Time for a drink

After my first week on the new job it was time for some drinks this weekend!

Rain, Rain, Go Away...

For my last weekend of unemployment I was hoping to beach myself in the sand and sleep/tan/read/stare at the Bondi Lifeguards. Mother Nature had another idea and decided to rain today. So instead I took myself to where any respectable So Cal girl would go: the Mall. I should have been looking for Fall/Winter cloths, since those are the seasons coming up down under, instead I bought a swimsuit. (but it is so cute! the ruffles!):

Hi ho hi ho...

I am finally starting my new job this week. If anyone who actually reads this blog feels up for the trek, I'll be here for 12 more months - feel free to come visit!

Here are a few pic's of the building I'll be working in. Looks like a bad neighborhood right?

Maybe I can get a lift to Bondi from whoever owns this?

Harbor Bridge in the background

Boost Mobile SurfSho 2011

I spent the afternoon down at the beach (again!) but this time it was to watch the Boost Mobile SurfSho competition. I had wanted to get up to the Gold Coast for the Quicksilver Pro, but since I was unable to make it up there I was happy to have a surf competition with some of the top pro's right here in Bondi. One of the coolest things about watching competitive surfing is the accessibility to the action and surfers themselves. You can sit out in the sand, soak up the sun and watch top athletes doing what they do best. It was cool to see all the kids go up to their favorite surfers at the end of their heats and get an autograph or picture taken. They also had some cool events going on from the other sponsors of the event like a mechanical surf riding competition (the same idea as a mechanical bull, just on a board) and customizing your own beach cruiser. The non-profit Water for Water people were also there raising awareness and some money for their charity. They are trying to tackle one of the most important and widespread issues in the world: access to clean water. While I'm on the subject I want to mention another organization I had heard about before I left the states. Waves for Water was started by a pro surfer and his father to bring clean water solutions to impoverished countries. Check out their site here. I really like this organization since it provides an immediate contribution to the people in need of clean water by giving them the tool (filters) to get the water they need. Having access to clean water is an issue most of us take for granted, so it's good to get the word out.

Brit

Retail therapy

I have been finding a lot of great jewelry designers at the markets I have been going to on the weekends around Sydney. I have been seeing a lot of feathers, tribal and quartz inspired jewelry and now that I have found a job I plan on investing in some fun new pieces.

Here are just a few websites of some of the designers I have come across:

www.stannard-inc.com

www.rico-designs.com

www.atat.net.au

www.chosenby.com.au

I especially like the Aqua Aura quartz rings from Stannard-inc and Atat/Chosen By has a cool rock n’roll vibe – so I can look like a rock star while sitting in my cube J. Here are a couple of cocktail rings I bought at the Bondi market today:

An Apple a day...

My poor computer had an owie and has been at the Apple doctor all week, so I haven't had a chance to post. I still have some videos to post from the Sydney Mardi Gras parade, but the downloading is taking forever, hopefully I'll have it up soon.

Sydney Mardi Gars Parade

I meant to post this a week ago, but my laptop decided to punk out on me, so I am just getting it up now. Here is my belated Mardi Gras post:

Today I ventured out to watch the famous Sydney Mardi Gras Gay Parade. It was an interesting afternoon of people watching followed by 2 hours of standing on a milk crate to save a spot to watch the parade, followed by another hour watching the parade (the parade actually lasted a few hours, but my feet could't take any more standing). I couldn't figure out how to take a clear picture at night time, with lots of flashing lights and people moving around. So today I have just a couple of pic's and a video. Enjoy:

Let the games begin...

Today I spent the late afternoon down at the beach watching the Drag Races. The lovely drag queens of Sydney strapped on their highest heels and strutted their stuff in the sand. Games included beach volleyball, 3-legged race, handbag toss and dune dash (props to anyone who attempts to run through the sand in 4 inch heels). Here are a few classy pictures from the afternoon. Looking forward to tomorrow for the Sydney Gay Parade!

The festivities hostess: Vanessa Wagner

Volleyball

Three-legged Race

Baby got back

More lovely ladies

Bondi Murals

Here are some shots of the murals along the south end of the Bondi boardwalk. They're a colorful addition to an already colorful area. The first two below are part of a memorial to the victims of the Oct. 12, 2002 bombing in Bali that killed 202 people, almost half of which were Australian.

This last one reminds me of myself when I was a kid. I was a messy little girl to the point where my mother would not buy me white cloths since I would always end up with something all over them. Yum, chocolate...

David Hassel -Who?

There is a reality show down here called "Bondi Rescue" that follows the daily routines of the Bondi Lifeguard. It is always showing these fit, good looking guys roaming the beach in their tricked out golf-carts or paddling out into the water to help some 'in over their head' tourist. It is kind of like Baywatch, but the real thing (minus the slow-mo running and big boobs). These life guards are as fit and good looking in person as they are on the show. I forgot my camera the other day when there was a lot of activity going on down at the beach, so I don't have any pic's yet of the lifeguards in action, but here are some shots of the film crew and some of the lifeguard carts.

Another thing I have been enjoying watching down at the beach is the surfers. Every kind of surfer is down here, so it is equally fun to watch the newbies trying to catch the waves as it is to watch the experience surfers handle the waves like no big thing. I've seen this one guy out in the water a few times. He rides an old school one-fin longboard that looks like it is made of wood. He doesn't wear a leash and is so in control riding the waves, I haven't seen him wipeout yet. There is something so calming about watching a surfer ride a wave with such ease. I'll try to take some video next time to post.

In between my busy suntanning schedule I was able to meet up with my friend Renee who was down from Brisbane on business. We went with a couple of her friends to a tapas place called The Run Diaries. As everyone knows I do not like sushi, but I tried kingfish sashimi for the first time (wasn't too bad) and had a bite of ahi tuna. It's all part of my "trying new things" kick. The food was delicious, but my favorite part was the rum punch (surprise, surprise) that was served in tiny crystal punch glasses.

I have grand plans of waking up early tomorrow to catch the sunrise, so if that happens hopefully I'll have some amazing pictures. Don't hold your breath though, cause we all know I am not a morning person :)

brit