Phew I have had a weird weekend…you know when you feel like you lived a whole life in one weekend?
Mine was like that.
We experienced some sporting highs this weekend, also getting horribly lost in the West of Sydney, with a girl from London as chief navigator and driver (not a good combo) and lots of tears from both the Beach Cottage Girls, followed by some very good times and a very late night that included a trip at midnight to Maccas very far out West in Sydney and very surpisingly me not hating it
…woke up to a much calmer Sunday with a glut full of baking, sunshine, coastal breezes and a dip in the ocean, then a trip to the airport in lashing lashing lashing down rain, followed by a long soak in my new bath (hello I love you) and a pizza washed down with a Peroni. The End.
So, thanks again for the de-lurking post, I have read EVERY single reply, some more than once, and I have to tell you some of them made me get a little tear in my eye…
I don’t actually intend to come here and inspire anyone, but it seems that is what happens to some of you on the other end of this here thing they call blogging…and I guess that is a great result for all involved…I come here, ramble on about loving Australia, sometimes talk about the Old Country, take a heap of photos and paint things white and love doing it…if ever there was a win win this was it.
Anyway, along with a shed load of comments on that post, I also had a big ole inbox of emails (trying and failing to reply quickly, I am blaming it on those three rugrats that live in this old cottage) and what came up time and again, and which surprised me, is that you girls want more ocean shots (and more fashion shots! ahem we’ll go the more beach shots route first, k?)
To me, this has been some very very well-received news, and I am taking full note of it
from now on there will be more beachy shots around here, I am more than happy to oblige with that part of this journey they call blogging.
Today then, always wishing to please you dear Lurky readers I give you
Walking the Beaches : Collaroy.
Now this is one of the beaches I often find myself at for one reason or another, mostly sport related….but it’s not my local beach…but I do love it.
The beach was named after the ship S.S. Collaroy which was beached here in September 1880, and was stuck here for four years, although the locals didn’t start to call the area Collaroy until the 1900s.
Much of the development here, as I have been able to find out was in the early to mid-twentieth century and this is very evident by the buildings and architecture…there are some gems still left tucked away here and there
..look at this art-deco cinema…I have been driving and staring up at this and sighing for years…it’s kinda bittersweet because firstly it is surprising that somehow it has not been knocked down for a block of ocean facing apartments, secondly that it is still actually a cinema – but it’s bittersweet because it’s old and shabby and peeling and looks sad and unloved and there’s this sort of underlying panic when I look up at it that, indeed, it is not listed and protected and that, yes, it will be soon a thing very much of the past…I so hope not
but, sadly, as I see a lot on my travels in Australia, not just on my travels in the very road that I live in, a lot of places and the history of this lovely land, are just bulldozed to the ground (without even keeping any of the original fittings etc) and smashed up ….to be replaced with some flat-packed McMansion home…
…you can feel that this was a holiday destination, indeed it still is I am guessing for a lot of people…I believe a whole lot of the dwellings were originally places such as this…a bit more than a beach shack…but very interesting at that…when I have travelled out of Sydney there are a lot of places like this here…there’s a ramshackle, cobbled together feel to them..I think this comes from pre-war Australia when the country didn’t have much labour or many materials (not sure how true that is but it’s what I have been told)…but they did have plenty of land, hence why you will often see a small place such as this, lost on a huge plot, often on what is now oceanfront or near ocean, premium land
Collaroy is an Aboriginal word meaning long reeds
love this old building from 1922
and this lovely old arcade…I am surprised this is still standing….but I love that it is
It looks over this and is the local pub/hotel these days still…
getting used to living with the locals now…hello spider’s web
this is more my kinda local…one on a bike with a slab of beer on his shoulder
some amazing florals and colours abounding at every turn on this walk
So I will see you soon Beach Cottage ladies, hope you enjoyed your walk on the beaches…the suburb of Collaroy, I certainly did!
I have bathroom news, and will be back to show you the old lady in there in all her finery and in the next couple of days we should be all systems go on the shower and the vanity (we have been waiting for the shower screen to be made)
Cheers lovelies, I am exhausted after the weekend and going for a coffee and a bacon sandwich to recover
What do you think? Think this is the kinda suburb you could live in thank-you-very-much?
