I haven't written anything for awhile but this will change. This blog will follow my short trip to Byron Bay, to be with my daughter and son in law for the birth of my second grandson. This is a special time for us all as they have had to evacuate from Japan. My son in law is Japanese and my daughter is South Australian. Their first son was born in Japan and I was lucky enough to be there for the birth which was an amazing experience. My grandson is now 2 and his brother is due within days, and will be born in Mullumbimby birthing clinic, which is a short distance from Byron Bay. She is hoping for a water birth and would like me to share the experience with her and her husband. So different from when I gave birth, but I am looking forward to the experience.
I arrived here on the 17th September and will leave on the 14th October. I flew from Adelaide to the Gold Coast, then it is a 40min ride on the freeway to Byron Bay.
I am staying in Suffolk Park which is a few k's from Byron, in my 2 nieces house. My daughter is staying at a friends farm and there is not enough room for anyone else but it is close by and and I see them everyday.
My nieces are the Director and Manager of Surfing Byron Bay and run lessons for schools, tourists, adults and anyone who wants to learn to surf. The director has owned and run the school for at least 10 years. She has two children and because her mum, my sister, died over a year ago I have become a surrogate nana which is ok by me.
Surfing is in our family as my father made surfboards in Adelaide and our family of 5 kids had no choice. My brother went on to be a surfboard manufacturer and my sister started the womens surfing. I don't get in the water and surf but I enjoy watching it. My daughter and her husband are both surfers, she is a freelance journalist specialising in surfing and he is a surfing photographer and travels the world following the best surfers and getting great shots. It is only natural that my 2 year old grandson should take up the sport. He can be seen at the Byron Bay beaches on the weekend surfing on his dads back. He has been a hit with some of the tourists. He has been on a board as early as 9 months old. It is a good healthy sport and he sleeps well after a day of surfing. Imagine how good he will be when he is older. It is also a favorite all age groups especially those who have always wanted to have a go and thought they were too old. In fact I met someone whose 80 year old mum learnt to surf and loves it.
Byron Bay is an interesting place because of its mixture of residents. On one hand there are the very very rich and then there are the hippy type residents. Of course then there are the tourists who come to see the beautiful beaches and lifestyle. No need to dress up here, it is so nice being in shorts, casual tops and thongs and just putting a brush through your hair and leaving off the makeup. But if that is what you want you can go to the upmarket restaurants and hotels and dress up too. Everywhere there is natural, organic, sustainable, recycling language whether it is on brochures, in shop windows, newspapers etc, it is the focus of the area.
Byron has some of the best beaches, where you can kayak, surf, snorkel, whale watch, dolphin watch and lots more. A short drive or bike ride away is the lush countryside where you will pass macadamia and coffee farms. Also there is the Open Cathedral at Bex Hill. My niece got married there many years ago and it has the most beautiful view. It is 10 years since I was there for the wedding and it is still beautiful. There is a small wooden church to shelter in if it rains.
