Medicare

Finally, I mustered up the motivation to go and get our Medicare sorted out today. This medical outfit is the Aussie equivalent of the NHS but with two important differences:

1) You choose your own practitioner and Medicare pay around 75% of the treatment costs, including private doctors and hospitals. 

2)You have countless GP’s at your disposal and can book into any surgery that happens to be along your way – great if you want a fresh perspective on things or are becoming a bit frazzled with your usual GP's fob-offs (or, in the case of a friend of mine, sick of being asked when you last had sex...)

A major plus is being able to choose your own doc and go private should the condition/illness warrant it. Private healthcare is crazy money at home so it's refreshing to witness a system in place that caters for all and leaves people free to select the healthcare professionals they want, not simply where the government chooses to send them. Cameron take note!

In any case the trip into town was worth it. We're all set up and ready to roll for the new school year which starts in just TWO DAYS!

Almost there....almost.

Lovely Leederville

Visiting Leederville is a treat any visitor to Perth should experience. A gem in the city where trendy boutiques, unique bars, restaurants and a plethora of amazing cafes lie, it’s the belle of the ball as far as areas are concerned. KG introduced me to it last Wednesday when we went for a quick bite at The Garden followed by a trip to Luna cinema to see Black Swan (amazing by the way). Suitably impressed as I was, we went back again today for another look – this time to sample some of the amazing cake at Greens Café and have a rummage through the boutiques.

I used to talk about opening my own cafe as a kid and it's something I'd still like to do. It embodies everything I love - tea, cake, coffee, newspapers, nice lights, wall art, music and happy, chilled-out people. Sadly there are about a squillion of these places in Perth, all running successful joints with a stream of devoted clientele. So until a) we win the lotto or b) a perfect business opp comes up that positively reeks of success (and poses minimal damage to savings), our little tea house will have to wait...

On a completely different note, we saw The Fighter tonight - wow wow and wow. Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale and Amy Adams are Superb. Four potatoes!

The container arrives

Hurrah hooroooooo the container is here! The day came at last when we were reunited with our stuff, the precious mementos, books, toys, clothes and interiors that we couldn't bare to leave behind and consequently paid good money to be shipped across the world to join us.



Assessing the damage


Now you'd think when you're setting up a new life and have carefully and articulately packed everything, the people dealing with said shipment would give a s**t. Well, no as it appears. All of the boxes had been un-sealed (presumably when they went through customs) and stuff taken out, xmas presents opened, books flitted through, light shades tampered with and then all thrown back in like a piece of rubbish. Our beautiful mirrors are shattered, the french clock we bought on honeymoon is ruined and many of our books have split spines or creased front pages. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

As a warning to you all, NEVER use First Contact Shipping...they are the LAST contact you should resort too. Time for a stern letter methinks - who knows I may actually write it this time....

Aside from that, we had a great day. Met up with travelling buddy Luke, Joanna and adorable Harry for a quick beer fix at Clancy's Fish Bar, then down to the beach for a swim and a run around. This was our first stop to City Beach and I loved it. Standing there watching the kids laugh their socks off as the waves came in was wonderful, the water was the most beautiful blue I've ever seen and it was one of those genuine moments when you know it's all worth while, that the decision we made was the right one. Phewee.

D's out for beers tonight so I am going to read Grazia and head for Bedfordshire. Cyclone tomorrow apparently!

Nighty night night xx

The book list

In Aussie schools they have a book list for new students. Now you’d think – as the name suggest – this would be a list of books they should read, or progress to read throughout the school year. But actually it refers to stationary, and not just any stationary mind – we’re talking about posh pencils, gadgets and specialist art equipment here, the type you find in those independent art shops that sit down cobbled streets and sell oil paints and canvasses.

Our little year 1 student is expected to have everything from chisel black markers and faber red check pencils to a traditional wooden ruler and a take home reading journal. On presentation of this list, I resorted to my thrifty ways and proudly pronounced to the Deputy Head that actually, the boy had most of these things already and therefore we wouldn’t need to pay the $100 dollars or so required to kit him out. So now, with five days to go before school starts we are faced with the hurdle of finding all of these things in time for the big start next Wednesday.

