Mum's gone 2 Aus

If you had asked us three years ago about “Nippers Rego” you would have got some blank looks. In today’s Photo Friday we’re sharing a picture of one of our local beaches during Nippers season. Nippers takes place at beaches across Australia on Sunday mornings throughout Spring \ Summer; rego (or registration) for your children will probably take place over the next few weeks, at your local Surf Life Saving club.

During Nippers children take part in beach activities, including … Read more

Since relocating to Sydney, from the UK, the weather and climate haven’t been exactly as we anticipated. Mum didn’t come here thinking it would be blue skies and 30 degree heat all day, every day; but there are some features of the climate in Australia that I wasn’t prepared for.

The biggest surprise I’ve had relating to the weather in Sydney is the rain. We arrived in January 2010 and January and February were particularly wet in New South Wales. … Read more

Last month, during the wet spells we’ve been having in Eastern Australia, Mum read an article about the increasing number of Death Cap Mushrooms in and around Canberra. Wherever you live in the world, you no doubt teach your children to be wary of mushrooms and toadstools, however likely it is to find a fairy underneath.

Death Cap Mushrooms Australia

Death Cap Mushrooms live up to their name. The Australian Government Department of Environment and Water Resources confirms that … Read more

The image many of us have of Australians is of a sporty, sun-kissed, healthy nation. This image could, and perhaps should, be entirely accurate of the way people are in Australia given the favourable climate, outdoor lifestyle and ingrained love of sport. This image is true for many people. However, like other industrialised countries, Australia is in the middle of an obesity epidemic. The Australian National Preventative Health Taskforce confirms that “Australia is one of the most overweight nations in … Read more

The first time I heard the term bindis in Australia we were at the birthday party of one of my son’s preschool friends. The party was the ubiquitous Aussie sausage sizzle at a public BBQ next to a children’s playground. It was towards the end of last year so Spring/Summer in Australia.

As the party got going and kids took shoes off to run around the playground and adjacent grassed area one of the parents shouted, “Watch out for bindis!”… Read more

Mums usually feel pretty exhausted. Interrupted sleep and rare opportunities to sit still mean you cope on less rest than is ideally recommended (or wanted).

When a friend of Mum’s declared, “Since moving here I’m more exhausted than ever, I just want to sleep!” Mum wondered whether the Aussie way of life is more tiring than elsewhere. One of the common factors Mum shares with her newly settled friend is that we’re both permanently living by the sea for the … Read more

Water safety in Australia is a topic Mum has frequently written about; we’ve talked about teaching children to swim and how to swim safely at Australia’s many beautiful beaches: The sea and swimming safety in Australia and More on sea safety – rips and nippers.

Last summer there were several fatalities at our local beach which served as a reminder that you should never take risks with the Ocean.

One of the precautions Mum took last year was to … Read more