Sarah
p.s and last, but not least I came across this…
(I am assuming Dave Rastovich is a surfer, maybe I should know, but I don’t but I tell you what I’d like to meet him ‘cos this quote is about me all over…I have some serious issues with people telling me what to do, it does stem from certain things that have happened in my life, I have now learnt, but it still doesn’t go away…I beat to my own drum and sometimes that is not always a good thing in life..perhaps in surfing it is?)
Thanks for the tour of Collaroy!!! we bought a little original 2 bed cottage built in the 1940′s in Collaroy about 8 months ago. It was originally a holiday house built for a grazier to come visit to get away from his farm. It has lots of quirky features and original bits that I think make it unique…not to mention a leafy love heart arch to the back garden!
I’m with you I also luv the old cinema in Collaroy such a landmark I hope it stays forever!
yes feel very lucky to live in such a beautiful spot close to nature.
I have been filling my quirky cottage with little treasures from charity shops and council throw outs the latest find was on the weekend an old box with a hinge lid that says in a vintage style spuds and onions on the front..I think you would like it Luv seeing the treasures you keep finding to put in your lovely cottage very inspirational to see clever ideas on a budget.
Cheers
Jen
I loved this little history lesson, and the beach colors are food for the soul. Thank you! Spent the day skiing on an equally gorgeous day, but too busy skiing to take pics (and def. difficult to carry whip out the camera with gloves on!). Just curious… sport on/near the beach.. is this beach volleyball we are talking about or is there a soccer or lacrosse field across the street from the beach? Have a great week – Jen
Oh, and I was thinking it would be fun to see a map with a million pins in it, one for the location of each of your readers – you know.. a visual. In all your spare time, ha! And another oh, Saturday I chaperoned at my girlfriend’s daughter’s 16th birthday bash, a dance party for 35 teens….. it was so fun watching them… we are a ways from teens in my house – but I was thinking you must really enjoy yours (you know, except maybe during shark week.)
I think I finally get why the beach cottage is white on white on white….
All of the amazing blues, aquas, foamy greens from the beach. It would just be overkill to smather the cottage with a bunch of color and nonsense. The beach cottage is the cool ocean breeze.
I have an idea for a new feature, Sarah. A Beach Cottage House Swap. Just think of all of the amazing places you could visit.
I will happily be your first swap. Really, I don’t mind one bit.
we actually have something in the pipeline on that…more coming soon
yes that is exactly why I went white with this place…our back yard too full of greens etc…one of the things many people say about Australia is the amazing colour everywhere…I certainly do xo
Hey Sarah
Beautiful pictures… you’re very talented! Looks like a perfect part of the world there. Love the picture with the man on the bike with a carton of beer lol!
Sounds like you’e had a big weekend… lucky you have a nice place to recover
Can’t beat the beachy life!
Hee…hee…. I see that you have heard of the western sydney reputation… I didn’t know it existed until I had to move out from the inner suburbs… Even then I decided to live more south rather than west… I’m slowly discovering that there are many hidden gems out west (such a shame they have such a neglected feel to most of them, they can trully be beautiful places).
“but, sadly, as I see a lot on my travels in Australia, not just on my travels in the very road that I live in, a lot of places and the history of this lovely land, are just bulldozed to the ground (without even keeping any of the original fittings etc) and smashed up ….to be replaced with some flat-packed McMansion home…”
This is exactly what is happening to my suburb When we moved here 5 years ago I kept getting lost (I rely on these cute houses as land markers)because the houses (on really large blocks)were being knocked over with huge 4 – 5 Mac monstrosities jammed in the one block (still happening now). It looks horrible!!! It’s actually made me consider moving away, all the character is being erased to make way for profit and population growth(which I know can’t be helped)… Thankfully the old (and first) cinema of the area is preserved here as a church now. All the features (except the sign and the addition of leadlight windows) are preserved… I had always wondered about the inside layout and all the panelling when I first set foot in the church then ofcourse I found out why and it made sense lol.
