The world is our oyster

Oh my gawd!  I just submitted my Expression of Interest and, if selected, will submit application for permanent residency for NZ.

It has been another rollercoaster to get here. I tell ya, things are not as straightforward as it may seem, lol.

So, I thought everything I needed had fallen into place, but my emotions and mind took me on another spiralling ride to, I don't know where, before throwing me down in a mangled blubbering heap.

Welcoming in 2017

I woke this morning with the song Seasons In the Sun running around in my head. It puzzled me somewhat as I wondered what I was saying goodbye to.

Maybe it is my way of saying goodbye to the last 9 year cycle and stepping into the start of a new cycle in 2017.

Berry, Australia

Berry - "is a small Australian town in the Shoalhaven region of the NSW South Coast in the state of New South Wales, located 145 km (90 mi) south of the state capital, Sydney."

Whilst we were staying in Gerringong (Christmas 2013), we did some sightseeing and one of the towns we visited was Berry, before driving up into the surrounding mountains.  Every time we visit Australia, we always take a drive to Berry, one of our favourite towns. It's atmosphere is so inviting. Little shops filled with so much.

Au revoir

Tonight I am flying out.

Getting on with it

In spite of my body not being well, I am capable of getting on with what I need to do.

It is a very strange sensation of working from two perspectives.

Views from Boyes Drive, Cape Town, South Africa

 

Boyes Drive is a scenic road that climbs the lower slopes of Muizenberg Mountain, providing an elevated route above the shoreline of False Bay that offers panoramic views over Muizenberg beach and the Cape Flats. On a clear day, views include great vistas over False Bay with the Hottentot's Holland Mountain range in the distance.  

This coastal road always reminds me of the Med with its windswept pines.

Our Travels

Greg and I love travelling and exploring.

We are both are South African, but have been living in the UK for 17 years. We have found it a very central location.

I felt the need to document these travels – whether short day trips or epic holidays and encompasses Greg’s recent passion for photography, as well as my love of flora, our combined delight in fauna and the world around us…oh and of course…each other.

Our earliest travels were on a very tight budget, so much of our early holidays with two children in tow, were spent in tents, our faithful ‘old banger’ (with a cheerful backfire or two!) piled high always managing to get us where we needed to be. Despite the budget restrictions, we had fabulous times.

Iceland

Iceland's Blue Lagoon - beautiful isn't it?

 

From Wikipedia:
'Due to the special geological location of Iceland, the high concentration of volcanoes in the area is often an advantage in the generation of geothermal energy, the heating and production of electricity. During winter, pavements near these areas (such as Reykjavík and Akureyri) are heated up.
Five major geothermal power plants exist in Iceland, which produce approximately 26.2% (2010)^[1] of the nation's energy. In addition, geothermal heating meets the heating and hot water requirements of approximately 87% of all buildings in Iceland. Apart from geothermal energy, 73.8% of the nation’s electricity was generated by hydro power, and 0.1% from fossil fuels.^[2]'

A little bit of the Med in Sydney

We discovered a little bit of the Meditteranean in Paddington - a quaint suburb of Sydney. The houses are Victorian but the outdoor profusion of plants and potted plants reminded us of France.

Our return trip

Our return trip to the UK was an interesting (although very long) one.

We flew direct from London to Sydney, not sure what quantifies the difference between a "direct" and "indirect" flight as we had to get off the plane in Dubai, go through security search (again for the 100th time!) and then sit for an hour waiting to board again. Same as all the other "indirect" flights...and you pay for the privilege, lol.

The first half of the flight from Sydney to Dubai I sat next to an 81 year old, very brave blind woman who was on her way to visit her ill brother in the UK. According to her, she has done this trip several times.

Scenic World in the Blue Mountains

Skyway

I unintentionally seem to have conquerred my fear of heights.

For someone with this kind of phobia, Scenic World is not a place to be, but we headed there last week, not thinking further than it being something to experience.

Jervis Bay and surrounds

Restaurant on Kiama harbour where we had a delicious lunch

On Friday Greg and I drove down towards Jervis Bay where we would be spending the weekend with our family.

Leeches

We went away this past weekend to Jervis Bay. Greg and I left early on Friday and drove around sightseeing. We were meeting family on Saturday to drive to the rental house.

In the afternoon I was sitting in the car whilst Greg took a few photos. I looked down and saw, what I initially thought was a worm. Within a few seconds I recognised it for what it really was...a leech.

I've seen them used in the hospital and am familiar with their movement.

Yurt farm weekend

Two of the yurts we stayed in

The first weekend we spent at a Yurt farm just outside Goulburn Back to Basics with friends and family in three yurts. We were the only ones there.

Visiting Australia

Here we are for a third time in Australia.

We arrived in the midst of the worst storm that Sydney had seen for (according to the news) a decade (although I did hear someone somewhere saying 100 years).

Today, the sunshine is finally taking a peak through the clouds.

Marrakech, Morocco: Riad Dar Meryem

We stayed in the ancient walled city of Marrakech (medina) at a Riad called Dar Meryem.
Riad - "a large traditional house built around a central courtyard, often converted into a hotel."

Our hosts were heartwarmingly kind and generous, nothing was too much trouble...and the food was excellent.

Treehouse living in France

 

Here are the pictures of the treehouses that we slept in at Domaine de Poiseuil.

On our trip down to the Med, we stayed in two separate treehouses:

Our farewell trip to France

My mother arrives from South Africa on Wednesday. I've not seen her for about 5 years as my stepdad has been, and still is, too ill to travel.

Gerringong/Werri Beach, Christmas 2013

Gerringong - "This hilltop village overlooks a great swathe of blue ocean that promises long days of sport and sunshine. Stay around town a while and you'll discover this atmospheric town also has a taste for the finer things in life, including wines, great fishing and golf. There are seven courses in close proximity to Gerringong. Gerringong is also within easy reach of Sydney - less than a two-hour drive away;€“ yet it might as well be another world."

Sydney Botanical Gardens, Hyde Park and Woolloomoolloo

January 2014

We walked Sydney city centre from top to bottom. It is a very pretty city.