May 2021 – OutandAbout

Happy New Year everyone, lets hope its a better year than last. Well after a quiet Christmas and a disastrous camping trip we welcomed New Year in with a big breakfast on the deck with the KP family. Spending the rest of the day chilling with the girls and watching some TV.

Monday January 2nd we asked Mia if she would like to get her ears pierced NOW, TODAY? We had promised that she could have them done for her 7th birthday which is at the end of the month but with the girls joint birthday pool party in a couple of weeks and going back to school the day after her birthday we decided now would be a good time to get them done and it would also give her no time to think about it and back out. We all set off to the shop, booked her appointment and they said it would be best if she had some sugar before it was done. Bob went to the donut stall and bought us all a chocolate donut – well we were all nervous ! Unfortunately only Tj was allowed to go in with her so we waited outside for the scream – but No scream and in a few minutes Mia appeared with a big grin on her face. “Didn’t hurt ” she said and it was all done.

In the evening the Brisbane Heat were playing 20/20 cricket at the Gabba and Adam had managed to get tickets for him, Bob and the girls to go. Great, TJ and I could have an evening with face masks, chocolate and a chick flick ! The Heat won and the girls were delighted.

This week my ladies are meeting for coffee Tuesday at The Clive, it was chosen by Di whose birthday it was this week. Adam dropped me and Mia at Rai’s house and she drove us there. We were a bit disappointed with the venue, we had to sit outside and there were no fans and the temperatures are in the mid 30’s. Also the waitress had a real attitude but Mia thought she was so grown up going out for coffee and chatted to the ladies happily.

Wednesday Bob and I went to Wolston for a round of golf, we like this course, it has lots of kangaroos on it and usually its fairly quiet, however, this week we got stuck behind some very slow players who wouldn’t let us through which spoilt both of our games so the scores were never talked about again! Today was also Zoes’ last day at daycare, she has been there since she was 6 months old so it was quite sad that she was leaving but TJ and Adam were cheering because there would be no more extortionate daycare fees to pay !

Tomorrow, because Zoe is 5yrs old now and starting school at the end of January, she can go to the school Vacation Club. We were worried that she would be intimidated by all the bigger children there but not at all, she soon made friends and loved it. Mia of course kept an eye on her little sister too.

Mia taking her little sister to Vacation Club for the first time

Friday 8th and OH NO there are a few cases of COVID hit Brisbane so the government has locked down the city for 3 days until Monday night to try and trace all the people who could have been contaminated. It works well and the all clear is given Monday. However, we are annoyed that 3 women had been out of state to Melbourne on a trip and returned to Brisbane and hadn’t self isolated. They had picked up the virus, lied to the police when questioned and been on a spending spree around the south of Brisbane shops, spreading the virus, causing thousands of people to have to go and get tested and isolate – so selfish ! Therefore, we had a quiet week, staying at home not wanting to go out until we were sure there was no more virus around, we even cancelled coffee with the ladies.

Over the weekend while in lockdown, I finished my dress I was making but it suited TJ better so I gave it to her – oh well I can make another one for myself. The boys have been busy moving and re-making the herb garden. Tj decided that if they are going to have a pool in the garden eventually then the herb garden needs to relocate. Must say they made a nice job adding some homemade trellis and some veggie gardens.

Monday the girls are at home, no vacation care today, its grandparents day so we played some games in the garden. Bob designed a golf ball bowling alley but when he fell off his chair reaching for a ball, Zoe laughed so much, then said “grandad can you do that again, it was so funny”?

Girls are back at vacation care today and my friend Rai is having a Thermomix demonstration so I changed my hair appointment so that I could go and see the new machine in action. She was very impressed and bought one, can’t wait to see what she makes in it. ( I have the previous model at home but I haven’t seen it for so long).

Friday 22nd and TJ has bought tickets to see Shrek at the theatre, Adam doesn’t want to go so I happily stand in. It’s a great show and the girls think they are so grown up going to the theatre.

In the evening TJ and I went out for dinner with some of her friends to a Turkish Restaurant and then onto a cocktail bar afterwards. The funniest thing happened at the cocktail bar just as we were starting to leave, a cockroach appeared on the back of my chair and someone saw it and screamed. It was chased around the floor for a few minutes when another one appeared and the owners were horrified! I think they must have flown in as all the windows were open and it was a very balmy night. Luckily we took it in our stride and left soon after. At the weekend, TJ and Adam are busy so Bob and I take the girls shopping and to get their haircuts. Unfortunately I let Bob loose in the toy shop with the girls and this is what happened….

