I’ve spent a lot of the day talking today and I think I may well be all talked out.
It hasn’t helped either that the weather has been hot and humid, quite exhausting actually, after all of our lovely summer’s days of late.
Now, it is raining, not surprising after the humidity of today, and the frogs are happily croaking away in the stillness of the night.
Do you ever have days like I’ve had today? Days when your brain and body both feel rather lethargic?
The talking I enjoyed, the heat not so much. It’s Friday, the weekend is ahead of us and the summer holidays are all but over. The last of the school’s will reopen on Monday.
And so begins another year.
A year of new beginnings; new friends; new dreams; making new memories.
New lessons to be learned.
New mountains to conquer.
A year to know when to talk and when to remain silent.
With Australia being such a young country and myself such an avid fan of any subject which remotely comes under the heading of “history”, it can be rather disappointing at times that my home country is rather lacking in the history department.
It is comforting to know that we do have a limited written history, however young, much of which has been carried out on my very own doorstep.
As I cannot relate to you the history of Australia’s Medieval Days, (they didn’t exist!) the seventeen hundred’s will have to suffice.
Let me take you back in time to the month of May, in 1770.
Captain James Cook and the crew of his ship, the “Endeavour”, sailed north along the eastern coast of Australia.
After reaching the most easterly point of Australia’s landmass, which Cook named “Cape Byron”, the ship continued north to a point where they struck dangerous reefs, some three nautical miles off the coast.
The prominent mountain sighted by Cook, just a few miles inland from the sea, he named “Mount Warning” as it seemed to be a distinguishing landmark to warn sailors of the hazards in the ocean nearby.
Cook named the land along the coastline near these reefs “Point Danger”, which is said to be the site where the Captain Cook Memorial Lighthouse is situated, on the border of New South Wales and Queensland.
In his writings in the ships log, on May 16, 1770, Cook noted a small island just off the coast, which was later named “Cook Island”, in his honour.
In this photo, you can see the mouth of the Tweed River, right next to Duranbah Beach (D-bar to the locals).
In the distance is the small island sighted by Cook and named for him.
As you can see, this zoomed in photo of Cook Island is rather poor quality, although it does show the rocky and deserted land of the island.
Cook Island
It would be almost another eighteen years before Captain Arthur Phillip arrived in the colony of New South Wales, on January 26, 1788, with eleven ships containing convicts, the so called criminals who were expected to forge out a new life in this barren land.
Yesterday, as Australians celebrated the birthday of our country, we could only lay claim to being 223 years old!
We may be a baby country in comparison to most of the world, but I do believe our history is well worth preserving.
January 26, 2011 ~ Australia Day in the Land Down Under.
Australia, I believe, is known for a wide variety of what you could call typically Australian icons.
Our Aussie icons would include such things as the beach, surf, golden sand, football, meat pies, kangaroos, koalas (not koala bears…koalas are not bears!), Holden cars, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman…and Vegemite!
Yes, the humble jar of Vegemite is a true Australian icon!
I’m not here today to explain the history of vegemite, tell you who owns the company that produces Vegemite or to describe the colours in the label on the jar. (They are predominantly yellow and red, by the way).
Today, I merely want to set the record straight.
Yes, I’ve watched in horror as a group of young American girls shrieked their repulsion to the world, on a YouTube video, over the taste of our beloved treasure.
No, let me correct myself….I started to watch and after getting the gist of the video, I stopped watching.
The world has been ill-informed!
Firstly, no, Vegemite does not taste like Marmite. Marmite has a taste of its own, just as Vegemite has its own distinct flavour. The similarities end after “strong”, “black” and “goopey”.
Vegemite was not designed to be plastered in a one inch thick layer onto a piece of bread or toast! I’d shriek in horror myself, if forced to eat it like that!
Let me explain. Firstly, take a piece of your favourite, freshly-baked-that-morning slice of bread. Any bread will do; white, wholemeal, multi-grain, sour dough, rye….take your pick. But fresh is always best.
You can toast your bread, or not. I prefer fresh, squishy bread. There’s nothing quite like it!
Place a thin layer of butter over your bread/toast. It’s all personal preference, but I do like that layer of butter first. Vegemite without the butter is just a tad dry, but that’s just my opinion.
Next, place a thin….I said thin….did everyone get that bit? Just a thin layer of Vegemite is all that you need! Don’t chuck on half the jar, then complain it’s too strong! Would you add a whole jar of hot chilli powder to you Chilli Con Carne dish? No, you wouldn’t; because chilli is strong. And so is Vegemite!
I know of some people who love to eat peanut butter by the spoonful, straight from the jar. The same with Nutella, very yummy, eaten alone, straight from the jar. Perhaps unhealthy, but definitely delicious. (Hmm…Do they sell Nutella overseas?)
Do not, I repeat, do not eat Vegemite by the spoonful, straight from the jar! It will leave you gasping for breath!
For all of my overseas friends, if you are ever given the opportunity to sample a taste of our wonderful, much loved, little Aussie treat, please grasp the opportunity with both hands!
