February...Why did you have to fly by so fast?

What a whirlwind we were swept up in, during the month that was February! My parents 5 week stay in Australia came and went in the blink of an eye, and as I sit here writing this post I can’t help but wish they were still here with me sipping on a glass of wine, or that we were going shopping or bowling, or out for Grill’d or French Twist or taking in the views of Mt. Cootha or going to a rugby game, or meeting by the river for lunch...ok ok you get it I miss everything...but most of all our walks to work together in the morning. 

We were ready and waiting for adventure upon my parents’ arrival to Brisbane and after their quick trip to Perth, we met up for a rendezvous long weekend in Sydney. 

 We spent the days with long lost family in Cronulla swimming in the pool and walking along the beach that my Grams and her family grew up on! I mean how amazing is that...my whole life I’ve listened to my grandma tell her stories of growing up in Australia, living at the ocean and going out to the theater on the weekend with her sister and there we were in her neighborhood, it was gorgeous.

I can’t even imagine growing up there. We were lucky to squeeze visits in with my mom’s Godmother Aunty Fayette and Dave’s Aunty Joy.   We were there for the record breaking temperatures, hovering around 39 degrees, but there were no complaints just a lot of breathtaking views while we walked along Darling Harbor and up the steps of the famous Sydney Opera House. Of course a fling in Sydney would not be complete without a latte and a frolic on the beach at Bondi!

 

Then it was back to Bris for a short 3 day work week for Dave and I before we headed south the Gold Coast. Knowing the muz’s love of beaches and photos...and it’s a deep love; let me tell you, I booked us in for a portrait session by the sea to capture the memories of our Aussie time together. We had the best time and I think the pictures show nothing less. 

Saturday morning we hit the road to the New South Wales hinterlands for some “glamping”...what is this you ask? Let me tell you...glamour camping is the bomb! Picture this: An enormous tent for two, set up in the middle of a vast land of rolling mountains where kangaroos are free to visit you at your doorstep. The floors are hardwood and the bed is king sized. With no need to assemble anything, you are free to enjoy nature’s surrounds as you cook your BBQ dinner on your balcony. Only if you are as lucky as we were, do you get to do this all in the wonderful company of your beautiful parents. It was fab-u-lous!  

On the way back to the city we stopped by Nimbin, a hippy dot on the map, and Byron Bay where we enjoyed lunch by the sea.

Our third week in Brisbane was spent lounging poolside with a good book...or should I say bookssss for my Dad?! My mom and I started our training sessions at the scenic Roma St Parklands. We fully enjoyed the city life by taking in a flick, walks for ice cream, golfing Victoria Park and meandering through the Southbank Markets. For our farewell date we saw the musical Wicked at Queensland’s Performing Art Center...how amazing was that! Even the guys thought it was great and that kind of rating goes a long way!

 

Sadly, all good things come to an end...do they have to?? My parents packed up their Aussie life and hopped a jet plane back to cold Canada. It was really hard on me to see them go, I mean really hard, waaaay harder than I thought was possible and tears were shed. But now that I look back on our whirlwind time together I can’t help but smile because it was beyond wonderful. 

Thanks for coming over mom and dad, can’t wait for your next visit...this chef will be working on her creations in the mean time!!

(ps - my apologies to my pops for the lack of pics, this is what happens when you hate getting your pic taken!!)