Lest we forget

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

From For the fallen by Laurence Binyon (1869–1943).


Although I have attended a couple of dawn services in London with Mr G in the past, this was my first ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) Day in Australia. It is a bank holiday here, so people tend to go to their local RSL club or pub, drink beer and play two-up. Before this though, there is dawn service and the annual parade through the streets of Sydney. Although we didn't make it into the city ourselves, I made sure we watched it on TV. The parade was wonderful - it was so lovely seeing the servicemen, young and old, proudly marching through the city centre. Next year we will  make sure we are there in person.

We did, however, go to our local RSL club in Kirribilli (just north of the Harbour Bridge) with friends after lunch. In the restaurant, at the bar and on the terrace, we 'civilians' mingled with the servicemen proudly displaying their medals on their chests. It really was a fantastic atmosphere.

I also decided to try my hand at baking ANZAC biscuits the day before. We've had Bill Granger's Sydney Food cookbook for years and have only cooked a few things from it, but I found a recipe for the biscuits and gave them a go. The ingredients are pretty simple and in most people's cupboards I expect; it was just the coconut and rolled oats I had to buy.


ANZAC biscuits
(From Sydney Food by Bill Granger)

Makes 20 biscuits

1 cup plain flour
1 cup desiccated coconut
2/3 cup rolled oats
125 g butter
1 tablespoon golden syrup
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
2 tablespoons boiling water

 

1. Preheat oven to 160°C (or 315°F). Place flour, coconut, sugar and oats in a bowl and mix well.

2. Place butter and golden syrup in a saucepan over medium heat and melt.

3. Place bicarbonate of soda in a small bowl and add boiling water. Stir to combine. Add the bicarbonate mixture to the saucepan and stir. Pour over the oat mixture and stir all ingredients together.

4. Roll teaspoonfuls of biscuit mixture into balls and place on a greased and lined baking tray, leaving room for spreading. Flatten each ball gently with a fork.

5. Bake biscuits for 15-20 minutes, or until biscuits are golden brown at the edges. Allow to cool slightly on the tray before transferring to a wire rack.

 

They were so easy to make and came out really well; even though ANZAC Day has now passed I would still make (and eat!) these biscuits anytime of year. A word of warning though: they are extremely moreish so you find yourself having two or three with your afternoon cup of tea!

Homesick. The hardest word.

I'm afraid this is going to be a less upbeat post today, but I did decide when I started this blog that I would also write about the difficult parts of moving to the other side of the world.

I often don't know when it's coming, but the feeling of homesickness can be overwhelming. I have days where anything can set me off - finding a cockroach on the bathroom floor, an extremely hot day, or even if I can't get a certain cheese at the supermarket. My retort to Mr G is normally 'It's not like this in England'. I know I have my rose-tinted glasses on about the UK most of the time, but isn't it like that wherever you are? The grass is always greener and all that...

I had a particularly difficult February: my parents returned home after two brilliant months with us, and then Mr G left for a week-long work trip in Europe a few days later. My jealousy did get the better of me more than a couple of times. Why was I stuck here in Sydney when they were all in the UK? I felt left out, particularly as my husband was getting to catch up with some of our closest friends in London. But he's back now, which for the moment is keeping the homesick feelings from bay.

Some days I love that we live here - an early morning walk along the beach, coffee in hand, is just the best way to start the day - and I look forward to the next couple of years that we will be in Sydney. But then I will have a day when it hits me...when will I see the people that I care about again? I find that the hardest part is talking to loved ones on Skype or FaceTime. It's so lovely seeing their faces but then all too soon the conversation is over and I'm left feeling flat afterwards.

Of course I know that feeling homesick is all part of living abroad, and I'm fully aware that my husband had to deal with this during the 11 years he was in London. We're still to decide where we will live long term, but you can't make rash decisions based on homesick feelings. Whether we stay here or go home after a few years will be decided by the both of us, but I know that wherever we are one of us will always get those pangs for home.

In London.

In Sydney.

Sydney - my top 5

I've just said goodbye to my parents after a great two months of having them over here from the UK. To say this week has been stressful and very upsetting is an understatement. It seems to be much harder this time than it was when we left the UK seven months ago, but I suppose that is because I knew I would be seeing them again in just a few months plus we had lots going on when we first arrived in Australia.

Anyway, this post is not a depressing one I promise. We did so many wonderful things while they were in Sydney that I thought I'd compile a list of the best; it may just inspire you whether you live here or you're  just passing through.

1. Walk over the Harbour Bridge.

 

Of course you can just pay to do the Bridge Climb, but I am too much of a wimp to scale the famous structure, so we opted instead to walk from The Rocks to Milsons Point on a damp and grey afternoon after a lazy Saturday lunch. The other half and I had already done this walk one lovely bright and sunny Spring day (read about it here), but it was just as impressive in the drizzle! If you want to see the world's most famous harbour without having to pay for the Bridge Climb, or if like me you're just too scared, then I would recommend just getting your trainers on and pounding across the pedestrian path one morning before it gets too hot, or in the evening when the sun is setting.

