Amanda De George

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Articles

The joys of nature watching

Jan 3, 2025 | theillawarraflame.com.au | Amanda De George

Oh, what a difference a month can make. In the December edition I wrote about a nest of Tawny Frogmouths, the much-loved, odd-looking nocturnal birds that appeared across the road. As chicks, these birds are even more hilariously funny looking, a puff ball of downy white feathers, two orange, often unblinking eyes staring out, heads bobbing about, ever vigilant. Over the course of two days, first one and then the other chick disappeared, as did the parents.
the perils of nature watching

Dec 17, 2024 | theillawarraflame.com.au | Amanda De George

You’ve heard it, I’ve said it, we all know that spending time in nature is good for us. But as I spent the last few days on tenterhooks, using my camera’s telephoto lens as proxy binoculars, watching a tawny frogmouth family of four swiftly dwindle to nothing but an empty nest, I began to second-guess myself. My husband noticed by sheer accident a flimsy nest high up in the gums across the road.
Where to satisfy Christmas cravings and find festive feasts

Dec 14, 2024 | theillawarraflame.com.au | Amanda De George

If you're staying in, catching up with friends or spending the Christmas season by the beach, we have you covered. Stay inCan’t live without Miller’s Local Bakehouse iconic croissants, mince pies, sourdough and lemon layer cake over Christmas? Pre-order by 16th December for pick up right before Chrissy for guaranteed best brekkies and brunches. And even better, there’s also pre-packed gelato for those characteristically hot summer lunches. See the full menu and how to order here.
Where have all the Christmas beetles gone?

Dec 10, 2024 | theillawarraflame.com.au | Amanda De George

It’s Christmas time and you know what that means? Christmas beetles! Or does it? I grew up to the sound of golden-hued insects thwacking against the screen door, one after the other. They’d fall to the ground, spin around on their backs for a bit, while I watched on, too afraid of their spiky clawed feet to help, before they righted themselves, unfolded their wings and flew off only to repeat the cycle again. Anecdotally, they just don’t seem to be around that much anymore.
6 festive things to do

Dec 9, 2024 | theillawarraflame.com.au | Amanda De George

Late to the Christmas fun this year? There's still time to find your Christmas Spirit. Our round-up will have you jingling your bells and reaching for the eggnog. Christmas CarolsYou can keep your presents and your trifle (okay, maybe share your trifle) but Christmas is carols. Carols in the Park - KiamaFree entry featuring all your favourite Christmassy tunes, face painting, food stalls and, of course, a visit from the man in red.
Don't miss summer's best show

Dec 3, 2024 | theillawarraflame.com.au | Amanda De George

There’s a pulsating shriek, the call of dozens of cicadas yelling into the heat of the early summer morning. Their big, fat bodies thud against the house before careening back off into the sky. Many become food for our local growing family of butcherbirds. You can find the nest by following the noise of the freshly plucked cicada as it screams through the air from within the adult’s beak.
The magic in Macquarie Pass and why you shouldn't miss it

Nov 26, 2024 | theillawarraflame.com.au | Amanda De George

I’m not a huge fan of the dark. Sure, I love wandering around my yard at night, especially as the weather warms and the cicadas start to emerge, shirking off their hard shells and transforming before my eyes. I love wandering down the street, looking for golden-crowned snakes and the possums clambering over garbage bins. There’s something safe and satisfying about the familiar. But in the bush? At night? Where who knows what lurks and wearing pyjamas is frowned upon? Not on your life.
A workshop with Ailsa Piper

Nov 19, 2024 | theillawarraflame.com.au | Amanda De George

With each step around the room there’s a squelching exhale from her shoes as our coach insists, “Keep writing. Keep writing. Keep writing.” The sterile room is filled with people I won’t say much to; artists, a teacher, writers of various ilk, a documentary maker, a journalist, a self-styled ‘sticky beak’ and me. It is day one of the South Coast Writer’s Centre’s fabulous True Story festival; it’s workshop day. For a writer, I don’t much act like one.
Thirroul has a thriving food scene? True story

Nov 11, 2024 | theillawarraflame.com.au | Amanda De George

If you’re in town for the True Story Festival or just here in the lovely Illawarra for the day, rest assured Thirroul has all your food and beverage needs covered. But first you need to get the lay of the land. 'Little Thirroul' is south of the railway bridge and features loads of quaint coffee shops, sushi and burger joints and the Ryan’s hotel for pub grub and bands.
Whale season wraps up

Nov 5, 2024 | theillawarraflame.com.au | Amanda De George

Ah November, the month where whale tragics everywhere begin to feel the pull of their obligations, work, family and friends. As daily whale sightings begin to thin out, the spell lessens and then finally breaks and we rub our eyes as if we have been living in a dream for the last few months, a really great dream, not the type where you can’t find a bathroom or your teeth fall out, and we turn away, finally, from our favourite whale-watching haunt.