But please, take my advice, use Vegemite sparingly!
Vegemite and cheese sandwiches are rather scrumptious also. The Vegemite people, in their infinite wisdom, decided to combine the two ingredients, coming up with a product called “Cheeseymite”, or some such thing as that.
It was a complete flop. I’m not even sure if you can buy it any longer, because I’m not looking, and neither are too many other people, from what I hear.
The above is all the opinion of “myself”, a life-long, die-hard Vegemite lover. I will concede that Vegemite may well be an acquired taste. And, if you are born Australian and raised on Vegemite, somehow it seems very un-Australian to say you don’t like the stuff!
The main point of my defensiveness of my life-long love is just to say this ~ If you ever have the opportunity to taste Vegemite, at least give it the honour of eating it the right way!
A jar of Vegemite, when consumed correctly, lasts a looonnnng time!
“Keeping my eyes wide open, I will show gratitude for all of the Everyday Inspirations I find in my life, recording their appearance to me in my Gratitude Diary.”
I wrote the above quoted words myself, on January 6, 2011, in my post “My Year for Freedom and Gratitude”. Little did I realise, as I wrote these words less than three weeks ago, just how closed my eyes had been.
For here, virtually right on my door step, is a veritable Touch of Paradise.
(Note ~ Run the mouse over each photo and click on it, to enlarge.)
Breaking Waves
Oh, for sure, I always knew it was there. The trouble is, I have been taking it for granted.
I Love Her Far Horizons
“Oft the colours are pitched so high
The deepest note is the cobalt sky…” ~ The Colours of Light, Dorothea Mackellar.
Point Danger lookout is situated right on the border of the two states of Queensland and New South Wales, with the border line running straight through the Captain Cook Memorial Lighthouse.
Captain Cook Memorial Lighthouse
The lighthouse itself stands 45 metres above sea level, or 146 feet.
This “Slice of Heaven on Earth” would be no more than fifteen minutes drive from where I live.
My first series of photographs were taken late yesterday afternoon. Although these pictures were all rather stunning, I figured the morning light would produce a far superior result, as Point Danger is located on the eastern side of Australia.
Crystals on the Ocean
The weather this morning was spectacular, with not a cloud in the sky. The salty-air wind howled around my ears as I walked around the lookout, taking photo after breathtaking photo, while the foamy white of the waves crashed into the rocks below.
These photos do not do the area justice. The colours surrounding me were magical. The bluest of blue skies, the greenness of the Southern Pacific Ocean, progressively darkening as the waters deepened and the ocean swelling and crashing in cascades of white bubbles against the rocks and along the shoreline of Duranbah Beach.
Duranbah Beach
In certain places, the sun glistened like shiny little crystals dotted across the ocean’s surface.
As I headed back to where I had parked my car this morning I came across a little fellow who my son had spotted yesterday afternoon, lazing on an embankment of rocks on the cliff face, probably 20 feet below us.
My attempts to photograph him yesterday had produced the result of a mound of brown rocks; he had camouflaged himself so well!
This morning, however, there he was as large as life, sunning himself on the grass beside the pathway, posing beautifully for a photo! After our photo shoot, he headed back to the safety of his rocky embankment.
Eastern Water Dragon
I’m confident in identifying my little model as an Eastern Water Dragon.
To say that I have reached an epiphany would be an understatement. I need to get out more; to explore my home area, my Touch of Paradise, with my eyes wide open and all of my six, (yes six!), senses, completely in tune to my surroundings.
And all of my discoveries will be written of, with accompanying photographs, right here. 🙂
Well, I am happy to report that the day did not disappoint. In fact, it exceeded all expectations!
Not in the least bit deterred by the fact that at his new school, his year alone contained half the population of the entire school he had previously attended, this morning my son calmly prepared his lunch and packed his books into his new school bag, in preparation for his first day of school for the year.
Expectations will remain high, from the point of view of the school, at least. For my boy to retain his position in the Academic Excellence classes in which he has been placed, his grades must remain at B- or above.
He’s not concerned in the slightest! In fact, I would like to a make written record right here, to refer back to in December this year, stating that my ambitious son, during this past weekend, has declared that he will end this year as the Grade 8 Dux!
As he climbed into the back seat of my car this afternoon, he announced to my daughter and I that he had just experienced the fastest school day of his entire school life!
I think I can safely say that this transfer of schools is showing extremely positive aspects, right from day one!
On the way home, we stopped off at Baskin Robbins ice cream shop. My boy was famished!
With all ice creams carefully steadied, we headed on up to Point Danger, a local landmark and lookout.
What a gloriously crystal clear day we have had today! After ice creams were devoured, my son and I went off for a walk, camera in hand, leaving Miss Eighteen to “chill” in the car, listening to music.
Chillin'
Most of the photos I took turned out very well indeed, considering the age and quality of my camera. (***Added to my wish list today, under the heading “Top Priority” ~ an upgrade on my camera!***)
I’ve spent a lot of the day talking today and I think I may well be all talked out.
In My World 