Just a normal day shopping with the “kids”

Monday 25th January is a special ladies 7th birthday and she has requested a trip to Australia Zoo. We all love this zoo so we set off early to make a day of it, fitting in as many animals and side shows as our legs will tolerate and we were one of the last people to leave. I think we all enjoyed Mia’s birthday.

The following day is Australia day and we have an invite from the KP family to join them for a swim in their pool and a bbq. Lots of fun and games and early to bed because it’s Mia’s first day in year 2 and Zoe’s first day at school tomorrow.

Well what a busy week to end the month that was and on Friday Grandad took us all out to Berkdale to get fish and chips (English style) for dinner to celebrate .

February

The first week of February was hectic, with all the girls activities restarting, we had Scouts on Wednesday where Mia was promoted to Patrol Leader and a Karate trial on Thursday, which didn’t go well, swimming and drama on Friday and on the weekend 2 birthday parties. Both girls went to Nico’s birthday at Bounce in the morning with lots of trampolining and then Mia went to a school friends in the afternoon.

Sunday was a very special day, my step dad Len was 90, Happy Birthday and so sorry that we couldn’t be there and that you are still shielding but hopefully we can celebrate later in the year.

The following week started with a dentist check up on Bobs new dentures – all ok and the rest of the week was filled with the usual stuff, I caught up with the ladies for coffee on Wednesday and Zoe started at Joey scouts in the evening.

Zoes first evening at Joeys and they made a boat

I spent Friday starting on my new dress. Tj was so happy with the one I made for her, she decided to get some material and make another for herself so I am tutoring her in the art of sewing. She is doing good but the overlocker machine still scares her a little.

Valentines day was a Sunday this year, Adam decided to go mountain biking off road in the morning with his friend Ben who had just bought a new bike . Adam wasn’t very lucky and fell off twice, just scrapping some skin but on the third time when he went over the handlebars and bashed every limb he decided to quit. He came limping home like a wounded soldier but soon perked up when Grandad took us all out for breakfast at Ralph & Co, a local restaurant.

This week I continued making my dress, baked some cheese and bacon bread rolls, did some card crafting and had a morning out with the ladies. Bob got wet playing golf on Thursday and Tj did some more on her dress on Friday. In the evening we had the KP girls come over for a sleepover and join in with our Friday night games which they love.

Mia has a friend called Nic at school and he is a very nice boy, he invited her to his birthday party, I think she was the only girl he invited but it was at a place called Extreme Urban so we were a bit worried it might be too rough for her? Haha good old Mia, was in there with all the boys and a lazer gun having a whale of a time. On Sunday Zoe had a class meet up at the swimming pool so we all went for a swim and a chat with some of the other parents.

The last week of February saw us start the prep for Adams birthday party in April. He was 40 last year at the end of March and he was not happy that all their plans were cancelled due to the covid lockdown. So we decided to have a 40 + 1 year party this year. The theme was the 80’s so Tj had lots of ideas and I was busy making, sticking and designing “stuff”. Also Zoe didn’t have a good birthday as we travelled to the campsite where we had to leave 2 days later because of the rain and Mia went to Australia Zoo for hers so we had planned to have a pool party at the end of January for both of them but it was cancelled due to another lockdown. Therefore, we are now preparing for it this coming weekend.

Wednesday Zoe wore her new Joey uniform for the first time. Friday I had a sewing day planned with TJ’s friend Sam, I was making myself a new handbag as my old one was falling apart. I started cutting out as soon as the girls had gone to school and Sam joined me mid morning after her gym session. We stopped for lunch and went across the road to the RSL club and had a lovely meal. The bag didn’t get finished as we had the pool party tomorrow and 10 guest for brunch on Sunday but it would wait a few days.

The pool party started at 10.30 but we were there to set up much earlier, the party goers arrived and brought lots of presents, the children all played together splashing and thoroughly enjoying themselves, Adam was on the bbq cooking Snags (sausages in a slice of bread) and there was lots of food for the kids. The cake was amazing and far too much for the 50 plus people who came to celebrate the girls birthdays- I had to freeze a big chunk of it. When everyone had gone, we had a half hour in the pool with the girls quietly on our own – then packed everything up and went home. Needed an early night ready to start again tomorrow.

