Sunday 26th October 2014
With a flight up to Brisbane to catch, I had an early start, leaving the hostel at 7:30. I caught the train with no problem but it's always difficult to know how much time to allow when you catch a flight. Luckily I'd allowed plenty of time because although I'd checked in the day before there was a huge (and growing) queue for bag drop. After half an hour my bag was deposited, I was through security and I had chance to catch up on my journal while I waited to board. Making up for my late night and early start, I snoozed my way through the flight and just under an hour later I had landed in Brisbane.
Wandering through arrivals, I was so focussed on finding the appropriate carousel to claim my baggage that Mandy was waving furiously right in front of me before I noticed her and Jack walking towards me. I could see straight away that Jack was a cheerful and friendly little boy, keen to help and I was soon introduced to finding 'Spottos' on the way home - yellow cars that earn the spotter points!
Once we were back in Narangba, I was bombarded with names and faces as Mandy and Scott's house guest was holding a candle party with Mandy's friends. The house was soon full of names and faces that I had no chance of remembering although I did try my best! After a delicious roast dinner and some quiet time, things began to settle back into normality and I tried to learn the patterns that I would begin to fit into in the morning.
Monday 27th October 2014
First job was to conquer the morning routine so I was up 7am to ensure that the kids were ready for school, checking off packed lunches, sun hats, sun screen, brushed teeth, brushed hair, breakfast... I was thrown in at the deep end when Gracie snuck some homework onto the counter half an hour before we were due to leave for school so we hastily found a pencil and filled in the pre-prepared recount sheet about the party she'd been to yesterday.
Walking to Gracie and Jack to school I soon discovered the current obsession with collecting the biggest stick possible but we soon turned that into games and songs, and Jack and Gracie have now added "Following the Leader" to their repertoire.
Once we'd dropped Gracie at school and returned home (with big stick) it was time to find out how Jack liked to spend his time. First activity was playing in the pool which was just fine by me! We spent over an hour swimming around and spraying water into a cup on the other side of the pool. The rest of the day was filled with carefully colouring and sticking to create silly faces...
...competitively playing Uno...
...and building a spectacular lego castle for Buzz and Woody.
After a busy day we deserved a chill in front of a movie before picking Gracie up on the scooter.
I was in my element helping Gracie with her homework, listening to her read and learn spellings but it was far too hot to concentrate (it had reached about 26°C at 8:30am when we walked to school and by mid-afternoon the temperature was well into the thirties). We didn't dwell too long on homework and cooled off with water balloons and another dip in the pool.
After a spaghetti bolognese dinner we made bracelets. Feeling exhausted, I showered while the kids were in bed and got myself an early night, ready for a busy day again the next day.
Tuesday 28th October 2014
After the same start to the day, Jack and I were back in the pool and I found myself setting up obstacle courses with Jack diving I collect weights, filling buckets and swimming along on noodles. Back inside we played hide and with small toys - a game that Jamie loved a couple of years ago, and Uno yet again. I'm not sure who's more competitive - Jack or I. However he does have the benefit of a few reminders about checking the numbers as well as the colours.
When Gracie was home and with homework complete, the water bombs made another appearance.
Wednesday 29th October 2014
Every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, Jack goes to Kindie, the Aussie alternative to Nursery so it was an early start for Mandy to show me how to get there. I needn't have worried about driving as it was 3 roads and 2 roundabouts! The rest of the day was spent getting used to the car, revving round the block several times, inadvertently wiping the windscreen instead of indicating and then drove to the shopping centre to buy craft materials.
With the TV to myself in the afternoon, I grabbed a nap in front of some trashy shows before the school run and homework.
Thursday 30th November 2014
Singing nursery rhymes en route, I dropped Gracie and Jack at school however I'd forgotten his yoghurt (I was bound to forget something the first time!) so had to make an extra journey through the roadworks before I could FaceTime home. Chris was visiting so I could give them all a tour around the house and catch up on all of our news. The rest of the day was chilled out, visiting the park.
When Gracie was home, we had the best sort of homework to complete - baking a cake! Of course the most enjoyable part was licking the bowl and spatula but then we used the photographs to create notes for the next day's speech. It was 5pm before we knew it so we speedily counted in 2s and 10s to fetch Jack (the teacher in me can't escape and nor can Gracie from the teaching!).
Friday 31st October 2014
Another morning of school preparation waited for me when I got up this morning but I was a little surprised when Jack was keen to go to kinde early. Much like the wait for Santa on Christmas Eve he thought that the sooner he went to kindie the sooner he would be home to trick or treat!
During the day I took a trip to Redcliffe and found a beautiful secluded beach or at least it looks that way in the photo! Walking along the seafront I found an enticing lagoon as well as a playpark so I immediately began to make plans to return with Jack and my swimmers another day.
