Started the day lazily because I had nothing get up for this morning, so decided to take my time. Had breakfast downstairs and went to a presentation on the holiday company I belong to to find out about the changes that have been implemented. Amazing and very hard to explain, other than saying that it is going to be much easier to get our money’s worth out of the company.   Did some washing, drying, folding, packing and then snacked on some of my popcorn.

At about 1:15 I headed out to meet up with one of my Mum’s cousins and her daughter. J & S were waiting for me at The Dining Room Restaurant down the ?southern end of Balmoral Beach.

This is the shark net enclosed pool for swimming at Balmoral Beach.  We looked out over it from the airconditioned restaurant – even though the air-conditioning struggled due to the high temperatures at lunchtime.

After lunch I followed J & S back to J’s home, where her other daughter D works. We discussed going for a swim at lunch and I had cleverly included my swimming stuff in my car.  I had a dinner invitation on the same side of the harbour at 6pm so I had planned after lunch to go for a swim anyway so I was encouraged to go to Freshwater Beach with my 2nd cousins. It was compulsory! I didn’t really mind at all. 🙂

Freshwater Beach

Freshwater Beach walkway

http://www.workoutaustralia.com.au

The beach is flat for a long way out and so the excrutiating pain of the cold water on a warm body continues for some time.  It was agony – the water slapping around my ankles was so cold I could not imagine how it would feel as it proceeded to enclose my body centimetres at a time as I slowly, gingerly waded out away from the warmth of the beach.  The clouds threatened rain and the wind was a cool southerly.  The waves came further and further up my legs and then the worst area, the stomach.  At this point I had had enough.  I had to go under to end my misery. I dived through  the next beautifully clear green wave.  It was so cold and as I stood up expecting to feel better, I realized that I was now just wet further up. But I dived in again and swam a little to acclimatise.  Eventually I found the temperature to be tolerable, then pleasant.  It was cool, crisp and so salty.  Seagulls flew over our heads and we bobbed around looking up at the cliffs where houses sat precariously. The girls looked up at them and selected the one they would prefer to live in out of the choices available.  It was a really great time there with S & D.  I dont know my second cousins very well but we just talked and talked and swam, and body surfed and then went home.  It really was so refreshing and a lovely relaxing activity.  So good.  The drive home took 5 mins and then showers and I collected another book from Noel, this time short stories, and a book of poems written by June. Excellent family time. Very special and cherished.

These are the three lovely people I had dinner with in Cammeray, last night. I worked with the tall one and his wife and daughter were the company I shared last night.  The food, the humour, the time,  all magnificent.  We laughed and talked over each other and discussed a range of topics, like the differences between discussions conducted between women and between men. Had such a good time and then was home in bed by 10:30pm.  Great day.