Last summer we spent a lot of time at the swimming pool. So this year the Big Fella decided that we should buy a season pass and try to get there at least 3 times a week. He wants to do laps as a kind of self-massage after weights workouts, as well as a cardio, and the Little Big Fella will jump at any opportunity to play in the water!
So, locals, any time you're headed to the pool to play, count us in :-D
We were talking about how to squeeze a swim in when the Big Fella works day shifts and one of the solutions we came up with was to go after work, even if that means leaving home at 6, or even 7pm.
But, but, but...
Yep. That's dinner time and time to be getting the Little Big Fella ready for bed.
Ah ha! A solution!
They have BBQs at the pool! We could prep meat and salad and all the utensils and everything else you need for a barbie before the Big Fella gets home from work, then take it with us to the pool.
Brilliant!
So, last night we tested our theory.
We got to the pool just after 6pm. The sun was nearly down (silly Queensland that doesn't have daylight savings!), the pool was really quiet and still, and the water was almost warm (which is saying a lot because this pool is renowned for being practically icy).
We had a good half hour swim. The Big Fella did his laps, the Little Big Fella splashed and played and even did a lap with his kickboard!!! Then we got out, showered and got the Little Big Fella into his pjs (one of his Superman onesies Grandma and Aunty Loz!) then cooked up the meat, piled salad and the meat into bread rolls and enjoyed our little feast.
It was really, really good and we'll definitely be doing it again!
Sometimes we might even grab an icecream cone from McDonald's on the way home :)
The Little Big Fella was completely tuckered out and fell asleep on the way home. Bummer. No bedtime fights for us! Not that we have bedtime fights very often, but still...
This afternoon the Little Big Fella had his first swimming lesson for the season. Once he was actually in the water (it was a bit cool today) he did really well and the teacher was very happy with how well he's retained his skills over the winter.
Another tick in the success box. Yay!
On another note, the Little Big Fella and I ended up doing a big cook-up yesterday morning - a double batch of ginger snaps, and a double batch of chocolate chip cookies (which he wanted to make into giraffe necks, in the same vein as the witches fingers from the other day, so they were green (???) and log/neck shaped).
So now the freezer is full of biscuits, ready for the silly season and any visitors that want to randomly drop in (hint, hint, nudge, nudge).
Things may not always be going right, but little things like swimming with my Fellas, baking cookies with my son and having a freezer full of them make me feel satisfied. This is the life!
Showing posts with label water. Show all posts
Showing posts with label water. Show all posts
Thursday, 7 November 2013
Thursday, 12 September 2013
Already???
It's the early part of September, which is the first month of Spring in this part of the world.
Given that little bit of information, can you guess what this is?
I doubt you'll need it, but would you like some thinking music?
Maybe a little elevator-style?
If you're frustrated, you might prefer a little head-banging, double bass-drum pedal, metal-style music.
Okay, enough guessing time because it wasn't that hard, was it?
You got it! We have our pool up already!!!
And yes, the Little Big Fella played in it for ages before asking me to move it into the sun, so it is warm enough for it.
Coming originally from Victoria, I'm used to it still being rather chilly at this time of year. The sun starts to show up and the flowers are starting to bring a bit of cheer to the long, grey winter, but the thought of swimming is just ridiculous!!!
There are a couple of bad things that go with the start of swimming season.
The first, and mostly likely to be dramatic in the next few weeks, is that our pool has a hole and won't stay up. And we can't put an awful lot of water in it either, because it just makes the air go out faster and then the water pours over the side and floods the yard.
The second, and most likely to be dramatic over the next few months, is that our local pool (in the next town) was discovered to have been built over about 200 (now)skeletons. Given the history of Australia, it seems likely that it's an Aboriginal burial, quite possibly from a massacre by white people. Yay! (Yes, that was definitely sarcasm.)
At the moment, it means that the pool won't be opening for a while. Which also means no swimming lessons for the Little Big Fella this summer. And he loves swimming lessons (well, swimming in general) so that's a pretty big bummer.
But just like that our swimming/summer is here. Thankfully our lounge room airconditioner is being collected by a friend today and will be installed some time soon.
Which is particularly good news for my Fellas, because I can get rather... cranky when I get too hot!
Given that little bit of information, can you guess what this is?
