Can’t believe it’s first day of my holidays and I’m awake this early. Actually I awoke at 6 am with the alarm going off for my husband to get up for work. Guess my body is still in work mode.
A friend set a challenge for those of us not going away for the holiday break to set ourselves some goals. I took up the challenge …
1. To accept I’m not going away for the vacation period and so will make sure I don’t end up buying myself a ticket somewhere
This will be my hardest challenge. I’m not good at staying home during a holiday break. I get a bit twitchy and more often than not end up escaping somewhere if only got a few days. But, I have a vacation planned for later in the year and so I am going to work hard on meeting this challenge. Maybe Challenge 4 might help me stick to this one.
2. Write some blog posts and read the blogs of others.
I love writing but it seems to get pushed to the background with the demands of a day job. I love having time to sit back and paint my reflections of life with words but sometimes finding the time is the challenge. Reading the thoughts of others is insightful. It’s people watching of a different kind. It stretches my my mind to new ideas, opinions and visions and takes me to places that are already in my memory or have been beyond my thoughts.
3. Spend sometime outdoors in the sunshine admiring the beauty of where I live.
I live in a coastal town but rarely take time to enjoy the beauty of what I have at my doorstep. I allow the mundanes of life ( and my often sheer laziness to get moving) to get between me and this natural beauty. Winter is the perfect time for hot coffee watching the waves crash on the sand and possibly a whale frolicking on its northern migration. I’m getting out there!!
4. Put together a photo book of my Europe trip of 2014.
This definitely might help me avoid a trip away as I relive memories and organise the photos and thoughts ( or will it make the desire to get away burn stronger- we’ll see). I have so many photos of the trip I took to Europe – travelling with my husband and our kidults. At this stage I’m imagining a coffee table style book . Anyone with suggestions of easy online bookmakers to work with?
So with those challenges set up , I think I shall make myself breakfast in bed and as I eat my jam and cheese toast and sip my coffee I’ll start with reading some of the blogs in my reader.
A large storm front rolled over Sydney in the late afternoon today. Thunderstorms aren’t out of the norm but the visual of this storm as it raced towards and over my home was impressive.
Here you can see the edge of the front looking west.
This was the edge to the north.
This storm front raced. The view here is looking south. The wind accompanying was strong and loud as it pushed these clouds on their path. I headed indoors after taking these photos as lightning started. A heavy deluge followed and the temperature plummeted.
Any other NSW people have stories or photos of this event to share?
Davistown
I am beginning to appreciate the scenic area in which I live as my husband and I start exploring a small part of it each fortnight. We have lived here near 30 years but only now are making a real effort to get to know what it has to offer. A few weekends ago we travelled to the local destination of Davistown. It is part of Gosford City situated on Cockle Channel, an arm of Brisbane Water. We took a walk along the Illoura Reserve Walk .
Davistown (according to the Gosford City Council webpage) was named for the concentration of Davis family members living in this area. They were ship builders. The area came to be populated with the Davis’s and their families, hence the name Davistown.
The part of Davistown in the vicinity of Lintern Street wharf was once known as Bedlam. It was reputed to have been the location of the largest Aboriginal camp in the district during the days of early white settlement. The Davistown district was home to the Guringai tribe, whose country stretched from the north side of Sydney Harbour, north through Pittwater and Brisbane Water, to the southern end of Lake Macquarie. Signs of habitation in the Davistown area include a rock shelter and shellfish middens. Burramun is believed to be the aboriginal name for the Davistown area. (LINK)
Ferries still work this waterway today, having first been active prior to the opening of the opening of the Rip Bridge in 1974. The small communities around Brisbane Water relied on little ferries to get them to Woy Woy and Gosford. We didn’t take a ride on the public ferry this time but I’d like to give it a try another day.
Ferry ticket booth (unmanned now)
Today many beautiful homes face this pretty waterway. While we walked along, close to the water’s edge, we watched children frolicking in the water, people fishing from a jetty, boats bobbing on the small wash created from the slowly meandering boats, dogs being walked, balls being kicked and a café echoing laughter as people sipped their beverages.
This one pelican sure took his position seriously.Although its not easy to see in the photo the small blue and white sign down the pole says “SURVEILLANCE AREA” .
Do you take time to get out and enjoy the area in which you live? Sometimes the best is closer than you think .
CATHERINE HILL BAY NSW– Alphabetical exploration of the Central Coast NSW
As a teenager my grandfather had a nursery at Frazer Park in NSW. It was located on the Pacific Highway not far south of Swansea. From his house the views swept panorama style over Catherine Hill Bay and the adjoining beaches. Coal ships would line the horizon waiting their turn to enter (probably) Newcastle to load up. He sold the property when I was around 20 moving back to Sydney closer to us as his health was deteriorating. But this isn’t about family, that’s just a little insight into what drew me to explore Catherine Hill Bay.
Catherine Hill Bay was named after the schooner “Catherine Hill” which ran aground there on 21st June 1867.The town prospered from coal mining. Rows of 19th century miners’ cottages line the roadside near the coast. They are square shaped houses with verandahs and no fences, all built close to the street. Have a look here for some great photos.
The pub features strongly in this village and has its own Facebook page.
Catherine Hill Bay is on the State Heritage Register and one of only two entire towns so designated.
We wandered along the sand where just a few people frolicked in the water. I said to my husband, as the waves trickled over my thong clad toes, this was the first time I’d been onto the beach all summer – then I realised it was the 2nd March (Autumn) …oops. I’m not a sand person.
I had however frequented the beach through summer watching it from esplanade cafes and restaurants locally and balconies during my island New Year’s Eve getaway.
I made use of my camera to take a panorama shot of the abandoned jetty. Worth clicking on the photo as it looks better than it appears here 🙂
The gates closing the old coal jetty
We headed north to Swansea before heading back home. On our return journey we had to wait while the bridge over Swansea Heads opened to allow a flotilla of yachts to enter. It was novel watching the first few but then 15 minutes later the excitement had totally faded.
Where we live is such a beautiful place with so much to explore. Do you have a favourite place to visit in your local area?
??Journey or destination?? 