Okay, so one of my FAVORITE things about living in Sydney is Fridays. The reason is that right after school lets out, we head down to the beach for what inevitably always turns out to be a great time. You see, unlike in the States, it is completely appropriate to sit around and sip wine while your kids run around on the beach. It’s just the perfect way to end the week. The kids have a play after a hard week at school. And the moms chill out after a long week of….I don’t know shopping.

Since it has started to warm up a bit we returned to our beach routine today. It was going to be great. Five moms and 10 kids with chips, wine, fresh fruit and even toast with vegemite. We set up our blankets and the party was started. Next thing you know, I am letting out a scream. A seagull had swooped by scraping at my hair as I ate a cracker. We all had a bit of a chuckle as I suggested that this seagull issue would be resolved if I just had a gun (Americans, that is illegal here!). But as quickly as we laughed, one little girl got snipped at, they another got bit as she ate a chip. The girls were totally freaked out. It wasn’t exactly Alfred Hitchcok’s The Birds, but it wasn’t nice. They wouldn’t stop. they just kept coming back. It started to get out of control. Kids screaming from every direction. Here is my friend consoling her daughter & her little friend. They look calm, but I swear Fang was screaming right before the shot was taken.

Mario Andretti and Em came to the rescue while we covered all the food. They circled the group swatting at the seagulls. Here is a still shot of the two of them:

I am so sad to think that Fridays might just not be the same if the seagulls keep their shenanigans up. I blame you Alfred H.!!!