Merewether Autumn 2014

Hazel Contemplating

Bright Yellow Sign #1

Bright Yellow Sign #2

Bright Yellow Sign #3

Distinctive home overlooking Merewether Baths.

The Toddler's Pool, Merewether Baths 2014

Pumphouse Merewether Baths 2014

Outflow Merewether Baths 2014

Under Repair Merewether Baths 2014

Toddler's Pool, Merewether Baths 2014

Only two made it out the back, Merewether Beach.

Wall Art, Merewether Subway

 Typical Autumn Day,
Merewether Beach and Baths 2014.

Merewether Baths Surf House

 SOME LOCAL SECRETS are worth sharing.  Just underneath Surf House at Merewether Beach is a pizza and fish and chip casual eats spot where you can feed a family of four for under fifty dollars. 

Once I got a taste we ate here every week for about six weeks straight - so we enjoy a nod from the waitstaff and know where to sit to catch the perfect nor-easter on a Friday afternoon.

The new walkway takes you effortlessly to Surf House from the Ocean Baths, so it has become an established habit for use to trudge up with sand between out toes and eat.

There is a relaxed friendliness about eating pizza with your hands whilst the kids scuttle about over the rockpools and drip ice cream on themselves.

Here's a sentimental image of the baths changerooms - slated for demolition/removal in 2014, we will probably miss the mustard ugliness and awkward design of the building. 

Pasha Bulker Storm Fours Years On

Four years ago a storm pushed the Pasha Bulker onto Nobbys Beach. It was a bright cold day in June, and we were completely distracted with our pink, wriggling three week old baby girl.

Having just moved house in February, the garden was a tangle of weeds with the storm flattening all but the thickest saplings, and trees.

A total contrast to today - brisk, breezy and blindingly sunny - with the clouds blown out of the sky.

See the sparks flying...

Here's some images from south Bar Beach, could see a whale spraying out the back but couldn't get it on the lens I had with me.  Nothing better than when it's offshore.

In 2007 I was stuck at work overnight, I remember the roads were impassable and cars were piled on top of each other from the force of the water.

Our house was damaged and we got a new courtyard out of it through insurance.  But the sound of the wind was unforgettable.

What is This plant?

Here's a question - have been feeding the chickens this green food and they love it - it grows easily and fast and i have some inkling that it is a native.

Afternoon at Bar Beach

Spent a glorious day at the beach on Sunday, was particularly keen to get some sun as we recognize it is nearing the end of sunny days.

Was a beautiful day and we flirted with the storm clouds, running over the rocks and exploring through the pools until near dusk. Once we were home and in steaming showers we heard the first of the big raindrops plopping on the roof.
Nothing better than standing on the verandah with hot-shower-skin watching the rain splash off the steaming road.

Seagulls on a Windy Day

Spent a blustery Saturday afternoon flying the new kite. Made for a mini comparison next to the big boys with their actual hanggliders.

Australia Day 2011 Merewether Baths

Australia Day is a morning off and relax at the Beach.  This morning we woke to find the Morgan Street valley cloaked in thick fog, so dense we could not see past our trees.  Immediately we thought it was an ominous sign, considering we have heard the weather forecast predicting temperatures approaching 40C.

Australia Day 2011 Merewether Baths

Australia Day In Merewether

At the baths we could not see past the pool edge - adding a new dimension to the concept of infinity edge pools. Still, it was fun and clearly the most well attended day since the bustle of Boxing Day.

And that's where I started thinking - what is it with all these collapsible tent things that people put up blocking a clear view of the water?  And how can you fit under it anyway?
Whats wrong with a traditional umbrella?

The thing that irks regular beach users is that these tents act as barriers and block line of sight access to children, the water and just the general environment, let alone the way they inhibit social interactions.
And they do not let the air flow through, regardless of how many flaps and extensions you move, so you will find most tent users are rarely, if ever, actually sitting inside it, sweltering in the sticky breezelessness.
My recent experiences have been some overly enthusiastic beach goers plonking their tent right in front of our beach access and thinking nothing of it. Ooops!

For my Australia Day wish, I propose we get rid of these beach tents and return to the glorious days of billowing umbrellas and being able to see one another and our children at the beach, and feeling the sea breeze.  No more of this claiming beachfront land with a tent and then never actually sitting under it.
Whaddaya reckon?

The Middle of Summer

Enjoying a damp summer with milder days and still the chance to spend time at the beach. Here is a selection of images from the past few weeks. Have been going daily down to Merewether and Bar Beach for a bit of variety. Here the girls are at the end of a marathon swimming and running session - they have simply exhausted themselves. It was the last shot I took before we packed up for home.

The End of a Long Day at Bar Beach

At the beginning of October we planted a handful of butternut Pumpkin seeds, and when we saw how quickly they sprouted and spread, we sought out some watermelon seeds and put them in alongside.  The site is this waste ground at the back of our house where grass clippings and garden waste has been dumped for decades (since the house was built in the seventies) and just weeds have been growing.

I had struggled with weeding it or whether to poison and never really got on top of it, until we thought of the idea of planting some rambling pumpkins and watermelons!  The idea was that the melons would out compete the weeds of we planted them right and we might also grow some worthwhile fresh veggies as well.

A watermelon or (pumpkin?) seedling day three.

It didn't take long for the plants to thrive and they have covered the whole area quite thickly, and the sail-like leaves of the pumpkin meshes neatly with the frilled leaves of the watermelon.  They have greened the whole sloping site, roughly half a tennis court, and we are eagerly anticipating the bulging pumpkins and melons as they swell with all the rain

Watermelon leaves have this pinnate structure

So I have finally relented and purchased a digital SLR camera and am now taking much more control over the images I produce.  Only problem is the images are so large and slow to load on blogs etc.  The wife has decided to do a SLR course at WEA so it will be great for shooting products not just learning by trial and error.

Native Violets in the front Garden

OK, will be posting a bit more often now we are all back in work mode...

Dixon Park Beach and Merewether Beach

Dixon Park has some creative street art on the side of the old kiosk, much like Kurri is known for it's street art. Larger than life depictions of local scenes on the side of buildings usually.  These two figures are side by side and overlook the children's playground.  Both perhaps of Mark Richards - or at least they are riding boards with his logo.

Double Bar Beach Sunday

Firstly, welcome to our Family Journal.   Well sort of a family journal and also a way of sharing how we progress towards a sustainable, productive future using our limited funds based on an old house in Merewether. 

We have two active young children and a thriving gourmet hamper business.  We spend plenty of time at Bar Beach (at tea bag corner)  and Merewether Baths (largest saltwater baths in southern hemisphere) with our girls and juggle government jobs with our love of gourmet food.

Lacking a photographer in the family, we have felt the obligation to share our photos and experiences in a lasting way through this blog.

Since we have regular exposure to the Newcastle Food and Wine Scene, and love participating in wine and food, we offer new experiences and images of our plate.