7 days to break a habit

Miss H has sucked her thumb for as long as I can remember.  In fact, I’m pretty sure if you hold up her scan photo at a certain angle it would appear that she is sucking her thumb in my tummy too.  I can still remember my Granny Marge (my mum’s mummy), who was visiting us not long after Miss H was born, saying, “I have never seen a baby try so hard to suck her thumb.  If she manages to find it’s way into her mouth she deserves to have it there!”  And she did!!  Until last week when I decided enough was enough and it was time to stop!

You’re a big girl now Miss H” I told her.  “3 girls don’t suck their thumbs”. “and I’m 3!” she replied, very sure of herself.  “That’s right” I said.  “Mummy has some magic nail polish to put on your thumb so that you keep it out your mouth.  Can I put it on??????  It’ll make your nails very shiny and sparkly……”  “Ooooh I love sparkly nails mummy, can I see it?”  “Yes!   “Let’s put it on quickly.”  Oh I’m so mean, aren’t I?  Tricking the poor little munchkin.

Magic sparkly nail polish

The last few days have been quite tough as the “magic polish” is actually quite revolting (I accidentally got some on my finger and nearly gagged a few hours later when I tasted it.). We’ve gone from genuine upset ……”Muuuummmmmmyyyy, my thumb tastes yukky!  I want you to take this nail polish off!!” she sobs, to just plain outrage………. “I DON”T LIKE IT!!!!!  (stamps left foot) and “I’M NEVER GOING TO BE YOUR BEST FRIEND!! EVER NEVER!!!!!”

I’ve heard it only takes 7 days to break a habit but the lady behind the counter in the pharmacy told me it would take at least 5 weeks.  I’m starting to think she might have had a point.  Poor little H is really struggling and some days all I want to do it just let her snuggle up with her favorite ‘raggy’ and have her thumby back. 

When I think about It, I’m not sure I’ve ever had the self-discipline to totally break a habit – and I have many that could really do with being stomped on!  Finishing the kid’s dinner!  Now, that’s a bad one, and probably one of the reasons I’ve never been any good at dieting!!  Sleeping on my tummy, and crossing my legs when I sit down.  Both of which are supposed to be terribly bad for your posture and my chiropractor has been telling me for years to stop doing them.  I’m sure the list is endless and no matter how hard I try, I just can’t break them.

So actually my little 3 year old is doing a FABULOUS job.  You can do it Miss H.  Big kiss from mummy x

P.S.  Anyone out there trying to break a habit?? Or have any tips for me??  I’d love to hear from you.

12WBT

In simple English – 12 week body transformation!!  Sounds great, doesn’t it?  Does it work?? – God I hope so!!

So it’s been three months now since Lexi-Rose was born and I still feel like a complete jelly baby (a rather large one at that!).  With my busy schedule and three little kids, getting to the gym is not as simple as it used to be.   AND I have a terrible weakness for chocolate!  Oh and wine!  Unless something drastic happens I am never going to loose this extra 10kg of fat that seems to want to be my best friend at the moment.  I tried doing a bit of DIY exercise and following a few iphone apps.  Remember “The Shredder??  Nothing at all seemed to be working and with summer fast approaching I’m starting to get frustrated.  I think my self-discipline could be called into question too, if I’m totally honest.

This is me before I started a 'real' fitness program

Anyway, one evening over dinner (pizza!  You see my problem?), one of my lovely girlfriends stated that she was starting the Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation Program!  “What the hell is that?” I thought, slightly intrigued.  As I still don’t watch much Australian TV (I’m a BBC girl), I had no idea who ‘Michelle Bridges’ was or what she does.  For those of you in the darkness like me, she is one of the fitness trainers on “The Biggest Loser”.  A reality TV show where overweight contestants are put through a huge range of torturous activities and healthy eating plans to see who can loose the most weight and transform their lives. 