Tj and Adams friends they met on a wine tasting cruise they did a few years ago were the brunch guests, everyone brought something with them and Adam was back on the BBQ doing a full English breakfast. They are all retired and very good company but they arrived at 10am, the bucksfizz flowed and they didn’t leave until after 3pm. It was great to see them all and catch up on the gossip and news.

March

So much to tell you about this month, it started Monday 1st March with me driving to an RSL Club about 10 mins away as a practice because the ladies were meeting there for lunch on Wednesday and no one was available to take me so I had to drive myself. I think I have said before, I am not confident to drive here and in a big car and an automatic at that ! However, I did it and parked on the top level of the carpark because it was empty and I wouldn’t get stuck between 2 bigger cars and not be able to back out ! Later Adam, TJ, Bob and I went to look at Sheldon School, a private school, as a possible for Mia to go to when she finishes at Seven Hills. Wow Wow Wow it was amazing, immaculate gardens, classrooms fully equipped with the latest technology, every conceivable course you could want to take, available. The staff efficient and all in a uniform too, the children had impeccable manners – we just couldn’t fault it if you wanted your gifted child to be a President! However, it certainly wasn’t suitable for Mia, it was too regimented and it just wasn’t fun, it was also 1 hour on the bus each way every day.

Tuesday I finished making my bag and on Wednesday I drove to the EASTs club in my newly made dress, with my new handbag, and had a lovely lunch with the ladies and drove home – all without incident, unlike the car and minibus crash on the main road this morning – such a bang but everyone seemed ok. Thursday I played golf with Bob at Wolston with the Kangaroos and in the afternoon after picking the girls up from school we went to Ormiston School for a tour.

Not such a big school as Sheldon, not as immaculately manicured grounds, or as many options of courses but a lot less “stiff” with the uniform and the staff. We liked the school, still a bit of a drive but more like the school that Mia would enjoy we think. It was good to see 2 schools back to back more or less to compare.

Friday night was mums night out, the school class mums went to a bar/ night club – Tj and I went and had a nice chat and some nibbles but when it hit 10pm and they decided to go on to other places we left and made our way home. Its not my cup of tea anymore, flashing lights, loud music and late nights.

Saturday we visited the last of the 3 schools TJ has her eye on for Mia and today was their open day. CHAC is an Anglican Church school, just a few minutes drive from home and nowhere near as big or grand as the other 2 school but it has warmth and what impressed us was their headteacher said that their aim was to encourage every student to find their niche in the world. Not every child is gifted or clever but we all have something to give and that they worked very closely with the community and encouraged participation in the school. Mia and Zoe were on a scout weekend camp so it was just the adults at this school visit which was a shame because it has been decided that this is their number 1 choice. The girls had a great weekend, TJ stayed with the group Saturday overnight while Adam went on a Dads night out and then he took over Sunday morning, taking the Joeys to the park to do a clean up there. In the afternoon when camp was finished we were invited to Mel and James’ house to see and try out their new pool and discuss any pros and cons with them. Tj is still gathering information from wherever she can to help them decide on the many options available.

The second week of march was full of preparations, it is TJ’s 40th on the 18th March and she was planning to go away to Bargara and visit the Mon Repos Conservation Park where the turtles lay their eggs under the beach and then hatch at this time of year. We had said originally that we wouldn’t go as we were expecting to be back in the UK by March 13th. However, with the pandemic no better across Europe and virtually no cases in Queensland we felt that we were safer here and applied for a further 6 month visa to stay until September. Not as easy as normal ! Firstly the cost of the visa went up from 140$ we paid on the original visa in the UK to 1065$ each because it was our second renewal and we are in Australia while applying. Now they have requested Police checks to make sure we are not criminals and what a palaver that its! Anyway, because we are staying here we decided to book a room in the same hotel as Adam and TJ and we asked to go on the wait list for the Mon Repos Park to see the turtles but kept it a secret from TJ so we could surprise her on her birthday morning. Haha she found out because when tickets became available for Mon Repos they text me at the same time as TJ – I hadn’t realised that she also had put us on the wait list in case we didn’t fly back to the UK .

The girls have started skipping classes, bless them they try, Mia is getting better but Zoe just can’t get the hang of it. I must add this picture because Zoe is learning the alphabet and this week one of the sounds she is learning is the SH sound. For each letter or sound they bring home a picture of their drawing. This week the drawing is hilarious…

So on Wednesday 17th March Adam, TJ and the girls set off for their trip to Bargara. Its about 4.5 hours drive so they arrive mid afternoon and Adam took the girls to the beach to stretch their legs while TJ unpacked. A few minutes later Zoe comes screaming “Daddy I found a baby turtle come and see”. Sure enough a baby turtle was making its way to the sea but the seagulls were trying to catch it so Adam and the girls spent an hour protecting it while it waddled its way down the beach, they called her Turtleina. Amazing.

