Today I played hooky and took Leia to the beach. Midweek no less!

We had a lovely time swimming, making sandcastles, people watching. All the joys.

It got me thinking about my previous life. You know the one. Before Husband and Before Kids.

So here’s a few things I remembered.

When I was 15 a friend introduced me to Perth’s nudist beach, Swanbourne. I was hooked.

I cut a pair of black dance leotards in half so I could wear the bottom part only.

I used to catch a bus, then a train, then walk 20 minutes to get there.

During the holidays we would do this twice a day for two weeks.

One of the nastiest things you can do to your body is get sunburnt boobs.

Swanbourne was a real community. With many parties and good people.

Any perverts at the beach were quickly dispatched of by the more senior and male members of the community.

You HAD to wear a sarong on Sunday and use the phrase ‘So-rong!’ when saying goodbye to someone. (It was truly funny every time).

I used to also swim at North Cottesloe Beach and dive off the rocks.

Swanbourne is an unofficial nudist beach, but tolerated because it is Army land. Cool huh?

We used to cover ourselves in Coconut Reef Oil and see how many bodies we could pile onto a large airmattress floating in deep water (I remember around 14 bodies).

I don’t remember gawking when playing nude volleyball.

I do remember swimming out to yachts that were anchored just off shore and climbing onto said yachts with other Swanies. (Yes, I imagine they thought they were in heaven).

There was always an annual Beach Olympics. Real sporting comps and a best bum competition (no I never entered the bum comp).

Strangely my parents didn’t seem concerned about my nude beach going.

By the time I went to Uni I was too busy working and studying to go to the beach. My tan has never been the same since.

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This morning we made it to Cottesloe beach for their annual Sculpture by the Sea.

It was amazing! I missed it last year when Miles and the kids went so I was just in virgin awe.

We wondered around, then set Miles off to take more photos so the kids and I could splash around in the water. I miss not living near the beach and it was so, SO nice to see the kids playing together well and enjoying the ocean.

I had to promise Leia a trip to the beach midweek to get her out of the water. A real hardship on my part (not! haha!).

I could have the spent the entire day there however certain family members are allergic to sun, sand, surf etc etc so we left. But thats ok, I’m going back this week.

Technorati Tags: cottesloe, beach, sculpture, by, the, sea

I am very, very excited. Paired with the realisation that I am a nerd.

I installed my very own Etsy widget.

You can find it in the sidebar (yes, he dragged his sorry arse home), to the right.

Woo hoo!

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LOST

One Sidebar

Last seen Monday night. After working late on catagory titles, the Sidebar was reported to be walking down Beaufort Street trying to get strangers to tie his shoe laces.

The Sidebar also last seen wearing a red cotton T-shirt with a dead teddy bear on it and tight white leather pants.

If you find Sidebar, or have any information as to where he might be, please comment here immediately. His owner is concerned he hasn’t put on fresh underwear today.

Technorati Tags: have, you, seen, my, sidebar

I want to be able to make amazing things like these…

…in the meantime I’ll just spend all my time looking at the pretty pictures.

ESdesigns                   

LOOPSdesigns             

mylittlestore

Technorati Tags: sterling, silver, jewelry, art, etsy

Yesterday was the hottest March day…ON RECORD! And today isn’t much better. 42 degrees celsius doesn’t sound all that impressive, but believe me (and all the other Perthites) when we say IT IS! You might also like to think of the sheep too.

Not a great time to be feeling off colour either. Fortunately I haven’t been chucking my guts up, or in the midst of a fever (that would really suck), but ill enough to have done a whole lot of nothing.

I cancelled a morning tea, a trip to the gym, cleaning the house, doing proper food shopping, washing the clothes and going to the post office.

Sigh. And I know, just like the furballs in the corner, all my chores will still be there tomorrow.

I did manage to take a photo of my poor (I say poor because really, who wants to be out in the sun in this heat?) Mandarin Tree. It looks deceivingly cool out there.

You may ask what am I doing taking photos when I’m not well. Dunno.

I’ve been a member of Flickr since 2004, but it hasn’t been till recently that I have been willing to sell my children husband cat to get more time to upload photos.

I check how many views I’ve had first thing in the morning. Walking past the computer to hang out laundry I have to glance once again. Lunchtime? I’ll just eat my food while browsing groups. Kids in the bath? I’ll just check out a few other Flickr-ers to see what cool groups they’ve found and how did they get that lighting so perfect?

Of course I’m only uploading pics of my jewelry. With links to my Etsy shop. All very blatant self-promotion. But I do also find inspiration with features such as explore (just keep clicking reload). And gawk at things like the occasional weird barbie.

Technorati Tags: etsy, photos, flickr, jewely, lariat, lighting