NSW 2013: Joylaine Beach House, Shellharbour

After few days of spending time in the heart of Sydney, we headed down to south, got ourselves checked-into a very cosy holiday house in Shellharbour.

Shellharbour is a tranquil city located in the Illawarra region of NSW (New South Wales). It's framed between the sparkling waters of the Tasman Sea and the magnificent Illawarra Escarpment, with Lake Illawarra to the north and the Minnamurra River to the south.

Initially I planned to staying in the city of Wollongong, but when I searched for a place to stay, Shellharbour gave more choices and impressively more family-friendly. I had never heard of Shellharbour, frankly. But the more I researched on South Coast, the better understanding I had. The location of Shellhabour is a perfect spot to base one-self while exploring the wider Illawarra area, i.e. to Kiama and Illawara Tree Top.

The house that I booked prior to our arrival was Joylaine Beach House, approximately 50 metres from the water's edge and just few streets away from Addison Street and the foreshore. Basically, we were a couple of minutes walk to restaurants, specialty shops and cafes. The price? A$450 for 2 nights of weekdays and another A$300 for a weekend night.

Aug 2013: Doctor for a Day

This is my firstborn, dressed up in scrubs, paying attention to an explanation in the "Emergency" station of one programme called "Doctor for a Day" in Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital. Each and every session was taken up fast. But thanks to Jean of Wee Stories' for getting extra slots for SMBs, I managed to sign her up for it in the end.

The programme is part of the hospital's community outreach effort, where children can role-play as doctor in the hospital setting, and have a taste of being a General Practitioner, a Surgeon, as well as bathe, clean and diaper a baby in a nursing room. Brilliant idea to inspire young generation to be doctor in future.

However, it didn't conjure her to be One immediately. She may consider to be a nurse though. 

Overall, she had an amazingly good time there. Once she reached home, she made Bomber a patient and they had few rounds of role-play with the stethoscope given in the goodie bag.

Looks like she learnt to be a doctor to her baby sister. 

Credits: Michelle Coleman's Lucky in Love; Sahlin Studio's Art & Soul, Wild Blueberry Ink; Studio Romy, and the paper medallions from here.