaster's Beach - not close to Copa as we've been in the past. We are excited about moving in on Monday.

The last days of school

Zoe with her 60 Home Readers Certificate and Bookmark

Our children really love their school: Copacabana Public School. But the last week before our departure was rough.

On the last Friday, Tristan suffered a mild concussion.

On the last Tuesday, Zoe was sent to sick bay because she had a wave of nausea at the end of the day. She did vomit when she returned home and spent Wednesday at home with me. Wednesday afternoon she was doing OK, so we went to a birthday party she was invited to for her friends Izzy and Rylee. It was a lovely party and a beautiful day....at the Copacabana surf lifesaving club.




Thursday was the last day of school. Zoe woke up late and didn't want to go to school. Her teacher had organized a party on her behalf as a special lunchtime celebration.



Clara walked to school that morning. The lagoon had been let out again - this time a trench was dug by hand and it was smaller. There was standing water when Clara arrived in the morning and the tide was high. Instead of returning home for a ride to school, Clara decided to wade through the water. She was soaked to her buttocks! She didn't ask to call me, as I would have brought her a pair of pants to wear.

When I arrived at school, I heard that there was some confusion so I went to see her. We could not find any pants in lost and found and school did not have a change of clothes. So she had to wear the new skirt that I had bought her and we had planned to return to the store for a refund. She was not happy about having to wear her skirt.

Clara's teacher had arranged for the canteen to make cupcakes for the entire class to celebrate Clara's departure.



Tristan with his buddies Roan and Cullen

Tristan's teacher had organized a special card for Tristan. The card is huge and attached to it are many greetings - mini cards - from each of his classmates. Tristan had also been tested in his reading earlier in the week and scored as an "independent" reader. He brought home his "Wall of Fame" and all the spots had been filled in...an accomplishment not achieved by anyone else in the class.

Thursday afternoon, I brought Zoe in to her class a little before the bell. She was greeted warmly by her classmates. We took pictures.

After the bell, we went to Clara's room where she was chatting with her teacher. We took more pictures and said good bye.

As we walked out of the school yard, the principal and vice principal came to say good bye and wish us well.


Clara and Zoe with Principal Sue Lewis


The school was wonderful. My children thrived at Copacabana Public School: academically, socially, and spiritually. The teachers, students, and parents are awesome. Copa school is where my children made many friends. I also made many friends with the parents. We were well blessed to be part of this community.


Jennefer, the first parent friend I made at Copa School

Lake Cochrone Update - 8 days after drain

Lake Cockrone as it refills after being drained 8 days prior.


8 days after the drain, the lake bottom is still present - but more of it is covered each day. This is the section where Zoe was standing on the previous pictures.


If you compare this picture with the same one taken 4 days after the drain, you'll see how much water has been filled in.



This is a new family of black swans. We saw them swimming the day before. Here they are sleeping on the edge of the water with their parents. It's surprising since they are sitting in a highly visible, popular area. Many people with dogs come along here. These are the youngest cygnets I've had the privilege of taking a picture of.


This Cormorant or "shag" is called a "white" cormorant - but I cannot find a reference for it. It's truly amazing. This bird swims with water covering his body up to his neck. Then he dives under the water coming up after 15 seconds or longer quiet a way from where it submerged. Later, it stands on the edge and raises it's wings and tail feathers like this - possibly to dry? We haven't seen this cormorant prior to the draining of the lake and lagoon.


This is the black cormorant. We've seen it plenty of times around the lagoon.

Australian Autumn

The Brisbane Waters/Woy Woy Girls Regional Soccer Team shakes hands with their opponents after a match at Putney Oval

Sorry I've been so long away from the Blog! Once the kids got back into school, we've been quite busy with their activities.


Clara played goalie in the last game...nothing much going on - see the birds

On 30 April, Clara played 5 soccer games in a row as a representative of the Brisbane Waters/Woy Woy regional girls soccer team. She had to leave the house at 6:15am to make it to the game location in Putney, a suburb of Sydney. Her schoolmate and friend also made the team. Her mother could drive the girls there, but could not bring Clara back. So after I got the other children off to school, I drove to Putney. It was a beautiful park. Clara's team placed 3rd of the 6 teams that played. Her friend was chosen to be on the Sydney North team which will go on to play at the State level. Congratulations to Clara for making it as far as she did. We're very proud of her.


Neo inside the Sydney Opera House - Harbour side.

On 4 May, Zoe and Tristan went with their school to see "The Little Mermaid" at the Sydney Opera House. They went by bus and had to be to school by 7:20am. Neo and I took the train and met them there. It was a beautiful autumn day! The performance was not what I expected. Nothing visual for the children - just lights, occasionally, and the narrator with a scarf as a prop! There was a 13 piece orchestra to accompany. The story did not follow the Disney script either.


Inside the Harbourside of the Opera House

I've never been inside the Sydney Opera House before. The performance was in the Concert Hall - the smaller theatre. The most amazing feature of the Sydney Opera House is the bathroom! Really, it was an amazing design.

Bathroom sinks at the Sydney Opera House

Following the performance, the school children had lunch in the Royal Botanical Gardens. Neo and I caught the train to Wynnum station and had lunch with Dave. It was nice to see his corner of Sydney - and the famous Pitt Street.


ANZAC Memorial near Pitt Street, Sydney.