I guess on the plus side, at least his bag is big enough to hold it all – I mean just look at it, it’s almost bigger than him! He’s already complaining that it’s pulling him backwards and we haven’t even filled it yet. Oh dear….

D thinks we should take these instructions with a pinch of salt and send him in with what he’s already got. So that’s a bunch of Ben 10 pens, a Transformers ruler and some half tub paints that are mostly dried up. I’d be inclined to agree but faced with a brand new school, there’s that familiar pressure to adhere to the rules. So tomorrow will most probably involve a trip to a series of shops to complete the book list. How long it will take God only knows. Wish me luck!

Time for tea

My obsession with teapots started when mum gave me an adorable 1950’s tea set that belonged to my grandma and escalated out of control when the charity shops in Barnet proved to be an addictive hunting ground for vintage teapots, cups and coffee sets from begone eras.

The new mantra is to pick one up whenever we visit a new country.  I like this as it means I can add to the collection and obtain a great little memento of our trip that we can reminisce over each time we use it.

Customs are clearing our container as I type which means I should be reunited with the full collection next week. In the meantime, I have a gorgeous set I picked up in Hong Kong (perfect for green tea) and Dan’s Nana Lyn’s beautiful Chinese teapot to gaze at.

Now all I need to do is find a top notch outlet for tea so I can enjoy all this porcelain in style. I hear there’s a mini Chinatown somewhere in Perth with the best Jasmine around.

Next stop on the list for this week then...

Happy Australia Day...

I have a squiffy head this evening so I'm going to skip the usual banter and simply say Happy Australia Day!!!

Here is a pic of Fin wearing his Aussie colours (well, a hat anyway) and a shot from the foreshore where we were plonked for the afternoon.

G'night folks xx

To build or not...that is the question.

If you’ve read this blog regularly you’ll already know how expensive Perth is. To get over the exorbitant property hurdle, many people believe you should build. That way you get brand new digs (untouched by anyone other than your builder) with all the mod cons and consequently low maintenance costs for the foreseeable future.  I like this idea. We’ve lived in old houses and whilst we LOVE character properties, Perth is a thriving young city where modern living is part and parcel of the WA lifestyle.

I feel it important to mention that people here are also extremely house proud. The beds are always made, the food tucked away in perfectly proportioned cupboards, the towels hanging neatly on the towel rail. Now I’m no domestic goddess but the old houses just don’t cut it where storage is concerned. I need a new place with built in cupboards, hidden wardrobes, toy shelves…a place where we can shove everything inside and keep up appearances without anybody realising the mayhem that exists behind closed doors.  

With that in mind we headed off to Ellenbrook, a new community on the outskirts of Perth with the largest display home village in WA. Here lies The Oasis - a Ventura home with 4 bedrooms, a snug (cinema room), open plan living area, 3 bathrooms and an Internet room. The room sizes were perfect, the decor beautiful and the finishes spot on. A dream home, the perfect pad, a retreat that you long to get back too, a hub of entertainment, warm, friendly, happy…

Now the only hurdle I face is finding the land in an area of our choice and persuading D that it’s the right move. Decent blocks are relatively hard to come by these days and it also costs a lot of coinage. Whilst this amazing home will cost around $240,000, the land to plonk it on will be anything up to $400,000 (unless we want to live in Ellenbrook), taking our bill up a few notches and creating that familiar wince of the eye when that big payment comes out each month.

So here we have a dilemma. To build or not, to rent or buy, 3 bedrooms or 4? Until the prices come down I guess we'll continue as we are and hope we find our dream pad sooner or later.  

Good luck today dad...

We love you
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Toodyay

Today we went to Toodyay...tra lalalalalala...and what a nice place it was! We started out as a convoy from Cheryl's house, stopping off for fresh OJ along the way (the best I've ever tasted I must add) followed by a quick visit to Aunty Gina's house...Cheryls' ma, osteopath supremo and owner of a big, if somewhat dilapidated mansion in the sticks surrounding Toodyay.