Thursday morning Bob and I were up early at 4.30am to pack the car and drive the 4.5 hrs so we could spend TJ’s birthday with her. The weather was glorious and the hotel was right on the beach with a lagoon where the tide had gone out, so very safe for the girls to swim in. Adam and I went snorkelling and saw some beautiful fishes swimming around the lagoon, parrot fish, angel fish and some small black and white ones that swam in a cluster amongst others. Someone brought some bread to feed them and thousands of fishes appeared to fight over the crumbs.

In the evening we set off for Mon Repos Turtle centre at about 6.30pm and went out with the first group to look for hatching turtles. Unfortunately none were hatching so the Ranger dug up a nest that had been hatched a couple of days before to count the eggs laid against those hatched . Amazingly there were 2 turtles that were still alive so we watched as they made their way to the sea. Then it began to rain so we returned to the centre. A while later when the rain stopped group 2 went out onto the beach, which was pitch black, no lights are allowed in case they disturb the turtles. They also didn’t see any hatchings but TJ wanted to stay longer so we waited. At around 11pm the last group went out and TJ asked if they could go again? Of course they could but I didn’t want to walk the distance down the beach on the uneven sand in the dark as my hip was hurting so we waited at the centre. Around 11.45 the centre got a call to say that one of the Rangers patrolling the beach had spotted movement from a nest so the Ranger at the centre told us to put our coats on and come quickly. We almost ran up the beach, stumbling and tripping in the pitch dark but we arrived at the nest site just as it erupted with baby turtles climbing over each other to get out of the hole. The sight was amazing to see, (unfortunatley we weren’t allowed to video ) and although I was tired and not too happy about having to hang around so long, Tj was right and it was all worth it. TJ and Zoe were chosen with a few others to stand astride in the pathway the turtles were taking to the sea with their torches on to show them the way. It was well after midnight when we finally left, Zoe had fallen asleep on the beach sitting up, she was so tired bless her but we were all excited about what we had seen and I think Tj was very happy too.

The next morning (Friday) Bob and I had booked a round of golf across the road. We tee’d off at 8am which was difficult to get out of bed for after such a long day and last nights excitement but the morning was fresh and sunny and the course virtually empty so we had a great round and finished in plenty of time to have another dip in the lagoon and a play on the beach with the girls before lunch with the family. Bob went out for a snorkel and saw a stingray in the deeper end of the lagoon – spectacular! We had a swim in the hotel pool and we sat in the hot jacuzzi for a while as there was no one else about.

In the afternoon while the girls had a nap, Adam and Bob went to visit the Bundaberg Rum factory. They had a tour of the factory and a tasting and came back very happy. Adam had booked a meal out at an Italian restaurant in the evening as TJ missed out on her birthday dinner. The restaurant was very quiet but the food was good. Tj wanted ice cream for dessert so we went searching for an ice cream parlour and found a wonderful one not far away where we all had a large cone. Early start tomorrow as I had booked a visit to the Bundaberg Ginger beer factory for 9.30am for Bob and I and then we were going to split the journey home with lunch in Maryborough and a visit to the home of PJ Travers, the author of Mary Poppins.

Bob and I checked out of the hotel and loaded the car and set off for the Ginger Beer Factory. We arranged to meet up in Maryborough later. The factory was very disappointing, it was just a walk through Museum and then a tasting session of all their 15 fizzy flavours – burp! and then 6 free bottles each, we were done and dusted in half an hour! We set off for Maryborough and as we arrived early we stopped at a shopping mall and had a mooch round and a coffee. When Adam and Tj arrived we grabbed some lunch and drove to The Story Bank Museum. The staff here were wonderful with the children, they encouraged them to touch everything, open drawers and look in cupboards. There was a map and you had to find hidden mice in each room and mark them on the map. The story of PJ Travers was very interesting with lots of pictures and articles to look at and read. We were in there for over 2 hours, when we realised they wanted to close at 2 pm and that we were the last people inside. Outside on the street (Cherry Tree Lane) there was a set of traffic lights and when the pedestrian lights flashed it was a silhouette of a lady with an umbrella ! We finished off with a walk to the bottom of the lane and into the park. Sunday the girls wanted to make posters of their holiday for show and tell at school on Monday.

