Toogee

We went to "Toogee" with Jody and Ella for three days this week while Joshie enjoyed his first few l-o-n-g work days owning his own business.

Just like the rest of us Ella always enjoys a lunch stop on the way in to Sydney at Thanh Binh in John Street, Cabramatta for (her own) big bowl of pho and a cup of jasmine tea.



One of our goals this trip was to check out Athol Hall on the foreshore at Bradley's Head, Mosman, in the Sydney Harbour National Park. We're researching possibilities for a remarkable, yet children friendly lunch spot for our Sydney weekend with Davey and Cath in February.

We found that Athol Hall ticks all the boxes. A beautifully restored early 20th century building, it is located a very photogenic ferry ride from Circular Quay, then a short walk through a bush track from the Taronga Zoo entrance. The restaurant is set high on a cleared grassy ridge in the middle of the bush, yet very close to the harbour foreshore. From the verandah there are spectacular views across the water to the Sydney CBD, Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

Yet it is very quiet, relaxing and secluded, and our lunch was superb!

Lots of birdlife around and more tame kookaburras than I have ever seen before.



There is a double tennis court size grassy clearing below the restaurant, perfect for running, ball throwing, being Jack (or Jill) and for doing re-enactments (by request) of various Sound of Music song pieces, complete with dance moves (great entertainment provided by Grandma).

We enjoyed travelling by all forms of public transport with Jody and Ella. It is hilarious to watch a bus full of people responding to Ella's very loud and awfully cute renditions of her current favourite songs: a Poonfull of Sugar (makes the medicine go down), Do-Re-Me and the So Long, Farewell song from Sound of Music. With some minor variations in pronunciation she is pretty much word perfect in her renditions, which makes it even more hilarious.

But being at "Toogee" is all about the beach. We timed our visits for late in the day to avoid the worst of the hot summer sun.

During Summer holiday time the pool area at the Southern end of the beach is a great area for kids from all the different backgrounds that comprise Sydney's cultural melting pot these days, to play together and share the fun of the ocean fed pools of water.

This Muslim family (comprising 7 kids) welcomed Ella into their digging a big hole enterprise.

And the sand eating obsession of this gorgeous boy was of concern to both Ella and the boy's gorgeous mother.

....and Grandpa was very useful when it came to doing a bit of surfing.