Welcome to Australia Stanley

Meet Flat Stanley!!

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine in England (who's little boy, Master C, just so happened to be Master J's best buddy when we used to live in England), contacted me asking for a favour.  Master C, who is also in year 1, was doing a class project that involved making 'Flat Stanley' and sending him off to another country where he could have some adventures and then make his way home to report back!

We were delighted to be involved and once I told Master J all about Stanley, he couldn't wait for him to arrive, and kept checking the post every day.

Stanley's arrived!  The big smile says it ALL!

Welcome to Australia Stanley

Stanley arrived all tucked up in an envelope with a set of instructions and we couldn't wait to show him around.

"Dear Master J

As part of our learning we have made ourselves a flat Stanley, based on the story of a little boy that is sent on an adventure.  Master C has decided to send his flat Stanley to you!  Please look after flat Stanley and tell us about his adventures.  Maybe he could come and spend the day with you at school or work, maybe you'd like to take him with you on a special trip and send us some photographs or information about where you have been or maybe he could find out about your home!  When flat Stanley is ready to come home after his adventure, please could you put him in the enclosed envelope, add some stamps and and pop him back in the post box.  When he arrives back to us we will find out about your adventures together as a class!

Love Master C"

Flat Stanley with Class 1R

Our first stop was to take Stanley to school.  Master J's teacher was absolutely thrilled to get involved and set aside some time for the whole class to learn about Stanley.  Master J got to do a 'special' news presentation to the class telling them all about Stanley and where he came from.  After looking at some pictures of Master C at school in England, the class learnt all about the differences between School in England and school in Australia.  (I was lucky enough to get a sneak peak at their discussions and the kids just loved learning all about what kids their ages did at school in another country.  They then each drew a picture of something they do at school in Australia and we popped them all in an envelope ready to go back to England when Stanley has finished his adventures.

Poor Stanley brought the English weather with him - but he still had fun at the beach luckily.

We put Stanley in a bucket to stop him from getting blown away by the wind

Miss H held Stanley's hand just in case he was scared of the seagulls.

Of course Stanley had to visit the beach before he went home.  The first day we took him to the beach just happened to be a pretty cloudy, grey day and we all had a chuckle that Stanley must have brought the chilly English weather with him.  He didn't seem to mind though.

Stanley also learnt how to scooter and skate board and he went on the ferry to see the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House before we said goodbye and popped him back in the post.

Safe travels Stanley, we hope you let us know about your class in England.

Liebster Award number 2

Last week I was lucky enough to receive my second Liesbster Award from the lovely Lisa at Mummy Manifesto.  It made my week being nominated again, so thank you so much Lisa.  I think this is such a lovely award in the blogging community as it really shows recognition for each others talents and it's a fabulous way of discovering new blogs to read (which is hard to resist for me as I'm ALWAYS in the lookout for new blogs).

To find out a bit more about the Liebster Award (and a little more about me), take a look at my First Leibster Award

Here are the great 11 questions that Lisa had for me.  Are you ready??

1.  The 'worst' compliment that you have ever received?

Well this one I remember very clearly.  Back in the day when I was working as an Inflight Beauty Therapist for Virgin Atlantic, I was in a bar in Hong Kong called 'Dusk till Dawn'.  (If anyone reading this has even been partying in Hong Kong, you'll remember this place for sure!!).  It's one of those bars that you always end up in at the very end of the night (or early hours of the morning).  I could go on and on here (memories flooding in), but must get back to the point in hand!!  One particular night I was there a nice looking pilot attempted to 'chat me up".  After the initial pleasantries he leaned in and said "You look like the kind of pretty girl that would make a wonderful housewife!!!!!!!!"  Enough said!

2.  Your favourite midnight snack?

Not sure I'm able to stay awake until midnight these days, but if I could it would have to be peanut M&M's or white chocolate Malteasers.  (Actually pretty much any chocolate would do).

3.  The hardest thing about blogging is?

For me as a busy mum of three, I'd say it would definitely have to be finding the time to do it!  Coming a close second would be keeping up with social media - if I'm not careful that can be the biggest time sucker of all!!

4.  The one character trait that you hope to pass on to your children?

Mmmmm this is a tough one!  I'm not good at self compliments.  I think I am a pretty good listener, which is something that I definitely got from my mum (she's the best).  I really hope that all my kids learn how to be good listeners. 

5.  Your favourite birthday celebration so far?

That has got to be my 30th Birthday.  We were still living in England then and being a January birthday it was ABSOLUTELY freezing   There was so much snow that we only just made it home from a family lunch.  The following week Mr D booked a beautiful boutique hotel in Cornwall where we went with a group of our closest friends for a long weekend.  Despite the snow everywhere else, the sun was shining in Cornwall and we had the most awesome weekend chilling out together with great wine, great food, great views and great company.

