Terrace Life. Playgroup.

I just had it in my mind that Woollahra was further away from home than it actually is. Sydney’s just like that, especially when you’re relatively new to a particular side of town. Preschooler SSG and I were off to a playdate in the area this morning and given my (non existent) skill as a parallel parker and the paucity of parking in the area, I decided that a walk with a bit of public transport to break things up in the middle would be the way to do it.

I’m a terrace tragic. I just love looking at the way people have either restored or reinvented them in Sydney. My all time favourite look is this. Red door, red letter box, checker board tiled steps and some black wrought iron at the front gate.

I’m also a bit obsessed with second storey French doors on terraces. Being able to open your full length window / door out into the morning and over your garden when you wake up would, I’m sure, make me a lot calmer in the morning than I often am.

But I’m just not programmed for terrace living. I have far too much stuff to cram into a standard Sydney one. I get a bit lazy when there are stairs between me and the room where things need to be put away which results in large collections of things on stairwells or at the base of staircases. I’m also not very good at tidying up after myself. That nifty screen that hides the front loader in the kitchen when it’s not in use? It’s going to stay open from the day I move in. The fold away washing line? Out all year round. I suppose we’d be set for a place to hang the Christmas decorations but then where would the laundry go? And then there’s the small matter of either street parking or else trying to negotiate a very narrow garage entry on a daily basis.

But then again, Woollahra is home to the Lord Dudley, a quaint little corner pub that’s only a short stroll from the terraces.

The Holdsworth Community Centre on Holdsworth Street, Woollahra hosts a daily play group that runs Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 12.30 pm. It’s recently been refurbished and the outdoor play area features a series of ‘streets’ along which preschoolers can drive one of the dozen or so Crazy Coupes at the centre. There’s a very sturdy slide and climbing frame, a swing and a rotating variety of activities each day including music, sporting skills, storytime and craft all within a sunny and secure open air area. There are plenty of toilets and baby change areas as well as places to park prams and have a snack (bring your own and share it at the picnic tables). I’m kicking myself for not popping further up the road for a coffee before going to the playgroup. Entry is $10 on a casual basis with your first visit free.

There’s the sweet sound of silence at SSG Manor 2.0 right now. My leaky shower head just got fixed! Just in time for the weekend and mum’s visit next week.

Do you live in a terrace? Has it made you a tidier person capable of living with less stuff?

Do you often go to playgroups? It was our first visit today and definitely not our last.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply