Funny. I initially wrote the title accidently as ‘Bondi Manic Mums’. Which is possibly not far from the truth.

You see, when you spot mums of the eastern suburbs cruising around in the sun with adorable kiddiewinks in their prams you only see a thin slice of their life. For those in the know, it’s a tough gig.

I’ve had a multitude of tough jobs and hard knocks in life but few come close to the trauma of taming a toddler. Yes, they’re cute, we’re absolutely grateful, we love them heaps and we wouldn’t have it any other way but, man, it really takes it out of you, constantly, day and night, for a really long time.

So, hats off to all mums this week as we head towards Mother’s Day on Sunday. Even if you don’t always feel like it, you’re all amazing…

And you deserve to win a fantastic pressie! Head here for details.

Yours in the magnitude and magnificence of mothering … x andy

Win one of 4 fabulous Mother’s Day prizes totalling $300!

To celebrate all the wonderful work, caring, courage and love dished out by our Mum’s, you’re invited to win one of 4 fabulous prizes from some of Bondi’s most generous, fabulous local businesses including:

1 x $100 voucher to spend at Bondi boutique Me and Moo

1 x warm slippers and beautiful blanket/throw from So Gorgeous

1 x $50 dining voucher to spend at Bondi Social café restaurant

1 x handcrafted chopping board from Byron Bay Chopping Boards

(chopping boards sold at Bondi Farmers Markets 2nd & 4th Saturday of the month).

Sorry this comp is now closed!!

Entry into the draw is easy:

1. Simply Like the atbondi page on Facebook

2. Email andy@atbondi.com.au with subject “Good on you Mums!”

3. Like any of the company Facebook pages (links above) for an extra entry into the draw.

4. Or share the competition post on Facebook to gain an extra entry into the draw.

- No, you don’t have to be a mum to enter the draw but just think how much your mum would love you if she won one of these gorgeous prizes!

- List your favourite prize(s) for a say in what you win – no promises but we’ll try to oblige!

- Winners will be drawn Friday 10 May in time for Mother’s Day. Good luck!

Live Below the Line invites thousands of Australians to eat on $2 a day from 6-10 May as a simple way to better understand extreme poverty, and make a real impact.

One of their celebrity ambassadors is Greg “Bisho” Bishop, a Bondi Rescue lifeguard and a member of the local fire brigade. One of those all round great guys.

Greg, along with some of his Bondi Rescue buddies, will be taking part in the Live Below the Line challenge next week. Head here to support the lads and this great cause.

I see Work-Life Balance as one of the greatest challenges of recent times.

It’s a tough gig finding sufficient stress-free time for family, productive work, creative pursuits, exercise, deep friendships, 7.5 hours quality sleep, loving partnerships, optimal health, raising great kids, inner peace, enriching travel, philanthropic giving, community connections, shopping, meditation, cleaning and dancing.

It’s exhausting just thinking about it, yes?

So, last night when I had a moment of pure happiness I was able to instantly double my joy in the context of how bloody hard it is to actually stop and smell the roses of my life.

And what does this have to do with Bondi Beach? Well, our sunny seaside village essentially allows me to multi-task (whilst simultaneously attempting in-the-moment mindfulness).

Simply taking my son down to the Bondi skate park for a couple of hours with my camera in the afternoon allows me to manage at least 10 things on the long list above. And that doesn’t even include dancing.

Bondi offers a photogenic, colourful community with sunshine, a healthy lifestyle and a constant holiday vibe. It’s close to the city, full of facilities and positively brimming with options for fun and wellbeing. And for those of us lucky enough to live here, there’s also a great sense of community, culture and connection.

So, here’s to Bondi. Thanks for providing such a bountiful backdrop for a beautiful, balanced life.

Yours in good times and gratefulness… x andy

ps… sorry I’ve been slack getting my blog out – adding full-time work to my regular mix meant something had to give. I’ll continue writing but it will be less consistent, you know, work/life balance and all that… x

Ooo.  I love a good mystery. And this looks crackalackin. Anybody know the details of the new Bondi Beach Radio?

www.bondibeachradio.com.au

I suspect it may be Bondi FM reinvented – back bigger and better than ever (since their sudden disappearing act not so long ago…).

And who’s going to their ‘Off the Block’ Warehouse Party this Friday? Let us know if you head along and get all the goss and some great happy snaps!

Pondering where to have brekkie? by Jana Hocking

It’s Saturday morning and you are pondering where to have breakfast?? You’re not feeling like anything too crazy but you are craving a really good coffee, something to eat that tastes like it’s home made and a view wouldn’t be bad either.

Well, I am happy to tell you I have found the perfect place for you… and I’m not going to lie, I may have spent the last three mornings gracing it’s doorway.. and it has nothing to do with the super hot barrister with the nose ring.. well.. ok, maybe a little, but even if he wasn’t there I would totes still go!!

The place I am talking about is the ahh-maze Iceberg’s Pop Up Terrace Cafe at Bondi. It is located on the small terrace adjacent to the Southern end of Icebergs and the view is beyond anything you have ever seen. Who doesn’t want to start the morning overlooking the ocean, sitting in the gorgeous sun?? Seriously, it feels like you are on a Greek Island.

The layout of the popup bar is designed to make the most of the view over looking Bondi in a super comfy, non-stuffy way. There are cute bar stools to sit on, a couple of tiny tables that hold some cutlery and sugar for your coffee and the barricades overlooking the ocean are see-through just in case you are too lazy to look over the top.

