we go walkabout

My apologies for being M.I.A over the last month - shjoe, what a month it’s been. It’s been one of those little stretches of time where you kind of just put your head down, go incognito for a while and well, peddle furiously under the water. A bit like this here incognito doggie…

Over the last month, i’ve felt both terribly far from family and incredibly happy with our current little place called home. In true Heyes style, there hasn’t been a dull moment over the last few months! The latest being that my poor Mum, has yet again spent a wee while in Hospital, and has once again, proven how strong she is by getting up and on even though, once again, things were looking pretty bad - we love her and hope that one day, we’re half the woman she is today. SO, the to-do list we have on our fridge for the ‘jillybean tour’ will have to wait until she is well enough to travel - but it’s ok.

Kind of overnight, Sydney has gone from being beautiful to spectacular. Daylight savings means gorgeous walks to and from work and weekends mean beach time. Life isn’t good its fan-friggin-tastic. 

Anyways, i have such a back-log of things to write about i have absolutely no IDEA where to start. SO, please bear with me, i shall download some piccies off my trusty iphone and well, who knows - we might start with what happened yesterday or what happened two months ago…

see ya later x

So i keep hearing the word ‘Daggy’ - like, “oh that’s a really daggy joint” or ” wow that dress looks really daggy” - wierd.

Here’s what urban dictionary has to say about it….

Just a lil aussie education for the day,

See ya later x

So if you read my blog a while bag you would’ve seen that i almost hugged a guy on the ferry when i saw he was using this bag - i felt like because he was OBVS a south african, he was, kind of a friend that i just didn’t know yet, ANYWAYS i digress…

TODAY IS RHINO DAY - buy one of these bags at woolies. Not only is it supporting a community project of amazing people who are just trying to earn an honest living, but for every bag sold, R10 will go to WWF’s work with saving Rhinos. At times, the problems in the world can seem so big and we’re small = apathy. At last, we can actually do something instead of telling people on Facebook that ‘they shouldn’t poach rhinos’. I’m all for social media, but here’s a way we can STEP UP AND GET INVOLVED. Also, all of these bags are actually gorgeous, i love that Woolies aren’t expecting us to ‘sympathy buy’. I would HAPPILY carry one of these bad boys on my arm.

Still not convinced? Go to www.woolworths.co.za and follow the link on their home page to watch a movie that WILL convince you. In the movie, the factory manager (who produces these bags) says she hopes that one day her kids will see what Rhinos look like - THIS is how dire the situation is, let’s hope we’re not too late ‘ey? 

See ya later x

This one’s especially for you sef’frikans… The whole “how are you?”, “im fine thank you, how are you” has become such a commonplace greeting in South Africa, and obviously across the rest of the world, that people would ACTUALLY fall over if your response was anything other than ‘fine’ - i dare you to try it…

My very lovely sister-in-law sent me this link this morning  - http://www.ruokday.com.au/content/home.aspx ( sorry my blogging skills are so basic, i don’t know how to activate this - good ol copy and paste for you folks ) PLEASE go and have a look…

Are you ok is an initiative that was started when a businessman who appeared to have it all together, took his life in 1995. It’s a dedicated day ( TODAY ) where you get to ask people around you - for reals - if they’re ok. The idea is that is we share the small things, whilst they’re still small, they won’t amount to big, overwhelming problems that can push even the most grounded people over the edge.

The last few months have been bitter/sweet for VT and I, as for some reason, the most special and wonderful people in our lives have had to face things that, well people just shouldn’t have to face. Our thoughts have been consumed by these brave people and it kind of struck me when i read this that, potentially there are so many people we know that are struggling with problems we don’t even know about. If that’s you, i hope you’re ok - and more importantly, when someone asks you if you’re ok maybe actually tell them you’re taking a bit ‘o strain - you might be surprised by their response ( Let’s hope they give you a hug instead of getting nervous and running away ).

I grew up in a typically British - stiff - upper - lip kinda house and it’s taken me, and us as a family, a while now to figure out that it’s ok to not be ok sometimes - it’s amazing how people can take it turns to pick each other up when it’s needed. 

Ok that’s all for now, i feel like this has been bordering on vom-in-ya-mouth Dr Phil vibes, but sometimes blogging calls for more than frilly panties and cupcakes y’know?

See ya later x

WE’RE OFF TO THE WORLD CUP IN NEW ZEALAND! Just for a wee little weekend but a break none the less! We are going with the whole Vt clan - can’t wait for a little dose of family. This is kinda like the dance my husband did in the bathroom this morning whilst getting ready for work - gotta love how he’s never too old to get excited like it’s christmas morning…Will post some pics of us in our drenched ponchos next week and you can all point and laugh - it’s my way of making y’all feel better about the fact that WE’RE OFF TO THE WORLD CUP IN NEW ZEALAND. K i’m going to stop now.

See ya later x

Just as we were drifting off to sleep last night, we were awoken by what sounded like world war two - well that’s what it sounded like through my ear plugs anyway. Turns out it was our neighbours hating on us…

..not so much lil squirrelpants - at least not in AUSTRALIA - did you know there are NO SQUIRRELS in Australia?! I feel quite blonde admitting this, but in my mind, squirrels are like ants, or cats, they just exist everywhere - imagine my surprise when i began to google “are there S…” and up popped the search suggestion “are there squirrels in Australia”.. HUH learn somethin new every day. 

Should probably add that the reason we started discussing/debating this last week, was that one HORRIFEID VT found a turd that looked like it had been left by a small child animal on the bonnet of the car. We’re still trying to figure out what creature left us the present…

See ya later x

So we’re currently experiencing Masterchef withdrawels, so the weekend seemed like the perfect time to get cracking on a few Aussie dishes… i kicked things off with our first ‘CHOOK’ pie - yum…

My other half tried succeeded (not that it’s a competition or anything) to up the anti by making some Donna Hay treats … see recipe / directions after the jump - such delish comfort food om nom nom…