The area I live in used to be the holiday playground of the wealthy that used to live in the city (in the 1900′s)and would come out this way for a country get away (by the georges river). It is where the finest produce of Sydney was grown and I read somewhere that the produce had such a reputation it used to fetch premium price. We had “baths” and piers by the river but all that was removed and replaced by a board walk. It’s all very neglected I am sad to say, the council doesn’t seem to really care… Some of the locals that lived and grew up in that era still live here today and if you take the time to listen they will share some wonderful stories… It’s why when I see history being erased … I find it so depressing…The name of my suburb is Aboriginal for sun rising over the hills…Though my brother likes to call it something a little cheeky…
Thank you for the lovely tour Sarah, I loved it… I love knowing the history of places(that and the photos made this post such a joy to read)…It makes them feel more real, more alive… I know it’s crazy but it helps me settle into a place if I know it’s history a little better…
oh I feel the same…an old cottage over the road from me got smashed to the ground…they didn’t keep anything, the whole lot went in the crusher…then up went a kit home..
I am slowly getting to see a few more of the Western suburbs and find it very interesting, especially the housing…its sounds like your suburb has some great history Alice, I love that sort of thing and finding out about it.
good to hear that the cinema is protected!
I totally agree with you about know the history of a place, though what I am finding here is that it isn’t actually that easy to get information on the history of suburbs etc…the library does have some…perhaps it just isn’t interesting enough for people?
“though what I am finding here is that it isn’t actually that easy to get information on the history of suburbs etc…the library does have some…perhaps it just isn’t interesting enough for people? ”
Yes it is very hard to find any history… It could do with a few things…
Australia is a big land so it is easy for places to be left behind and forgotten slowly erased by time.
There is also this thing in Australia where the population is forever covering up or hiding its past (the whole convict situation you know), they would rather forget it than just acknowledge it, accept it as part of time in history preserve it and move on… Did you know that in the 70′s (I believe) there was some thought of getting rid of all the beautiful houses in the Rocks?!(because it reminded them so much the convict settlement and how those that built there were trying to replicate england or something like that). They literally wanted to erase all of it and start all over again… Thank goodness they didn’t manage to get to all of it, I love the place! (must go to the moonlight markets this year)…
In my case, for my suburb there is very little info left because the council burnt down to the ground (I believe) and all records destroyed… I tried getting some plans to see how my street has changed and the house looked back in the 40′s but there was no info(I managed to find one ariel shot of my street with my house on it hence why I assume the 40′s that and the style of home)!
Also living by the beach has become popular only in the last 20 years or so… Before then it was all about the city and the inner suburbs… Hence all the shabby shacks still seen today… Blink and you will see them disappear in a few years time once the developers are done with it…. The sad thing is that the developers are targeted for these areas so they can fetch high prices effectively pricing those who would (most likely)preserve the history of the house/place out of the market… Coastal towns/places don’t stand a chance I am afraid…
I don’t think it was so much that white Australians were trying to hide their past, it’s just that they didn’t have a really strong sense of history and heritage. Australia is a far more patriotic nation now than it was when I was growing up. Mostly it didn’t occur to white Australians to preserve things.
yes I did know some of this…this alone is fascinating, I love history and all parts of it…
I have realised the beaches thing is a new thing, from the property that is so obvious here and not very far at all from Sydney city to talking to people who have lived here all their lives, particularly my in her late 80′s neighbour who told me that her as I can gather fairly middle class parents were HORRIFIED that she would move to the beaches..
I also came across a book in a garage sale all about 3 young girls who lived in this aree from Europe in the late 40′s 50′s and how this was one of the places in Sydney that you didn’t live…and that certain suburbs that are now highly sought after were extremely different even just 50 yrs ago
So glad to hear your bath is fully operational! Sounds like you needed it after the weekend you had. I hope you are also sleeping better now that you get to soak and relax again
Love all your gorgeous photos!!! I for one can say I truly appreciate the beachy photos! Living where the sun rarely shows it’s pretty face from October-March….I appreciate living vicariously through lovely bloggers like you:)
Hi Sarah,
I love the pictures! So envious, I live in Michigan, USA winter gray-longing for the beach and blue skies. Your cottage is very inspiring. My goal is to have a beach cottage someday, but since seeing all your great ideas I have decided not to wait and have a few beach inspired items in my home. Thanks for helping me dream!