The first morning we went to check it out there was a range of organic (don’t forget it’s Bondi!) slices, tasty wraps and freshly squeezed juices in glass bottles to choose from. That morning I chose the spiced date, ricotta, banana and coconut bread with extra butter. It was so delicious I wished I had ordered another piece.

The second morning we arrived to freshly made pancetta wraps with egg, rocket, and some form of mexican salsa. All intentions of getting the date bread again were thrown out the window for this yummy wrap, and it did not disappoint.

They serve fresh coconuts and coffee’s that have been made to perfection, there is honestly nothing bad I can say about this gorgeous cafe.

If you feel like trying something new, and want to make the most of the sun before it hides behind a winter chill. Go check it out. You WON’T be disappointed!! Make sure you say hi to the fabulous owner Maurice Terzini, he is surprisingly lovely, and you can’t miss him in his white overalls.

Read more from our beach-dwelling, cocktail-sipping, cafe-loving reporter Jana Hocking at www.highheelsandhangovers.com.au

Even though there seems to be kids everywhere in Bondi, we only have a third of the national average of tweens and teens (they sure come in droves when they’re older though – we have triple the number of 25-35 years olds).

National Youth Week, for 12-25 year olds, runs from 5-14 April and I say we celebrate the occasion big time for our Bondi Beach youth.

These vibrant village-goers are our future. They’re gutsy and gung-ho. They’re kind and creative. They’re spirited and special.

Our youth face one of the most challenges phases of their lives. They need our support and they deserve our attention. How we treat these amazing individuals will shape how our communities progress (and, in turn, how well they’ll treat us when we lose our aging minds).

There’s many ways you can support youth this week…

Head  to the Bondi Markets this Saturday 6 April for the Bondi Creative Youth Fair and buy some of their creative wares or support their musical talents. Pass on the word to any youth you know about the Bondi Blitz Festival on Saturday 13 April. Or provide extra help for those kids who are doing it tougher than most via WAYS Bondi or Youth Off The Streets.

And if you can’t help on a practical level, how about just focusing on the strengths of our youth – show respect, applaud their efforts and celebrate their spirit during their journey into adulthood. We’ve all been there… (and good on you if you’re still there!!)

Yours in long lost youth… x andy

Nestled on Glenayr Ave near the corner of Curlewis, Bondi Rumba brings the colours, sounds and flavours of Latin America to Bondi Beach.

Throwing it’s doors open at 4pm each day, Bondi Rumba offers everything from coffee and snacks to authentic Latin tasting plates and a massive selection of cocktails, spirits, beers and wines from all over the region.

Thanks to Adrian and the Rumba team, this week you can win a dinner for 2 (worth $70) with corn chips, 2 tapas or 1 tasting plate and 2 cocktails!

Entry is easy…

Sorry! This competition has now closed…

1. Like the atbondi page on Facebook

2. Email andy@atbondi.com.au with “I’d love some Bondi Rumba for two!”.

3. Like Bondi Rumba page on Facebook for extra brownie points!

The winner will be drawn Monday 8 April after 5pm.

ps… congrats to Loosie and Aliza who won the Easter Feast draw last week!

I love Easter.

For me it’s about great food, friends, family, fun, freedom…and chocolate.

Most people consider me a pretty nice person but, I’m not even kidding, if you so much as eyeball my Lindt bunny things are going to get ugly.

And if chocolate induglence isn’t great enough, there’s also hot cross buns. Who made up this holiday? Good Friday. No shit! It’s awesome.

These days, Easter focuses mainly on Jesus Christ’s resurrection and/or the sheer joy of a super-long weekend, but it actually originated from Germanic pagan celebrations.

Most of the food and traditions come from these ancient festivals that commemorated the Goddess of Spring and fertility, Eostre. Who knew? See below for more random Easter facts, food and fables.

So, whether your focus is on the Passions of Christ, Pagan festivities, Passover or hangovers, I wish you all a very safe and happy holiday.

Yours in choc bunny bounty… x andy

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The Bunny: The deity Eostra was the goddess of Spring and fertility and pagan feasts were held in her honor on the Vernal Equinox. Her symbol was the rabbit because of the animal’s high reproduction rate. The first Easter Bunny legend was documented in the 1500s. By 1680, the first story about a rabbit laying eggs and hiding them in a garden was published.

Eggs: Spring also symbolises new life and rebirth. Like rabbits, eggs were an ancient symbol of fertility and continue to be today, (for obvious reasons).

Hot Cross Buns: These date back to the pre-Christian era when small cakes were offered to Eostre. It is thought they were marked with a cross to signify the four quarters of the moon. Later the cross came to symbolise the crucifixion of Jesus. Traditionally, hot cross buns baked on Good Friday were said to have magic powers.

Fish: Many superstitions and traditions are associated with Good Friday, but perhaps the most widespread Christian custom is using fish as an alternative for meat to show respect for Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

Roast Lamb: This traditional Easter Sunday dinner goes back to the first Passover of the Jewish people. The sacrificial lamb was roasted and eaten in the hope the angel of God would pass over their homes and bring no harm. Christians often refer to Jesus as ‘The Lamb of God’.

What better way to celebrate Easter than with fabulous food!

From sensational seafood to succulent lamb, two of Bondi’s favourites are offering dining vouchers to enjoy their delicious Easter offerings. Enter the draw to win either a:

- $100 voucher for Paper Planes

- $50 voucher for Mad Pizza Bondi

This competition is now closed sorry!

As always, entry is easy…

1. Like the atbondi page on Facebook
2. Email andy@atbondi.com.au with subject “I’d love to win an Easter Feast!”.

The winners will be drawn this Thursday 28 March in time for Easter!