I doubt you'll need it, but would you like some thinking music?
Maybe a little elevator-style?
If you're frustrated, you might prefer a little head-banging, double bass-drum pedal, metal-style music.
Okay, enough guessing time because it wasn't that hard, was it?
You got it! We have our pool up already!!!
And yes, the Little Big Fella played in it for ages before asking me to move it into the sun, so it is warm enough for it.
Coming originally from Victoria, I'm used to it still being rather chilly at this time of year. The sun starts to show up and the flowers are starting to bring a bit of cheer to the long, grey winter, but the thought of swimming is just ridiculous!!!
There are a couple of bad things that go with the start of swimming season.
The first, and mostly likely to be dramatic in the next few weeks, is that our pool has a hole and won't stay up. And we can't put an awful lot of water in it either, because it just makes the air go out faster and then the water pours over the side and floods the yard.
The second, and most likely to be dramatic over the next few months, is that our local pool (in the next town) was discovered to have been built over about 200 (now)skeletons. Given the history of Australia, it seems likely that it's an Aboriginal burial, quite possibly from a massacre by white people. Yay! (Yes, that was definitely sarcasm.)
At the moment, it means that the pool won't be opening for a while. Which also means no swimming lessons for the Little Big Fella this summer. And he loves swimming lessons (well, swimming in general) so that's a pretty big bummer.
But just like that our swimming/summer is here. Thankfully our lounge room airconditioner is being collected by a friend today and will be installed some time soon.
Which is particularly good news for my Fellas, because I can get rather... cranky when I get too hot!
Monday, 29 July 2013
Melbourne trip - Part V
After a friend-day, it was time for a family-day! We had a bit of a slow start then jumped in the car and headed off to the Big Fella's parent's place.
We got there just as Grandma's client arrived (she's a seamstress and works from home). So we said hi then headed out to the back deck (the Little Big Fella wanted to see the spa).
I saw a couple of parrots in the tree so popped inside and collected the box of seed. We put some on the verandah's railings then sat back on the lounge to see if they'd come closer.
They did!
We ended up sitting and watching them for quite a while! Grandpa was at work but came home for "lunch" and sat with us watching the birds. Then Grandma and her client came down and watched them too!
Eventually Grandpa had to go back to work, but we arranged to meet up with him later. He drives buses, so we decided we'd go for a ride with him after lunch, when he was back in the general area.
In the meantime, Grandma and I took the Little Big Fella to the nearby lake. When we first got there, we noticed a bunch of old guys with remote-controlled yachts. Of course, the Little Big Fella wanted to have a go! I told him that he probably wouldn't be allowed to, but one of the guys generously offered so he had about 5 minutes of controlling a smaller yacht (with a little input from the owner) and, amazingly, didn't crash into any of the others!
The guys then had a race, so the controls were handed back and we walked a little way around the lake to feed the ducks.
Initially, there were only a couple of ducks. But once the others heard there was food, they came flying in from everywhere!!!!
When we were out of bread, we went over to the playground (another brilliant one) and let the Little Big Fella run around a bit. This was his favourite "toy" of the morning:
You hit the silver bits at the top and they make different gong-like sounds.
While the Little Big Fella was playing, the Big Fella called. He was out in a national park for the week and there was no mobile phone coverage, so I was surprised (and pleased) to hear from him! He'd driven to the only place in the whole park where there was coverage, just to have a chat!
Grandma, the Little Big Fella and I had a bit of a walk and talk around part of the lake, then headed out for lunch before catching Grandpa's bus. The Little Big Fella liked Grandpa's bus (or maybe it was the lolly frogs Grandma brought to eat on the bus???) and we drove around with him for about an hour.
Back at the Big Fella's parent's place, Grandma put a movie on for the Little Big Fella - "Pete's Dragon". This movie has strong sentimental value for the Big Fella's family, but I was surprised at how into the movie my son was! He's not normally a musical movie kind of kid, but he was completely enthralled!
Grandpa came home not long after the movie started and sat with the Little Big Fella to watch it.
We had dinner together, then Grandpa and the Little Big Fella had a spa, absolutely making the Little Big Fella's day complete!
While they were down there, Grandma and I were on the deck talking and we heard something in the tree. We looked around and there was a possum!