Hi there Sarah, that’s one sensational tour… Enjoyed it very much. Just wanted to let you know that Dave Rastavich is a surfer and does some amazing ocean wildlife conservation work!!! Quite fitting you should like his quote really. Also we just bought an old, what I like to call Gold Coast beach shack (aka cottage) built in 1950′s… Absolutely no intention of knocking down though. We want to preserve and extend its key features. These gorgeous little shacks will become rarer (sadly) but the best thing is Because they are unique i think we will see demand for them rise… Yay for beach cottages xx
G’day Miss Sarah~I missed commenting on your lurking post and I too was going to sit down and read them as well, sounded fun to get to know other bloggers.I still have more to read.I enjoyed that post as well as all your others.I simply enjoy your blog because you have such a balance of what you post about it’s not always the beach, not always decor or fashion just a balance.I enjoy your recipes a lot myself.
So just do what you do best and I will be be back for another visit~Cheers Kim
Thanks for the photo trip:) just what I needed today.
Currently I live in Melbourne but I grew up around Wollongong and Newcastle and Sydney
And I miss the beaches so and the clean salt sea air so your post was just the tonic for my heart.
I teared up when you emailed me and said to give my soon to be born grandchild a kiss on the head and to smell that lovely baby smell.
I spend a lot more time looking up these days at the beautiful old shop fronts and buildings that I think won’t be around much longer. I get sad.
A few years ago Mr alison and I stayed in the lighthouse keeper’s house on Montague Island just off the coast of Narooma on the NSW south coast. It felt like a lifetime in one weekend, in a good way. We did conservation work. A bit pricey, but magic!!
Re your Masonic photo. I have a small antique Masonic ball I wear on a chain in memory of my dear old dad who was a Mason. Masons wore these balls on their fob watch chains. The balls unfold into segments to reveal Masonic symbols inside.
Thanks for the trip to Collaroy. I haven’t been there but it looks like my kinda place. Those big old houses on huge blocks of land in prime beach positions in Cronulla are a big part of my childhood. We thought nothing of it growing up.
I have a bit interest in the Masons and all that sort of thing…I must find out more about it all…
love the sound of your lighthouse stay…actually Mr Beach Cottage and I are planning a no kids long weekend break very soon…wonder if this could be for us?
Thanks for sharing bits and pieces of your gorgeous walk with us! You are inspiring me to get to my own local beaches more often and to TAKE.MY.CAMERA. *sigh* Why do I always forget it? Maybe because I’m busy packing lunch, towels, sunscreen and beach toys for 8 people. I dunno, could possibly have something to do with it. I’m in Florida, not on the beach, but I have access to nice beaches within about a 30 minute drive. Do you just walk out your front door and walk to the beach? Sounds heavenly…..
Love the photos today …thanks for sharing. It is so nice to be able to see Austrilia ’cause don’t think I’ll ever visit her. Not that I wouldn’t want to, but have a longish list of things I want to do first
Your tour was both scenic and interesting – Collaroy looks like the kind of place I would like to visit – a bit of history works well for me. It is sad, isn’t it, that sometimes our beautiful old things fall into neglect and subsequently their doom – once gone, those beauties are lost forever; and new isn’t necessarily better or more attractive – maybe cheaper? I like ALL things OLD, with a bit of character! Chippy, faded (even jaded) are all good in my book!
Enjoyed Collaroy Sarah – and the blues of the sea are stunning me (as usual)!
Ta!
I love it when you take us ‘touring’. Even the day you and Mr. BC were out looking for jumble sales. It gives us a glimpse of your beautiful adopted homeland. thank you. )
Collaroy looks amazing! I am in love with that bright blue cinema. I hope, hope, hope that it is protected and is allowed to stay there looking magnificent for many years to come
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 …]
Well G’day Beach Cottage ladies. Of course some of you guessed correctly, no flies on Beach Cottage gals are there? A Summer House window dressing, beach vintage style. One that I got very wrong. I’ll keep this short and sweet The vintage crochet patchwork curtain? Love. Pure love. But, put it this [...]
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
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for the tour of Collaroy!!! we bought a little original 2 bed cottage built in the 1940′s in Collaroy about 8 months ago. It was originally a holiday house built for a grazier to come visit to get away from his farm. It has lots of quirky features and original bits that I think make it unique…not to mention a leafy love heart arch to the back garden!
I’m with you I also luv the old cinema in Collaroy such a landmark I hope it stays forever!
