Ice Skating on the Gold Coast

20/06/2016

Winter has set in on the Gold Coast and the kids and I are looking for activities to do. I suggest ice skating and the kids leap at the idea.

It doesn’t sound right does it? A mecca for surfing, sunbaking and bush walking, the Gold Coast attracts people who love the sun and surf. However in winter it is winterish and ice skating makes sense.

We put on snow gear and head up the road to Ice Land, only 10 minutes from Surfers Paradise.

The prices are reasonable, and includes skate hire and as a parent, the session of 90 minutes is perfect.

There is a “warm” room for non-participants and that’s where I bail up with my laptop. It’s perfect, the kids skating, I am blogging and warm!

After a few circuits the kids start to pick it up and aside from some spills, they really enjoy it.

It’s a great day out and something we will be doing again and as a parent looking for healthy activities for children to do in winter (that uses up their energy) this is perfect 🙂

The Planting Festival – a time to nurture nature

08/05/2016

What a wanderlust weekend playing with my children and hanging out in Woodfordia, planting trees!

A fun WET weekend (apparently the first wet Planting in 18 years)!?

We pitched our tents in the rain on Friday night and head into the festival to try to make the most of the night.

The kids are immediately on the Woodforidan page… you mean “we all get to live happily ever after?”

I am writing two more blogs on the Planting Festival – one on the man behind the festival Bill Hauritz and the other blog about the festival through my children’s eyes.

The newly planted trees around the butterfly wetlands

Truck Woodford — Emily the truck at the Planting. What a truck

The Planting Festival — magic fairies every where at Woodfordia

The Planting — A typical Woodfordian patroness.

One of my favourite moments was walking back from planting some sapplings with my son and meeting a new friend, Mel.

Two hours earlier we found ourselves standing around literally in the pouring rain listening to Noni, Peter, Tim and Helen explain plants in the wetlands, the importance of butterflies and the dilemmas of modern day weeds.

Fascinating as it was, I must confess I only caught about 30% of the wonderful knowledge being shared as my imagination was already chasing rabbits in the fields and being distracted with wander…

And I noticed my son wasn’t far behind me day dreaming.

We buddied up with random strangers but after working together planting trees they felt like old mates.

This is a short clip that summarises a beautiful, lusciously wet and green weekend.

Danny’s best priced buffet Coolangatta Tweed

25/04/2016

Not being a big fan of buffets, I went to Danny’s Family Buffet as surprise for the children and with no real expectation.

I was pleasantly surprised!

Tweek cooly golf course — Roses on the Golf Course at Tweed-Cooly

A family run business this restaurant is a land mark on the Cooly-Tweed boundary. Located inside the club house at Tweed Heads the open aired restaurant doesn’t try to be a five star buffet but definitely dominates the four star territory.

A great variety of foods are available and you can cook have your own fillet of fish cooked for you upon request. We had the choice between bass, flat head or calamari. Roasts, hot meats, chinese favourites, about fifteen different salads and more. The best for me was actually eating gluten and dairy, which I hadn’t done for a very long time.

Danny's Buffet — yummy chinese at Danny’s Buffet Restaurant

My favourite dish was actually the plump home made spring rolls. Juicy on the inside, crunchy on the outside and loads of filling. They were the best spring rolls I have had in years.

All the other traditional Chinese favorites featured such as sesame prawn toast, dim sims and chicken and egg soup. All delicious.

The kids had a ball – I switched off my strict mummy hat and let them feast for the last time on their school holidays. Approximately seven plates along each – I was wondering how they physically don’t pop.

The prices are crazy cheap for what you get. Check the pricing out here.

The blind orphanage Kathmandu

06/03/201606/03/2016

Today was a very moving day visiting a blind orphanage outside of Kathmandu, Nepal.

I am in Nepal for a couple of weeks to help out after the earthquake in 2015 and to help out in general.

I was over in 2013 and became involved with a not for profit charity that assisted women and children in Nepal. We visited the Buddha Orphanage back then (I have been to a few) and it was brilliant. Clean and happy. The kids the same.

The blind orphanage was similar and it seems odd to say a visit to an orphanage was fun, but it was.

The great adventure started on the drive. The road was barely non-existent after the earthquake and the taxi had to navigate regular pot holes and rubble and dirt.

ON the way we bought some supplies for the children (who are totally reliant on donations). Rice, soap, butter, biscuits etc. We packed the taxi-bus up to the top.

Once into the outskirts of Kathmandu the country side changed. Not so noisy, not so cluttered and fields of vegetables around.

The orphanage was started in 1996 and now has 11 children. The numbers can fluctuate but is steady between 12-16.

As each child stands up and introduces themselves, I discover some were born blind and others became blind. One after an infections, one after an operation and another with no reason why.

I sit there thanking my lucky stars my eyes are still razor sharp and working well.

The children are amazing.

One boy read braille for us – which was in English – which was a huge feat. Not many children in Nepal speak English (unlike other countries).

One beautiful girl danced. It was intriguing to watch as she simply felt the music and moved accordingly. It was graceful and harmonious!

I am looking forward to going back.