Are you ready for the weekend. Are you landlocked girls ready from some ocean / sea / beach life shots? Well I am here to deliver
The other day I realised that I needed my passport renewed and pretty quickly.
And so, my first thought was to renew my English passport…after looking into this, it seemed that it was going to be touch and go as to whether or not those pommies would get the passport back to me in time.
Hmmm.
Then it hit me.
Sugarbums, you know what Mrs Beach Cottage? You can largely go get yourself an Australian passport now…seeing as you are a fair dinkum Australian with a certificate on the wall to prove it.
What I didn’t realise was that a simple thing like heading to the Post Office would spiral a large and cascading barrage of emotions about our seachange to Australia, our old tatty cottage and our new life by the sea and being near the ocean.
I headed into apply for the passport with my arms full of the necessary documentation…UK passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate…all from the Old Country and clutching in my hot little post-gym-workout hand one of the most significant things to happen to me in my life, apart from the births of those three Beach Cottage kiddos…my Australian Citizenship Certificate .
As I stood there with the lady, ticking, checking, photo-copying and double-checking, I was engulfed by emotion…and as she carried on her official duties all business-like I began to feel less and less business like and more and more like tears were welling up and oh no I was going to be a huge mess here if I wasn’t careful.
‘Woman Cries When Applying for Passport at Local Post Office and is Admitted for Crazy Australia Love’
I survived though and got through that interview tear-less, damp eyed for sure but without any tears.
As I walked out the door, I headed for a coffee and the beach… to sit down by the ocean and its pounding…
And as I sat there with my coffee I indulged with one of my fave pursuits…photographing the sea, drinking my coffee and revelling in my new Australian life.
Our journey has not been an easy one and I certainly wish that I came here before I did, but then again perhaps I wouldn’t appreciate it as much as I do…
You know the best thing about living in Australia though for me?
Contrary to popular opinion it is not the beach or the ocean…well it is living near the sea and all that goes with that…
But for me Australia is about diversity…
this country is so very bursting with things to do, experience and see
….different things….
We live on the outskirts of one seriously rocking city…Sydney…yet we live at the beach and the ocean is all around
we reside in a multi-cultural country full of amazingly diverse people…who work it oh-so-very-well…
we get to be outdoors a whole lot of the time and the ocean is our downtime
p.p.s. it’s like really hard for me to have to sit on the beach & take photos of lifeguards & stuff in the name of this blog , I do hope you are grateful for that & leave me the appropriate comment luv for my efforts?
If you are reading this and are a victim of domestic violence or a child, or witness of domestic violence please, please, please talk to someone who can offer you support and assistance. Talk to someone…. you deserve to live free of the shame and secrecy of domestic violence, including emotional violence.
it is vital for children to live in a safe and healthy home
Oh Sarah, Goosebumps in Hobart, imagining all the emotions welling inside you. We humans are complex characters, aren’t we? Good for you for working through it in your head. J x
I so understand that feeling as it’s how I feel about where we live. Just outside of Seattle, WA in the States…. we’ve been snow skiing and sailing on the same day…. Ocean, lakes, mountains, diverse population, the world at your finger tips. This is why the word “verklempt” exists. ❈
More gorgeous photos and a lovely story to boot! Your love of all things oz is so refreshing it really makes me smile. My beautiful Irish girlfriend is visiting me from Melb this weekend and we plan to head to the gold cost and just soak it all up!!!! the smell of the air, the feel of the sand, the beauty of all things beach. Even though reading your blog makes me feel like I’m right there on the sand looking at those glistening waves once in a while nothing beats the real thing ) The only scary part is the bod will be in a bikini in public for the first time in a while yikes
I have an ex-English girlfriend who would express pretty much the same sentiments as you, Sarah. She came here from London bout 6 years ago after meeting her future husband in a pub in Perth. She is very much an Aussie now, has the certificate to prove it and although there are things from the old country that she will never give away (like turkey at Christmas) she flinches if anyone dare call her a ‘Pom’.
I appreciate all the hard work you put into all the picture taking this week. I must say that the entire time I was reading and looking at the gorgeous pics I kept asking myself “when is she gonna show me that gorgeous lifeguards face”? LOL
Your photography captures Australia so well Sarah.
