Twister Touchdown at Long Beach

Yesterday at 2pm, this column of water - called a waterspout appeared right off Long Beach in Batemans Bay.  Apparently the sky just turned black, and this appeared - the water was swirling around it.  The weather has been a bit wild in parts of New South Wales and Queensland over the weekend.

We bought and renovated a house right on the beach at Long Beach after moving from the farm.  Lovely area and incredible views, though south facing (not good for the southern hemisphere).  We sold it late 2001 due to another renovation we had taken on the opposite side of the Batemans Bay Harbour at Surf Beach, and also because our back garden at Long Beach was a haven for the poisonous red belly black snakes,  and you know being continually on guard against them and also a visit by a 7ft carpet python one Saturday afternoon, being beachfront here wore quite thin.  However, I must say the picture above is really stunning - these waterspouts apparently only last for about 15 minutes,  and this one did not hit land.

Lachlan's Formal

Well Lachlan's formal was last week - how smart does he look.  His twin brother and sister (Alex and Maddie) went to theirs last year - Alex in a VW Combi and Maddie in a Rolls.  This year Lachie chose his Aunt and Uncle's (Gail and Steve) Minimoke Dune Buggy.

However he only used it to reach his partner's place

he then changed over to a wagon of the appropriate colour and far less stressful to accompany young April - they both look delightful!

A little bit of British

During our recent trip to the UK, there was ample "British" type outfits around for kids - Jubilee Year, so we indulged.

Gave the jacket above to Ethan as part of his 7th Birthday present, and a swimming costume to Immy - which she used that same day - she told me via phone.

Happy 7th Birthday

Well, Ethan turned 7 on Thursday, and had his party today - ice cream, crunchies, chocolate, strawberries and whatever else tucked away in that cake below.

Immy and Ethan called us on Thursday night, to say their day had been excellent - school, swimming,  disco, and then celebrating Ethan's big day.

Melbourne Cup

Yesterday was a big day all over Australia, the whole country stops for our biggest horse race, the Melbourne cup held at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria.

This year I decided to buy a dress, have not worn one for at least ten years, and topped it up with a little thing on my head - a fascinator!

My cousin Ailsa joined us at the house, we then drove down to our Golf Club

Met up with Auntie Beryl

Sue and cousin Ash as well

Sue and Ash were also celebrating their 30th Wedding Anniversary yesterday

Sue with her mother-in-law - Auntie Beryl in Sue's hat

Ailsa and I - and those hats

The 4 of us

Ash and Sue's table

and our table - there were 14 of us at the 2 tables

After our main course - that race did run - we had huge big screens around the room

Green Moon won - and the Duchess of Cornwall - Camilla awarded the Melbourne cup to the Aussie owner (nice for a change)

Next came our desert

Ails, Sue and I swapped hats for awhile

We did not win any of the Sweepstakes we entered - but a few at our table did, it was just a lovely day - enjoyed by us all, have agreed to do it again next year.

How is this for a great photo - love it.

Today we are off to celebrate Australia's largest horse race, the Melbourne Cup, the whole country halts for the occasion.  There are 14 of us going to our Golf Club for a long lunch, and a few sweepstakes - should be fun.

Margaret and Kevin's 40th

I have just received this photo from Frank's brother of the table at the Indian Restaurant where some 20 people went out to celebrate Margarent and Kevin's 40th Wedding Anniversary.  A fabulous time was had by all, we have heard.

Photo - Left - Abi, partner of Matt,( beside her)- Matt is Kevin and Margaret's baby), right - is Clare,  wife of middle son Nick, and further back beside Clare is Leanne - partner of their eldest son, Dan.  Good lookin' bunch of partners boys - and loads of fun as well.  Congrats Margaret and Kevin - on a job well done!

My Kiss shirt

A friend of Sumans (he is now back in the USA) has just emailed me this photo of the 2 of us at Suman's Barbeque, the weekend before last.

Where did my Kiss shirt come from - Suman bought it back from India for me for my birthday.

Halloween did happen in New Hampshire

We have heard from our friends in New Hampshire, and they have all survived "Sandy" - it was not pleasant at the time, however they did not receive the force that New Jersey and New York did.

Have just received these photos of 2 of our god daughter's 3 sons - all set up for Halloween.

On the left is one of the identical twins - it's either Owen or Dylan, and then there is young Greyson all dressed up for the occasion.

Great costumes Lynne - they look great.

I just received this delightful photo of young Caitlin all dressed up in her Halloween costume from her Mum in Denver, Colorado.

Unfortunately Caitlin's cousins, Aunt, Uncle and grandparents (our friends Lois and Glenn) won't be partaking in Halloween this year, as they are all based in New Hampshire, and as I write this they will be getting ready for that awful storm "Sandy" to hit them.  I heard from our 3 lots of New Hampshire friends this morning, and they are all battened down waiting for Sandy along with our 2 godchildren and their kids.  Just terrible, our thoughts are totally with them.

Fall in New Hampshire

Just received these from Lois and Glenn, and their "fall" leaves.  How does one deal with these leaves all over their lawn?

Well Glenn has a mulcher attachment on his ride-on, he drives around every couple of days mulching these leaves to clear the lawn of it's leaf coverage,

and towards end of November, the mulcher will be replaced by the snow-blower!

Tippy takes a rest

Love this photo of Tippy, the red dog (kelpie), she finds some peace and quiet while working with her owner, a contract musterer.

from R.M. Williams mag.

Loud hat day at the Rock

A photo from Ularu, at Ayers Rock it was International loud shirt day, however Connor decided on a loud hat instead.

Sculptures by the Sea - Bondi

It's that time of year again - the 16th Sculptures by the Sea is up and running - it is the largest free-to-public Exhibition in the world - it runs for 2 kilometres from fabulous Bondi around the cliffs to Tamarama Beach.  We have been to it a few times - think the last time was with Lois and Glenn when they were across from the USA in 2008 - no, I have just been reminded we went again on our way down to the Snowy Mountains in October 2010.

Now, none of these photos were taken by me obviously,  the following daylight photos I found in the Denver Post, Colorado - Lois, I wonder if Jeff has seen these photos.  Anyway they show just some of this year's Sculptures.

The next 4 were taken by a local known as Hirsty,  these are incredible

If you want to see some more fabulous shots - go to www.hirsty.com.au.  Kevin, really worth a look, this guy has lived around our Eastern suburbs beaches all his life and has taken the most stunning photos.

******

I must say, I still can't get enough of Sydney, we will be down there for a couple of days in early January - and Bondi is just wonderful - to sit at the Icebergs Club, and look across this beach is a superb experience in my books.

SWELL at the beach

A couple of weeks ago, on an absolutely stunning day, we drove to Currumbin Beach to view their 10th SWELL Sculpture Exhibition.

We started off "in the red"

moving along to a large insect

then to a filing cabinet.

Next some interesting totem pole work

and then we stopped at Miss permanent

she is here every day, every month, every year - I like her.

Beach towel sculpture

and on to some attractive

glass boat sculptures.

Some anemone sculptures

and colourful ladies

and a very unusual

striped "Koala" sculpture.

Time to head back to 

the  Currumbin Lifesavers Club

for some lunch

and then back down to the beach

just love it here.

The Pandanus tree in front of Elephant Rock

and the it's fruit

and another ole fruit!

A lovely day.