England can be spectacular in the winter

6.  The one character trait you hope you partner passes on to your children?

That one has to be patience!  Mr D has loads of patience - so much more than me!

7.  The one bad habit you wish you could get rid of?

Biting my nails!  This is a terrible habit that I have had on and off since I was a little girl.  I remember my dad saying he'd give me 50c per nail if I stopped biting them.  It worked!!  For a little while anyway.....

8.  Camping or hotel?

Hotel for sure!!  I am just not a camping kinda girl!

9.  Name one blogger you want to meet in real life and why?

Mmmmmm this one has me thinking!  I think I will have to say Che from Indieberries.  I love reading her blog and she just seems like a really funny, cool kinda chick!!

10.  Your signature dish in the kitchen?

I don't really have a signature dish as such but Mr D certainly has.  His spaghetti Bolognese rocks!!

11.  Your most treasured possession?

This may sounds slightly cliched but I have three!  My children for sure!

So there you have it!  Now it's my turn to nominate some fabulous blogs that I think deserve a bit of Liebster Loving.  Make sure to pop over and check them out too.

1.  Teapots and Tractors
2.  No more pastrami
3.  Dad down under
4.  Bliss amongst the Chaos
5.  Have a laugh on me
6.  Easy Peasy Kids

And last but certainly not least, here are my 11 questions I have for them.

1.  Who is the boss in your house.  Mum or Dad?
2.  Where is the best place you've taken the kids on holiday and why?
3.  Tea or coffee in the mornings?
4.  Which social media platform do you enjoy the most?
5.  Can you share one fail safe kids lunch box idea?
6.  What is the first thing you notice when meeting new people?
7.  Are you a glass half full or a glass half empty kinda person?
8.  What is your favorite ice-cream flavour?
9.  What are you most passionate about?
10.  If tomorrow was 'date night' for you and your partner, where would you go?
11.  Where is the furthest you've ever been from home?

Well, thats it!  I've really enjoyed writing this post, so thanks SO much again Lisa from nominating me. Don't forget to visit Lisa at Mummy Manifesto and all my lovely Liebster nominees to find out how they've answered my questions.

All about me! A brief description to get you up to scratch

All about me

Hi, I’m Robyn!  Welcome to my blog, Mrs D plus 3.  I got my nickname Mrs D or Mrs Diamonds from my surname, de Beer.  I’m often asked if I’m related to the ‘real de Beer diamond’ family, but sadly I am not!  I’ll keep the name though.

So, about me!!  I was born in sunny South African in Durban, on the Natal coast.  A really beautiful part of the world if you ever get the chance to visit.  I lived there with my parents and younger brother and sister until I was 11 years old.  Then my dad took a job secondment to London.  The move was a huge challenge for us all, but Surrey soon became our home and we loved it.  To cut a long story short, we decided to stay there and not return to live in South Africa.  We soon became British citizens and after 20 odd years living there, I really do see myself as British (with African roots of course).

I am a trained Beauty Therapist and Make-up Artist and up until early 2011 I worked at Virgin Atlantic Airways.  It was a dream job and the most amazing Company to work for.  The rumors are true – Richard Branson is awesome!  I started by working as an IFBT “Inflight Beauty Therapist” where I would give beauty treatments to first class passengers on board the aircraft.  These were some of the best years of my life.  I got to fly around the world, meeting weird, wonderful and fabulous people doing a job that I loved – but that could be a whole other story to tell!!

After I had my first baby in 2006, I decided that flying was no longer for me, so I moved into working and eventually managing Virgin’s Head Office Spa, as well as working in the spas’ in the airport first class lounges.  Another job that I truly loved.

In 2011 I handed in my notice at Virgin Atlantic (which was almost heart-breaking) as Mr D had a new fantastic job opportunity in Sydney, Australia.  So me, Mr D, Master J (then 4) and Miss H (then 18 months) packed up our lives, said goodbye to our precious family and friends and moved half way around the world to set up home in Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

So that brings me to how I started this blog……..  I suddenly found myself as a stay at home mummy for the first time EVER in a new country, far away from everything familiar to me.  So I started to write…….

Since writing my last blog post (the one before this) I have taken a little "time-out' due to ummm - 'lack of time'!!  (as lame as that sounds). However I do have an excuse -  we have had the most gorgeous new addition to our family, little Miss L.

I hope you enjoy reading my blog as much as I love writing it.

Mrs D xxx