I’m a painter and love waves. I think il take more pics!!
The only thing negative about our beautiful passport is the long queue at Heathrow!
You will think of this when you next visit home.
The Britsh passport takes you straight through!!! I think Il apply for one.
Cheers for now.
Chris
This born and bred Aussie teared up reading your post. Thanks for reminding me of how lucky we are to live in this country. While living in South America a few years ago it really hit me. Now that we’ve settled back into our Tassie beach house I sometimes feel like life is a little ‘vanilla’. Seeing things through your eyes helps me to not take our lifestyle for granted. Thanks for your beautiful blog.
You wouldn’t believe how hard it was for me to read these lines of yours. “Crazy Australia Love” – ah, I can totally relate to that feeling! You are one lucky duck!! My heart aches so badly to be back in Australia… So it’s such a pleasure to have found your blog. Now I can daydream a little bit every other day! Thanks a lot for sharing your adventures and stories. And yes, all these pictures are very, very pretty!!
I have lived overseas in many different cities, and am married to a glorious Irishman, so I understand how great we have it here and am regularly reminded of it by hubbys comments about our fortunate lifestyle, … but I so loved reading your post (and the photos) – thank you.
Sarah, you are truly amazing. I simply love this blog. I think it’s wonderful that you’re speaking out agianst domestic violence. When I was 16 I was abused physically by the guy I was dating (he was 21).I won’t go into detail but I escaped his abuse thankfully, it took over a year to get him to finally go away, but once I moved away, he could no longer “get” me..
Thanks for putting yourself through it to get those photos, it must have been tough! I have both passports – because I have done the reverse to you (although my parents left Manly when I was tiny). I visited Manly a couple of years ago, the first time since I was a baby, and it’s beautiful. It was tough flying back to Heathrow although I got to skip the lines both ends of the trip but it wasn’t all bad. Every time I read your blog I think hmmmmmm…… there’s an Aussie passport lying in the drawer just over there…..
I remember the feeling of applying for my first US passport, in much the same way as you applied for your first Australian one. My five year old son and I were planning a trip to England, and he needed a passport, so off we went to the Post Office to complete the process.
My British passport is expired, but one day, I suspect that I will get a new one. Although I grew up in Australia and lived there for 25+ years, I never took Australian citizenship, so if ever I visit Australia these days, it is as an American citizen visiting Australia; it surprises the customs people in Australia, because there is no denying the Australian accent.
I’m glad you have found your new home in Australia
Aww Sarah, what a lovely post! you are so very lucky, Australia looks totally rockin’!! and so does that hunkalicious lifeguard (!!) – don’t forget how great London is though – in its own unique way, London is fabulous!! I lived there and miss it sometimes…the culture, the architecture, the way of life. You are lucky you are grateful to be living somewhere that means so much to you! Happy Weekend! ;–))
Your story makes me think about the journey my parents took to come to this country. We arrived right in the middle of the recession we had to have and we were only meant to stay for two years… 21 years later and we are all here still. I celebrate every year the day we landed on this country and I am so grateful. I love the landscape, the weather and how you only have to the shops and restaurants to experience different cultures all in one street (well at least where I used to live not so much where I am now).
I miss my walks by the sea it takes us an extra 20 minutes by car on a motorway to get anywhere near a beach now… Theres always the river …
Great shots by the way, like usual…
I’m feelin’ the Australia love today! Great post, Sarah! Yes, more lifeguard shots would have added some extra spice, but the ocean was refreshing enough! andrea!townandprairie
I am from the States and I marvel at the beauty Australia holds. It is my dream to visit there someday. but in the meantime I will visit through your blog. thank you so much for sharing so many beautiful things.
Sarah-my heart swells when I hear people share their thoughts & love for
‘our’ wonderful country….
Goose bumps of emotion here in old’ Blighty-I’m about to read Nikki Gemmels
book ‘Aletter to my Children’ about being Australian-have you seen it?!
Think it’s right up our alley.
I love your thoughts and emotions about Australia. It makes me feel so proud of our country.