Tristan with the kids from Copa school performing @ Mother's Day Extravaganza

There was a Mother's day stall at school on Thursday, May 7. Each classroom was escorted to the hall where many gifts were wrapped in clear wrappings. The children could chose a gift for their mom to give her on mother's day. Each gift was $6. Gifts ranged from tea cups to teddy bears, to toe nail and finger nail kits, and of course chocolate. It was well done. I gave Zoe and Tristan money. Tristan said he didn't find anything to his liking. Zoe gave me a toenail kit - so our nails are beautiful now.


Zoe making her Mother's day craft (flower)

On Friday 8th of May, there was the Mother's Day extravaganza at school. It began with a tea and scone. The scone was delicious - but I only had 1 bite as Zoe claimed 1/2 of it and Neo claimed the other! LOL Then the children gathered together for a short performance by the Kindergarten to Year 3 students. It was very sweet. Then the moms went to the classrooms to help with a special mother's day art project. Lovely.


Tristan with his finished Mother's day craft

Mt. Ettalong Look Out and Waterfall near Pearl Beach

Overlooking Lion Island and Pearl Beach - at a typical lookout - no railing!

Dave took 2 days off of work to spend some time with the family during their Easter break. Unfortunately, Dave was sick with a cold over his 4 day weekend - as was most of the family. It also rained and/or was overcast the entire time. So we laid low and recuperated.

On Monday, 20 April, Dave was back to work. A 5 day week after 2, 3 day weeks. It was a difficult week. He was scheduled to have training that week, but it wasn't scheduled properly, so was canceled. (Amazing, the paperwork was completed, the training approved, but no trainer allocated!)


Pearl Beach from Mt. Ettalong Lookout

We took Monday to do some preparations for the week - groceries, etc. On Tuesday, 21 April, we planned to go to the Taronga zoo - but it was overcast and more rain expected.



Lion Island (notice the storm clouds brewing)
Lion Island can be viewed from Blackwall Mountain Reserve Lookout



Ettalong as viewed from Mt. Ettalong Lookout

Instead, we went to the Mt. Ettalong Look Out. The views were amazing.


This Lookout actually has a railing!

At this place, there was a sign with notations, in miles, not kilometers, of the distance to other locations.

On the walk back to the car, it began to sprinkle. That was fine because we were warm from the walk. But with 50 meters to go, the clouds opened up....and we ran for it!


Sign on the road to Pearl Beach - what it doesn't show is the grade - it's a steep decline. There's another sign further down the road that indicates "changing road conditions" - an exhilarating drive!

We were wet but in good spirits. So we drove to Pearl Beach, ate lunch in the car and prepared to go explore the waterfall near Pearl Beach.



Small waterfall near Pearl Beach
Somersby Falls is another waterfall in the area

This was really a bush walk! The path was over grown and fairly steep. I warned the kids to stay on the path and use a stick to make noise in front of them - to warn snakes to get out of the way.


We found tadpoles here too - they are different then the ones at Somersby Falls - larger - but not more developed


Tristan at the lower part of the Pearl Beach water fall. He was the only one to go down here because it's fairly difficult to access.



I noticed the rain clouds coming our direction again, so we high tailed it to the car - but not before the showers caught us, again!

Beautiful wildflowers blooming, even in fall

Sydney Aquarium

Neo in front of the aquarium wall, with the fish over and on either side - a viewing tunnel

On Wednesday, 15 April, we went to the Sydney Aquarium. We again bought the DayTripper Family pass from the Woy Woy Train depot. We rode the train in to Sydney....but this time it was standing room only! We were able to board the train in the doorway of the last car. Every other car was packed - no room for another person to enter. We stood in the entryway of the train for about 1/2 the trip. Then we had the good fortune to sit. Most of those on the train got off at Strathfield exit - so they were on their way to The Royal Easter Show - which is not unlike the Wisconsin State Fair meets Summerfest. We had no problem taking the Circle Train then Wharf 5 on Circular Quay for Darling Harbour.


I took a few pictures during our ferry ride across Sydney Harbour. I thought this water taxi was cool

The Aquarium had long lines for admission. There were examples of aquatic life from the Murray Darling River Basin. I was intrigued by this area since Kevin Rudd's stimulus plan was passed by 1 vote - after a generous contribution to engineer a solution to the Murray Darling River Basin problem.



One of the main attractions to the Aquarium was the Dugong - a creature related to the Manitee. There are only 5 dugongs in captivity and the Sydney Aquarium has 2 - 1 male and 1 female. The story goes that the Sailors mistook the dugongs for mermaids. That's why the Aquarium had "mermaids" at the entrance to the dugong pool.



The largest tank areas of the aquarium appears to be a large boat anchored to the harbour floor. To enter the area, guests walk across gang planks and go down a ramp to the floor of the boat. The viewing area is from the ocean floor. The fish swim overhead! It's a really cool way to view the fish.


Diver cleaning the glass of the viewing tunnel over Clara's shoulder

There's a please touch rock pool area for kids to feel some sea creatures. There were some very large glass areas where the sharks reside. It was really well done, and a different perspective from other aquariums I've visited (Boston and Chicago).

One of the things I learned at the aquarium is that the jellyfish we saw in Queensland were not blue bottle - instead they were Box jellyfish. The instructions for dealing with these stings was vinegar then seek medical attention - can cause death. So that girl that was stung when we were in Queensland should have been seeking medical assistance. Blue bottles are much smaller - and there are many of those here.