Nina's back

Travel excitement is elevated.  I went to the travel agent yesterday, who alleviated some of my financial fears. It looks like we can fly from Sydney to London via South Africa, Botswana and Tanzania and with a jaunt in New York for under $3000.  Happy days!  Now trying to find a tour from gaborone to dar es salaam via the Delta.

Slim local adventures lately, although managed to fit a few in this morning.  First up, an ocean swim with the Manly Groupers.  Instead of the usual journey from Manly to Shelly and back (right beach to left beach and back in the below picture), we dodged surfers and paddle boarders to head towards North Steyne because the water was dodge after all the rain.  Not a bad swim, but a bit murky and I feared both the pollution and the possibility of a 'marine attack'.  After making it to dry land I shoved a handful of vitamin c down my throat and hoped for the best.

In need for some liquid relief I decided to meet my brother, who loves all things German, at Das Kaffeehaus on Market Lane in Manly and make the most of the $12 Bier & Bratwurst lunch special.  A very generous portion of bratwurst and sauerkraut in a toasted bun with a side of roast potatoes and a litre of beer made for a very nice way to warm up after the morning's aquatic session.

After having our fill the next stop was Desire Books, just down the road, which is a favourite place to loose myself and find a good second hand story.  Last year, on a strict family christmas present budget (not self imposed), I bought all my Christmas presents there.  Today was a bit more 'in and out', but I still managed to come away with five or six books - plenty for a three year old nephew (who hopefully won't realise his Christmas presents are second hand) and a small New York travel book for the 2011 adventures.  They're located on Whistler street, but I've just discovered they're on Blogspot too!

Then home for some time out on the couch via the Asian grocers for a bag of endamame.

Final bargain adventure for the day was date night - dinner at Chat Thai at the wharf ($7.50 green papaya salad for the honeymoon memories) and a giant chicken and cashew stir fry, followed by a two for one coupon and the Manly Cinemas.

Deal breaker was that they cinemas had stuffed up their times and we didn't get to see the facebook movie so instead went in to see the Fair Game flick and we were thoroughly impressed.  Though the cinema did manage to stuff up again by cutting the film out midway through the film.. will have to write a letter..

Top the day off with a rainbow paddlepop from the servo and all that made this Saturday in Manly a little bit lovely.