Last beach day of the holidays

How amazing were the colours at the beach yesterday. Everything was so blue it was like looking through a filter. We escaped the Melbourne heat and drove to the Great Ocean Road once again to enjoy a day at the beach, only to find that it wasn't as hot in Lorne and the thick layers of clouds covered the sky completely. I finished my book "You'll be sorry when I'm dead"by Marieke Hardy and I had a cappuccino at the beach. Later at night we had dinner at Cuda Bar and had a toss to new beginnings (at least for me).

Que increible los colores en la playa ayer. Todo estaba tan celeste parecia que miraba a traves de algun filtro. Nos escapamos del calor de Melbourne y manejamos por la Gran Ruta Oceanica otra vez para disfrutar un dia en la playa, solo para encontrar que no hacia calor en Lorne y que las capas gruesas de nubes cubrian el cielo completamente. Termine mi libro "Se apenaran cuando este muerta" de Marieke Hardy y tome un cappuccino en la playa. Mas tarde a la noche cenamos en Cuda Bar y brindamos por nuevos comienzos (al menos para mi).

I really enjoyed my drive there with The Shins sounding loud. It is interesting how when the sun is hiding behind the clouds our focus changes. The sun is in a sense like a spot light than when off, it forces our eyes in new directions. On the road yesterday I noticed this funky looking plants or shrubs on the hillside. They were mostly dry and unevenly sticking out here and there. They made the hill look like it has had a really bad haircut and they were hairs sticking out everywhere oddly. It made me laugh.

Realmente disfrute el viaje ayer con The Shins sonando fuerte en el auto. Es interesante como cuando el sol se esconde detras de las nubes nuestro foco visual cambia. Es sol, de alguna manera, es un reflector directional gigante que cuando esta apagado nos fuerza a mirar en nuevas direcciones. En el camino ayer note estas plantas graciosas en las colinas. Estaban secas y se destacaban desprolijamente aqui y alla. Parecia que la montana habia tenido un corte de pelo malisimo y tenia pelitos parados por todos lados. Me hizo reir.

Glorious Day at the Beach

Last Tuesday we went to Lorne and finally hit a glorious day at the beach. Perfect weather, perfect surf and great food. Went for a walk around town, shop a little, ate some ice-cream and swam a lot! It will be repeated before the end of the holidays.

El martes pasado fuimos a Lorne y finalmente fue un dia glorioso en la playa. Temperatura perfecta, olas alucinantes y comida rica. Caminamos, compramos algunas boludeces, tomamos helado y nade un monton! Sera repetido antes que terminen las vacaciones.

Cuddles

Just one of the many times that I have to do things with Oliverio resting on my shoulders like a baby. He is so gorgeous!

Una de las tantas veces que tengo que hacer cosas con Oliverio colgando en mis hombros como un bebe. Si no lo levanto llora. Es tan hermoso!

Una merienda en Chocolateria San Churro

How yummy it was this afternoon tea at San Churro in Fitzroy. The drink was a classic Spanish but cold. The chocolate was so thick that it was more like a dessert and it tasted like the Cindor classic from Argentina! The churros were really nice and I chose dark chocolate as a dipping sauce. I felt so full afterwards. How am I going to burn all this fat?

Que rica la merienda en San Churro en Fitzroy. La bebida era un clasico chocolate espanol pero frio. El chocolate era super espeso parecia mas un postre y tenia gusto a Cindor! Los churros eran tan ricos. Yo elegi chocolate negro para mojarlos pero tambien hay de leche y blanco. Me senti tan llena cuando termine. Como voy a hacer para quemar todas estas calorias?

Stonefield at Federation Square

Last night at Federation Square free concerts was another treat. Rockers Stonefield played her neat sound for an excited audience. They are a band of sisters from rural Victoria, the oldest (drummer and singer) is 19 years old and the youngest (bass player) is 13! They sounded amazing and they really know how to work the stage. They have already played at Glastonbury and played in L.A. to support the Foo Fighters.

I really like that they are still kids and can really rock it! There are really some amazing music brewing in Australia at the moment.

Anoche fue otro exitoso concierto gratuito en Federation Square. Las rockeras Stonefield tocaron y llevaron su sonido prolijo a una audiencia exitada! Son una banda formada de hermanas de un pueblo rural en Victoria. La mayor (baterista y cantante, 19 anos) y la menor (bajista, 13)! Sonaron re bien y realmente la tienen clara como trabajar el escenario. Ya tocaron en Glastonbury y en LA como grupo soporte de los Foo Fighters.