Even though I am Aussie born and bred I too have nearly teared up at the post office trying to renew a passport. Not for the lovely reasons you listed but from the sheer frustration of the process. So happy it was easy for you.
Just voted for you Sarah!
I’ve been super busy the last couple of months so haven’t been able to read as much of your blog as I’d like to. Lovely to be back now and read your summer inspiration as we move into winter here in the UK ; )
My parents moved out from England in the late 1960′s. I was born here and raised in a small beach town. I had an idyllic childhood and now yearn to live by the sea again (even though I’m only a 40 min drive away!). I hope your kids will understand and thank you one day for what you have given them. I’m so glad it’s been worth all the effort, heartache and work to move here and I’m so glad you’re proud to be an Aussie and embrace the culture. I’m honoured to call you a fellow Aussie and I think our country is better for having you here. x
Sarah, honey, did you ever get the new camera you had been dreaming over? These pictures are stunning…I get lost in every
wave. SO much more fun than a KitchenAid mixmaster! (Although surely you do need both in the name of good blogging xo)
G'day! I'm Sarah, I live in a tatty old cottage, near the sea in Australia with a battered old deck & a big old fig tree out the back...stripped wooden floors, old sash windows & a jumble of vintage furniture. [Read More …]
Beach Cottage ladies, we have some vintage linen and some wood/twig washed up on the beach today here in Beach Cottage Land….don’t say I don’t keep you entertained now will you . Come on in. So, yep I have posted about colanders on this blog, about things sourced from the side of the road, about [...]
G'day ladies, let's have a Too Easy Beach Cottage recipe yeah? The original place for Too Easy Recipes on the web ;-)
So, after my last salad went down a storm in my inbox, that's here if you missed it, I had to do this one seeing as I make it most weeks.
There is a problem with this salad and kiddos though...it looks, well, it looks, kinda yucky...but once they try it, they'll ask if and when they are next having it....at least that's what happens in this ratty old cottage...but I must interject here that my kiddos are 'good eaters'? ...they didn't get a choice in that ;-)
Now, stop, don't start running and hitting that next on your blog reading list, pulses are your best friend in the Too Easy Dump & Go kitchen for the busy mum, or busy anyone for that matter...that reminds me I must blog the garlic canneloni Go To for when you forgot to do dinner, feel like a bath but have three ravenous young Beach Cottage Kiddos on your hands...another day.
I am almost embarrassed to tell you how easy this is, we have it so much that I always have a couple, make that six, cans of lentils around and a jar of goat's cheese in the fridge...the great thing about this is that it's all too easy to get ready in just a few minutes, but it looks, tastes and seems like you did oh so very much more than that.
You can obviously too change it up a bit depending on what you have to hand in your kitchen, and I must say that is how I settled on this version...because one day when I made it I didn't have enough Parsley in the garden and so I chucked in some basil too, and liked the Summer feel it added.
I think of this as being a rather posh salad, not sure why, because it couldn't really be further from the truth...the great thing is that it works so well for an average run of the mill day, (when I did this for this blog post, it was a hot Sydney Sunday and I did it just simply to go with Rosemary & Garlic stuffed pork, you can see that pork here),
...but just as easily it works on a regular old Wednesday night when you have lost all enthusiasm for rustling up yet another meal, or indeed on Saturday night, when your friends are on their way over for dinner and you my friend, are in your new vintage inspired clawfoot bathtub (that's me in a few weeks time, k?) without any clothes on, a tipple and no idea what to cook for dinner...
I have a complicated and ever-changing relationship with goat's cheese...it never fails me in its performance and it never fails to impress me (you can find out a bit more on what I like in food here if you like) and I kinda collect it...because it's very easy to collect and has a fairly long fridge-life, I love trying out different ones and there's not many things I love more than goat's cheese on sourdough...but I think the best thing about it is not thinking about it exclusively in the toast/salad department...I've stuffed it in chicken and all sorts of things as a last minute and it's been fab.
But let's get down to the nitty gritty of this super salad that makes you look like an angel who has been on her knees all day scrubbing the front step when really you are in the digital world and spent most of ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, howdy, howdy howdy today for a Beach Cottage Too Easy recipe.