Obviously taken on the bright and sunny Spring day!

The pedestrian crossing on the Harbour Bridge.

2. Explore the harbour from the ferries.

 

This is probably the best value for money; much better than paying top whack for a harbour cruise. A MyMulti day pass is AUD 22 and allows you  unlimited travel on all buses, ferries and trains for one day. We actually ended up doing the same thing the next week as we had so much fun the first time, but didn't have the time to get on all the ferries. We began at Milsons Point as this is close to our house, from here we got the ferry into Circular Quay and then back out to the Eastern Suburbs. This takes in Double Bay, Rose Bay and ends up in Watsons Bay. We had the famous Doyle's fish and chips by the beach with a cheeky glass of wine and then made it back on the ferry for the return trip to the city.

Double Bay from the ferry.

The second trip was down the Parramatta River as far as Abbotsford; this takes you under the Harbour Bridge and to places like Cockatoo Island and Drummoyne. The Sydney Rowers Club at Abbortsford is perfectly positioned next to the ferry terminal for a drink or bite to eat depending on how long you have to wait for a return ferry.

Going under the Harbour Bridge on the way to Abbotsford.

We ended our day on the ferries by getting one to Manly to enjoy early evening drinks on the wharf with friends (see more on Manly in number 5 below).

3. Balmain.

 

Balmain is by far my favourite place that I've been in Sydney. I really love the feel of the Inner West. Don't get me wrong, I also love the Northern Beaches but being a city girl and coming from London I feel more at home in the suburbs of Balmain, Rozelle and Glebe. This is ideally where we want to live, but lack of rental properties was a major stumbling block when we were looking. When I visit Balmain, I get the feeling that I wouldn't really need to leave for anything which is how I felt living in North London. There are plenty of shops, cafes, bars and restaurants to amuse us for a very long time. The buildings are beautiful, with lots of Victorian architecture and it's so easy to get lost in the back streets while having a nose at the houses. You could easily spend a day exploring round here, and from Circular Quay it is only a 10-minute ferry ride.

4. Lunch at the Kirribilli Club.

 

Or dinner, or breakfast, or just drinks... Regular visitors to Australia will know that they have a club system, similar to working men's clubs in the UK, as well as golf and country clubs. If you live within five kilometres of the club then you must become a member to be able to drink there. In the UK, working men's clubs conjour images of tatty, run-down community halls with a few unsavoury types propping up the bar. In Australia though, these RSL clubs are normally pretty modern and some have spectacular views. There is also the added bonus of subsidised drinks! Our local is the Kirribilli Club and we joined a few months ago. It has stunning views of Lavender Bay and the harbour bridge. We took the parents there for a New Year's Eve lunch - the sun was shining and we drank wine and beer while eating fresh fish and overlooking the sparkling waters. If you're ever in Milsons Point (and you live outside of the 5kms or have someone who can sign you in) then get yourself down there for drinks and/or food out on the terrace. A bottle of good Sav Blanc is only AUD 25...

5. Manly.

 

I couldn't finish my top 5 things in Sydney without mentioning a beach. Forget the Eastern Suburbs (or actually, keep going to Bondi as Manly locals really don't want an influx of tourists!); my favourite Sydney beaches are the Northern ones. Manly is by far the most famous, and I am quite biased towards going there as some of my husband's family live nearby so it's the most familiar place for me in Sydney.

Manly Beach.

Apart from the beach, Manly also had a fantastic number of great bars and restaurants, as well as a few good shops that aren't to do with surfing! Our favourite place to while away a few hours has to be Murrays. It brews its own beer, so the other half is happy, it has a fantastic wine list to keep me happy, but best of all it has the best terrace overlooking the beach. This is where we took my parents almost as soon as they had touched down at Sydney Airport. The best way to get to Manly is of course on the ferry, and one of my favourite things to do is to catch the fast ferry on a Friday evening with a glass of wine or a beer while watching the city fall away.

What would be in your top 5 things to do in Sydney? Drop me a comment below; I need some new ideas!

Details

Sydney Ferries website
Website: www.sydneyferries.info

MyMulti ticket info
Adult: AUS $22; Child: AUS $11; Concession: AUS $11.
Website: www.131500.com.au/tickets/explore/mymulti-day-pass 

Doyles on the Wharf, Fishermans Wharf, Watsons Bay
Website: www.doyles.com.au

Sydney Rower's Club, 613 Great North Road, Abbotsford
Website: www.sydneyrowingclub.com.au/barsanddining.php

Kirribilli Club, 11 Harbourview Crescent, Lavender Bay 
Website: www.kirribilliclub.com.au

Murray's, 49 North Steyne, Manly
Website: www.murraysbrewingco.com.au/manly/manlyWelcome.php

Sydney Fast Ferries
Website: www.sydneyfastferries.com.au

Instagram pics: the last few months

Belated Happy New Year!

Well, again I've been really slack with blogging but my excuse this time is that we moved into our new place and my parents came to stay! So here is just a quick round up of my Instagram pictures from the last couple of months, mainly consisting of Sydney views, Birthdays and Christmas...