After the spa, a bath and a bit of hanging out, it was time to head back to mum and dad's. We said our goodbyes, somewhat sorrowfully because it will be quite a while before we see the Big Fella's parents again. Unsurprisingly, the Little Big Fella was asleep before we'd gotten 5 minutes down the road!
So closed another big day in Melbourne!
We got there just as Grandma's client arrived (she's a seamstress and works from home). So we said hi then headed out to the back deck (the Little Big Fella wanted to see the spa).
I saw a couple of parrots in the tree so popped inside and collected the box of seed. We put some on the verandah's railings then sat back on the lounge to see if they'd come closer.
They did!
We ended up sitting and watching them for quite a while! Grandpa was at work but came home for "lunch" and sat with us watching the birds. Then Grandma and her client came down and watched them too!
Eventually Grandpa had to go back to work, but we arranged to meet up with him later. He drives buses, so we decided we'd go for a ride with him after lunch, when he was back in the general area.
In the meantime, Grandma and I took the Little Big Fella to the nearby lake. When we first got there, we noticed a bunch of old guys with remote-controlled yachts. Of course, the Little Big Fella wanted to have a go! I told him that he probably wouldn't be allowed to, but one of the guys generously offered so he had about 5 minutes of controlling a smaller yacht (with a little input from the owner) and, amazingly, didn't crash into any of the others!
 |
| The closest yacht, with the yellow hull, is the one the Little Big Fella was controlling. |
Initially, there were only a couple of ducks. But once the others heard there was food, they came flying in from everywhere!!!!
When we were out of bread, we went over to the playground (another brilliant one) and let the Little Big Fella run around a bit. This was his favourite "toy" of the morning:
You hit the silver bits at the top and they make different gong-like sounds.
While the Little Big Fella was playing, the Big Fella called. He was out in a national park for the week and there was no mobile phone coverage, so I was surprised (and pleased) to hear from him! He'd driven to the only place in the whole park where there was coverage, just to have a chat!
Grandma, the Little Big Fella and I had a bit of a walk and talk around part of the lake, then headed out for lunch before catching Grandpa's bus. The Little Big Fella liked Grandpa's bus (or maybe it was the lolly frogs Grandma brought to eat on the bus???) and we drove around with him for about an hour.
Back at the Big Fella's parent's place, Grandma put a movie on for the Little Big Fella - "Pete's Dragon". This movie has strong sentimental value for the Big Fella's family, but I was surprised at how into the movie my son was! He's not normally a musical movie kind of kid, but he was completely enthralled!
Grandpa came home not long after the movie started and sat with the Little Big Fella to watch it.
We had dinner together, then Grandpa and the Little Big Fella had a spa, absolutely making the Little Big Fella's day complete!
While they were down there, Grandma and I were on the deck talking and we heard something in the tree. We looked around and there was a possum!
After the spa, a bath and a bit of hanging out, it was time to head back to mum and dad's. We said our goodbyes, somewhat sorrowfully because it will be quite a while before we see the Big Fella's parents again. Unsurprisingly, the Little Big Fella was asleep before we'd gotten 5 minutes down the road!
So closed another big day in Melbourne!
Melbourne trip - part Aquarium
Week two in Melbourne seemed to be all about best friends! I got to catch up with three of my best friends from various periods of my life and it was fantastic!
My best friend from Grade 1 until we moved towns in Year 9 just happened to be in Melbourne at the same time as us, and just happened to have a day free, so we caught up on Monday.
I caught the train into the city with the Little Big Fella, who'd never been on a train (despite his Daddy's job) and really enjoyed it! We met P at the stairs of Flinders St station and walked to the Burke St mall. My sister had told me about a place in Myer that have amazing desserts so we wandered our way through to there (stopping at the costumes for the Little Big Fella, and taking our time to convince him he wasn't getting one).
Apparently this store within Myer, Brunetti's, is the smaller version, and there's a much larger one elsewhere in the city. I'm so glad we didn't go to the bigger one! It was really hard to choose from the "small" selection!!!!
Eventually I chose a chocolate tart and the Little Big Fella chose an ice-cream/gelato. For the first time in his life, he couldn't finish an ice-cream!!! It was pretty rich, but absolutely delicious!