Mandy had also mentioned a big memorial to the Bee Gees and I have no idea what I imagine it certainly wasn't this! A whole lane called Bee Gees Way, a statue, some street art and plenty of informative panels and documental photographs. It was all really interesting to read and as I sat there writing my journal there are plenty of other people enjoying the memorial too. 'Why was it there?' I hear you ask. As the Morten Bay Council website explains:
'It was the late 1950s when three young brothers and their family moved to Redcliffe. In 1958 the Gibb brothers played their first gig at the Redcliffe speedway.
Barry Gibb and his mother Barbara Gibb went on to sign the band’s first music contract with speedway promoter Bill Goode and radio announcer Bill Gates - on the family’s kitchen table in Redcliffe.
The Bee Gees were formed and went on to receive their first airplay on radio 4BH.'
Again, from the Morten Bay Council website:
And more information from the Morten Bay Council website :
Bee Gees Way is divided into five phases celebrating the career of the Bee Gees:
Jack was pleased and he was picked up early and I had chance to carefully practice my face painting techniques to create a gruesome devil a cheeky witch and a well-planned vampire. With their brightly coloured treat buckets, the excited children were ready to go trick or treating around the neighbourhood. Initially I had said would go to the houses we knew but when we found a house with awesome decorations we began to hunt down other embellished houses to collect more treats.
On the way home the children couldn't resist their bounty so day tucked into their treats.
Even the dog couldn't escape being dressed up!
After dinner, I enjoyed chocolate cake, cream and Kopparberg. What a brilliant end to a great day!
Saturday 1st November 2014
In the morning I visited North Lakes Westfield - interestingly I hadn't realised that Westfield was an Australian company. After an hour or two I had to leave before I spent any more money which was supposed to be saving for Mum and Dad's visit!
As the world's major leaders were descending on Brisbane for the G20 summit, Queensland government put on a series of cultural celebrations. In the late afternoon the kids, Mandy and I went to see Colour Me Brisbane which included a large, colourful, Hollywood style Brisbane sign as well as a carnival and the city's major buildings being lit up with colourful projections. Although we missed the carnival there were several people milling around dressed up including these impressive kookaburras.
Sunday 2nd November 2014
I was keen to join the Brisbane Lesbian and Gay Pride Choir so I drove to New Farm to check out where rehearsals are held and where I could park. As I was in the city I headed back to the South Bank and ambled around soaking up the atmosphere. Amongst the weekend market stalls I found a funky busker using old-style instruments and he could play harmonica, guitar cajon and sing simultaneously. Impressive huh?
Returning out of the city to the Bruce highway there were some hairy interchanges so I vowed not to drive to the city centre again! On the way home I stopped at Chermside to go to the cinema to see the film Pride. I have to admit there are a few tears as I felt thankful for growing up when I did and not 20 years earlier! When I got home I was just in time for some barbecued food to share with Mandy and Scott's friends.
Monday 3rd November 2014
Now I was settling into family life I'd prepared all sorts of activities for Jack for his days at home. We started with a papier-mâché castle, carefully cutting and sticking cardboard tubes before getting in a mess with runny PVA glue. Jack was in his element exclaiming 'This is gonna be awesome!'
Looking over some ideas for handprint animals we realised we needed black and white paint so we went to the shops and I couldn't resist the cute smile Jack gave me while politely asking for a doughnut. At home, we printed our hands ready to turn them into animals.
After a rest and a quick dip in the pool it was time to pick Gracie up.
With homework finished, I taught Molly and Gracie to make friendship bracelets. Molly only needed to be shown once and she was flying!
Once the kids where in bed, the evening was filled with TV and crocheting.
Tuesday 4th November 2014
First thing we painted the castle and papier-mâchéd a balloon ready to make a dinosaur.
Jack was keen to watch TV all day but I managed to persuade him to go to the beach at Radcliffe. After an enjoyable picnic lunch Jack claimed to see a pirate ship at sea. Luckily he found a sword to send them off!
The rest of our trip was filled with playing in the park, combing the beach for shells, the tricky decision of which 5 to take home and making pirate friends in another park.
Every afternoon the girls have impressed me with how hard they work on a homework. Gracie's handwriting is coming on a treat and Molly's vocabulary always amazes me.
That evening I went to the Brisbane Lesbian and Gay Pride choir's rehearsal and although they were very friendly and welcoming I didn't manage to sing much as they were rehearsing for a gig on the coming Friday.
Wednesday 5th November 2014
Today was a non-day as I went back to bed after the kids were dropped off and I had to use an alarm to get up at lunchtime! The afternoon is filled with our usual chores. Picking up and dropping off Jack had become a routine of 'Douche! Douche! Douche!'ing over the speed humps and crossing the road with the lollipop ladies, I always forgot to wait for the whistle!
