where do you live?

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about home. For all of our apartment's perks (space, location, air conditioning) it has one major problem: noise. Noise so bad that it's waking us all up multiple times a week. On the weekend, Clementine was woken up 3 times in 12 hours, and as any parent will know, that pretty much makes you crazy. So even though it's a huge hassle and we really don't want to, we know that we need to move.

The problem is that we live in such an expensive part of the world that we will probably be renting for a while yet. And the rental market here is insane! Overpriced shacks can entice dozens of people to an open house. It's all getting incredibly stressful. We have toyed with the idea of moving slightly up or down the coast, where the cost of living is so much more reasonable. But we always come back to community. Our family and friends are here, so we put up with the insane rent prices and we stay.

So I'm putting it out there to the universe... We need a new home, and in an ideal world my wishlist would include:

• an outdoor space (balcony, backyard, whatever...)
• hardwood floors
• bathtub
• good light
• built ins
• in our neighbourhood
• air conditioning

Where do you live? Urban or rural? City or suburbs? House or apartment? Why do you stay?

our day wander with pia jane bijkerk

 

On Saturday I gathered with five lovely ladies as we braved the elements and wandered Sydney with Pia Jane Bijkerk as our guide. Jodi, Luisa, Sophie, Steph and I bought this wonderful day during the campaign for Pia's latest book, Little Treasures: Made by Hand. We started with visits to several Surry Hills shops, where we admired handmade creations and vintage bits and bobs. Over a long lunch at Garden Life the conversation turned to motherhood, babies and birth. Only natural really with one babe in arms (Clementine) and one soon to be born (in Sophie's belly). Lunch was also the perfect opportunity to pick Pia's brain, and what an inspiring lady she is. She creates so much beauty, all the while with an eye to reducing, reusing and recycling.

With full bellies, we walked through puddles to get to Tracey Deep's studio. Behind a door in Redfern - one I never would have noticed - is a room bursting with colour and texture. Aussie blooms, branches, hessian, twine and even safety pins caught my eye. While we were there, Tracey made each of us a little floral sculpture of our very own. I ended up with two when Jodi suffered an allergic reaction to hers (sorry lady, I'll dry yours out for you!) and I can't stop staring at them. Tracey's work is just stunning - perfectly imperfect and so very Australian.

Finally we enjoyed a fairytale tea while listening to the pitter patter of rain on a tin roof. Beautiful, generous Steph gave each of us a handmade flower press and Pia sent us off with one more little gift: a glass bottle with a write up of our day. Like a mini holiday, I left exhausted but inspired to enhance the everyday. To my fellow wanderers, thank you for the company and for the helping hands with Clementine. I hope we can do it again someday, maybe in Queensland next?

Photos 2, 7 & 8 taken by Luisa with my camera. Photo 9 taken by Pia, also with my camera.

the sky

 

The sky yesterday was so beautiful. We went for a walk through the Waverley Cemetery and along the bluffs, but I couldn't stop taking photos. We were looking for whales - my mom is determined to see one before she goes - but they must've been hiding.

In the cemetery we strolled through the tombstones reading out our favourite names. My two picks: Estelle Isabel Tickle and Elsie Maude Winter. Those have to be two of the best surnames I've ever heard. Can you imagine going through life with the last name Tickle? I feel like it would put a smile on your face every time you said it out loud. It reminds me of a friend of mine, her maiden name was Button. Cutest ever. If you could pick a name, any name, what would you choose?

p.s. would you take your husband's name?
p.p.s. how did you choose your baby's name?

the rocks

 

 

One of the nicest things about having my mom here is the opportunity to be a tourist in my own city. Every day we manage one trip out of the house - a feat which isn't always easy with a newborn in tow. We pack carriers (alternating between our sakura bloom sling and our moby), spare clothes, nappies, wipes, towels and water. We try to time our trips between feeds and around naps, and then we hope for the best. Sometimes Clementine obliges us with long sleeps and her easy demeanour; other times we have to come home early because she decides that eating and sleeping out of doors just won't do.

On this day we had to go to the Canadian Consulate so we made the most of it with a wander around the rocks. We stopped to admire the Opera House, had a coffee in an old sandstone building and very briefly went to the MCA where a Vancouver photographer, Jeff Wall, has an exhibit. But despite her angelic face in the last picture, Clementine wasn't thrilled so we called it a day and made plans to return. When we do, Vivid will be in full swing, yet another reason to be a tourist!

out and about

First of all, I don't think I can title a post 'out and about' without mentioning that my husband mocks me mercilessly for the way I pronounce this phrase. Damn Canadian accent.

Moving right along... Two weeks after giving birth, I am still mostly taking it easy and spending my days at home. This weekend though, the glorious autumn weather beckoned us outside and so the 4 of us journeyed to Camp Cove. We wandered for a couple of hours, snapping photos and soaking up vitamin D while the little one slept blissfully in her moby wrap. In fact, Clementine slept right through her first beach trip. Oh well, I know there will be plenty more to come.

a day in the mountains

 

I've written before about how the Blue Mountains are special to the husband and I; it's where we spent most of our time together when we were first dating and a place we continued to visit as often as possible once we were married. And then life happened - I started spending most of my weekends at yoga workshops and classes, which left very little time for rock climbing together.

We knew we wouldn't be able to climb this weekend, but we still decided to drive up and spend the day wandering. We started with a bushwalk that was meant to be short and easy, and ended up being straight down a ravine and then, of course, straight back up. Whew. Lugging around the belly is not easy, let me tell you! But I was glad for the exercise.

Next, we did some exploring. We stopped to take some bump shots, bush whacked a bit, took photos of the flora, and stopped at the three sisters. On a clear day, the mountains can always take my breath away. Once again, we talked about how much we'd like to live up there. I don't think it'll ever happen though; it's way too far from our jobs, and I would miss the beach tremendously.

 

Finally, we spent some time in our favourite towns: Katoomba, Blackheath and Leura. We had a terrible experience at the Bakehouse on Wentworth (don't go!) which nearly resulted in an angry, pregnant lady meltdown. Once we found a nicer place to eat though, I started to feel much better. A generous helping of scones definitely helped. By the time we got home I was so wiped from our outing that I slept better than I have in weeks! There's definitely something to be said for that fresh mountain air.

weekending

 

A typically Newtown building.

Photo shoot with Belinda, stay tuned...

The view in Manly. 

Organic blueberries - a major indulgence, given the price tag. 

And here begins the 3rd trimester. Holy crap.

curl curl

 

This weekend was hot, so yesterday we set off for North Curl Curl with sunscreen, snacks and books. By the by, I adore the name Curl Curl. Isn't it just so perfect for a beach?

Anyway... we swam and read and swam some more. I swam out past the crashing waves until my feet couldn't touch the bottom, and I enjoyed being weightless. I've never been able to float before, but now, thanks to the belly, I can and it's so nice.

This summer has been record breakingly hot, so even though I'm eagerly awaiting autumn I'm trying not to wish these days away. I am soaking up this last official month of summer, with as many beach trips as possible.