Busy Manly beach ...

Manly is one of the busiest beaches in Sydney it seems and lately, I've been trying to avoid it on the weekends because it's just too crowded.  Right near the Corso, the beach is packed with sunburnt tourists, but even as you get further away from the Corst, it's still busy.  This weekend, there was a beach volleyball tournament going on as well as a surf carnival.

Queenscliff surf carnival

Girls racing

Beach volleyball tournament

One year ago ...

One year ago, I arrived in Sydney feeling more than nervous about the people I was about to meet and hoping that I'd made the right decision to leave my great job in China for this unique opportunity.  It's hard to believe that a whole year has passed since I began my job as a private teacher, home-schooling two children.  On Friday, the family threw me a small 'Happy Anniversary' party ... B made home-made fireworks (slightly alarming, but very inventive), R made me the above piece of art and we all sat in the sun and ate gluten-free chocolate cake and drank wine.  The year has certainly had its ups and downs but am I happy I took the job?  For sure.  In the last year, I've had the opportunity to do so many things that I would otherwise never have had the chance to do ... learn to play polo, attend conferences across North America, live on a private island, participate in cowboy activities and many other wonderful things.  I have one more year left on my contract ... I wonder what the year will bring.

Reading madly ...

My mind is going a little mad at the moment ... my job isn't very stimulating and because it's the uni holidays, I have no reading to do for my Masters.  So, I'm spending a lot of time devouring other books.  Here is a selection that I've read and I'm reading this summer ... 

Written by one of my favourite authors ('Year of Wonders', 'March', 'People of the Book'), this book looks at the horrific lives of Islamic women ... makes me feel very lucky for the freedom I have.

Not as wonderful as his other book, 'The Book Thief', but still a great read.

Nothing like re-reading an easy book over the summer!

This is an incredibly inspiring book about the Tarahumara people in Mexico and their amazing athletic abilities.

This is my next book to read, it's been on my list for ages.

                  

I love planning trips, so I'm always dipping in and out a Lonely Planet of some kind ... this week, I've been looking into San Francisco where I will visiting in March for a conference.

The only teaching book in my reading pile at the moment.

This is the house that Jack built ...

Well, not really.  It's actually the house that my Mum and Dad renovated before I was born.  It was the first house they bought and it's where I spent the first 6 or 7 months of my life.  For a long time, my brothers and I have been hearing stories of O'Grady Street in Clifton Hill and on Christmas Day, Dad finally took us there for a look.  I'd seen many photos of the renovation process, so it was great to finally see the house, albeit having gone through many renovations since the young Davidson family lived in it.

3 mouldy saddles and 1 dirty dog ...

One of my most favourite Melbourne things to do is to head out to the Yarra Valley farm where my horses used to live.  Obviously, it's not the same without having them there to ride, but it's always good to visit my dear friend, Anita and her family.  For this visit, I also planned to get out all my saddles and give them a clean off.  I wasn't prepared for the amount of mould covering them though ... nearly 3 years of storage will do that, I guess.  I cleaned them off and wrapped two of them for storage and packed the third into a lovely new carry bag ready to take back to Canada (my rear end is very much over riding in hard polo saddles and will appreciate the padding on my dressage saddle!)

Mum in the rose garden

We also took Lexie, my brother's dog, with us ... she always loves a trip to the farm.  For her, it's an excuse for all manners to go out the window while she chases the cats, goes swimming and rolls in the dirt.  In several hours, Lexie went from being a cute, 'My Dog' white dog to a hot, dirty, farm dog.  

Sending the dog in to scare away all the mice, rats, spiders etc.

3 mouldy saddles

It was wonderful to see the farm looking so green, it's been a long time since I've seen the Yarra Valley looking so spectacular.  After several hours of eating, drinking, chatting, cleaning and admiring the views, we headed back to the city with a car load of fresh Yarra Valley produce, one clean saddle and one very dirty dog.

Scrubbing the mould away

1 hot dog cools off in the water bowl

1 dirty dog after a swim in the pool

1 unhappy dog waiting to have a shower

2010 ...

2010 was another year of adventures for not only me, but my whole family.  In January, we bid farewell to my brother, Tom, who was heading off for a year of travel and work in South America and Europe.  Mum headed off on her 'GAP' year to Alice Springs and I was headed to Canada, via Sydney.  I began my new job, filled with anticipation about the family and the unique experience.

Saying goodbye to Tom

Beginning my new adventure in Manly

In February, the children were pushing the boundaries and I was struggling with the isolation of my new job.  Relief came with a trip to visit family and friends in Melbourne and the beginning of my Masters study.

Birthday drinks in Melbourne

March was an adventure-free month.  The school routine began to develop more consistency and I enjoyed living in Manly. 

In April, the real adventure began when I boarded a plane bound for Calgary.  I was greeted by cold weather and snow.   I practiced driving on the wrong side of the road with a day trip to Banff.

The snowy ranch

My first trip into the Rockies ... snow covered Banff

In May, the family decided to travel to Africa to build a school, which left me with three free weeks.  After frantically finishing my first lot of uni assignments, I headed off on my first North American adventure, travelling to New York, Boston, Montreal and Quebec City.  Despite the stress of having my wallet and passport stolen, the trip had many highlights including four Broadway shows, Ellis Island, Harvard University and old Quebec City.

The Manhattan skyline

Harvard University

Crepes in Montreal

Old Quebec City

June was filled with Cowtown activities including cattle branding, cattle drives and polo playing.  At the end of June, I jetted off to Florida for the ASCD Summer Conference.  The conference was great, Orlando was a let-down and Miami was filled with Art Deco delights.

My first cattle branding experience

Learning to play polo

Beautiful Art Deco in Miami

The adventures continued in July, with my first trip to the family's island, near Salt Spring Island.  I also visited Vancouver for the first time as well as attending the Calgary Stampede.

First sea plane trip

Fairy Door hike on Salt Spring Island

Vancouver

The Calgary Stampede

August was the month of hiking.  I did many great hikes with C. and the family.  August also bought another trip to the family's island.

Bald Hills in Jasper

Kananaskis Country

Waterton NP and Glacier NP from Mount Bertha

Sunset from Deadmans Island

In September, the highly anticipated event of Mum's visit arrived.  We had a wonderful three weeks spending time on the family's island, in Vancouver, on the ranch, in the Rockies and also a flying visit to New York.

Kayaking in the Gulf Islands

Mum acquaints herself with the locals in New York

Mother and daughter hiking in the Rockies

October bought the end of Mum's trip and the frantic packing to get ready to return to Australia.

Cowgirls ready for the cattle drive

November was all about re-acquainting myself with Australia - catch ups with family and friends, spending time on the beach and exploring Brisbane with C.

Dad comes to Sydney for a visit

Catch up with my baby bro in Melbourne

In December, C. came to Sydney for a surprise visit and I headed back to Melbourne for Christmas.

Rob's snapper delight at the Davidson family reunion upon everyone's return to Melbourne

Tom with the family dog, Charlie

Mum on Christmas Eve

Dad and his partner, Carla, open their Christmas crackers

Helping Grandmother with her new telephones

The city from Clifton Hill on Christmas Day

So, that's it ... 2010, another year of adventures.  Bring on more in 2011, I say!  A taste of what's to come - another visit from C, my 30th birthday, a trip to San Francisco, several road trips and hopefully a visit to Canada from Dad, plus many more I hope!  I hope everyone has a happy, mindful and successful 2011!