Thursday 6th November 2014
Today the saga of CheapOair began with a 90 minutes phone call. I'm not sure I've ever felt so frustrated after receiving such poor customer service! Feeling frustrated I went to the shops and bought more craft materials and began a new project.
The afternoon was just a regular one in the Byrne household filled with homework and imaginary sword fights while dinner was cooking!
As it was their wedding anniversary Mandy and Scott went out for dinner. After a few evenings in front of the the TV I'd soon got the hang of Scotty's viewing habits (cop shows, cricket and the smooth music channel) so it was a treat to take control of the remote control!
Friday 7th November 2014
After a FaceTime call to mum and dad and the continuation of the cheaper saga, I'd definitely earned a refreshing swim in the pool! To celebrate the arrival of the weekend, Gracie and I took underwater photos with my waterproof camera. They turned out spectacularly well, especially with the child who enjoys being in front of the camera!
Annoyingly, amongst the fun and games, I managed to pull a muscle in my shoulder which caused a lot of pain, discomfort and frustration over the next week or two.
Saturday 8th November 2014
Saturday was a really chilled day, completing a blog and having a pool competition well into the evening with Scott and Mandy's friends.
Sunday 9th November 2014
After a chilled morning I got a lift to the station and the train into Brisbane to take advantage of more of the G20 cultural celebrations. Amongst the spectacular Botanic Gardens I discovered that there was a Riverstage which today would put on a performance of the Queensland Ballet's Copelia. Luckily I arrived just before the gates opened and I frantically managed to reserve a spot at the front of the grass, right in front of the orchestra. The organisers were prepared for the audience to arrive early and filled the time before the show started with dancers signing posters, a dance lesson, a talk with the costume designer and a warmup from all the dancers on stage. It was mesmerising watching the dancers work their way through the different preparations and stretches.
As the show started, the sun began to set. It was a magical evening watching beautiful ballet in the open air.
Monday 10th November 2014
By the third week it's become a ritual to jump in the pool as soon as we drop Gracie at school and today was no exception. Once we were dry and with a couple of craft projects underway, we finished them off, creating a Animal Art Gallery and the turrets for our castle. Jack was as proud as punch!
Continuing our busy day, we went to the park to feed the ducks but found it difficult to exclude the greedy ibis!
Around the edge of the park are various pieces of gym equipment. Jack couldn't resist having a go although he did need some help as his little arms and legs often weren't long enough.
As we crossed the bridge, Jack was amazed by the chicks that followed us and merrily counted them, commenting on how cute and fluffy they were.
Tuesday 11th November 2014
Keen to gather photos of all three children under the water I took photos of Jack today. Although he didn't pose like Gracie, the photos are just as cute as he dives and swims underwater.
Back inside we worked as a fantastic team to add legs to our papier-mâché dinosaur and played our favourite card game - Uno!
With Molly's school shoes sporting holes on the soles, Jack and I traipsed round Morayfield Shopping Centre to find replacements only to find they didn't find when Molly arrived home from school!
At the choir rehearsal this evening I got in a little more singing although we had a planning meeting for half of the rehearsal. I'm beginning to wonder whether to join a different choir.
Wednesday 12th November 2014
After a long FaceTime chat to mum and dad (I have no idea how we managed to fill the time!) I watched iPlayer and crocheted.
When I pick Gracie up from school her teacher was very complimentary about the work we've been doing over the past couple of weeks. The time I spend with Gracie is confirming that I really enjoy working one-to-one work with children on particular targets. Gracie is making real progress with her handwriting, spelling and number bonds and her teachers have noticed a real improvement in her concentration and focus. I feel like I've made a positive impact on her education in just a short amount of time.
Us three girls returned to Morayfield shopping centre to swap school shoes and as Gracie's tongue had come out of hers of course she needed a new pair too. While we were there Molly can resist trying on a pair of heels but surprisingly Mandy wouldn't allow them as school shoes!
The next few days have been very quiet. Just as my arm/shoulder was on the mend, I managed to hurt it again - washing up of all things so I've been feeling rather sorry for myself, watching movies, writing this blog and generally mooching about.
During the past few weeks it's been great to experience 'proper' Aussie life: plenty of barbecues; not parking on the right hand side of the road; listening to Gracie read with a little Aussie twang; getting confused between pants and undies, flip-flops and thongs, doonas and duvets; driving along the Bruce highway; seeing warning signs for koalas and kangaroos; observing the speed limit in km/hr rather than mph; preparing for Christmas in 30° heat and I'm sure there have been many others!
I feel like I've really landed on my feet with the Byrnes - they're so welcoming, friendly and sociable, I have felt right at home and with 3 lively, polite, hardworking children, it's a pleasure looking after them. Here's to the next couple of months!
Whether you think you can... Or you think you can't. You're right! - Henry Ford
