It has been a pretty wet past few days - I can safely say it definitely rains in Australia.
But it is winter, and I think we have been pretty lucky with the sun since we arrived, even by local standards.
The forecast was warning of some really bad storms over the weekend, and although I think some parts of the city were struck with bad flooding, we got off lightly - or it was a just a big rain storm to us, and we are used to it therefore didn't consider it such a big deal. We walked into one store and the guy behind the counter told us we were brave for venturing out...we didn't know wether he was joking or not, but I think he was serious!
But it is winter, and I think we have been pretty lucky with the sun since we arrived, even by local standards.
The forecast was warning of some really bad storms over the weekend, and although I think some parts of the city were struck with bad flooding, we got off lightly - or it was a just a big rain storm to us, and we are used to it therefore didn't consider it such a big deal. We walked into one store and the guy behind the counter told us we were brave for venturing out...we didn't know wether he was joking or not, but I think he was serious!
Before the wet weather hit, we were were starting to establish some routines; one of them being an early morning Sunday surf (well, surf for T, walk for me!) The early start is one of those; the alarm goes off but the lure of bed seems too strong, but once we have managed to prize ourselves from the soft, oh-so-comfy sheets and walk through to the sitting room, being greeted by the sight of a beautiful sun rise through the windows soon puts the wishes of returning to bed firmly to the back of our minds.
We are on the beach around fifteen minutes after leaving home.
I go for a walk whilst T surfs - maybe come warmer weather I may have a little dip into the waves on a board, but until then I am firmly staying on dry land.
Walking along the beach as the true light of day has yet to materialize, seeing the shadows it creates, and feeling the freshness of the start of a new day, is an amazing feeling.
I go for a walk whilst T surfs - maybe come warmer weather I may have a little dip into the waves on a board, but until then I am firmly staying on dry land.
Walking along the beach as the true light of day has yet to materialize, seeing the shadows it creates, and feeling the freshness of the start of a new day, is an amazing feeling.
Though the beach is far from quiet: surfers, swimmers, kayakers, joggers, walkers...it is a busy time on the beachfront.
We ventured into downtown Sydney the other Saturday, catching the ferry. It is a forty minute walk to the ferry from home; which is fine on the way there as it is mostly down hill, but on the way home it's a - very - long uphill walk...
Jumping off the ferry at Circular Quay, we walked past the Opera House and followed the bay around through the beautiful Botanical Gardens, before arriving at Woolloomooloo. Whilst there we stopped for lunch: a pie at Harry's Cafe de Wheels. Serving fresh pies for the past 70 years, the place has become something of an institution; and a long list of well-known names have eaten one of Harry's pies - from Elton John to Brooke Sheilds, Kevin Costner to Russell Crowe.
T opted for a chicken and mushroom pie, topped with a scoop of mashed potato, a scoop of mushy peas and a ladle full of gravy:
I'm not really a pie person but I had a taste (if it was good enough for Brooke...), and even I had to admit it was very good!
On the subject of food, we purchased an important addition to the apartment: a barbecue!
I think that signalled the start of the wet weather, but our terrace is under cover, so we have still been able to continue to cook outside, despite the rain's best efforts...
I think that signalled the start of the wet weather, but our terrace is under cover, so we have still been able to continue to cook outside, despite the rain's best efforts...
...which is a very good thing, as we currently have no oven.
(Those of you who know me quite well will know this is a something of a huge disaster for me - I love to cook!)
Ever since we moved into the apartment, the oven has been burning things, in a matter of minutes, so we asked for an oven repair guy to come and test the temperatures. Which he duly did: set at 180 degrees Celsius, it was still heating above 240 degrees - hence the burnt chicken in ten minutes one night.
The guy went away and ordered a new thermostat.
That was last Thursday.
On Sunday, I had put a pasta bake in the oven (just to finish off the baking, and give it a nice crispy top - hot ovens are good for crispy tops...). The pasta bake...well, baked away whilst we chatted in the sitting room; our backs to the kitchen. Suddenly, there were a couple of loud pops/bangs. I jumped up and ran to the kitchen, to hear the oven go off, and see a huge plume of black smoke come from behind the oven, accompanied by a strong smell of burning electrics...
The repair guy isn't coming until Thursday, so we have yet to hear the outcome, although I am pretty sure it will need something more than a new thermostat...
(Those of you who know me quite well will know this is a something of a huge disaster for me - I love to cook!)
Ever since we moved into the apartment, the oven has been burning things, in a matter of minutes, so we asked for an oven repair guy to come and test the temperatures. Which he duly did: set at 180 degrees Celsius, it was still heating above 240 degrees - hence the burnt chicken in ten minutes one night.
The guy went away and ordered a new thermostat.
That was last Thursday.
On Sunday, I had put a pasta bake in the oven (just to finish off the baking, and give it a nice crispy top - hot ovens are good for crispy tops...). The pasta bake...well, baked away whilst we chatted in the sitting room; our backs to the kitchen. Suddenly, there were a couple of loud pops/bangs. I jumped up and ran to the kitchen, to hear the oven go off, and see a huge plume of black smoke come from behind the oven, accompanied by a strong smell of burning electrics...
The repair guy isn't coming until Thursday, so we have yet to hear the outcome, although I am pretty sure it will need something more than a new thermostat...
As is always the way we had just been to the supermarket and stocked up on many things which require an oven. With a bit of imagination, I am sure we can barbecue most of them, in one way or another...!