If you like cake, cream, sugar and chocolate, make this.
This is, rather than a recipe, a putting it together...as you know I am no dessert maker, but, I do make quite a few sweet things, because, somehow I have ended up with kiddos, who in their roles as offspring, believe that part of the deal, is that not only do I feed them a home-cooked meal with a few homegrown ingredients in there, yes, they also believe that dessert and not the kind that comes out of a packet is included too in this All-Inclusive Deal they call Parenthood.
So, this, for sure, is no culinary masterpiece, but if you are looking for something that is so very easy, dump-able, uses everyday ingredients and at the same time makes you look like you spent hours pulling things together plus tastes good....well, then this is for you.
Best though, you don't make this for yourself, if you have spent the most part of your week sitting on your derriere reading blogs...this my friend ain't low in the calories department...if, however, you are treating yourself to a delight in a mason jar, this is so for you.
I first had a version of this when at dinner back in Old Blighty with a girl, I once, in another life, caught the train up from our village to London with...she was a funny thing really...I am not quite sure how we got on...she was kinda prissy and a bit bothered by too much...I would run to the train flustered, having got up late, and she would have a spreadsheet on the train times, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, a few years later when we both had bambinos, I bumped into her again and we met up for playdates and dinner sometimes....this particular night, after a lovely meal she served up little bowls of creamy, cakey fruity stuff topped off with chocolate flake...it was delicious!
She didn't serve hers in little jars like this, hers were in a champagne glass and not quite so layered as these ones, plus she used tinned fruit not fresh or frozen.
Years later when said offspring kept requesting dessert, one day I wangled together somehow these from what was around in the fridge and they've been with us ever since.
Most likely, if you ever come here for dinner, and shock horror, you dont' bring the dessert with you, this, if you are lucky, will be what you will get.
Throw it all together, sprinkle a lil bit of chocolate on the top and the blog reading past-time you so rudely left in order to make this, is my friend, your oyster.
Beach Cottage Too Easy Layered Raspberry, Cream & Sponge Dessert
1 small maderia or butter cake or a pack of cupcakes (or of course make your own)
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
8 tbsp fruit
1 x chocolate Flake or chocolate bar for grating
1. beat the cream cheese until it is soft
2. whip the cream until soft peaks form
3. combine & add the sugar through
4. cut your cake into portions
& layer into the bottom of your jar
5. add a tablespoon of fruit
6. layer on top the cream combo
7. repeat
8. grate chocolate or Flake on top
*Beach Cottage Recipe Notes : this is just a guide really, you can use any cream that you have on hand...I have made this with clotted cream (don't even go there unless you want to seriously get these babies on your thighs), with double cream and I have even, in desperate times squirted in that, ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, well I thought it was time for some blogging tips here today, alongside a few nice flowers and shells ;-)
I was recently part of a blogger discussion group over at Kidspot and a couple of hours later had a few questions from girls who couldn't make it to the live chat, one was on my Facebook page and one via email, the Facebook one I will deal with in another Real Girl Blogging Tips post...the email one asked me what essentials do I think every blog needs?
Well I have been around here for a while now doing the blogging thing, so I should know this, yeah and I mused this on my walk by the sea this morning I thought well what do you only need?
...I think it is really very easy when blogging, whether or not you are blogging up there in the lofty heights of the Super Bloggers or you are just dipping your toe in the water, to get side-tracked by 101 million different things that are 'essential' to your blog and if you are someone like me who actually gets a thrill from reading blogging tips then you are in an even worse place because you will find yourself literally buzzing with these essential things to add/do/implement on your blog.
However, walking along, gulping down that brisk sea air today (no sunshine & clouds) I thought you actually don't need any of that professional blogging stuff to be successful...but there are a few things that are pretty much crucial ...and once I started to think about it I got it down to about 5 - these are the only things that you need to concentrate on...once you have read through take a look at some of the big girl's blogs...you'll see that actually they don't have bundles of stuff on their blogs...but they do have all of these...