Dan tells me that when it was first built they had belly dancers and all other kinds of visual treats for the elite few that came to celebrate. And you can totally imagine it, it has a big Indian-esque dome at the top, white washed walls, beautiful stained glass windows and lots of corridors. A few licks of paint and some strategically placed interiors and this pad would be a top place to stay. I can see it as a health retreat, a set for Bollywood movies or a place that hosts art courses - an isolated haven where creative thinkers can explore their artistic talents away from the busy (ahem) city and bright lights of Perth. 

Overall it was a fun and stress-free day. Nice to see a bit of bush and meet another one of the lovely Aunty Hoddell's. Another tick in the box for the family Green :)

Subi

D and I went down to Subiaco for a meal last night. After a quick mooch around we settled on the Witches Cauldron...an old school eaterie with lots of wood panels, glass, fake flowers and a few stuffed witches suspended from the ceiling. Despite the chintzy, slightly odd interior, it had a special kind of vibe and the menu was spot on - lots of lamb, steaks, fish with amazing garlic prawns and the best spuds I've eaten all year (granted it's only Jan..). We also had a beautiful sparkling rose from neighbouring New Zealand - not great for this headache I've been lumbered with this week, but good for the soul :)

Subiaco is a nice part of town. Trendy, lively and modern with lots of nice bars, boutiques and cafes - a great place for the cash-rich, time poor to blow their big budgets and share their views on the world of an eve. It's also home to one of Perth's amazing art deco cinemas. Most of the independents were shut down years ago in the UK so it's been a real treat to see so many of these beautiful buildings still standing (there's even a Facebook page donated to art deco architecture in the city) When you look at these places, it seems sad that cinema has become such a low-key event - one of those places that people go to on the spur of the moment should they feel the urge. I rather like the idea of dressing up in a glamorous floor length dress, slapping on the red lippie and sporting some kind of glamorous up-do that took hours to prepare. If you consider the cost of tickets these days, it should be a posh affair should it not?

I feel a photography project coming on...

It's Thursday I'm in love...

Chloe, Bay and the lovely Raquel

The kids both fell a little bit head over heels today. Fin with new buddy Raquel who he decided to take under his wing when she found the beastly slide at the indoor play centre a little too much to cope with.  A few girly tears and he was there like a shot, a love struck Lothario declaring himself as her personal guardian and chaperon for the afternoon.  Bay chipped in on the action too and after a few loving gazes they skipped off hand in hand.

The rest of the day was spent with Fin’s new soccer mate Harman and their beautiful black lab, Onyx. Bay relished in her new role as Chief dog walker and we discovered a whole new community where playful pups can run, smooch and wag those funny tails of theirs on mutual turf.  This is her mucking in with Onyx and a little pug dog who took five minutes out from sniffing his friends bottoms.   

I have a clear afternoon tomorrow to get some work done and I can’t flipping wait. That recognizable itch is back again and I am positively chomping at the bit to throw myself back into work and inject some routine into our lives. It’s all about having a good balance and that’s one thing that’s been distinctly lacking of late. 14 days to go till school starts! Now I'm definitely counting.

Park Life

Parks are proving to be a bit of a sanctuary for us and fortunately Perth is laden with plenty of big beautiful green spaces.  We spent the majority of today in the great outdoors and for once I’ve come back with money in my purse and two tired, contented kids.

First stop was McCauley Reserve in Inglewood where we met a fellow mum photographer and a lovely Irish nan whose grandchildren played beautifully with the mini Greens for a couple of hours. Next was Hamer Park - just round the corner from Green HQ - where we hooked up with fellow Mount Lawley mums and their kids. They were a nice bunch and the Finster slotted in just fine…though I did notice his suggestion to play ‘proper soccer’ was dutifully and patriotically ignored in favour of Aussie rules.  In any case, he came away with a smile on his face, despite being called a dork by a younger kid in his class, and subjected (quite willingly, I’m sure) to lots of conversations about bums and farts. Great stuff.

Until tomorrow….

Gimme the cash!