Realising that the Little Big Fella wouldn't cope well with being dragged around shops, I suggested we go to either the Museum or the Aquarium. We chose the Aquarium and I'm so glad we did because it was brilliant! Yes, it was expensive (although, if I lived in Melbourne I'd seriously consider buying an annual pass and going in pretty regularly - especially the shark area), and yes, we had to line up for ages to get in (and guess who had to use the facilities right then!). But it was great fun, really interesting, and definitely worth it!
Here's a few pics to give you an idea:
As soon as we'd paid, we walked through an area where we were told to pose for a picture. We knew they'd try to sell us the photos, but didn't realise they'd come out so well, and that we'd have access to the digital copies too. The photos (3) were put into a book about the aquarium and the various creatures in it.
The first creatures we saw when we came in were the seahorses. Seahorses are definitely my favourite sea creatures - not only because they're so interesting-looking, but the whole male baby-carrying thing has always fascinated me!
There were heaps of them, and in so many different colours and shapes (if you want to include the sea dragons in the seahorse category, of course). I loved how they wrapped their tails around the seaweed to hold on.
There were several of these bubble things, where kids (and parents when they get dragged along) could crawl under the tanks and look up into where the fish and other animals were. It was pretty cool.
There was also a really big tank/pond with lots of archer fish in it. When the Big Fella and I lived briefly in Darwin, the couple we stayed with had archer fish in their pond in the middle of their living room (with a spiral staircase going over the top of it, mind you). At night, when the flying termites came out, they'd turn off all the lights except the one over the fish tank. The termites would fly over there, then the archer fish would spit at them, making them fall onto the water where the fish would eat them. They're really good shots!
We went downstairs to the shark tank. This was at the top of the ramp:
The shark tank is really amazing. You walk through a tunnel, but the tunnel is made of very thick acrylic, and the fish, rays and sharks swim over and around you. It is such a great experience!
I think if I lived in Melbourne, and had an annual pass, I would come to the shark tank as often as possible and just sit and watch them all. Especially when it's not school holidays :-)
Eventually we headed back upstairs and had lunch. Just next to the cafeteria area was a coral reef tank. It was here that the Little Big Fella made a friend:
He sat talking and singing to this Moray Eel for ages! And the eel seemed to be responding to him. It was watching him, and even looked like it was talking to him, and didn't go away until he did!
Eventually it was time to go. We headed back to the train station (on the tram of course!) and said our goodbyes. I was really grateful for the chance to catch up with my friend, and that the Little Big Fella was entertained enough that we actually got to talk quite a bit. There's even a chance that we might keep in touch a bit more than we have of late (I'm so bad at long-distance friendships!).
My best friend from Grade 1 until we moved towns in Year 9 just happened to be in Melbourne at the same time as us, and just happened to have a day free, so we caught up on Monday.
I caught the train into the city with the Little Big Fella, who'd never been on a train (despite his Daddy's job) and really enjoyed it! We met P at the stairs of Flinders St station and walked to the Burke St mall. My sister had told me about a place in Myer that have amazing desserts so we wandered our way through to there (stopping at the costumes for the Little Big Fella, and taking our time to convince him he wasn't getting one).
Apparently this store within Myer, Brunetti's, is the smaller version, and there's a much larger one elsewhere in the city. I'm so glad we didn't go to the bigger one! It was really hard to choose from the "small" selection!!!!
Eventually I chose a chocolate tart and the Little Big Fella chose an ice-cream/gelato. For the first time in his life, he couldn't finish an ice-cream!!! It was pretty rich, but absolutely delicious!
Realising that the Little Big Fella wouldn't cope well with being dragged around shops, I suggested we go to either the Museum or the Aquarium. We chose the Aquarium and I'm so glad we did because it was brilliant! Yes, it was expensive (although, if I lived in Melbourne I'd seriously consider buying an annual pass and going in pretty regularly - especially the shark area), and yes, we had to line up for ages to get in (and guess who had to use the facilities right then!). But it was great fun, really interesting, and definitely worth it!
Here's a few pics to give you an idea:
As soon as we'd paid, we walked through an area where we were told to pose for a picture. We knew they'd try to sell us the photos, but didn't realise they'd come out so well, and that we'd have access to the digital copies too. The photos (3) were put into a book about the aquarium and the various creatures in it.