After reading a few forums and doing some google searches, it seemed that this transformation might actually work!!!  Sooo……I signed up! (after spending some time convincing Mr D that this REALLY was a miracle diet and that I REALLY needed all the help I could get!!). 

12WBT (have a look for yourself)

For the next 12 weeks I am totally in the hands of Michelle and I vow to do exactly as she says.  After all, I have to prove to Mr D that it REALLY is a miracle diet and that, NO it’s totally NOT a waste of money!!  I log on and find that there are a series of pre-diet tasks that you have to do.  I roll my eyes slightly and think to myself “honestly, who actually does these?” But I stick to my vow and off I go….

She does a few video lectures about getting motivated and not making any excuses for the fact that no diet has ever worked before.  Mmmmmm suddenly she is talking about me!!!  Maybe I had better pay attention…

Next she says to go through the kitchen cupboards and the fridge and throw out EVERYTHING that is not diet friendly.  So out goes most of the breakfast cereals, sauces, snacks etc.  Clearly I needed this kick up the backside.  The kids just think mum has lost the plot and there is much giggling going on as packets and bottles fly into the bin.  I can see Mr D guarding his beer collection – he looks a bit terrified that they might end up in the bin too!

Finally, she says to do a fitness test, measure your vital statistics, weigh yourself and then take a ‘before’ photo!  I came out in the ‘medium’ category for fitness, which I was pretty chuffed with – however I failed the ‘sit-up’ test miserably.  I am yet to find my abs, they seem to have totally disappeared (Oh dear).

Weight and measurements were horrifying!!  And don’t even ask me about the ‘before’ photo!  Remember I mentioned feeling like a jelly baby??  Well, it appears that I actually am one!!   I thought about posting my photo up here for a bit of extra motivation!!  Might still do it – if I can pluck up the courage!!

ALMOST TWO WEEKS IN:

I am still following Michelle’s daily recipes and all food is now viewed in calories, rather than taste or appeal. (I should clarify that her meal’s are actually surprising tasty but there is just no room for “a little chocolate’ any more)  I have eaten more carrots in the last 10 days than I have in my life and cottage cheese and a rumbly tummy are my new best friends.  I have also joined a personal training group, which trains on the beach opposite my house (how lovely does that sound????  Well, believe me when I say it -  the words ‘beach run’ have developed a whole new meaning for me).  Don't worry I do know know how lucky I am to have that almost on my doorstep!

This is a 'beach run'.  It involves running all the way to the sea and then back up again x3 - in between each weight and cardio section!  PURE TORTURE!

The result so far:  I have lost 2.8kg!  YAY – GO ME!!!!

To be continued…………

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

Mummy laid an egg

“Why mummy?” “Why mummy?” “Why mummy?” "Why Why Why? I had almost forgotten about that oh so annoying stage of development until it suddenly reappeared as Miss H’s new favourite phrase a few days ago.  I wonder how long until I start to give her the standard answer I gave Master J – “because Y has a tail!”  I’m pretty sure my mum used that line on me too.  Her questions are quite cute but she doesn’t seem to be overly concerned by the actual answer itself – she just seems to keep on going with the ‘why’s’ regardless of how ridiculous an answer I give her.  Fortunately I can still pretty much get away with anything!!

With my ever growing belly and the count down to new baby de Beer not so far away now, pregnancy related questions in our house are a hot topic at the moment!  “Is that a baby in your tummy mum?” Miss H asks.  “Yes” I answer.  “Oh’ she says, “Is it a mermaid baby?”  “No, it’s not a mermaid”, I respond, “It’s another little baby just like you!”  “When I grow up mummy, I want to go in your tummy too –just like that baby”.   Mmmmm not sure that’s going to happen, but as she’s so insistent I just agree with her and it keeps her happy!  