Me encanta que sean tan chicas y que realmente disfrutan lo que hacen y la verdad que se rockean todo! Ultimamente hay mucha musica que vale la pena cocinandose en Australia.

Antes de esuchar bajen el volumen porque yo estaba al lado del parlante y el telefono saturo el sonido.

Before you play lower your volume, cause I was next to the speaker and my phone screw up the sound. They did this cover of A whole lotta love (Led Zeppelin).

Pizza "thank you" night

Last night my friends Nikki, Wendy and Linda (represented here by the Oscar as she had already left when I took the photo) came home for dinner. It was a thank you from me to them for being supportive and understanding during the last 4 and 1/2 years when I decided to start uni. Nikki and I worked close together on our assignments, brainstorming, checking each other's work, trying to make sense of it all. We spent hours on the phone working things out, helping each other, cursing and more. I wish her all the best for this, her last year at UTAS. I wish I could work with her. We would make a great team! Thanks Nikki.

Anoche vinieron a cenar mis amigas Nikki, Wendy y Linda (representada por el Oscar en la foto porque ya se habia ido cuando me acorde de sacar la foto). La cena fue para agradecerles por su apoyo y entendimiento durante los ultimos 4 anos y medio cuando decide empezar a estudiar. Nikki y yo trabajamos juntas en nuestros estudios, brainstorming, chequeando los trabajos de cada una, tratando de que todo esto tenga sentido. Pasamos horas en el telefono estudiando juntas, analizando problemas, ayudandonos mutuamente, puteando y mas. Le deseo todo lo mejor para este su ultimo ano en UTAS. Me encantaria poder trabajar con ella hariamos un equipo fantastico. Gracias Nikki!

Wendy has been there for me always, supporting me and understanding my rants, listening to my frustration, giving me positive feedback and encouraging me through every step. She has been a great friend, understood why I didn't have time for her without getting upset. She has been patient through this all and has shown me true friendship. Thank you Wendy!

Wendy siempre me apoyo y me banco despotricando contra todo, se aguanto mis frustraciones, siempre dandome feedback positivo y alentandomeen cada paso. Wendy ha sido una amiga fantastica, siempre entendiendo porque no tenia tiempo para ella sin enojarse. Ha sido paciente durante todo este tiempo y me ha demostrado amistad verdadera. Gracias Wendy!

Linda has been a fantastic support and fountain of knowledge and information. I thank her for reading all my assignments and giving me feedback, checking for spelling and making sure that what I handed in made sense. She has put up with every single one of them and never turned me down, despite her busy life. She has given support in times of frustration and has always encouraged me to keep going and work hard. She has been an example for me, a great role model and a friend. Thanks Linda.

Linda ha sido un apoyo fenomenal y una fuente de conocimiento e informacion. Le agradezco por haber leido todos mis trabajos, monografias y ensayos y darme feedback, chequear por ortografia y significado. Se banco leer absolutamente todos mis trabajos y nunca me dijo que no, a pesar de su laburo estresante y atareado. Linda me ha dado apoyo en momentos de angustia y frustracion y siempre me alento a seguir y a trabajar duro. Linda ha sido un ejemplo para mi, un modelo a seguir y una amiga. Gracias Linda

We had pizza, beer and tiramisu and enjoyed each other's company. Thank you girls again and I hope that we will do it again soon.

Anoche celebramos con pizza, cerveza y tiramisu y disfrutamos en nuestra compania. Gracias chicas otra vez y espero que lo hagamos de vuelta pronto.

Cuda Bar at Lorne

Yesterday Ric and I went to Lorne. It was very hot again and it made me enjoy the beach a lot less than I would normally do. I think it's the hot north wind that I hate so much, it makes everything uncomfortable. The water was nice and cooling but the sea was messy and choppy. There weren't nice waves and it wasn't fully flat either, so the in-between kind of washing machine effect was not to my liking. We got there at lunch time and I stayed at the beach until 6ish reading my book "You'll be Sorry When I'm Dead" by Marieke Hardy, then we had a drink at the beach bar and I got so hot sitting there that decided to go back in the water. By the time I came out it was past 7 pm. I had a nice fresh and clean shower and went straight to Cuda Bar.