The first creatures we saw when we came in were the seahorses. Seahorses are definitely my favourite sea creatures - not only because they're so interesting-looking, but the whole male baby-carrying thing has always fascinated me!
There were heaps of them, and in so many different colours and shapes (if you want to include the sea dragons in the seahorse category, of course). I loved how they wrapped their tails around the seaweed to hold on.
There were several of these bubble things, where kids (and parents when they get dragged along) could crawl under the tanks and look up into where the fish and other animals were. It was pretty cool.
There was also a really big tank/pond with lots of archer fish in it. When the Big Fella and I lived briefly in Darwin, the couple we stayed with had archer fish in their pond in the middle of their living room (with a spiral staircase going over the top of it, mind you). At night, when the flying termites came out, they'd turn off all the lights except the one over the fish tank. The termites would fly over there, then the archer fish would spit at them, making them fall onto the water where the fish would eat them. They're really good shots!
We went downstairs to the shark tank. This was at the top of the ramp:
The shark tank is really amazing. You walk through a tunnel, but the tunnel is made of very thick acrylic, and the fish, rays and sharks swim over and around you. It is such a great experience!
I think if I lived in Melbourne, and had an annual pass, I would come to the shark tank as often as possible and just sit and watch them all. Especially when it's not school holidays :-)
Eventually we headed back upstairs and had lunch. Just next to the cafeteria area was a coral reef tank. It was here that the Little Big Fella made a friend:
He sat talking and singing to this Moray Eel for ages! And the eel seemed to be responding to him. It was watching him, and even looked like it was talking to him, and didn't go away until he did!
Eventually it was time to go. We headed back to the train station (on the tram of course!) and said our goodbyes. I was really grateful for the chance to catch up with my friend, and that the Little Big Fella was entertained enough that we actually got to talk quite a bit. There's even a chance that we might keep in touch a bit more than we have of late (I'm so bad at long-distance friendships!).
Monday, 22 July 2013
Melbourne trip - Part IV
After a day with the Big Fella's family, we got to spend a bit of time (when we weren't exhausted even!) with my parents.
Mum had taken the day off work and Dad ended up meeting us for lunch, which was awesome.
One of the local shopping centres had a dinosaur display for the school holidays. There were large and small dinosaurs, all very realistic, as well as some that moved! They were pretty cool!
Unfortunately, there was a very long line to see them up close. Double unfortunately, the Little Big Fella wasn't in the mood for queuing. We got to the end of the line and within about a minute he'd started losing the plot.
Just at that moment he spotted Toyworld. And that was the end of us lining up to see dinosaurs!
We went to Toyworld and he conned Nanna into buying him a Spiderman glove that makes web slinging sounds when you put your hand the right way, as well as an Optimus Prime costume (incidentally, he was wearing his Iron Man costume at the time).
Mum and I decided that it was time for a coffee, so we headed for one of the cafés and partook of some very nice beverages. The Little Big Fella was happily distracted by his new Spiderman glove :-)
After that we thought we'd have a little walk around, but first my son had to have a play on the digger.
We wandered around Myer and a couple of other places, and I ended up buying a new top (which I wore to the P!nk concert - post coming soon!). Then we met up with Dad and grabbed some lunch.
Have you ever been to a food court in a shopping centre? It's an area where there are a bunch of tables in the middle, and a range of fast food places around the outside.
They tend to be very loud.
Especially at the lunch rush hour.
Especially at the lunch rush hour in school holidays!
Thankfully we got a seat very easily and the noise started to settle when we were about half way through our meals.
After lunch Dad had to get back to work, so Mum and I wandered around a few more stores before the Little Big Fella started losing the plot on us again. On the way home we stopped at Spotlight (a large craft store), which really pushed the Little Big Fella a bit too far. He'd pretty much run out of patience for shopping. That, and he wasn't allowed to put on his Optimus Prime costume until we got "home".
So we took him "home" and he was quite happy.
While we stayed with my parents, the Little Big Fella developed a couple of routines in the evening. These included setting the table in the "winter room" for dinner with Nanna, lighting the candles for dinner, saying grace (which always includes holding hands and giving people a kiss after "amen"), blowing out the candles when everyone is done, then having a bath (definitely the most exciting part of the night!), and putting on Superman pjs.