Master J, on the other hand, is not so easily fooled and quite matter of factly asks me “How did your baby get in your tummy mum?  And how is it going to get out?”  We were in the car on our way to school one morning discussing Master J's Monday morning “news”, when this question suddenly came out of nowhere!  I almost got whiplash as I threw my head back to see how serious he was, and then found myself mumbling something about a seed and doctors cutting mummy’s tummy open………….  Oh god, I really should have seen this one coming!!  Luckily we arrived at school and I managed to slip out of it – phew!

I called Mr D as soon as I got back onto the car to tell him that the time had come to give J a bit more information on where babies come from.  I just knew that this wasn’t the end of it!  He laughed and said “Ah yes, he’s also been asking me how the baby got into your tummy”  “Oh well thanks very much for the warning!! I say.  Typical man!!  He never remembers to tell me any of the minor but VERY important details about the kids.  “So what did you tell him?” I ask.  “Well, I said that daddy plants a seed in your tummy and it grows into a baby” “Mmmm, not bad” I think.  Maybe I’ll continue along those lines when I next get asked.  Sure enough it’s not long before he asks me again (clearly not satisfied with Dad’s answer).  Feeling slightly more prepared than last time I begin to tell him that dad plants a seed in my tummy and it grows into a baby and that’s why my tummy is getting bigger and bigger.  “How did the seed get in mum?  Did you swallow it?”  “Oh my god – really?????” I think, trying my best to stay composed.  I guess that’s a perfectly logical thing for a 5 year old to think you do with seeds, right??  “Yes”, I answer, “that’s right”, unable to think of anything better.  “So once it gets really big – how does it come out?” he then asks.  “Well, the doctor will make a tiny hole in my tummy and pull it out” I say.  “How big will the hole be, can I see it?  Will you have stitches like Miss H did??”  Ok, I think I really am going to have to tell him the truth now – lying is only going to get me into more hot water!

Thank goodness for Google!!  I spent the next few evenings researching how to explain ‘where babies come from’ to a 5-year-old.  Almost all advice was to be honest and to use all the correct terminology.  I really want to answer all of his questions with just the right amount of information to satisfy his curiosity but without leaving me open to ‘further questioning’, which could lead us down a path that I don’t think he’s quite ready to venture down yet!  Several forums lead me to a book called ‘Mummy laid an Egg’ by Babette Cole, so I decided to order it and use it as my trusty assistant (especially as my husband seemed to be doing a very good job of escaping any responsibility in this).

When the book arrived I went through it, and as recommended it was just perfect!!  There were a few pages that really made me laugh – I mean the truth is a BIT funny isn’t it???  When Master J got home from school that afternoon we sat down and read it together.  It went straight over Miss H’s head (thank god) and seemed to do just the job in answering all of Master J’s questions.  Well, he had no more – so he was either satisfied or he’s jut processing everything and is going to come back and hit me later with a few more!!

Happy with my job as mummy, I decided to get dad involved (as secret pay back for his lack of assistance on the topic).  As soon as he walked in the door that evening I said, “Master J, why don’t you go and get that new book we got today and show dad?’  “Dad, will you read it?” he said excitedly “Sure, bring it here!”  I made sure I was ‘busy’ in the kitchen but that I could still see them.    He started off the story really enthusiastically until he got to the page in question and then I could see the blood drain from his face!!!  I couldn’t help but laugh out loud as he stuttered and stammered and turned over the pages really quickly.  He then threw me this look over the top of the book (which made me laugh even more) because he knew he’d been stitched up!! 

Master J had to help him finish the story!

Stating the obvious!

Have you got around to having 'the chat with your kids yet'??

New House, Noisy Birds!

It’s Tuesday morning and I’m woken up yet again at 5:30am by the raw screaming of the wild Aussie cockatoo’s that sit outside our bedroom window.  It’s such a loud, distinctive scream that it would win any award for the worst alarm clock.  It’s also absolutely bucketing down with rain, and as I peer out the window all I can see is a blurred vision of the world.  However, I couldn’t be happier – just because it’s Tuesday!  Today, and every Tuesday (for the next few months anyway) I have between 9:30 and 3pm ALL TO MYSELF!