I continue to be shellshocked by the price of things in Perth. To give you an example, I bought a bottle of water, a ribena and some gum at a deli the other day which came to a grand total of $7.80. Now I'm all for supporting the local independent, but $7.80? That's around £4, so double what I'd pay at home. Another jaw-dropping exchange of cash was in a bar recently when, on handing over two half lagers, the barmaid requested $18. Granted it was a pretty cool bar in the heart of Mount Lawley but man alive that is expensive.

The mining boom has seeped into the very core of life in WA and as mining wages go up, so does the cost of living it seems. These days we're looking at around $800,000 for a modest sized 3 bed in our area of choice. No problemos if you're a miner, but for the rest of us mere mortals - forget it...it's crazy money. Sadly those with all the dough don't always know how to spend it wisely. There's lots of mining 'bogans' who are cashed up to the brim but a distinct lack of taste reveal their true colours as they bomb around town with their personalised number plates ('up4anything'....'pl8ytime'...you get the picture) gloss-finished utes and booming music.

According to recent figures the boom continues to drive Australia (and particularly WA) forward. Jobs are up, employment records are at an all time high and with a country that's so rich in natural resources, it looks unlikely to end anytime soon. In fact, some believe it could carry through to the 2020's. Big boom or what?

I'm thinking positively about the costs of living and if it continues as people predict, it can only be a good thing for the kids who will inherit more opportunity, better pay and more social benefits. Who knows maybe Fin will become a mining magnate and we can retire handsomely in a Cottesloe mansion with a dog, an army of cleaners and a yacht moored out the back :)

Until then we'll just have to work out how to get rich ourselves.

Lotto here we come...

A little tribute to home...

Despite our initial concerns I reckon I've dealt with this big move pretty positively. It's only now and again that the old homesick bug attacks, and it's usually when I'm least expecting it. Standing in the queue at Woolworths, sitting at Dome with Bay, driving through the city...strangely odd circumstances when my mind is otherwise pre-occupied.

I have no doubt at all that we made the right decision but settling into a new country, a new life, new surroundings is pretty taxing at times. I miss my mum's happy face and un-conditional love, watching dad play with the kids, the Barnet crew, the pompey girls, my cousins, Kees & Emma. Then of course there's the charity shops (I love a good rummage), Starbucks Frappuccinos, big Green forests, windy pebble-strewn beaches, the London Eye, sunday roasts, M&S food and Topshop...I'd give my right arm for a good spend up in there :)

Having analysed this for a while, I've come to the conclusion that it's the lazy days that bring on the homesickness. But when you're building a new life you can't afford to be lazy. You have to be pro-active and positive, happy and gung-ho, committed and driven. So now that I've got this rant out of the way, I'll focus on exactly that, achieving all the things we talked about before we left, fulfilling those hopes and dreams and creating a happy, fun, comfortable life for our family. It is the 'yes' year after all....

Miss you guys! xx

The art of the picnic

One thing I'm learning about Aussie life is the importance of putting together a good picnic. There's lots of opportunities to sit outside and enjoy the glorious weather but you've got to have the good spread to go with it. Be it fresh olives and organic bread, pittas with meatballs or fresh fruit and a nice sparkling white - the spread is where it's at.

Another essential is the esky. Esky's keep things cool and can be packed down with ice so food and your beverages of choice can be kept refreshingly cool. Coming from a relatively cold country this was a new concept to me but one that I can completely see the value in. After all who wants a lukewarm drink when it's 42 degrees?

We spent this afternoon listening to jazz music in the glorious confines of Hyde Park. Our contribution was tuna pasta for the kids, mince pies (that have been sitting in the cupboard since Xmas) and some crackers n' a bit of cheese. Pitched against the culinary delights brought by Kerst and Fi we'd stand no chance in a picnic contest. There was a beautiful salad with olives, deli-fresh fills with smoked cheese and gourmet sandwiches. Their picnic blankets and kid-friendly plates and cups also came in handy whilst our make-shift seating area (the car visor) got pushed to the side. Time to up the game methinks...

