Stradbroke Island in December 2009

In December 2009 we spent the day on Stradbroke Island. It is very unspoilt and quite beautiful. We had perfect weather and spent most of the day on the beaches and exploring the island. We took our car on the ferry and drove on just about every road on the island. It is so close to Brisbane – probably takes 1-2 hours to get there from our place depending on traffic and including the ferry trip of about 20 minutes. Taking the car on the ferry is quite expensive ($129) – pity because if it was more reasonable, we would probably go more often.
http://www.stradbroketourism.com/stradbroke.htm

Malany Holiday in November 2009

In November 2009 we to Malany for a few days. It is about a 2 hour drive north of Brisbane and it is a very beautiful area. Montville is full of quaint shops and restaurants with spectacular views. Mapleton is another pretty little town - here are some pics...

Blog Awakening

I hope to have some time on my hands now to spend catching up with the blog and posting some of the nicest pics from the fun we have had since I last blogged in 2009. I also hope to have some time to keep this up to date... watch this space (if you are still watching).

Christmas Wishes

Father's Day

Just when we get used to Father's Day in the UK being the same as South Africa (and Mother's day not) - now Father's Day in Oz is defferent to SA and the UK.... whenever it is, it still comes once a year (unless you move between June and September - then you will have 2 ...)

Back to Father's Day in Oz! We had a super day with the Rouxs and went on the Kookaburra River Queen for a float down the Brisbane river and lunch. Abi had so much fun with Juliette - what a pair. The Dads had a pretty cool father's day too...

We had an 'episode'

Regular Saturday afternoon - we put Abi down for a sleep... and Guy and I are in the 'guest' room, getting ready for ... 'guests!' She says 'I want to sleep in Mommy's bed' -'Fine', I say, 'but if you don't go so sleep, you will sleep in your room.' In she climbs into our bed.

Then she finds us and says 'I need cream - I've got itches on me'. There are loads of mozzies here - and if you are not careful, the bites are sore, itchy and red and they flare up. So we put some antiseptic cream on them to stop the itching. All those moms who know what Sudocrem is, will know that it is a VERY thick, white cream - can even be used as a barrier cream for nappy rash....

Anyway. Abi wants cream. And she likes to do everything herself now days. So we supervise the 'cream application' and she goes back to sleep. Or so we thought!!!!!!!!!!!

The tub does say 'apply in a thin layer' - lucky it also says 'no known case of overdose' - until now...

When I saw her for the first time, I got a fright... I was 'Oh my word' - then we didn't know whether to be angry or amused. I think we were both, if that is possible.

Oh well, we thought, top-to-toe cream.... and then we saw the rest of what she had been up to for the last half an hour!!!!

Our carpets still look like this.

Life is harsh.

Daily Commute

Here are some photos from our daily commute.

First we take Abi to Kindy:

Then depending on traffic, it takes about half an hour to 45 minutes to park the car - the weather is normally lovely and this view is a far sight better than Croydon!

Brisbane is a lovely city....

View from Guy's work lobby (mine is not so illustrious :) )

Sometimes we meet for lunch:

Life is harsh.