Morning coffee on Shelly Beach.

The walk from Fairlight to Manly

Catching the evening fast ferry into the city.

Birthday cards!

Birthday arvo in the sun watching cricket and drinking wine.

The kitchen of our new house.

Beautiful hydrangeas in our living room.

The Opera House on a very grey day.

Christmas present for the hubby.

View from our New Year's Eve lunch.

Table set for New Year's Eve dinner.

Customs House interior.

A Sunday walk over the Harbour Bridge

As we've had to furnish an entire house, pay the bond and first month's rent, all on a single salary, we have been pretty broke over the last month. Thankfully this will change on Wednesday (plus I have some temping work so will have some pocket money to finally start giving the house that feminine touch!).

Yesterday though, we'd had enough of counting the pennies and staying within a kilometre radius of home so we don't spend money. As the sun was streaming through the blinds when we woke up, we decided to walk into the city over the Harbour Bridge. According to Google Maps it's just over four kilometres so easy enough.

And it was an easy walk as it is all downhill (we got a bus back!), and it's interesting to see North Sydney during the weekend. It's pretty dead but you can find the odd coffee shop open and we enjoyed delicious cappuccinos on the walk down to the water. We climbed the steps to get onto the bridge at Kirribilli, although the Sunday market was in full swing, so we had a little detour there for a browse.

Heading up to the bridge.

Once on the bridge, you practically forget the freeway is right next to you. The pedestrian walkway is quite wide and there are lots of places to stop and take in the view. And the view is pretty spectacular. It's just another great way to see the Opera House and the harbour.

Of course, if you want a real view of the harbour you should do the Bridge Climb. I'm afraid I'm too scared to get up there, but for many it is the highlight of their trip to Sydney.

Bridge Climbers beginning their ascent.

Once you come off the bridge you find yourself in the Rocks area, which is one of my favourite parts of the city. It is quite touristy, especially at the weekends, but has a great vibe and you can always avoid the crowds by ducking down a lane or alleyway. There is some lovely architecture here, some of the best in Sydney I think, which reminds me of Victorian buildings in the UK.

 All in all, a great Sydney afternoon!

Details

Kirribilli Markets www.kirribillimarkets.com

Sydney Bridge Climb www.bridgeclimb.com
 

Somewhere to call our own

Yes, we finally have somewhere to live. Apparently we were really lucky as we were only rejected for three places before being approved for a house in Cammeray which is just north of the city, over the Harbour Bridge. We were told to brace ourselves for rejection from at least 10 places, but in the end we decided to look away from Manly where competition for rentals is fierce. We are paying slightly over our original budget, but commuting to the city will be much cheaper so we are actually saving money.

And we have a house! The last time I lived somewhere with stairs was when I was still living at home with my parents, so this has got me very excited. We now have the task of furnishing a two bedroom house on a somewhat limited budget. Thank goodness for places like 2nds World - I don't want to spend valuable money on washing machines when I could be spending it on candles and cushions (!), and to be fair I don't really mind what the washing machine and dryer look like as they will be behind closed doors (did I mention we have an internal laundry room?!). So this month's wages will be going on a sofa, fridge, bed, TV and basic kitcheneware. Next month's will be spent on a BBQ, outdoor furniture and a bed for the spare room (my parents arrive in less than two months).

So we finally have something to get excited about - a place of our own again. After nearly four months of being nomads, it will be such a relief to close the front door and relax in our own space. It's a pretty blank canvas so I'm looking forward to being able to start from scratch and style the house how I want it. I will post pictures as and when we get organised!

The delights of Sydney real estate

Well I could do a whole blog on the trials and tribulations of the Sydney real estate market. We've only just started applying for rentals, so I know we're still in for a whole world of pain, but I'm already sick of open houses (I never thought I'd say that!) and trying to make small talk with real estate agents. We've been to open houses where we were the only people viewing, and we've also been to one where there were over 30 people trying to squeeze into a two bedroom unit! Suffice to say this one went within 24 hours (it had the most beautiful view of Sydney harbour).

This morning I submitted two applications for properties in Manly. We both LOVE one of them - its balcony hangs right over the water, there is a secluded beach and freshwater pool one minute walk away, and it is only a 10 minute walk to the ferry to get into the city. The other one we saw a couple of weeks ago and I was sure it was going to be snapped up immediately so we didn't bother putting an application in as Steve hadn't started his job at that point. Fast forward two weeks and it's still on the market and is in a brilliant location; again 10 minutes walk from the ferry and a five minute walk to the local cafes, shops and the beach.

Beautiful Manly beach.

So I would be really happy in either of them and I have everything crossed that we get one. I know we will be so incredibly lucky if we are considered for either property, so I am still on the hunt. We are also looking in Balmain, Neutral Bay/Cremorne and North Sydney. We feel that we are pretty laid back with where we live, as long as we get two bedrooms (for ALL our guests from the UK to stay - come on guys!), outside space and a relatively new bathroom and kitchen. But you don't get much for your money round these parts, even coming from London.

Will keep you updated...