So here are my top things that your blog must have
1. About Page
There are all sorts of About Pages out there, and if you search on it there are many different tips and ideas for what to have on yours
Whatever blogging platform you use, adding an About Me Page is easy, quick and simple and will do everything to grow your blog.
I like a long-ish About Page, I am inherently nosy and I like to know a bit more about the person but at the least you should have on it your name and where you are located. I also think a photo is good too...over the last year or so I think this has become more important in blogging - if you are hesitant about that as I was, you can try using sunglasses or a behind shot until you get comfortable.
There is nothing worse than stumbling upon a new blog and going to find out more to only be faced with a piddly little one liner About Me Page...well there is something worse, not having one at all!
2. Contact Page
The chances are someone, somewhere will want to contact you and you will be surprised what lands in your inbox once you put yourself out there on the world wide web with a blog.
Many bloggers also use this page to include details for PR's/brands that may want to contact them and some bloggers put their stats on there too.
A short, to the point and simple Contact Page works really well...whenever I have wanted to contact another blogger I am often very busy and have limited time so I don't want to hang around sifting through information looking for an email address, so concise and clear ...
G'day lovely Beach Cottage lovelies.
So, yeah, so on a roll people, so on a roll.
I feel kinda home accessory wired right now.
I am always telling people, if anyone ever listens, that blogging is all about passion, not that sort of passion, but about passion that makes one tick.
Things like this make me tick tick boom.
I love finding things that suit my budget and let me treat my home but look amazing too.
So without further adieu I introduce you, ladies of the beach, to the blue vintage glasses that I have been stroking for about a week or two now...
These glasses are from a little boutique I sometimes happen upon, this boutique sells also pet accessories, carpet cleaner, bras and compost...it's quite unique though.
And, thanks to my friend Marnie (she blogs over here, go take a look at her praying position, interesting), who just so happens to be one day having me over for a lil' Greek dinner, has let me in on the fact that we call Kmart....The KMart...with an accent ....as in 'I love The KMart'...just like her MIL does. Oh yeah. Love that.
So I have had my eye on reproduction vintage glass blue wine glasses and being trying to find real true vintage blue glasses for like ever.
Oh yes I have spied them in Frenchy boutiques, I have lusted after them in stores that I shouldn't even enter and I have put them back pretty quickly in those shops with the hand-written price tags. C'mon, you know the ones.
And, though all of the above have tempted me, muchly, really, even with my wardrobe stashing skills I just thought that, actually, I'd rather be saving that casherooni for our next trip overseas..
Hello The KMart.
Tick Tick Boom
Vintage style blue wine glasses.
Do not come to my old place and think you might pick up one of these and smile with pleasure at their handblown quality, their weight, and be secretly jealous that my wine glasses cost more than your car...friend, that would not happen...these do not feel like that...indeed these in a funny way reminded me of my baby girl, she was a tiny little thing, with stick legs, the tinsssssssiest ankles and wrists you ever did see, she slept sideways in her cot wedged in between rolled up blankets and would only settle attached to Mr Beach Cottage or I or a (dirty) pj top of mine scrunched up under her nose...the first few times I picked her up to cuddle, being used to Honeymoon Baby who weighed in at 9lbs at birth and has never really stopped growing, I nearly threw her little bird-cum-rat down covered body over my shoulder.
These glasses are like that...be careful or you might lose your wine down the front of your shirt.
But oh baby, we are not talking picking up here, we are not talking quality, we are not talking house accessory snobbery.
Beach Cottage ladies, we are talking aesthetics.
And this is what I need in my cottage.
Blue vintage style glass, paired with coastal / nautical / beach stuff on my deck.
It's The KMart.
Tune in tomorrow, tomorrow, I have more budget foofing for your home, or maybe it will be the dress that wraps me up in supermarket-chic and makes me feel like me again.
Good Day to you my friends, wanna come hang out on my deck, talk house accessories, The KMart and drink some wine from blue glasses?
Sarah
Beautiful, gorgeous photos–wish I could see it. Congratulations on your passport–your happiness is wonderful.
