A Good Sport

I made a bet that if the NSW Blue lost the State of Origin, that I'd let BigTed's 11-year old, RJ, do my make-up on his day of designation.  For those not from Oz, the State of Origin is an annual rugby grudge series, pitting Queensland and New South Wales against each other.  I'm originally from NSW, but have moved to Queensland having returned from the UK, and continue to cheer for the Blues.  Unfortunately, NSW has now lost eight series in a row.  So this is my forfeit, dutifully published for your humour...

Trust me, when I say, it looks worse in person!

Cheers, KangaRue :)

Being Bolshoi in the Bay

I'm excited that tonight's performance of the Bolshoi Ballet in Brisbane will be shown as a live simulcast at Hervey Bay's Seafront Oval. And best of all, it's free!

Image used courtesy of Qpac - the Queensland Performing
Arts Centre, where the ballet is being performed.

I've seen a number of opera and ballet live simulcasts in London before, with picnic and blanket in prime position outside my old office in Canary Wharf. Getting the opportunity to see Russia's elite perform Le Corsaire along with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra is a great opportunity. The Bolshoi haven't been to Australia in almost 20 years and Le Corsaire has never been performed in Australia before. Having access to events like these is definitely a SilverLining on my relocation!

I'll be bringing my Mum (aka Bubba, one of the Grandparentals) to see the Bolshoi's largest and most expensive ballets, from the comfort of a blanket and chairs, while we sip on some wine and nibble on a picnic. Why not bring your own and come join us?!

Date:  Today, 4th June 2013
Time:  Live coverage from 7:00pm, performance starts at 7:30pm
Venue: Seafront Oval, corner of Main Street and The Esplanade, Pialba
Cost:  FREE!

Cheers, KangaRue :)

Little Lie Down (22/365)

Pickle is not a fan of having sunscreen applied to him every morning.  But it's not an option in the harsh Australian sun.  I think he exhausted himself on this particular day, and crawled up on my bed for a LLD.

22 January 2013

Do you think he looks happy enough now that his ordeal is over?

Cheers, Kanga_Rue

A boy and his fish (20/365)

Pickle and I often meet our friend Deb for a walk along the ridiculously long Urangan Pier - it's a good bit of exercise to the end and back, and lovely just to enjoy the views.  At the start of the pier is this statue that Pickle is just fascinated with.

20 January 2013

There are some intriguing statues dotted around the Bay - some more bizarre than others.  Once the Cargo Bike arrives, I'm sure I'll be doing some posts on the art works as we go past them.  Be prepared for a lot of whales!

Cheers, Kanga_Rue

Hunting for Hermits (17/365)

Pickle and I went on an exploration of parks, and discovered this beach at the top of Point Vernon, near where we're currently living in Hervey Bay.  There are a few rocks amongst the sand, and as it was the end of the day, we decided on just a little splash.  Pickle pointed out a pretty shell, and when I picked it up I realised there was a creature inside.  Not only that, but the beach was absolutely littered with them... all of a sudden, the scatter of shells seemed to come to life before our eyes.  There were dozens and dozens of tiny hermit crabs making their way out with the tide.  Pickle was absolutely intrigued, and spent ages watching them.  He occasionally picked one up for a closer look, but put them back again.

17 January 2013

Apparently there can be baby turtles on occasion too, so this is a beach we'll definitely be going back to explore the rock pools!

I originally edited this photo on Instagram, but preferred the length of the original shot, and wanted to straighten the horizon - I think it makes a better look in the original, unfiltered form.  Hope you agree?

Cheers, KangaRue :)

Scooting About (15/365)

My new friend, Deb, is not going to thank me for this photo.  She's not looking her most glamorous here.  But I think that is the sign of a good friend - when you don't feel the need to get all "dolled up".

Anyhow... she dropped over for a glass of bubbly and got suckered kindly offered to push Pickle around the garden on his Mini-Micro Scooter.  Now, Pickle is perfectly capable of pushing himself around on it... but it's obviously far more fun to be chauffeur driven, by the grin on his face!

15 January 2013

Thanks for the company Deb - promise I'll make the photo up to you!

Cheers, Kanga_Rue

PS.  Deb is another friend I've met through Twitter.  She's not the first Tweeter I've become friends with IRL, and I don't expect she'll be the last.  Have you met friends this way, or through any other "unusual" channels?

Swinging III (14/365)

I will never get sick of the joy on Pickle's face when he's swinging!

14 January 2013

Previous posts here and here show his ongoing love of the swings.  Hasn't he grown up!

Cheers, Kanga_Rue :)

Speed thrills (13/365)

Pickle loves to be pushed on a skateboard.  His (girl)friend, Mia and her brother Felix are both lovely and patient playing with him, and I think you can see from the looks on both Mia and Pickle's faces, that they're having a blast!

13 January 2013

Not the best resolution photo - I'll have to get some more on my camera rather than my phone next time.

Cheers, KangaRue :)

Cooling Off (12/365)

Today was a scorcher - it was 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 Fahrenheit for my North American friends) in the shade!  So after Pickle awoke from a brief afternoon nap - I think he woke up because he was just too hot - I ran him a cool bath.

12 January 2013

There are rules to the accommodation I'm currently staying in: no taking drugs, no growing or producing drugs, nobody to stay and... no paddling pools.  Since wine is my drug of choice (we all have to have some vices, and if that's my worst, I'm doing OK!), I'm happy with all rules, with the exception of the bizarre ban on paddling pools, a little incongruous alongside the others, I think.  So, for now, we'll make do with splish-splash-sploshing in the bath (I may have joined him towards the end).

Cheers, @Kanga_Rue

Pier walk (9/365)

I went for a walk with my friend Deb (whom I met via Twitter!) today; along the Urangan Pier. It is long & the day was surprising windy. Pickle insisted on getting out at the end to watch the waves.

He even got to touch his first fish on the walk back... I don't think it was what he was expecting!

9 January 2013

Cheers, @Kanga_Rue

It's in his blood (5/365)

I don't suppose I should be surprised at how good a climber Pickle is, considering that his parents first date was rock-climbing!

But today when we went to check out the local playground, he clambered his way up this ladder-type construction to make it to the slide.  I hovered near him, and it was only on his third go that I risked taking quick snaps with my phone before dashing back to have my hands nearby in case he slipped - not that he needed me, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

5 January 2013

Each time he got to the top, he applauded himself, which was just adorable... then zoomed down the slide!

How many other 16-month olds are this agile I wonder?

Cheers, KangaRue :)

Update: I've linked this photo as my favourite of the week - come see some others entries by clicking here... 

Tough Day In The Bay (3/365)

Off for a swim.  That's the Grandparentals bottom-right.

3 January 2013

This is their usual spot for a morning coffee, just outside Enzo's on the Beach. Bubbah always goes for a beach walk, and today they both had a swim to beat the heat too.  Pickle and I also went for a swim, and it was the first time since we moved over, that he wasn't a limpet attached to me in the sea. He loves swimming - get him in a pool, and he's all kicking legs, ducking under the water and jumping off the side to me... but I think the enormity of the sea threw him a bit to start.  So hopefully we'll be able to have a regular dip in the ocean, and not only rely on the hospitality of friends (though we had a second swim at a friend's pool this afternoon!).

Cheers, KangaRue :)