Life in the Upper Hunter Valley, NSW, Australia

Suzi and Neil’s house in the Upper Hunter Valley

This is where I am staying at the moment. We are in the upper reaches of a valley, in the Upper Hunter, NSW, Australia. We are 80km away from our nearest supermarket, but enjoying our splendid isolation.

Although, strictly speaking, we are not alone. In the immediate vicinity we have chickens, horses, dogs and cats – as well as a variety of wildlife, some welcome, and some not so much – especially the wild pigs, dingoes and snakes.

There are also lots of cattle and sheep roaming around the paddocks.

It’s not often that human visitor treks all the way up the 7 km drive from the road, but we are often blessed by other types of visitors…

…like this echidna, who the children named Fred.

Fred can be seen most days, ferreting for ants, his staple diet. He uses his long snout to burrow into their nests, and fends off any predators with his prickly spines.

This blue tongued skink also visits…

 

…he really does have a blue tongue

Of course, we also have the indigenous beasts like kangaroos, and goannas, plus an amazing variety of birds.

Ready to run! (Me, not the kangaroo)

These goannas can grow quite large.

Unfortunately, in country Australia, it is not uncommon to see dead animals on the roadside. They tend to just appear, and  hop, or run, straight in front of cars.

Although we live in splendid isolation, life is never boring, as there is so much to do. Chickens, dogs and horses need to be fed, then there is grooming, riding, and training dogs, and horses. Life in the country is full on.

Katelyn has her horse, Finale, to look after, and ride..

 …and she is also training her puppy, Jingle,

Who will eventually become a working dog herding cattle

Brandyn likes to help his Mummy with the chores…

…and he also chases the chickens out of the garden

Yes, country life is never boring, and everyone has their jobs to do. What a wonderful life!

Elizabeth Coughlan

Bilgola Beach, Sydney, Australia.

The view of Bilgola Beach from our Airbnb.

I joined our niece, Lauren, together with two of my daughters and four grandchildren, in Bilgola Beach, a suburb in northern Sydney, Australia. Lauren was enjoying a respite, during the school holidays, from the freezing winter in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, where she is currently living.

Our party numbered 13 in all. Lauren, her two boys and stepdaughter; we seven, plus a friend of my granddaughter, Shannon; and Gail, an old friend of Lauren’s, with her daughter, Mia. Lauren had booked us all in to a three-story Airbnb, so we could catch up and enjoy some beach time. Fortunately, the house was big enough to accommodate all.

Bilgola Beach is in a bay between two cliffs

Our first day at the beach

Australian beaches are generally safe as long as you only swim between the flags, where there are lifeguards on duty. But, just to be safe, Tatum (pictured centre in the sea) was with the children, while the other adults relaxed on the beach under Jainy’s tent.

Casey and Jordy playing cards

One day a violent storm came through, but the children managed to amuse themselves by playing games and watching television.

Finley watching TV

One morning, Jordy was up early, and was fascinated by the birds that came to perch on the balcony.

Here is his favourite photo of a Kookaburra

All the other kids thought that his photos were cool, so they started looking out for the birds, too. Sarah has a cockatiel at home, so when she saw a cockatoo, she wanted to feed it.

Sarah and Jordy feeding the birds

Two rainbow lorikeets being fed by Mia.

Even though these were wild birds, it seemed as though they had adapted to city life, and were happy to accept gifts from the children. It certainly kept everyone amused.

Thank you very much! Yummy!

We were constantly amused by the cockatoos

Each day more and more birds turned up. Lauren posted a video on Facebook after we left, showing, at least, 9 cockatoos, and numerous rainbow lorikeets, making a racket and demanding food. Probably a good thing they were all leaving the next day!

The storm passed, and everyone was able to enjoy the sea again.

Lauren and a freezing Finley, coming back onto the beach

Sarah and Shannon enjoyed the beach so much, they didn’t want to leave

Casey found another use for his surf board.

A photo to remember, when they all look back on their youth

We all had a wonderful time at Bilgola Beach. Many thanks to Lauren for organizing our few days together. It is a memory we shall all cherish in the years to come. Perhaps we can have another one next year? Just a thought!

Elizabeth Coughlan

Swiss Christmas Market, Abu Dhabi 2017

The annual Swiss Christmas Market is organized by the

Swiss Business Council in Abu Dhabi

The Swiss Christmas Market is a highly popular event on the expat calendar in Abu Dhabi. It is held each year in the Courtyard and Beach Garden of the Beach Rotana in the Al Zahiya Area, near the Abu Dhabi Mall.

I heard of the Swiss Christmas Market through the Expat Ladies Coffee Morning Group who had arranged a visit. Before sampling the market's wares, we gorged on a sumptuous Christmas High Tea in the Beach Rotana Hotel.

Members of our group enjoying the Swiss Christmas market

This 4-day event features wooden chalets resembling a Swiss village, where vendors can sell seasonal items and handicrafts, accompanied by traditional Swiss music, while sampling traditional Swiss gourmet delights.

“Original Appenzeller Streichmusik Alder”

This band – “Original Appenzeller Streichmusik Alder” - is one of the most famous Swiss folklore bands. They provided the perfect musical background to the market.  I almost felt like I should be dancing from chalet to chalet, in time with their lively music.

People from all over the world are here in Abu Dhabi.

This stall is from South Africa

Sometimes it’s hard to resist such beautifully made items.

There was an amazing variety of handwork on display…

…that we really needed more time to enjoy it all.

There were plenty of people keen to shop…

…in the prettily decorated chalets.

I spent some time chatting to Andy Anderson, a fellow photographer,

who was selling examples of his wall art.

Andy had a wonderful selection of images, and also copies of his book, "The United Arab Emirates Through My Eyes", which is on sale in Spinneys and in the Louvre, Abu Dhabi. Andy is a very talented photographer, who I am now following on Facebook. I love his work, which I found very inspiring.

A very Merry Christmas to all.

Elizabeth Coughlan

United Arab Emirates Celebrates 46 Years

Highly skilled pilots gave a heart-stopping aerobatic display.

National Day is always a major event in Abu Dhabi, with lots of entertainment. This year was no exception. The United Arab Emirates’  Airforce, with their death-defying stunts, entertained the thousands that gathered on the Corniche to watch them.

The jets soared high into the sky,

Streaming the colours of the National Flag behind them.

Another group of jets gave us a rainbow across the sky…

…which the wind blew into colourful clouds…

…hanging over the city

Suddenly, a beautiful arc appeared, followed by another…

…Leaving a heart, suspended in the sky.

All too soon, they were gone, 

leaving their colourful clouds suspended over Abu Dhabi.

I do hope I get to see this again next year. It really is a wonderful spectacle.

Elizabeth Coughlan