Visiting oldies...

We have done so many things in the last 2 weeks of which there are far too many to list.  Saturday just gone was a particularly good day when we saw The Gruffalo's child at The Seymour Centre, then went swimming at the Olympic pool, back to Darling Harbour for tea at Nick's......breath...there's more.....  We then walked around the wharf to have a look at a P&O cruise ship waiting to depart, watched it sail then walked back around the harbour for the fireworks!  Wow, so tiring but so good.  :)

School has now broken up for Easter so Finn is at home for the last week for our visitors who depart on Saturday - where have those 5 weeks gone?  I have no idea, but they have been good.

 My Mum & Step Dad at Nick's enjoying the seafood....and the wine..  A little rosy cheeked!

 We all visited my family up on the Central Coast on Sunday for a day of lovely food, great company and a splash in the pool.  Finn & Isla had a blast diving for toys and sliding in - as demonstrated by Isla above!

Today we have been to a new little beach I have found at Nielson Park, Vauclause.  Here I am with the old dragon....!  A nice, balmy, Autumn day.

 More swimming progress for Isla who has moved up into the new swimming class

 - after giving the instructor a slightly frosty reception she started to warm up!

 Independent girl.

 Most favourite activity in the World for Finn

 Shark Bay, Vauclause

 Scooter girl

 Happy, sunny, scooter, smiley days

 Autumn is here, the temperature has dropped to the mid 20's during the day and it is perfect to be on the sand.

My Mum making footprints in the sand.

A mouse took a stroll through the deep, dark wood

I (and the rest of the family) have a real soft spot for 'The Gruffalo', enforced even more by the recent animated short shown on Christmas Day, 2009.

We really like everything that Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler have done together and have bought pretty much all of their collaborative children's stories, but the highlights for me at least are The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom and a recent addition - Tabby McTat.

We've read The Gruffalo to the children pretty much for as long as we've read them stories and we can recite the entire story from memory but seeing the animated version has really added an extra element... seeing all the additional story detail that's been added or expanded on to make the film a reasonable length has created a new slant on the story as I've had it in my mind.  For example, I never imagined that the Gruffalo's first 'Amazing' statement could have been sarcastic rather than heartfelt - I know that Julia Donaldson was involved in the screenplay so I wonder if that's the sort of thing she 'brought to the table'.

We've seen the stage version of Room on the Broom but unfortunately missed the Gruffalo play when it came to town.  I'm sure we will be first in the queue for tickets the next time it comes around...  I hope that Julia and Axel's books are readily available in Australia, if not then it will be time to go to the Book Depository.  Check out their 'watch people shop' interactive map!

Andy

P.S. Good luck to Scotland in the Six Nations this year!

Visitor from Australia

My dear friend who I have known for all of his life, Marky, is visiting from Perth.  He has been over for a couple of weeks now and his lovely girlfriend Kat joined him in early January.  We all went out for a curry last night at our local Indian restaurant.  I have heard that Indian food in Oz is very different so Marky was very much looking forward to getting a 'good' curry under his belt!  They didn't disappoint, we had some great food and what made it all the more lovely was that the company was amazing.  This is one of the hard things about emigration, that you have to leave the things familiar to you and the people you love to spend time with.  I have missed him so much since he left in March 09.  It is great to catch up and he has been telling me about what a great time he has been having.  We have slipped back into how we have always been together and it's been great! 



We achieved lots over the weekend in the form of packing/de-cluttering but I am so done with the whole sorting the house out rigmarole.  I would love to spend some time as the 4 of us doing something carefree and frivolous though.  I will feel so much better when this hurdle has passed.


I was very pleased to see Finn & Isla tonight as is always the case when I have been at work all day.  I read The Gruffalo's Child to Isla which she appreciated and talked to me the whole time I read to her!  How very sweet.  Snow is forecast again tonight so it may be a snow and working from home day tomorrow.


I had a phone call and lots of information from a TorFX guy today who provides a service of transferring money from sterling to AU$.  So now I have a whole new set of things to think about to add to our list.  When is the best time, in light of the strength of the $ to £ to transfer money to Australia?  Answers on a postcard.