Oh Sarah, Goosebumps in Hobart, imagining all the emotions welling inside you. We humans are complex characters, aren’t we? Good for you for working through it in your head. J x
You Rock! So glad you are an Australian <3
I so understand that feeling as it’s how I feel about where we live. Just outside of Seattle, WA in the States…. we’ve been snow skiing and sailing on the same day…. Ocean, lakes, mountains, diverse population, the world at your finger tips. This is why the word “verklempt” exists. ❈
More gorgeous photos and a lovely story to boot! Your love of all things oz is so refreshing it really makes me smile. My beautiful Irish girlfriend is visiting me from Melb this weekend and we plan to head to the gold cost and just soak it all up!!!! the smell of the air, the feel of the sand, the beauty of all things beach. Even though reading your blog makes me feel like I’m right there on the sand looking at those glistening waves once in a while nothing beats the real thing
) The only scary part is the bod will be in a bikini in public for the first time in a while yikes 
one word : sarong
x
Brilliant Sarah! Perfect all round cool-gal cover-up
Melissa x
I have an ex-English girlfriend who would express pretty much the same sentiments as you, Sarah. She came here from London bout 6 years ago after meeting her future husband in a pub in Perth. She is very much an Aussie now, has the certificate to prove it and although there are things from the old country that she will never give away (like turkey at Christmas) she flinches if anyone dare call her a ‘Pom’.
Love to you Aussie girl! x
I appreciate all the hard work you put into all the picture taking this week. I must say that the entire time I was reading and looking at the gorgeous pics I kept asking myself “when is she gonna show me that gorgeous lifeguards face”? LOL
hmmm well I am not sure if they would like that lol!
Sarah, I think you could easily get a job with Tourism Australia
Judy, I’d like to !
Your photography captures Australia so well Sarah.
I’m a painter and love waves. I think il take more pics!!
The only thing negative about our beautiful passport is the long queue at Heathrow!
You will think of this when you next visit home.
The Britsh passport takes you straight through!!! I think Il apply for one.
Cheers for now.
Chris
This born and bred Aussie teared up reading your post. Thanks for reminding me of how lucky we are to live in this country. While living in South America a few years ago it really hit me. Now that we’ve settled back into our Tassie beach house I sometimes feel like life is a little ‘vanilla’. Seeing things through your eyes helps me to not take our lifestyle for granted. Thanks for your beautiful blog.
You wouldn’t believe how hard it was for me to read these lines of yours. “Crazy Australia Love” – ah, I can totally relate to that feeling! You are one lucky duck!! My heart aches so badly to be back in Australia… So it’s such a pleasure to have found your blog. Now I can daydream a little bit every other day! Thanks a lot for sharing your adventures and stories. And yes, all these pictures are very, very pretty!!
Here’s to a happy weekend.
Love, Nadne
Oh you poor, poor thing having to take those photos for your blog – what a terrible chore … ; )
I have now been here long enough to apply for my Australian citizenship and I wonder how I’ll feel…better pack the tissues hey?
have a great weekend.
x
definitely pack the tissues! x
I have lived overseas in many different cities, and am married to a glorious Irishman, so I understand how great we have it here and am regularly reminded of it by hubbys comments about our fortunate lifestyle, … but I so loved reading your post (and the photos) – thank you.
Sarah, you are truly amazing. I simply love this blog. I think it’s wonderful that you’re speaking out agianst domestic violence. When I was 16 I was abused physically by the guy I was dating (he was 21).I won’t go into detail but I escaped his abuse thankfully, it took over a year to get him to finally go away, but once I moved away, he could no longer “get” me..
Thank you for being a voice!
Thanks for putting yourself through it to get those photos, it must have been tough! I have both passports – because I have done the reverse to you (although my parents left Manly when I was tiny). I visited Manly a couple of years ago, the first time since I was a baby, and it’s beautiful. It was tough flying back to Heathrow although I got to skip the lines both ends of the trip but it wasn’t all bad. Every time I read your blog I think hmmmmmm…… there’s an Aussie passport lying in the drawer just over there…..
it was very tough! x
I remember the feeling of applying for my first US passport, in much the same way as you applied for your first Australian one. My five year old son and I were planning a trip to England, and he needed a passport, so off we went to the Post Office to complete the process.