Despite the failed picnic attempt, a good time was had by all. I managed to grab some cute shots of the kids as they danced around and got a lot of smiles from my nephew who still avoids me like the plague. Maybe I'll try stitching sweeties into my t-shirt next time. That should bring him round.

Harry...the new member of the family Green

Much as we'd like to be a one car family, Dan's journey to work and my refusal to stay cooped up in a hot house/navigate sporadic public transport led us to the conclusion that we needed another vehicle. A car was out - too expensive, a bit indulgent and - since we got a bit stung with the last purchase - daunting too.

D has wanted a bike for a while now but I've always been against the idea. Not only were the drivers in London nutcases and the roads stupidly busy, but I was also well aware of the big rebel beast inside my husband that lets rip occasionally, making him act impulsively and crave adrenaline.

So...having been promised that he will be a good boy, and feeling suitably confident that Perth drivers will respect his space, we headed down to a bike shop south of the river.

After salivating over the Ducati Monsters, we found a black Hyosung G250 sitting outside in the second hand area. It looked like a pretty cool bike - a little bit retro, classic black, with leather satchels on the side ('gay' said D, 'practical' said me). He was really after a bigger engine but having been sung the sales song by the bike pro, he jumped on and took it out for a scoot around the block. Yep yep and yep was the verdict, so we sat down, filled in the millions of forms required to complete the purchase and drove the beast (or 'Harry' as it's now been christened) home.

Now all that remains is to purchase a helmet and some leathers of my own so D and I can race up and down the WA coast on those rare child-free weekends. Welcome to the family Harry!

Working up a sweat

If there's one thing I've learnt about myself of late it's that I need exercise. Without it I become rubbish to be around, I start nagging the kids and my husband is often found in the other room where he doesn't have to listen to my incessant whining. Sadly opportunities to get the ol' heart rate up have been a little few and far between as we settle into our new life, so with this arvo to myself, I donned the workout gear and headed down to Hyde Park for a quick jog around the park.

It's a great place to run - you can go as fast/slow as you like and nobody gives a s**t. You even get the speed walkers in head to toe lycra with the jutting hips and the 'don't get in my way or I'll squish you' looks and nobody sniggers at them (apart from me, a bit...). So I think I've found a new way to keep fit - physically and mentally - that doesn't involve machines and expensive gym memberships. Hurrah!

I notice a similar trait in the boy who is at his best when he's active and doing something he loves. He's been at football academy this week and has become even more dedicated to fulfilling his goal of becoming the next Beckham. The coach said 'he has something special' and has invited him to be part of the 9-10 year old team he coaches on Saturdays. Go go go Mister Fin! So from mid feb he'll be doing soccer once, maybe twice a week and is booked for WA state try-outs at the end of the month. Pushy parent? Moi? Of course not....

C'MON FIN GET IT IN THE NET!!!!!

Queensland floods

The floods show no signs of letting up over in Queensland and since they've now reached Brisbane, it's about to get a whole lot worst. There's been stories of loss, despair, tragedy and horrible scenes of people trying to save what they can as they flee their precious homes (as obviously insurance won't cover it). Hmmm....why do we pay insurance again?

It must be a tricky predicament to be in. The water's seeping in under your door and you have no other option but to leave, so what do you take? You've got maybe 15 minutes/half an hour tops to gather what you can, I can't imagine what must have gone through those poor people's minds. One shopkeeper was photographed wading through the water with an industrial sized coffee machine, an older dude grabbed his treasured books whilst a young family used a trailer to carry their couch, kids toys and white goods.

The thing that's struck me most about this unfortunate disaster is how positive and courageous the Aussies are in a crisis. There's this amazing camaraderie they employ when faced with difficult situations - hell most of them were photographed  leaving their homes with smiles on their faces - SMILES! Other images that reflect the unique gun-ho Aussie spirit came in the form of a young guy pretending to cook his breakfast waist deep in water, a man in a vest refusing to leave his home (in all fairness it was on stilts) because he had enough 'tinnies to last the week' and a bunch of young men in boardies using their new found circumstances as a make shift waterpark.