Ayer Ricky y yo fuimos a Lorne. Hacia mucho calor otra vez y me hizo disfrutar la playa mucho menos que lo que la disfrutaria normalmente. Creo que es el viento caliente del norte lo que odio tanto, porque incomoda todo. El agua estaba linda y refrescante pero el mar estaba revuelto. No habia olas lindas y no estaba pileta tampoco, asique ese efecto lavarropa que habia no me gusta mucho. Llegamos despues del mediodia y nos quedamos en la playa hasta las 6. Yo lei mi libro y despues tomamos algo en el bar de la playa. Sentada ahi en el bar me agarro tanto calor que me tuve que volver a meter al agua. Para cuando sali ya eran mas de las 7. Me bane y nos fuimos directamente a Cuda Bar.

Cuda Bar is really nice, it has a nice decking to sit and eat or drink with a nice sea view, or you can sit inside and listen to the live band of the night. The service there is great and everyone is so friendly. Raquel (I think she is the manager) is from Brazil, she is such a nice person, she remembered us from last year and came to say hello and have a chat about her holidays to Brazil and Buenos Aires. We also talked about Martin, the Uruguayan waiter we met there last year. He was such a free soul and was living the life. We had the fish and chips. The fish was so fresh and the chips were delicious! Raquel gave us a complimentary entree of spring rolls that were very nice. Cuda Bar has the friendliest atmosphere in Lorne, great food, fantastic ambience and it's open till late.

Cuda Bar es hermoso, tiene un lindo patio afuera para comer o beber mirando el mar o podes sentarte adentro y escuchar a la banda en vivo del dia. El servicio es fantastico y todos ahi son super amistosos. Raquel (la manager) es de Brazil, es tan macanuda, se acordaba de nosotros del ano pasado y nos vino a saludar y a contarnos de sus vacaciones en Brazil y Buenos Aires. Tambien hablamos de Martin, el mozo uruguayo que conocimos el ano pasado. Martin era tan espiritu libre, estaba ahi en Lorne viviendo la vida loca ahora esta en Europa. Cenamos ahi, pesado del dia y papas fritas. El pescado era fresquisimo y las papas super crocantes. Raquel nos regalo una entrada de spring rolls que estaban riquisimos. Cuda Bar tiene la atmosfera mas agradable de Lorne, comida buenisima, un ambiente fantastico y esta abierto hasta tarde.

Today I missed the sea and the washing machine effect...hot weather in the house is not at all enjoyable. Summer sucks if not near the beach. That has been my statement for the last 30 years and I am sticking to it.

Hoy extrane el mar y su efecto lavaropa...el calor en la casa no es para nada disfrutable. El verano es un asco si uno no esta en la playa. Este ha sido mi moto desde hace 30 anos y aun los sostengo.

Happy 4th Birthday Oliverio

Oli turned 4 today. We gave him a good breakfast of his favourite food and then we opened his new toy (his favourite toy of all time). He was super excited, yet he didn't growl at it like he used to when he was younger. I think that the heat made him a little lethargic. We will test it again when it's less hot. Oliverio you are so loved...I hope you know it! Happy 4th Birthday. Love, your humans.

Varenikes

Last night Ric made some delicious Ukranian Varenikes (only that I spelled it wrong on my fridge). They are like a dampling filled with mashed potato, cheese and bacon and served with cream and melted butter...yummy!

We don't eat them very often and it probably is more of a Winter food, but since this Summer hasn't been hot and we had the time, we decided to go ahead and treat ourselves. There is an unspoken tradition between varenike makers that males do them and they must compete to see who eats the most. I was never able to eat more than 5 (if they are small). I still remember a night at my father in law's house when Ric and Ale (his brother) were competing, Ric was up to number 14 and Ale was trying to impress his girlfriend and went over his limit...it didn't end well let me tell you.

Anoche Ricky hizo unos deliciosos varenikes ucranianos (yo lo escribi mal con los imanes en la heladera). Varenikes son una especie de pasta rellena con pure, queso y panceta y servidos con crema y manteca...riquisimos!

No los comemos muy seguido y probablemente es una comida mas invernal, pero como ese verano no ha sido muy caluroso y estabamos con tiempo, decidimos hacerlos. Hay una tradicion entre los hacedores de varenikes que son los hombres los que los preparan y ellos deben competir a ver quien come mas. Yo nunca pude comer mas de 5 y si son chiquitos. Todavia recuerdo una noche en la casa de mi suegro cuando Ricky y su hermano Ale estaban compitiendo y Ricky iba por el 14 y Ale estaba tratando de impresionar a su entonces novia y se paso de su limite para ganarle a Ricky...no termino muy bien que digamos.