Well … here I am home sweet home in Australia, just in time for my sister, Felicity’s wedding! I have decided to put mostly just photos of my trip in Oz as I think that sums up my trip! It has been wonderful catching up with family and friends, even if I was home for winter in Oz .. who said it doesn’t get cold here??
Cath, Lizzy, Felicity and me on Felicity & Jason’s big day. Here we are sitting down by Sydney Harbour waiting for the boat ride in between the ceremony and reception.
Before I get onto the highlights of my trip, I thought I would just mention a few of the creature comforts that I’m really appreciating or noticing now I’m back at home and off the backpacker circuit for a month. So here we go:
- Drinking the water straight from the tap
- Flushing the toilet paper
- Driving a car
- Washing my clothes whenever I want
- Cooking, but also washing up
- Sleeping in a great bed with a doona, and, most of all,
- Eating my favourite foods!!
I have however suffered from terrible hay fever since I’ve been back though, one of the joys of Australia that I had forgotten about! So, here would have to a few of the highlights from my trip, in chronological order:
Felicity and Jason’s Wedding: It was truly a spectacular day for their wedding and in the perfect backdrop of Sydney harbour, their day was gorgeous. I was a bridesmaid along with my other sisters Cath and Lizzy and my little niece Lily was flower girl. I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction back to Sydney and it was great to see my family and relatives. It was also a lovely excuse to be in Sydney for a few days where I really appreciated how amazing Sydney harbour is … and also enjoyed a day out with the kids to Bondi Beach.
My (early) 30th Party: I had a fantastic night in Sydney catching up with all my friends and relatives at a very early 30th birthday party at Centennial Hotel, right in the heart of my old stomping ground in Sydney. It was so great to see everyone, and a special thanks to Trace and Cath for organising this hen I was on the other side of the world!
At my 30th Birthday Bash at the Centennial Hotel in Sydney, with Mal and Trace. Thanks to Trace for organising everything while I was on the other side of the world!
Ski Holiday to Perisher Blue: I had such a fun four days of skiing at Perisher Blue with my sisters, Lizzy and Cath, her hubby Jason and my friends Maria and Sparry. We stayed right on the slopes at Guthega Pub for perfect access to the slopes and we had sun drenched skiing in great conditions for the four days, ending each day relaxing in the hot tub! We also had a very memorable karaoke night in the pub where the highlight would have to be doing back-up dancing with Lizzy to Kung Foo Fighter, using our co-ordinated Boxacise class moves! Of course I also pumped out my favourite, ‘I will Survive’!
Lizzy and I relaxing with a hot chocolate and soup on the slopes on our last day of sunny skiing at Perisher
Visit to Cath’s Place and the Big Strawberry: Lizzy and I then headed across the mountains to our sister Cath’s place in Barooga. Here we had a great few days being entertained by her gorgeous kids Lily and Will, as well as making a visit to the ‘Big Strawberry’! For those of you not aware, Australia has an obsession for ‘big things’ and a lot of small towns have a big object that their town is famous for, so there exists a big prawn, a big banana etc . Anyway, back to Barooga, we also had a great girls day out to the famous Rutherglen wineries where we enjoyed fantastic cheese plates and wines and lunch amongst the vineyards, my perfect day.
Being home in Bega: It had been a year and half since I’d been home, so it has been so nice to have time just relaxing at home with Mum, Dad and Lizzy on the farm. They have now got the cutest little goats since I was last here which you’ll see in the photos. Mum and Dad also have an amazing garden, so I’ve been enjoying so many fruits and vegetables fresh from the garden, my favourite treat being a glass of freshly squeezed home grown orange juice waiting for me every morning when I woke up, thanks dad! Down in the Bega Valley we did beautiful walks along Tathra beach, fishing at Bermagui for Father’s Day, fish and chips on the water at Narooma, we went up the coast to visit my Nanna and relatives in Moruya and have had some beautiful meals and red wine in the evenings!
My friends Mal and Althea also made the mammoth trip down from Sydney (7 hours driving) to visit me for the long weekend! We had great fun being tourists in the Bega Valley, including, of course, a visit to the Bega Cheese Factory, as well as a walk along Tathra beach, lunch at a cute cafe overlooking the beach and of course meals made from the freshest ingredients straight out of my parents’ garden along with a nice glass of red wine. All in all, a perfect weekend!
Outside the church in the rocks with Mum and Dad after the wedding ceremony.
Well my time in Australia has sadly drawn to an end and the last chapter of my trip begins as I head off to Chile tomorrow to travel around Chile and Argentina for 3 months. So, until my next instalment from Chile,
Hasta Luego, Tamara xx
Ready to go to Felicity’s Hens bash in Sydney a few days before the wedding.
At only 4 years old, Lily already loves having a go on the digital camera! The only problem being that she mostly only takes photos of torsos as she doesn’t angle the camera very well!
Felicity and Jason on the walk from the church down to the boat just before we went on a cruise around the harbour!
Outside the church at Felicity’s wedding with Cath and Lizzy. We were unconventional bridesmaids in our own colourful outfits!
Will looked gorgeous at the wedding with his cute little hat and tie. Here we are at the reception, about to cut loose on the dance floor!
Outside the church after the service, one the official photographer took!
Lizzy with Will and Lily on Bondi Beach the day after the wedding. Was so nice to be on an Aussie beach again!
Nice and warm by the log fire at our lodge right on the slopes at Guthega in New South Wales
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