Nevertheless, the reality is these people will have to face severe damage to their property and may be homeless for some time. The damage is pretty heart-breaking and when you look at the stats it beggars belief -  just short of 20,000 homes are expected to be flooded, 16,000 people will need emergency shelter, 15 people are confirmed dead and 43 are unaccounted for. So not a pretty picture.

There's a relief fund in place so if you can spare the cash, do donate.
More info here: http://www.australiafloodappeal.com/

Mrs Mac's

My husband would often reminisce about Mrs Mac's when we lived in the UK, citing it as the best pie on earth. Not being a huge fan of hot, plastic wrapped savoury foods I didn't pay much attention, but having tested them out - several times - I can fully understand the hype. These pies are beauts!

Made from 100% Aussie beef and golden puff pastry, they come in a range of delicious combos guaranteed to tantalise those tastebuds. As you can tell by Bay's pie face the kids also love them, making life easy for me when we're out and about and they are getting hungry (and therefore narky) in the back seat.

Like Heinz Baked Beans or Daddie's Sauce in the UK, MM's are part of the Aussie heritage and can be found pretty much everywhere - from the freezer section of supermarkets to local deli's and petrol stations. They claim to be the freshest pies around, due to the company owning the biggest spiral freezer in Australia that takes those babies from 80 degrees to -25 in two hours and consequently snaps all the good stuff in. It's also a good sales point for mums like me who want a quick fill on the go without having to resort to McD's....

So there you have it. Mrs Macs. A taste sensation. Try them!

Footie, park and zumba!

I realised today how much the kids have changed since we arrived, it's only been 6 weeks but already their limbs seem longer, their hair has grown, they have a nice honey hue to their skin and a more grown up attitude. Bay is already adapting a bit of an aussie twang and they both insist on practicing their 'gday mates' on a daily basis, loudly and often in public places.

Realising I hadn't done any 'proper' photography for a while (those iphones make things so damn easy!) we packed up the gear and headed down to Hyde Park where we did a mini photo shoot by the river. It was nice to play around with some poses and have fun together. It's funny how you can be together so much but miss out on that quality time. Those little people can be pretty funny sometimes...

In the eve Kerst and I headed to our first Zumba class where we shook our shakeables and got sweaty to some latino music. It was led by some very young, butt-shaking Brazilian chicks so I'm hoping that with continued attendance I'll end up looking like them....hmmmm one can dream (or get a good cosmetic surgeon perhaps).

Bedtime now...am hoping all is ok on the East Coast. The floods look like they may reach Brisbane now where we have friends. Scary stuff.

I don't like Mondays...

We have to share the car with Dan this week which means a) lots of public transport and b) quite a bit of map work to get ourselves around. This morning started out ok. Fin was due at soccer club at 9am so we left the house at 7.50am in search of bus route no: 16875. Mr bus driver (speedy Gonzales) arrived on time and took us to Morley Bus Station where we pulled in ten minutes ahead of schedule. Feeling pleased that I'd managed to get us this far, we hopped onto bus number 2 with a confident stride in our step, only to find that when we reached our destination, we'd gone to the wrong school...

Shoulders slumped we headed back to the bus stop where we called sis in law (saviour of the day) to come and collect us and deliver Fin to the correct establishment. Feeling like a prized loser, I swiftly handed him over to the coach, apologised for my tardy time-keeping and headed back with Kerst whilst the boy indulged in some quality kicking time that left him red as a beetroot.

The rest of the day was spent escaping the heat at Kersts (air con heaven) and later on at the library where we found free Wii access (hurrah!) and made friends with some nice kids from Mount Lawley Primary. Lucky for me, the mum was pretty cool too and we've arranged to meet next week for another library Wii-off, then perhaps a trip to the beach to hang out with some other peeps - including kids who will be in Fin's class this year.

So, despite the rocky start it was a pretty nice day in the end - we even had a home-cooked cottage pie donated to the Green cause via Nana Meg. Maybe Monday's aren't so bad after all....

ROTTO!

We finally got to Rottnest today! We've always said we'd go during previous holidays but full schedules and a light wallet meant we'd skipped it. So, filled with the type of excitement only new adventures bring, we hooked up with Fi and Jay and boarded the Rottnest Express at Freo this morning.