Cheers
Jen
oooh lucky you Jen…glad you know the history of your cottage, how interesting! I wish I had a leafy loveheart arch
a nice place in the world to have a cottage I believe, don’t you?
enjoy
xoxo
yes feel very lucky to live in such a beautiful spot close to nature.
Luv seeing the treasures you keep finding to put in your lovely cottage very inspirational to see clever ideas on a budget.
I have been filling my quirky cottage with little treasures from charity shops and council throw outs the latest find was on the weekend an old box with a hinge lid that says in a vintage style spuds and onions on the front..I think you would like it
Cheers
Jen
wish I had seen that
x
Oh, I love your picture of the soft grass/reed!
me too Krisztina, thanks x
Oh so jealous!! I love seeing your photos – so envious of the sunshine.
I love taking them Ellie !x
I loved this little history lesson, and the beach colors are food for the soul. Thank you! Spent the day skiing on an equally gorgeous day, but too busy skiing to take pics (and def. difficult to carry whip out the camera with gloves on!). Just curious… sport on/near the beach.. is this beach volleyball we are talking about or is there a soccer or lacrosse field across the street from the beach? Have a great week – Jen
Oh, and I was thinking it would be fun to see a map with a million pins in it, one for the location of each of your readers – you know.. a visual. In all your spare time, ha! And another oh, Saturday I chaperoned at my girlfriend’s daughter’s 16th birthday bash, a dance party for 35 teens….. it was so fun watching them… we are a ways from teens in my house – but I was thinking you must really enjoy yours (you know, except maybe during shark week.)
haha yes…that’s actually a really good idea…hmmm wonder if anyone knows how to do that map thingy thing?
I would love to be skiing on a gorgeous day xx
I think I finally get why the beach cottage is white on white on white….
All of the amazing blues, aquas, foamy greens from the beach. It would just be overkill to smather the cottage with a bunch of color and nonsense. The beach cottage is the cool ocean breeze.
I have an idea for a new feature, Sarah. A Beach Cottage House Swap. Just think of all of the amazing places you could visit.
I will happily be your first swap. Really, I don’t mind one bit.
that means you would see my dust bunnies though
we actually have something in the pipeline on that…more coming soon
yes that is exactly why I went white with this place…our back yard too full of greens etc…one of the things many people say about Australia is the amazing colour everywhere…I certainly do xo
Hey Sarah
Beautiful pictures… you’re very talented! Looks like a perfect part of the world there. Love the picture with the man on the bike with a carton of beer lol!
Sounds like you’e had a big weekend… lucky you have a nice place to recover
Can’t beat the beachy life!
thanks Karlee, I did…drinking a coffee right now to get over it lol
thanks for your comments on my pictures…I was pleased with them xo
Hee…hee…. I see that you have heard of the western sydney reputation… I didn’t know it existed until I had to move out from the inner suburbs… Even then I decided to live more south rather than west…
I’m slowly discovering that there are many hidden gems out west (such a shame they have such a neglected feel to most of them, they can trully be beautiful places).
“but, sadly, as I see a lot on my travels in Australia, not just on my travels in the very road that I live in, a lot of places and the history of this lovely land, are just bulldozed to the ground (without even keeping any of the original fittings etc) and smashed up ….to be replaced with some flat-packed McMansion home…”
This is exactly what is happening to my suburb
When we moved here 5 years ago I kept getting lost (I rely on these cute houses as land markers)because the houses (on really large blocks)were being knocked over with huge 4 – 5 Mac monstrosities jammed in the one block (still happening now). It looks horrible!!! It’s actually made me consider moving away, all the character is being erased to make way for profit and population growth(which I know can’t be helped)… Thankfully the old (and first) cinema of the area is preserved here as a church now. All the features (except the sign and the addition of leadlight windows) are preserved… I had always wondered about the inside layout and all the panelling when I first set foot in the church then ofcourse I found out why and it made sense lol.