We don't have a bath in our current house, so going to my grandparent's place in our old town, or now going to my parent's place has to include a bath... preferably with lots of bubbles! And mum's bath is a spa bath, so lots of bubbles can become even more bubbles!!!
Grandma gave the Little Big Fella a Superman onesie (all-in-one pyjamas). They're fleecy and very warm, and suited sleeptime in Melbourne.
They even came with a cape! The Little Big Fella was in love :-)
A couple of nights Nanna got to read a book to the Little Big Fella. They had two favourites; a book about a digger trying to find home, and a book of funny poems (which he's been partially repeating ever since - Oodnadatta, Paramatta, and Triantiwantigongalope!).
Some nights it was a little too warm for a fleecy Superman onesie and Batman covers!
I was very relieved that the Little Big Fella settled into a happy routine at Mum and Dad's. Not only did it make night times that bit easier, it also meant that there was no stress when it was time for me to go to the P!nk concert! But more about that in the next installment ;-)
Mum had taken the day off work and Dad ended up meeting us for lunch, which was awesome.
One of the local shopping centres had a dinosaur display for the school holidays. There were large and small dinosaurs, all very realistic, as well as some that moved! They were pretty cool!
Unfortunately, there was a very long line to see them up close. Double unfortunately, the Little Big Fella wasn't in the mood for queuing. We got to the end of the line and within about a minute he'd started losing the plot.
Just at that moment he spotted Toyworld. And that was the end of us lining up to see dinosaurs!
We went to Toyworld and he conned Nanna into buying him a Spiderman glove that makes web slinging sounds when you put your hand the right way, as well as an Optimus Prime costume (incidentally, he was wearing his Iron Man costume at the time).
Mum and I decided that it was time for a coffee, so we headed for one of the cafés and partook of some very nice beverages. The Little Big Fella was happily distracted by his new Spiderman glove :-)
After that we thought we'd have a little walk around, but first my son had to have a play on the digger.
We wandered around Myer and a couple of other places, and I ended up buying a new top (which I wore to the P!nk concert - post coming soon!). Then we met up with Dad and grabbed some lunch.
Have you ever been to a food court in a shopping centre? It's an area where there are a bunch of tables in the middle, and a range of fast food places around the outside.
They tend to be very loud.
Especially at the lunch rush hour.
Especially at the lunch rush hour in school holidays!
Thankfully we got a seat very easily and the noise started to settle when we were about half way through our meals.
After lunch Dad had to get back to work, so Mum and I wandered around a few more stores before the Little Big Fella started losing the plot on us again. On the way home we stopped at Spotlight (a large craft store), which really pushed the Little Big Fella a bit too far. He'd pretty much run out of patience for shopping. That, and he wasn't allowed to put on his Optimus Prime costume until we got "home".
So we took him "home" and he was quite happy.
While we stayed with my parents, the Little Big Fella developed a couple of routines in the evening. These included setting the table in the "winter room" for dinner with Nanna, lighting the candles for dinner, saying grace (which always includes holding hands and giving people a kiss after "amen"), blowing out the candles when everyone is done, then having a bath (definitely the most exciting part of the night!), and putting on Superman pjs.
We don't have a bath in our current house, so going to my grandparent's place in our old town, or now going to my parent's place has to include a bath... preferably with lots of bubbles! And mum's bath is a spa bath, so lots of bubbles can become even more bubbles!!!
Grandma gave the Little Big Fella a Superman onesie (all-in-one pyjamas). They're fleecy and very warm, and suited sleeptime in Melbourne.
They even came with a cape! The Little Big Fella was in love :-)
A couple of nights Nanna got to read a book to the Little Big Fella. They had two favourites; a book about a digger trying to find home, and a book of funny poems (which he's been partially repeating ever since - Oodnadatta, Paramatta, and Triantiwantigongalope!).
Some nights it was a little too warm for a fleecy Superman onesie and Batman covers!
I was very relieved that the Little Big Fella settled into a happy routine at Mum and Dad's. Not only did it make night times that bit easier, it also meant that there was no stress when it was time for me to go to the P!nk concert! But more about that in the next installment ;-)
Sunday, 30 June 2013
A fishy foray
The Big Fella had a day off today and earlier in the week had given the Little Big Fella the idea of going fishing. So they'd been up to the little dam and put in some pots for yabbies (apparently they call them "crawchies" here). We got the gear together, collected our yabbies and pots and headed out to a fishing spot on the other side of the next town.