The last time I wrote anything on this blog was early December so I have a bit of catching up to do.  Going back a couple of months we had an email from our landlords advising us that they were putting the house, which we were finally calling home, on the market to sell.  I was gutted and very quickly went into a state of panic!   The thought of moving house (only 9 months after the big move from the UK) just made my stomach lurch – I just couldn’t face packing up AGAIN!!  And not just that, but my parents were due to arrive in a couple of weeks!  I had been looking forward to their arrival for months and the last thing I wanted to do while they were visiting was move!  There was also the small issue of my ever-growing bump was not getting smaller!!!

View of Narrabeen from the top of Collaroy Plateau.
Our house is just beyond the two high rises!

Slowly realising that my idea of moving into a lovely rental and staying there until we were ready for our next chapter was ever so slightly naive.  I had no choice but to throw myself back into the world of viewing houses.  Once again I found myself queuing up outside rental properties, with all the other prospective renters, being shown around by an estate agent with the enthusiasm of a sloth!!  I really did see some shockers and it still amazes me how some landlords can put their houses on the rental market in such truly revolting states.  But I guess you can do anything when you own a house in this little corner of paradise.  Eventually I found a very cute little house (I say little as it’s quite a bit smaller than what we had got used to) but it has the most perfect location.  It’s about 2km further down the coast from our old house on a narrow strip of land between Narrabeen Beach and Narrabeen Lake, with everything I could possibly need only a short stroll from the front door.    

Beautiful beach 500m from the front door.  How lucky are we??

The only downside would be the unlikely even of a tsunami!!  And of course those damn cockatoo’s!!!!  As mentioned above, there is just no escaping the noise!   Not long after moving in we discovered that the old lady over the road was feeding them.  So at precisely between 5 -7am and 6- 7pm EVERY DAY about 40 to 50 of these large, screaming parrots descend around the house.   It’s quite fascinating to watch (for the first couple of times anyway) as they are just everywhere – they sit right outside her door waiting for her to bring the food out as well as gather in the trees, swing off the telephone wires, hop along the tops of cars…..and SCREAM!!!!!  We have decided that she must be deaf otherwise ‘why on earth would you encourage them??????” Especially so early in the mornings!!!!  Mr D got so desperate one evening that he went on to Google to see if he could find out how to get rid of them (without buying a shot gun of course).  He discovered that their only natural predator is a snake!!  So he and Master J decided to buy a rubber snake, attach it to a piece of string and lay it across the road, while hiding in a bush!!  Unfortunately I have to report that their plan did not work!!  Any other suggestions for plan B are most welcome though!!  

I suppose I should be grateful that I have not yet seen a spider in this house. Between the cockatoos, the rainbow lorikeets (beautiful but just as noisy), the kookaburra's and not forgetting the Pelican, some days it really feels like we're living in an avery!!  I should mention that I went outside the other day to collect some washing off the line, as the heavens had suddenly opened, only to find a rather large pelican just sitting on the patio table!  I swear it was bigger than Miss H and it gave me the fright of my life!   

The move itself was a lot less dramatic than I had worked myself up to thinking it would be.  Thankfully Mum, Dad, LCJ and MT were all around to help.  I’m not sure it was exactly what they had bargained for on their trip to Sydney, but they were an amazing help!  We hired a van and two men to move everything from the one house to the next.   They arrived in a huge van that didn’t exactly look like it would pass any legal road-safety tests and neither of them spoke a word of English!!  As none of us spoke any Cantonese, there was a lot of hand signalling going on.  However, they were fantastic and moved everything over in a couple of hours!!  Unpacking was the interesting part with two alpha males in the house!  Mum and I had quite a few giggles!!!  Dad’s motto is “measure twice and cut once”, Mr D’s motto is “don’t bother measuring, just cut!”  We had to store quite a lot of stuff in the garage so you can only just imagine how the two of them organised it all!!!

