Irish Celtic

A while ago (and when I look at the date of the photo it was a long while ago) a friend of Robin's got us tickets for this tap dancing show.

Robin and I went down on the train with just the girls for a day out one Sunday and we all loved it.  The timing was good as Natalie had just started tap classes and of course the girls are familiar with all things Irish (with their dad being Irish).

It's so good to see live shows, especially for the girls - with live music, loud tapping, and lots of singing.

Leave a Comment Erin, excursion, Natalie, Sydney

Elizabeth Bay House

We also went to Elizabeth Bay House on the same weekend as we went to Cockatoo Island and Vivid.  We had stayed the night at our friend's house and then I dragged the kids (Charlie, Erin, Natalie) back across the Harbour Bridge, through the city, to Elizabeth Bay.

After getting a bit lost in the narrow, winding streets (this is an old part of Sydney, one of the first suburban areas) we finally made it ... and well worth it it was as well.  We were all a bit weary and I'm sure the kids would have been happy going straight back up the coast to home, but I was determined as I have been wanting to go there for a while.  And they said to me afterwards that they were glad we went.

This is part of the beautiful public garden at the front of the house, once part of the large estate belonging to Elizabeth Bay House.

The beautifully grand entry staircase.  It was interesting for the kids to compare this to the servants' staircase at the other side of the house.

The builder/owner of the original house was an avid insect collector.

The drawing room

And in the library (which has also been a ballroom at times) there are many different animal collections

Here are the cellars - very interesting to the kids.  They were quite vast.

Here's Erin standing in the original kitchen fireplace (the kitchen was later moved to a separate building - a common practice in Australia to try and combat the risk of fires).

Natalie found this beautiful beetle hiding at the top of the cellar steps.

This is a grotto which was also once part of the original gardens and is now just tucked away behind the footpath (note Natalie's new pink "high heels").

Leave a Comment Charlie, Erin, excursion, homeschool, HSIE, Natalie, Sydney

Vivid

After our trip to Cockatoo Island, we lingered at Circular Quay and explored Vivid - an annual event that lights up Sydney with light displays on buildings, including the Opera House, as well as various interactive installations.  There is always a queue for these, but fortunately they weren't too long when we went.

It is great to be out in our city with people enjoying the sights and atmosphere.  It was a wonderful night - though we were all very weary by the time we got to our beds that night.

You'll have to excuse my photos - they do not do justice to the light effects.

And this is some artwork from a street artist - amazing drawings done all in black ball point pen (you can see the empty pens in the photo).  The kids were fascinated and amazed by what he did!

Leave a Comment art, Charlie, Erin, excursion, homeschool, HSIE, Natalie, Sydney

Cockatoo Island

Last week we had a homeschool excursion to Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour.

Initially we were going to be divided into two groups - one primary and one high school, but on the day we only had one tour guide, but it worked well and was very informative.

I had never been to Cockatoo Island and was always curious...now I know - a mix of indigenous, convict and industrial history all crowded into one little island in the middle of Sydney Harbour.

Waiting for the ferry

A silo dug out of the sandstone by convicts to store wheat

Charlie and Natalie in the convict barracks

And then, after the tour, there was time to wander around the art exhibits for the Biennale, and play a bit of chess!

Leave a Comment art, Charlie, Erin, excursion, homeschool, HSIE, Natale, Sydney

A Trip to Newcastle

28/2/18

Warning - there are lots of photos in this post!

Erin needed a larger violin and there is a shop in Newcastle that I think I will always be faithful to (Hunter Valley Violins).  I first went there on the recommendation of our teacher about a year ago to buy both Natalie and Erin a violin.  Walking into the shop was amazing, a real craftsman's shop.  There are violins, violas and cellos all in various states of repair, as well as a double bass.  There are beautiful arty pieces displayed, knick knacks and all the paraphernalia associated with his business.  It is a beautiful place.  Being a bit shy about taking photos of his shop, I only have this quick snap, which doesn't really do it justice.

And so we upgraded Erin's violin.

And of course, a trip to Newcastle cannot be wasted, so we went to the Newcastle Museum.  This is a small museum, but with just enough for the girls to be engaged but not saturated.

An original, unrenovated Model T Ford in the lobby

Using a lever to lift up a car

And there was also an exhibition of the botannical art of the Scott sisters (who I had not heard of) which I was excited by, though the others maybe not so much.

And an exhibition about early immigrants to Australia.  I was particularly taken by this wedding dress for a Chinese girl who came over to Australia to marry her husband, all hand embroidered in China (and it was tiny).

A mini vineyard, on the way back to the carpark....

Then, on the way home, we stopped at Little Pelican.  I have seen the sign many times and wondered ... well, now we know.  It is a beautiful little sandy beach on the shores of Lake Macquarie, just across the channel from Swansea.  I was a bit nervous about the girls swimming as there was quite a current running, but in the shallows it was still enough.

The joys of a big brother

Leave a Comment Callum, Erin, excursion, homeschool, Natalie, outdoors, science