Rottnest sits 22km south of Perth and is famed for its crystal clear waters, reefs, traffic-free roads and quokkas - the island's native marsupial. It also has an impressive 63 beaches, 20 bays and the best bakery we've found. The pies in Perth are pretty flavoursome as it is but man alive they are nothing on these babies! D and I shared a beef and bacon (delicious) and lamb and rosemary number (delicious x 2) whilst the kids happily gobbled down fresh sausage rolls. With the bellies full, we followed our guides for the day (Fi, Jay, Marni, James and little Ben) and headed to The Basin - an award winning beach that's great for a spot of snorkelling.

This was one of the busier beaches we've been too, but the place has a special feel to it - calm, slow, tranquil with a steady flow of happy, contented people. Fin had a go at snorkelling and D and I saw some lovely fish a bit further along the reef. Bay preferred to hang out closer to shore and build fairy tale sandcastles: one for Cinderella, one for Sleeping Beauty, one for Snow White and so on and so on.

Lunch was at the Quokka Arms Hotel followed by a few delicious G&T's and much entertainment from Bay and Ben dancing around. It was nice to see the lady having fun with a new friend...she misses her London crew :(

The day ended with the kids launching themselves off the jetty followed by a rather hairy ride home on the Rotto Express. Fin and I wussed out big time and ended up clinging on to each other for dear life whilst the boat bounced from side to side and the horizon disappeared from view. I managed to avoid a big hurl (just...) and generated a few sympathetic (or maybe that's pathetic) looks from aussies who had obviously witnessed our distress en route. And this is apparently the slow boat......

All in all a great day, can't wait to go back.

Hangover Saturday

The two K's put on an excellent spread last night - some beautiful food, nice wine and great company followed by a particularly drunk game of 'Welfare' Pictionary. Sadly the boys nailed it...just.

Feeling a tad worst for wear on a Saturday morning is a recipe for disaster when there's energetic kids to entertain, but thanks to Ronnie McD we managed to pull ourselves together and attempt at being dutiful parents again. First stop was the basketball court at Joel Terrace park - the boys got all sweaty trying to whoop each other's butts whilst the lady and I sat in the shade, read the paper and played in the park.

Fin fancied a games sesh at Uncle Chris'x 'Xbox house' so whilst the boys got cosy with their remote controls, Bay and I headed into Mount Lawley for some girl time. First stop was the Gelato shop (Strawberry for lady, White choc and Macademia pour moi). Then a mooch around the shops and a delicious half hour in the cool confines of Planet - an independent book store that's packed with great reads, coffee table books, music and limited edition stuff. This is one of those places you could spend half a day in and not notice the time. I love it here. We even found some new Oliver Jeffers stuff and learnt a bit about fairies, much to missy B's delight.

Had a lovely skype sesh with mum and dad who read the kids a bedtime story (thanks mum - saved me a job!) and now its' movie time...Scott Pilgrim V the world (ok...ish...so far) followed by Angelina in Salt.

Looking forward to a good sleep tonight before we head to Rottnest tomorrow :)

Hyde Park saves the day...

I have a day off today....well not exactly a day off, but the kids are tiring Nana out at the park which means I can tidy up the house and get some work done ahead of the weekend. Thankfully the weather's taken a more comfortable turn too. Temps are mid-70's at the mo, thank the lordy. We even have a breeze coming through around tea time which is super nice and gives each of us Green's a little boost before the evening sets in.

The kids and I have had an ok couple of days. Don't get me wrong, we love each other, but the heat coupled with a distinct lack of any kind of social circle is starting to grate and turn me into a bit of a monster mum. To remedy it and try to inject an element of fun into our day, we headed to Hyde Park where we found other kids (hurrah!) a park (double hurrah!) ducks (triple hurrah!) and a nice bench for me to sit on and read whilst the kids explored the play equipment. This is them at the top of a very high climbing dome which kind of made me nervous (though not enough to put the camera down) and provoked other mums with smaller impressionable kids to stroll over and ensure they didn't attempt the same thing.