The Aussie Average

Beautiful jacaranda hanging over our balcony

The last few weeks have been pretty action packed in the dB household.  The weather has certainly been hotting up as we make our way through the spring.  I must say I have been quite amazed by the season changes in Sydney.  For some reason I didn’t think they would be as prominent as they are in England.  The whole area has just exploded in the most vibrant purple as all the Jacaranda trees have come into bloom.  There is also this amazingly sweet perfume in the air from the beautiful flowering jasmine and frangipani.  The humidity is something that I am not as fond of though.  There is nothing more uplifting than waking up in the morning to blue skies and sunshine streaming through the bedroom window, but some days the humidity that accompanies it is quite unbearable!!   Using my hair straighteners or hair dryer in the mornings is not always an option these days, after two seconds I feel like I need to shower again.  

bed time entertainment in a tent

A few weeks ago we decided to try out “camping” with the kids.  The reason I say “try out” is because camping is really not something that has ever been high on my agenda!  Over the years I think I have gained a some what unjust reputation for being slightly high maintenance, but when it comes to camping I think I’m just going to accept it!  However, as the weather here is glorious most of the time and the campsite was only 5km down the road from home, I decided to give it a go!!  We borrowed a tent and set up camp with 4 other families that we’ve become great friends with.  There were 10 kids in total and they just had the best time ever!!  Watching their excitement actually brought back some very fond memories of when I used to go caravanning with my family as a kid.  So in conclusion I’ve decided that camping was actually great fun for both the kids and the grown ups and sleeping in a tent wasn’t so bad either (I just kept thinking of how bad it was to do an 8 hour plus night flight on a jump seat and suddenly a blow up mattress became heaven).  It also helped to be 5 minutes from home where I could pop back for a sneaky shower – cheating some might say……… but I prefer to think of it as using my initiative!!  I’m still not totally convinced that it will become a regular fixture on the dB calendar! 

Nic and I putting up a tent!  Done like experts!!

Nanny mummy is also spreading her wings and the dB family is expanding.  We’re all very excited to be joining the Aussie average as our two will soon become three!!  I believe the word ‘hectic’, which is what best describes my days, is going to be brought to an all new level soon!!  Our little bundle is due in early June.  Master J and Miss H have been very involved with the pregnancy so far and have been with me to all my scans.  Quite obviously Miss H thinks the baby is a girl, called “girl” and Master J is desperate for a brother – he even says he will cry for 88 days if the baby were a girl!!  No pressure then……….

Super cute at 13 weeks

The final count down is now on until the end of the school term and Christmas and there is just so much going on.  Master J has been preparing to start ‘big school’ next year and we’ve had several visits to the school for various orientation days.  He is so excited to start and shouts ‘there’s my school’ every time we drive past.  I think I am going to be learning almost as much as him next term.  It’s also going to take a new level of organisational skills to get us all up, dressed and organised with the right labeled ‘morning tea’ and ‘lunch’ boxes packed, library bags, water bottles, hats etc and still getting to school on time!  I did get a little lump in my throat when I saw him all dressed in his school uniform.  I really didn’t think I would be one of those mums that shed a tear on their baby’s first day of school, but I am beginning to wonder… (I could always blame it on hormones!!).  Miss H is also starting Kindy next year and will go two days a week.  I’ve been a little more worried about her starting as she has never been anywhere without me.  I arranged for her to have a play date with her new class and when I explained it to her, she became almost hysterical!  “Oh great!, this is really not going as planned” I thought.  “I don’t want to be a starfish” yes cried.  “I stay with Master J in the whales” When we arrived she clung to me like glue until I opened the classroom door and then she just ran in and never looked back!!  I was the one left feeling like I needed a stiff drink.  So clearly we have nothing to worry about on that front and she'll now quite happily tell everyone she's going to be starfish after Father Christmas comes.

