Sydney from ipswich

Frantic cleaning and washing of our bed area, harvesting crusts of bread to make sandwiches on the way to the train we taxied. Of course the driver wanted to talk about the Ashes and who can blame him

Then on the train to the airport empty the guard came and took the kids to the drivers compartment. We then had our first ever "person less" checkin before boarding budget Tiger air.

Entertainment in the airport consisted of shaking tamarind stones in an empty bottle which caused one woman on the phone to move away rapidly.
After 75min flight
We were then met off the plane in Sydney by Lex who is sarahs friend. We think this will be the only pick up we will get on this trip so it felt like royalty for a few minutes. She had spotted our bags on the carousel before we got out as they were the only rucsacs. Lex is who sarah met in thailand when sarah went in december 2012 for a two week holiday.

Our first task was to show Lex how to carry the rucsac properly using the waisteband.  And now we are staying in her one bed flat for a few days in the Waterloo district of Sydney.

Ipswich playground

Ihttps://www.dropbox.com/sc/akil6mjjbhvnskb/LKwlx8Drgp

Have dress will climb

Fixed bbq in public areas

Amazingly not taken to the nearest scrap merchants

of course if we have ever hung out in the back garden at home you will know that i am a charcoal purist who enjoys the dirt, the battle with flame, fat and blackening meat and water gun, and managing time and varying temperatures

in australia its all gas and electric and so easy even if it feels a bit like cheating. They even have a council employee to clean them every night with wire wool.

one missed earlier

Esmes dream recollection

She woke up and this is the tail end of the story

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/mszq3dfvm4v4fy9/2HpOl2E68m

A hard days work

Poor old Guy.. 

Had the mammoth task of jet washing the driveway. Driveways here are not like the ones at home and they are pretty big.. But I must add- our host said don't do it all..

Four hours later he had finished. Looks great and now it's clean enough to eat your dinner off!

Then we went to the local park by the river - with free to use electric bbq's and loads of water fountains and park equipment for the kids.. 

This is Gary, our charming host.. 

And here's Guy.. As usual the last one at the table finishing everything off!!

And this is cheeky little Clancy. The children's best friend..

A lovely day 

A quiet few days at home

.. To recuperate.. 

Rowan hasn't been that well until today when he showed me that he was back on fine form- by morphing Batman and a T- Rex.. 

And Esme is fighting fit and making imaginary cups of tea to keep us all happy;) (and doing a spot of flamenco!)

And guy mowed the lawn. I heard him frustrated when the strimmer needed some more wires and it wouldnt go right. He couldnt find his hat either.

later rowan helped

Gold coast Sunday adventures

On Sunday the weather cleared up after a VERY wet and wild Saturday. It was still blustery but the kids had a much better time scooting up and ddoublee perfect race course provided by Surfers Paradise. 

And by the evening the beach was really beautiful: 

And against that conversation came up.. Could we live here?... 

(No definite answer as yet!) 

It took hours and hours to get home due to not being able to decide whether we wanted to stay out for another night. We nearly went to Tamborine Mountain but then decided we were all too tired.

This was Guy when he thought he'd left the lights on and run the battery dry on the van. 

But luckily he hadn't. 

The sleeping arrangements were great but we just couldn't manage another night. We had a brilliant time though. 

The kids started off up top but half way through the night they got cold and only Mummy warmth would do. So down they came. Then 4 of us on one double mattress would not work so guy was banished to the top. It was quite small.

next day we planned but didnt need to as kids made their own plan