My British passport is expired, but one day, I suspect that I will get a new one. Although I grew up in Australia and lived there for 25+ years, I never took Australian citizenship, so if ever I visit Australia these days, it is as an American citizen visiting Australia; it surprises the customs people in Australia, because there is no denying the Australian accent.
I’m glad you have found your new home in Australia
Have a wonderful weekend.
You make me want to visit the beautiful place you call home!! As always love the pics and your blog! Blessings…
All I can say is …… sheesh!
Oh to be so lucky!
There were snowflakes here yesterday.
Aww Sarah, what a lovely post! you are so very lucky, Australia looks totally rockin’!! and so does that hunkalicious lifeguard (!!) – don’t forget how great London is though – in its own unique way, London is fabulous!! I lived there and miss it sometimes…the culture, the architecture, the way of life. You are lucky you are grateful to be living somewhere that means so much to you! Happy Weekend! ;–))
Your story makes me think about the journey my parents took to come to this country. We arrived right in the middle of the recession we had to have and we were only meant to stay for two years… 21 years later and we are all here still. I celebrate every year the day we landed on this country and I am so grateful. I love the landscape, the weather and how you only have to the shops and restaurants to experience different cultures all in one street (well at least where I used to live not so much where I am now).
…
I miss my walks by the sea it takes us an extra 20 minutes by car on a motorway to get anywhere near a beach now… Theres always the river
Great shots by the way, like usual…
river or sea…water is good Alice
I am not surprised you are still here xo
Always a joy Sarah! Have a great weekend!
I’m feelin’ the Australia love today! Great post, Sarah! Yes, more lifeguard shots would have added some extra spice, but the ocean was refreshing enough! andrea!townandprairie
I am from the States and I marvel at the beauty Australia holds. It is my dream to visit there someday. but in the meantime I will visit through your blog. thank you so much for sharing so many beautiful things.
Sarah-my heart swells when I hear people share their thoughts & love for
‘our’ wonderful country….
Goose bumps of emotion here in old’ Blighty-I’m about to read Nikki Gemmels
book ‘Aletter to my Children’ about being Australian-have you seen it?!
Think it’s right up our alley.
Melissa x
You should work for Tourism Australia.. honestly, your photos are enough to make anyone want to come here in a second!
I love your thoughts and emotions about Australia. It makes me feel so proud of our country.
Even though I am Aussie born and bred I too have nearly teared up at the post office trying to renew a passport. Not for the lovely reasons you listed but from the sheer frustration of the process. So happy it was easy for you.
alison
Just voted for you Sarah!
I’ve been super busy the last couple of months so haven’t been able to read as much of your blog as I’d like to. Lovely to be back now and read your summer inspiration as we move into winter here in the UK ; )
thanks for the vote Claire!
x
Sarah
Have you seen Clark Little’s wave photography? I think he lives in Hawaii. AMAZING!
alison
My parents moved out from England in the late 1960′s. I was born here and raised in a small beach town. I had an idyllic childhood and now yearn to live by the sea again (even though I’m only a 40 min drive away!). I hope your kids will understand and thank you one day for what you have given them. I’m so glad it’s been worth all the effort, heartache and work to move here and I’m so glad you’re proud to be an Aussie and embrace the culture. I’m honoured to call you a fellow Aussie and I think our country is better for having you here. x
thanks Tiff…I think you know exactly what I am talking about!
OMG. Beautifully captured. PLUS a post written of our wonderful country. Our home. And lifeguard pictures too! YOU are the bestest. xo
Sarah, honey, did you ever get the new camera you had been dreaming over? These pictures are stunning…I get lost in every
wave. SO much more fun than a KitchenAid mixmaster! (Although surely you do need both in the name of good blogging xo)
It’s my trusty Canon Terrie yes!
I need* a KitchenAid though haha x
Love, love, love your blog, the style, your photos and what you have done with your cottage (your tour).
Lee (New Zealand)
I can’t wait to watch the 2012 London Olympics next year. I feel excited on my trip there!
Who would resist surfing if the beach you see in the pictures are extraordinary? This is what you call God’s gift to us.