You know, when a "local" gives you directions to an awesome place to fish, it's probably worth getting lots of details about it. The directions were to take the first road left after the weir wall, then turn onto the track after the 2nd cattle grid.
Uh huh.
We pass the weir wall and drive... and drive... and drive. Finally we find the road to the left. There's a cattle grid right at the turn off. Sweet! 1 down!
We drive... and drive... and drive. Finally another cattle grid. No tracks.
O-kay...
We drive... and drive... and drive. Another cattle grid. Hmmm. The only track has a gate, covered in chains, and a big sign about trespassers not being welcome.
Uh huh.
We drive a little more, seeing if maybe there's another track. Nope.
Call me old fashioned or what have you, but I don't like the idea of going onto someone's property, without speaking to them in person, if they have a sign suggesting they don't like people coming onto their property!
So we turned around and headed back to the weir.
There was a little 4WD track that ran along side the "river" so we took our brand new, awesome car down it :-D The car did a great job and we found a little spot to have a go at fishing (after running into (not literally) an older couple who'd parked in the middle of the track, then taking a serious 4WD track to get past them).
We pulled up and got out the gear and the Big Fella set up a line, hooked up the yabby and cast it into the little pool.
Then the Big Fella decided it was time to sit down and have a beer and a chat while they were waiting.
After a little while we decided that this spot was lovely, but it didn't seem like a good fishing spot. So we packed up and moved on.
We looked at two different spots above the weir, but we decided to drive down the other side of the little "river", again giving our new car a good test drive as a 4WD.
And here is where we stopped for the rest of our fishing adventure:
Not too shabby, hey?
The Big Fella baited up again...
...while the Little Big Fella splashed around in the water (did you realise it's winter here at the moment????).
And then it was time to fish!
But, there weren't any fish biting here either! That obviously means you need to walk further downstream :-)
There was this amazing tree that made the perfect picture frame of my Fellas.
It's funny. There's not much that warms a woman's heart as much as seeing her husband and son happily spending time together.
Can you guess who the Little Big Fella's current superhero is? Here's a clue; check out his fingers:
Any guesses? Wolverine (of course!).
With no fish action, we decided to pack up for today and head to the pub for lunch :-) But first, we had to set the yabbies free!
A bit of a nap in the arvo, and a bit of footy on the TV and there you have an awesome Sunday!
You know, when a "local" gives you directions to an awesome place to fish, it's probably worth getting lots of details about it. The directions were to take the first road left after the weir wall, then turn onto the track after the 2nd cattle grid.
Uh huh.
We pass the weir wall and drive... and drive... and drive. Finally we find the road to the left. There's a cattle grid right at the turn off. Sweet! 1 down!
We drive... and drive... and drive. Finally another cattle grid. No tracks.
O-kay...
We drive... and drive... and drive. Another cattle grid. Hmmm. The only track has a gate, covered in chains, and a big sign about trespassers not being welcome.
Uh huh.
We drive a little more, seeing if maybe there's another track. Nope.
Call me old fashioned or what have you, but I don't like the idea of going onto someone's property, without speaking to them in person, if they have a sign suggesting they don't like people coming onto their property!
So we turned around and headed back to the weir.
There was a little 4WD track that ran along side the "river" so we took our brand new, awesome car down it :-D The car did a great job and we found a little spot to have a go at fishing (after running into (not literally) an older couple who'd parked in the middle of the track, then taking a serious 4WD track to get past them).
We pulled up and got out the gear and the Big Fella set up a line, hooked up the yabby and cast it into the little pool.
There wasn't an awful lot of action so the Little Big Fella ate a jelly.
Then the Big Fella decided it was time to sit down and have a beer and a chat while they were waiting.
 |
| No idea what they were talking about here, but it was obviously of worldwide importance, given their expressions! |
We looked at two different spots above the weir, but we decided to drive down the other side of the little "river", again giving our new car a good test drive as a 4WD.
And here is where we stopped for the rest of our fishing adventure:
Not too shabby, hey?