All grown up

Christmas is just around the corner now and I cannot wait – although I must admit I am struggling to get the festive spirit going.  I know it’s a cliché but southern hemispheres Christmases REALLY aren’t the same as the northern hemisphere!  That magic sparkle just seems to be missing!   I guess it’s because the evenings are much lighter here and so the kids are already in bed when darkness fall so we never get to see any twinkly lights.  There are also NO Christmas songs played on the radio – not one!!  Thank goodness for digital radio, I never thought I’d ever appreciate Chris Evans.  He really got us in the mood when we put our tree up the other day.  That experience was a mission in itself.  Firstly I had to go to the mall to buy the tree with two toddlers, hundreds of busy Christmas shoppers and of course Santa!  We made it home almost unscathed and then had to battle the colour-coded branches (which didn’t match) to get the tree to look like a tree.  “It almost looks like a Christmas tree, mummy” Master J says, mid way through my third attempt, sweat dripping down my face!  “Well, it’ll just have to do” I say.  What do you think Miss H , I ask “It’s soooooo pretty” she says.  Yay, at least someone appreciates my efforts!!  Next week we have Master J’s school concert and then we are going to “carols on the beach’ where I believe Santa will be arriving by jet-ski to see the children.  But best of all my parents are arriving to stay for three whole weeks!!!!!!

Enjoying the Aussie summer

I'm SO not a City Slicker!

Yesterday I decided to take the kids into the City to visit the Sydney Wildlife Centre and the Aquarium in Darling Harbour.  There are two ways for us to get there from the Beaches – a bus ride to Manly, and then the ferry across to Circular Quays (where the Opera House and the Bridge are), or a bus ride directly into the city center.  We opted for the direct bus, as surely one bus ride and a short walk would be the simplest way???

A thumbs up from Josh, so worth the trip!

I parked the car at the beach and Master J scooted off to the bus stop ahead of me.  By the time I got there he was deep in conversation with an old lady.  “This lady’s called Carol, mum, and she does those funny exercises at my swimming lesson.”  “Oh” I said looking a bit puzzled, but Carol filled me in.  There is a pensioners aqua aerobics class that happens in a large sectioned off area of the pool while Master J and Miss H have their weekly swimming lessons.  Carol said she knew exactly who Master J and Miss H were as she sees them every week mimicking the old dears on the edge of pool.  “Oh god”, I said, slightly embarrassed, “I hope they don’t put you off your class!!!” “Oh no we love it! It gives us a constant source of amusement doing our classes.”  Thank goodness for that I thought and god knows what those lovely old ladies must think of me!!  Every week without fail both Master J and Miss H stand on the end of the pool next to the instructor and start copying the aerobics moves – kick your legs, left, right – arms in the arm – swing to the left – come on ladies!!!!!  And every week I get more and more flustered, telling them “Stay away from the edge!  Come back here!  Stop copying them, you’re going to get me into trouble!!” but they just can’t help themselves.   I’m so glad I now know that they enjoy the entertainment!!  I can relax at last!!

I park the pushchair and scooter on the bus and off we go.  Master J still chatting away to Carol.  At the next stop two more ladies with pushchairs got on and as they had tiny babies, I thought we’d better move seats so they could have ours.  Next a few teenagers got on, two young lads who sat down behind us, and a young girl who decided to stay standing for whatever reason.  There were some stickers on the window next to Master J, and Master J being Master J, started with the twenty questions.  “What do those stickers mean mum?” he asked.  “Well, they mean that this seat is actually for people who are disabled and are in a wheel chair or have a broken leg or something like that.  If they get on the bus, we’ll have to move and let them sit here.”  “Oh, and what about this picture?” he said pointing to lady with a large tummy.  “That’s a lady with a big tummy because she has a baby in it.  She would need this seat too”.  Looking very concerned, he pointed at the young girl standing in the isle behind us and said (not very discretely) “that girl has a huge tummy mum, shall we let her have our seat?”  At this point the two teenage boys sitting behind us almost died – I could hear them desperately trying to cover up their sniggers behind their hands!!  I was mortified – this poor girl only looked about 18 and was clearly a little on the ‘heavy’ side.  I decided I just couldn’t turn around and look, so I just had to explain that she didn’t have a baby in her tummy but he was very kind to think she might need a seat!!  And the questions continued – “ That man must be an Indian mum, because he’s wearing an Indian hat!” (It was a rather large turban).  “He might not be honey, lots of people from all different Asian countries wear hats like that.”  “No, he IS mum, look again!!  We learnt that it at Kindy” He persisted pointing at this poor man who didn’t know where to look!!  