The area I live in used to be the holiday playground of the wealthy that used to live in the city (in the 1900′s)and would come out this way for a country get away (by the georges river). It is where the finest produce of Sydney was grown and I read somewhere that the produce had such a reputation it used to fetch premium price. We had “baths” and piers by the river but all that was removed and replaced by a board walk. It’s all very neglected I am sad to say, the council doesn’t seem to really care… Some of the locals that lived and grew up in that era still live here today and if you take the time to listen they will share some wonderful stories… It’s why when I see history being erased … I find it so depressing…The name of my suburb is Aboriginal for sun rising over the hills…Though my brother likes to call it something a little cheeky…
Thank you for the lovely tour Sarah, I loved it… I love knowing the history of places(that and the photos made this post such a joy to read)…It makes them feel more real, more alive… I know it’s crazy but it helps me settle into a place if I know it’s history a little better…
oh I feel the same…an old cottage over the road from me got smashed to the ground…they didn’t keep anything, the whole lot went in the crusher…then up went a kit home..
I am slowly getting to see a few more of the Western suburbs and find it very interesting, especially the housing…its sounds like your suburb has some great history Alice, I love that sort of thing and finding out about it.
good to hear that the cinema is protected!
I totally agree with you about know the history of a place, though what I am finding here is that it isn’t actually that easy to get information on the history of suburbs etc…the library does have some…perhaps it just isn’t interesting enough for people?
x
“though what I am finding here is that it isn’t actually that easy to get information on the history of suburbs etc…the library does have some…perhaps it just isn’t interesting enough for people? ”
Yes it is very hard to find any history… It could do with a few things…
Australia is a big land so it is easy for places to be left behind and forgotten slowly erased by time.
There is also this thing in Australia where the population is forever covering up or hiding its past (the whole convict situation you know), they would rather forget it than just acknowledge it, accept it as part of time in history preserve it and move on… Did you know that in the 70′s (I believe) there was some thought of getting rid of all the beautiful houses in the Rocks?!(because it reminded them so much the convict settlement and how those that built there were trying to replicate england or something like that). They literally wanted to erase all of it and start all over again… Thank goodness they didn’t manage to get to all of it, I love the place! (must go to the moonlight markets this year)…
In my case, for my suburb there is very little info left because the council burnt down to the ground (I believe) and all records destroyed… I tried getting some plans to see how my street has changed and the house looked back in the 40′s but there was no info(I managed to find one ariel shot of my street with my house on it hence why I assume the 40′s that and the style of home)!
Also living by the beach has become popular only in the last 20 years or so… Before then it was all about the city and the inner suburbs… Hence all the shabby shacks still seen today… Blink and you will see them disappear in a few years time once the developers are done with it…. The sad thing is that the developers are targeted for these areas so they can fetch high prices effectively pricing those who would (most likely)preserve the history of the house/place out of the market… Coastal towns/places don’t stand a chance I am afraid…
Sorry couldn’t resist I had to reply back
Alice
I don’t think it was so much that white Australians were trying to hide their past, it’s just that they didn’t have a really strong sense of history and heritage. Australia is a far more patriotic nation now than it was when I was growing up. Mostly it didn’t occur to white Australians to preserve things.
I think it was Jack Mundey who had the foresight to preserve The Rocks. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Mundey
Cheers
alison
thanks Alice, I am interested to hear your point of view…. xo
yes I did know some of this…this alone is fascinating, I love history and all parts of it…
I have realised the beaches thing is a new thing, from the property that is so obvious here and not very far at all from Sydney city to talking to people who have lived here all their lives, particularly my in her late 80′s neighbour who told me that her as I can gather fairly middle class parents were HORRIFIED that she would move to the beaches..
I also came across a book in a garage sale all about 3 young girls who lived in this aree from Europe in the late 40′s 50′s and how this was one of the places in Sydney that you didn’t live…and that certain suburbs that are now highly sought after were extremely different even just 50 yrs ago
xx
So glad to hear your bath is fully operational! Sounds like you needed it after the weekend you had. I hope you are also sleeping better now that you get to soak and relax again
yes I am and the moon has changed…but I am sure the bath has a big effect on it x
Good to hear x
Love all your gorgeous photos!!! I for one can say I truly appreciate the beachy photos! Living where the sun rarely shows it’s pretty face from October-March….I appreciate living vicariously through lovely bloggers like you:)
thanks, I am so glad you like them!
Hey there Sarah. Beautiful pictures… and the guy on the bike just cracked me up! Have a relaxing day
Cas x
I know me too Cas! x
Hi Sarah,
I love the pictures! So envious, I live in Michigan, USA winter gray-longing for the beach and blue skies. Your cottage is very inspiring. My goal is to have a beach cottage someday, but since seeing all your great ideas I have decided not to wait and have a few beach inspired items in my home. Thanks for helping me dream!
