It's so hot the bees are lining up for a drink!

HOT HOT HOT!

We are currently in the middle of the "Heatwave of the Century" in Melbourne with 4 days over 40 degrees C. Today is our second day at 43 degrees (approx 110 degrees F for those of you playing at home). Melbourne can't cope with such heat. The train tracks are buckling (literally... they are buckling. There are guys with hoses trying to cool them down), most people don't have air con at home (including us) and it's time to just pack up the boogie boards and live at the beach! It's HOOOOOT!

Don't be un-Australian!

More of Merimbula

Pretty as a postcard, but too scary to snorkel

Merimbula, NSW coast

Crackers aftermath!

Crackers for New Years!

I know... New Years was about 3 weeks ago. I'm a bit slow!

Tropical pizza and chiko rolls on the barbie. Yum

These signs mean good times are ahead!

Welcome to NSW!

Happy Jen!

YUMMY!

Another great road side stop.... this time for lamingtons

Wherever there's a wombat, we're stopping.

What the hell is this road side oddity?!!

New Years road trip

You gotta start a road trip with scones and jam. Yum.

camel anyone?

this was listed today as our "aussie recipe of the day"...

Camel meatballs with a lovely mint dipping sauce

Put aside your mental image of a horrid, spitting beast--camel makes for a wonderful meal. The meat tastes a bit like strong-flavoured lamb, only with a unique, sweet aftertaste that makes pairing camel with sauce a challenge. This mint/yoghurt dipping sauce is the perfect partner for these meatball

:)

"The People's Chip"

You gotta have Hamish & Andy's gravy chips at the cricket!

CRICKET!

Our 2nd Annual trip to the Boxing Day Test

December 26, 2008
South Africa v. Australia
Melbourne Cricket Ground
Boxing Day- Day 1 (of 5)

Christmas lunch menu

(we had wedges on the patio in our sandy post-boogie boarding outfits, then made Christmas dinner at home)

Count the Santas!

Happy Christmas!

Our trip to Bells Beach (made famous by Keanu Reeves and "Point Blank")

Our humble little tree.

For a humble little Christmas.

Oh dear.

Talented as a 5th grader!

Who knew that decorating gingerbread houses at 26 and 29 could be so fun!

Freckles!

Perfect for a pale redhead!

Oops!

4 walls... but no door!

Christmas Eve

Decorating gingerbread houses with the Blain family!

"It's a Wonderful Life"

(Our way!)

Kangaroo paw

We decided to ditch the conventional Christmas tree this year and get something that seemed more "Aussie." This is our Kangaroo Paw... a funny little [drought resistant] bush with funny little fuzzy bits! She'll be our "tree" next year too!

Christmas tree shopping on the way home from the beach