School officially starts in three weeks. Not that I'm counting or anything...

Have a great weekend all :)

The mighty red back

These little blighters are everywhere in Australia. They are most at home in the corners of shed's, garages and verandas where they can whip up an impressive little web and live comfortably away from the prying eyes of us humans. Some, however, have been known to venture into houses and climb into wardrobes (and more notably, people's shoes and clothes) where they will happily attack any infiltrators.

The female is the one you've got to watch out for, her venom can potentially land you in hospital and give you a series of muscle spasms, palpitations, abdominal pain and vomitting for 24 hours after. 14 deaths have been recorded but since the introduction of anti-venom in 1984, nobody has fallen prey to its vicious bite. In fact it's believed that thousands of aussies are bitten each year with only 20% requiring medical treatment. Phew.

Her diet consists of innocent insects that wander into her web. She also has a taste for mice, lizards and dead snakes and is one of the few spiders will eat her own mating partner (presumably after he's delivered the goods that is).

Fin discovered this doomed female in our car port (whilst wandering around without shoes on I might add) so naturally we squished it and then took a pic. We've since introduced a 'shoes at all times whilst outdoors' policy and have started teaching the kids to search their togs before they get dressed in the mornings.
If you look closely at the pic above you can see the trail of venom she excreted during her final seconds of life. Mad to think something so small can puck such a nasty punch. Hats off to you Mrs Redback.

Shelley

Say hi to Shelley. She's a big boxer, ten years old and full of life, despite her late age. She's strong, muscular and has a lovely soft shiny fur coat that doesn't malt. She's also fun to be around and has transformed my kids attitude to K9's with her flirtatious attitude and obedient nature.

She likes to sleep, gets anxious when away from her family and enjoys daily helpings of chicken and pork sausage. What she doesn't like very much is other dogs, especially small ones that fair poorly in a fight. We'd best not introduce her to Mister Fin (sausage dog at neighbours house)...she'd probably eat him in one glutinous gulp.

So that's Shelley. Super tough but a big softie at heart. Love you Shelley belly.

CK

'UH...oh...it's that strange lady taking pics of me again....'

This is CK (Otherwise known as Christian), my little nephew, gorgeous, funny and feisty as hell, but regretably cuddle-resistant with aunty Larsy. I'm not sure whether it's the long limbs, dark hair or big lens that puts him off, but what he doesn't know is that we will be great friends one day....

His favourite things are cars, drinking from colourful IKEA cups, biccies and looking at the moon. He also loves Fin and has been known to wake up in the night calling out 'innie!!!!!!!' In typical Fin style, he has embraced his new found popularity and has made it his plight in life to protect his little cousin and make him laugh at every available opportunity. I think the two of them will be great friends.

Today is the first day of work for D, so I am busily trying to plan our month so we have plenty to keep us occupied, let the mini people say 'muuuum I'm borrrrred' at their own peril.

xxxx
 

Hello 2011...

We celebrated the new year in Busselton, a seaside town 2.5 hours south of Perth famed for it's jetty (the longest in the Southern Hemisphere I'm told) and long stretches of sand. Beach lover that I am, I swooned at the site of the turquoise sea and shallow waters, perfect for kids (we didn't have any on this occasion), dogs, novice swimmers and anyone with a fear of sharks as you'll be able to see them coming way off....

My first 'yes' of the year was to jump on a jet ski with beloved and charter those waters with ferocious speed and vigour. Hell, I even had a go myself but kept to a more respectible speed which gave D a bit of a twitchy leg. He proceeded to take over and bounce over those waves like the nutcase that he is, causing a bit of panic on the back seat and an irritating ring in his ear for the rest of the arvo.

The rest of our day was spent at Southbound, an eco-friendly music-fest packed with skinny teens in tight shorts and perfect tans (grrrrrrrr). Tired as we were, we held on, filled up on beer, coffee and nachos and saw the night through. I also got to have a good jump around to Interpol (woo-hoo) and Ladyhawke before we drove back to Perth. Great stuff.

Happy New Year all. Hope 2011 is your best yet. x