The Big Fella baited up again...
...while the Little Big Fella splashed around in the water (did you realise it's winter here at the moment????).
And then it was time to fish!
But, there weren't any fish biting here either! That obviously means you need to walk further downstream :-)
There was this amazing tree that made the perfect picture frame of my Fellas.
It's funny. There's not much that warms a woman's heart as much as seeing her husband and son happily spending time together.
Can you guess who the Little Big Fella's current superhero is? Here's a clue; check out his fingers:
Any guesses? Wolverine (of course!).
With no fish action, we decided to pack up for today and head to the pub for lunch :-) But first, we had to set the yabbies free!
A bit of a nap in the arvo, and a bit of footy on the TV and there you have an awesome Sunday!
Monday, 6 May 2013
Fun times!
Time for another photo catch up!!! Yay!!!
Kids just love these things in the shopping centres, don't they? The Little Big Fella is often happy to just imagine and play, but this time we put the money in for the whole experience :-D
Last week the Little Big Fella had his first soccer lesson. He loved it (once he got the idea that he had to do what the coach said)! His best friend was there as well, so he was much more comfortable that he might otherwise have been.
This is one of SuperCarer's activities that we stole for playgroup last week. We call it "drop painting". You get paper towels or coffee filter paper or something similar. Then you use an eye dropper or syringe (obviously without the needle!) to drop food-dye-coloured water onto the paper.
The kids get really creative and enjoy it so much, and because it's just water and food dye it's easy to clean up any messes. I highly recommend having a plastic sheet under the paper because the kids tend to put a lot of dyed water on their paper :-D
We live in a mining area, a fair way from major centres. As such we miss out on some of the things that are a regular part of the social year for most towns. So our mines put on a May Day Fair each year for the community. They provide a bunch of rides for free, there are stalls, and some of the local community groups provide low-cost food.
We missed out on this last year because we'd only just moved here (as in, a few days earlier) and hadn't heard about it. But one of our friends offered to take me and the Little Big Fella along this year (given that we're still car-less), and I'm so glad we got to go!
The Little Big Fella had a jump on the massive jumping castle, we went down the super slide (yes, I had to go with him and no, I don't like huge slides like that!), we had a drive on the dodgem cars (bumper cars), and the Little Big Fella discovered the kid's bumper boats. He would have spent the whole day on those if he could have!!! He also had a go on the merry-go-round, which is always one of his favourites, but the boats definitely won out this time :-D
So there you go, you're now up-to-date with what we've been up to, photographically speaking. Hope you enjoyed it!
Kids just love these things in the shopping centres, don't they? The Little Big Fella is often happy to just imagine and play, but this time we put the money in for the whole experience :-D
Last week the Little Big Fella had his first soccer lesson. He loved it (once he got the idea that he had to do what the coach said)! His best friend was there as well, so he was much more comfortable that he might otherwise have been.
This is one of SuperCarer's activities that we stole for playgroup last week. We call it "drop painting". You get paper towels or coffee filter paper or something similar. Then you use an eye dropper or syringe (obviously without the needle!) to drop food-dye-coloured water onto the paper.
The kids get really creative and enjoy it so much, and because it's just water and food dye it's easy to clean up any messes. I highly recommend having a plastic sheet under the paper because the kids tend to put a lot of dyed water on their paper :-D
We live in a mining area, a fair way from major centres. As such we miss out on some of the things that are a regular part of the social year for most towns. So our mines put on a May Day Fair each year for the community. They provide a bunch of rides for free, there are stalls, and some of the local community groups provide low-cost food.
We missed out on this last year because we'd only just moved here (as in, a few days earlier) and hadn't heard about it. But one of our friends offered to take me and the Little Big Fella along this year (given that we're still car-less), and I'm so glad we got to go!
The Little Big Fella had a jump on the massive jumping castle, we went down the super slide (yes, I had to go with him and no, I don't like huge slides like that!), we had a drive on the dodgem cars (bumper cars), and the Little Big Fella discovered the kid's bumper boats. He would have spent the whole day on those if he could have!!! He also had a go on the merry-go-round, which is always one of his favourites, but the boats definitely won out this time :-D
So there you go, you're now up-to-date with what we've been up to, photographically speaking. Hope you enjoyed it!
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