We had Esther's 2nd cousin Mareike stay with us while she settled into Sydney life looking for a place to live, new job and finding her way around the city. After a stressful few weeks she now has a place to live and a job. Sydney isn't the easiest place to find a place to rent with 20, 30 or more people showing up to each viewing...but we are glad she's finding her way.
Aled and Rhian arrived a couple of weeks later and have just returned back home after 4 weeks. The four of us went to Jervis Bay for a week to celebrate my 30th birthday! We celebrated in true aussie style with a BBQ by the sea.
Jervis Bay is an incredible place with some of the most amazing beaches. The water was crystal clear with lots of wildlife around. Usually when guests stay with us we have a few places we take them to make sure they see a kangaroo in the wild etc. This time, the wildlife came to us... within a few days they had seen kangaroos, sting rays in the water, whales (and calf), dolphins, pelicans, possums, koalas, parrots and crocs.
It was great to show Aled and Rhian around Sydney. They had plenty of time so they could really get into Sydney life, meet me for lunch, meet our friends, head to lots of our favourite places during the days and evenings, join me for my 30th birthday meal at a Brazilian restaurant in Coogee, visit our church, eat at the chocolate bar (a few times!), meet our neighbours, see where we live. We also went to Taronga Zoo, whizzed around on jet boat, they climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge, enjoyed the beaches at Manly, Bronte and Palm Beach.
With everyone now moved out the place is quiet again but not for long! Esther's cousins from Hamburg arrive on the 14th November as part of their drive along the East coast. It is great to have so many different visitors stay with us.
