Things to do in Australia if you can't swim and are not particularly suited to beach weather because of your fair skin?

Discuss..............or not...........

Apply factor 50 and take some swimming lessons.

Been there, done that, had the house with the inground pool, ain't all it is cracked up to be............

For you....

Erm.......you could try the pub??

Alison x

Draw the curtains to keep the heat out, sit in front of the computer and try and do some family history whilst listening to something on the ipod to keep the noise of the bloody koel from driving me bonkers. Outside = flies and mozzies at the mo even with spf30 on.

sailing

Wander around peforming incredibly meanial chores in an attempt to convince Mrs. RBF that I am pulling my weight.

What's koel??

The Koel is an Asian/Australian cuckoo which visits Canberra from October to March and has the most piercing and monotonous call you can imagine - it starts about midnight and continues most of the day before having a short nap in the late afternoon and then it starts up again. They have been migrating here for the past 5 years or so and, quite frankly, make life incredibly miserable - it is hard to get a good night's sleep for starters. I believe in some cultures they are known as the "drive you mad" bird. I think they have them in Sydney too but with the other ambient noise their call isnt quite as penetrating. What really bugs me is that a family of local kids think it is great and they can imitate it to perfection! And they do - at times when the bird is having a rest, so it is nigh on continual around here.

Ha ha!! I knew there was a reason I was not meant to live in Canberra! I wonder why those birds only started migrating there 5 years ago?

I thought you meant some sort of cicada, but at least they are quiet at night.

Off now to wiki Koels........

http://birdsinbackyards.net/feature/...bird-songs.cfm

VERY noisy, I have heard them far away in the distance but couldn't imagine living next to that at midnight!!!

At the end it sounds like a monkey LOL!!

Probably taken them this long to fly this far south and now they love the place! Nice big tall trees, few predators, lovely neighbours (oops what a giveaway!). It may be that they hadnt found our neighbourhood before that but this is one persistent little b*gger!

Trips to the national park - Mr GG enjoys walking, first born enjoys splashing about in creeks
Lazy brunch with friends
Head to the markets (the inner west has lots to choose from) to pick up some food treats - fresh bread and fruit - and potter
Swimming (Homebush) - first born is a real water baby!
Chores
And when I get time to myself, sewing.

The child is very fair (her hair is nearly white), so we try and limit outdoor activities to ones that come with some shade! And apply lots of zinc and a hat.

Normal chores, grocery shopping, meet up with friends, go out for lunch/dinner, hubby might play a round of golf .........

Generally the same things we did when in UK and Europe, 'cept in Jan/Feb instead of staying inside in front of the fire, we now stay inside in front of the aircon