WELCOME SPRING!
Spring is here!
Spring usually means as the days lengthen, we are doing a lot more outdoors & the cars get used a little more.
If your car has not been serviced in the last 6 months, it might pay to look at the windscreen sticker in the top right-hand corner to see if you are due. Certainly, if you haven’t checked your tyre pressures, oil levels or radiator water level, it would be a good time to check them.
We were quite busy in the last 6 months & we do apologize if we were unable to take care of you as quickly as we would like. One of the mechanics left for a gap year & this led to some overtime for us. We are pleased to say his replacement, Hamish, has joined as an apprentice & taken to it like a duck to water.
Both of the apprentices are local young men who enjoy their work & are getting great guidance from Carl & myself.
As a result, we are back at full strength & have created extra booking slots going forward.
Tip of the month:
The typical spring weather caught a few people out last week. Luckily, we were able to accommodate them and get their A/C cool again. If you’re A/C feels a bit lackluster, please call for a re-gas.
Tips for reducing costs
- Drive smoothly.
- Make your tyre pressures are correct- low tyre increases fuel use. Check out this article from drive magazine for more information.
- Check your oil levels regularly. Incorrect oil levels can result in increase fuel usage.
- Use the NRMA (or other) fuel map for prices.
- Try to refuel when you are driving anyway to avoid wasting fuel.
- Use the RMS website for CTP comparisons.
- If you have a senior’s card- a gold Opal Card will get you to the city & back for less & is usually faster with no parking fees.
- Remove excess weight by clearing out your boot.
STOP & SMELL THE (WILD)FLOWERS
Spring is here and one thing my family loves to do it see the wildflowers. The wet and mild winter has resulted in some spectacular wildflowers. So, I thought I would share my favourite spots leading into the school holidays.
In my opinion, there are several great spots to stop and smell the (wild) flowers locally and further afield.
This has the bonus of having a great school holiday program, which is especially good if your kids love animals like mine do. For weekends or school holiday activities, there are a stack of short walks (under 500m) as well as longer walks for the more adventurous. Their website is a fantastic resource to plan your trip.
I only discovered Muogamarra Nature Reserve this year. It is truly one of Sydney’s best-kept secrets, mostly because it’s only accessible for a short time each year. This reserve, just to the north of Cowan is open for just six weeks of the year, typically in August and September, when the land is decorated with over 900 species of rare wildflowers. You have to book a spot and they sell out fast.
The wildflower meadow at the Botanical Gardens
This oasis of green is a family favourite each year. The botanical gardens is always a lovely excuse to hop on the ferry and have a day trip to the city. We normally bring a picnic and sit inside the meadow. One year the sunflowers were so tall we almost got lost.
Finally, North Harbour Sanctuary. We haven’t been up there for a while due to the renovations that were happening, but I believe they are almost or have been completed so it will be on our list for theses school holidays. I love the hanging swamps walk the best. It messes with my mind to know there are swamps on the cliff above the beach at Manly. If your kids are into frogs, it is particularly good around sunset.
COMMUNITY NEWS:
Would you sponsor my kids for their color run? Their school is running a fundraiser to improve the playground facilities. If you would like to contribute, please click either name below;