I hope you get your dream Paula
Hi there Sarah, that’s one sensational tour… Enjoyed it very much. Just wanted to let you know that Dave Rastavich is a surfer and does some amazing ocean wildlife conservation work!!! Quite fitting you should like his quote really. Also we just bought an old, what I like to call Gold Coast beach shack (aka cottage) built in 1950′s… Absolutely no intention of knocking down though. We want to preserve and extend its key features. These gorgeous little shacks will become rarer (sadly) but the best thing is Because they are unique i think we will see demand for them rise… Yay for beach cottages xx
hmmmm a good point Nicky on that they will become rare, hadn’t though of that
thanks for telling me who Dave is…that makes sense now xo
G’day Miss Sarah~I missed commenting on your lurking post and I too was going to sit down and read them as well, sounded fun to get to know other bloggers.I still have more to read.I enjoyed that post as well as all your others.I simply enjoy your blog because you have such a balance of what you post about it’s not always the beach, not always decor or fashion just a balance.I enjoy your recipes a lot myself.
So just do what you do best and I will be be back for another visit~Cheers Kim
thanks Kim, too kind xo
Thanks for the photo trip:) just what I needed today.
Currently I live in Melbourne but I grew up around Wollongong and Newcastle and Sydney
And I miss the beaches so and the clean salt sea air so your post was just the tonic for my heart.
Cheers
Selby
my pleasure Selby x
I teared up when you emailed me and said to give my soon to be born grandchild a kiss on the head and to smell that lovely baby smell.
I spend a lot more time looking up these days at the beautiful old shop fronts and buildings that I think won’t be around much longer. I get sad.
A few years ago Mr alison and I stayed in the lighthouse keeper’s house on Montague Island just off the coast of Narooma on the NSW south coast. It felt like a lifetime in one weekend, in a good way. We did conservation work. A bit pricey, but magic!!
Re your Masonic photo. I have a small antique Masonic ball I wear on a chain in memory of my dear old dad who was a Mason. Masons wore these balls on their fob watch chains. The balls unfold into segments to reveal Masonic symbols inside.
Thanks for the trip to Collaroy. I haven’t been there but it looks like my kinda place. Those big old houses on huge blocks of land in prime beach positions in Cronulla are a big part of my childhood. We thought nothing of it growing up.
Cheers
alison
I hope your baby arrives soon and safely
I have a bit interest in the Masons and all that sort of thing…I must find out more about it all…
love the sound of your lighthouse stay…actually Mr Beach Cottage and I are planning a no kids long weekend break very soon…wonder if this could be for us?
xo
Thanks for sharing bits and pieces of your gorgeous walk with us! You are inspiring me to get to my own local beaches more often and to TAKE.MY.CAMERA. *sigh* Why do I always forget it? Maybe because I’m busy packing lunch, towels, sunscreen and beach toys for 8 people. I dunno, could possibly have something to do with it.
I’m in Florida, not on the beach, but I have access to nice beaches within about a 30 minute drive. Do you just walk out your front door and walk to the beach? Sounds heavenly…..
Love the photos today …thanks for sharing. It is so nice to be able to see Austrilia ’cause don’t think I’ll ever visit her. Not that I wouldn’t want to, but have a longish list of things I want to do first
Jan @ BellaCasa on the lake…
Your tour was both scenic and interesting – Collaroy looks like the kind of place I would like to visit – a bit of history works well for me. It is sad, isn’t it, that sometimes our beautiful old things fall into neglect and subsequently their doom – once gone, those beauties are lost forever; and new isn’t necessarily better or more attractive – maybe cheaper? I like ALL things OLD, with a bit of character! Chippy, faded (even jaded) are all good in my book!
Enjoyed Collaroy Sarah – and the blues of the sea are stunning me (as usual)!
Ta!
my pleasure Katherine, I love Collaroy…such a nice beach xo
I love it when you take us ‘touring’. Even the day you and Mr. BC were out looking for jumble sales. It gives us a glimpse of your beautiful adopted homeland. thank you.
)
Collaroy looks amazing! I am in love with that bright blue cinema. I hope, hope, hope that it is protected and is allowed to stay there looking magnificent for many years to come
x Jasmine