Monday and the girls are back at school with their posters and we have Zoe’s parent teacher report at 4pm. Needless to say she has settled into school life easily, she is making lots of friends and Mrs Rogers is very happy with her, although she did note that Zoe is much more full on than Mia ever was.

Tuesday night Mia is concerned about something in her mouth, its a bit of tooth, it has broken off one of her baby teeth. TJ calls the dentist and they can fit her in Wednesday at 11am. Bob and I collect her from school and take her as TJ and Adam are working and the dentist tells us she needs a filling as its a back tooth and probably won’t fall out until she is 9. Bless her she was as good as gold and didn’t flinch when the dentist injected her gum. The dentist said she also has another filling needed on the other side so we have to book another appointment for that later. Half an hour later we are on the way home with Mia because her mouth is numb and her lunch box doesn’t contain anything suitably soft for her to eat. After an hour or so she was feeling better so we pop her back to school and then at 4pm we returned to see Mia’s teachers for her report. Once again, they are very happy with her work and behaviour , in fact they said she was a delight to teach. That evening Zoe was invested into Joey Scouts by her Dad, having her badges and Necker presented to her- so proud of them all.

Thursday 25th TJ is working in the city at a Science Festival for her employers, BHP who are sponsoring some of it. It’s a beautiful day so Bob and I get on the river ferry to meet her for lunch. We were fortunate to get the new double decker ferry so we sat on top and enjoyed the views for the 30 mins journey into the city. The science fair is outside the library alongside the river and it’s full of students from many different schools who are spending the day there. We wander around some of the exhibitions until TJ is ready and then we go for lunch.

trip on the double decker ferry into the city

Its Friday and its 26th March and Adams 41st birthday. We try to spoil him as he has decided that its going to be his ” 40th again” but he does have to work today. After opening his presents and cards and the girls have gone off to school its back to normal. I am still making stuff for his party but its not for a couple of weeks yet. In the evening we all go to Big Roddy’s Rib Shack in the city, it isn’t quite what we were expecting and we were told we only had an hour at the table but the service was very quick and the ribs were amazing so he was happy. We went for a walk afterwards into Southbank and along the river, through a night craft market to the ice cream parlour. The Southbank had lots of science and interactive stuff going on in the evening too, so we wandered through them and tried out a few before walking back to the car.

the girls climbed in and out and on the letters

Over the weekend there are rumblings about another case of the virus in the community. Saturday the girls have a catch up swim class so we all went and had a couple of hours at the pool. In the evening we were supposed to go to a 40th joint birthday party but due to a family illness it was cancelled. We still had a babysitter booked so we went to Puzzle Escape, a new to us escape room venue where we had to work out who the murder was – it turned out to be Adam !

Sunday Mia and Zoe go to a Martial Arts birthday party at FOCUS. Panos is in the same class as Mia but his sister is the same age as Zoe so she is invited to keep Lydia company. Once again we wonder if this is all too rough for the girls but no they both have a wonderful time and the highlight is the cake being cut with an enormous samurai sword!

Monday morning the virus has spread and the morning news informs us that the whole city of Brisbane will be locked down from 5pm today for 3 days again. Schools, shops (except essential) everything closed. The school Easter egg hunt is cancelled, the fundraising Colour Run on Thursday is cancelled and the school will not be open now until after the Easter hols on 19th April. Bob is not impressed that his golf is cancelled this week Tuesday and Thursday. My friend Rai has been trying to travel to Perth to see her family for months and finally she got there 2 weeks ago and is travelling back to Brisbane today and lockdown ! More home schooling for us for 3 days to keep the girls occupied. In Bobs PE lesson with the girls, he was trying to show the girls how easy it is to skip – haha if the video plays, its hilarious. Also he did a bit of hoola hooping too – needs more practice.

His style is so funny

The last pics are of everyone here who can balance a spoon on their nose? No idea why we did it but Zoe and TJ can’t do it apparently, and maybe Bob was cheating ?

I can’t go without a couple of pics of Lucy and Adi’s house, it has taken so long but at the end of March it was coming together so here are a couple of pics showing the progress. We are so proud of their achievements, it has been hard I know and such a struggle but there is light at the end of the tunnel and the next ones will be amazing.

So I will sign off now, I have already started April and May blog which I will try and complete and send in July. Have a good summer and hopefully we will be back in the UK in September.

Lyn x

Month: May 2021

January to March 2021

February

March