Phew, I was rather relieved when we finally arrived in Sydney.  

Love the way they just fall asleep where ever they're sat

Once in the city, I just couldn’t get my bearings.  Not that I’ve ever been any good at map reading anyway.  It’s a far cry from the laid back way I’ve become accustomed to on the Beaches.  High-rise buildings surrounded us with hundreds of people walking past us in every direction, head down and looking like they were on some kind of mission.  Beeping horns and cars and busses everywhere!  I got out Google maps on my phone and tried to work out where we were.  “Follow the moving blue ball’ Mr D says, “It couldn’t be easier.”   Well, the bloody blue ball moves so slowly that I had to push my way down a street for about 10 minutes before I realised I was walking the wrong direction!!!!  Pushing a pram with one hand, the other hand in air trying to follow the blue ball as well as making sure the Master J didn’t take out too many people on his scooter (I did notice a few shocked faces as he flew past)!  I had had enough – so I called Mr D and made sure he came out of his Office and escorted us to the Wildlife Park.  I should have just done that in the first place!!!!  

The not so chatty saltie

Thankfully the Wildlife Centre was worth the trek in!  It was so well set out that apart from the odd glimpse of a high-rise here and there you would never have known you were in the middle of a busy city.  Firstly we had to make our way straight to see the crocodile.  Ever since discovering the wonders of Steve Irwin, Master J has become fascinated with these huge and rather frightening, dinosaur-like creatures.  I did chuckle to myself though as there was a huge flat TV screen on the wall on the walk down to the crocodile enclosure and as the kids ran past it (slightly ahead of me) this enormous 3D croc dived out of the screen with it’s mouth wide open and both the kids leapt almost six foot into the air.  Thankfully I knew what was coming otherwise I’m sure I would have made a complete ass of myself!! Just then an anouncement was made that there would be a crocodile talk commencing in 5 minutes.  “Hey Master J” I said, lets go and see the crocodile talk”.  “YEAH!!!!”  he said, clearly very excited.  The man began his talk and Master J kept interrupting saying, “when’s it going to start mum”.  “It has”, I told him, “ and if you stop asking questions and listen you’ll be able to hear what the man is telling you.”  He just wouldn’t let up though and eventually I got out of him that he thought the crocodile was actually going to talk because I had said we were going to ‘see the crocodile talk’!  Honestly sometimes you just can’t win!   

After cuddling a koala (which really is as soft and cuddly as it looks), holding a blue tongue lizard and stroking a python, I asked them what they’d like to see next.  Miss H’s replied “I want to see a pink pony mummy”.  Oh geez I though, why did I not see that one coming???  I had to explain as best I could that pink ponies don’t live in the zoo, but she still proceeded to whinge “I wanna pink pony” for the next half an hour!  Ask your father I kept thinking in my head!!

Koala in the city

Mr D had told me that he would be in a meeting from 4pm to 6pm so if I needed help finding the bus, I’d have to call before then.  Time was really starting to tick by, but the kids were having so much fun, that I just couldn’t get them away quick enough.  Besides, I thought, how hard can it be to retrace my steps back to the bus stop??  However, I was soon to discover the return busses don’t go from the same place, not even from the other side of the road!!  Stupid system I mutter and get out the blue ball again!!!!  Technology is so wasted on me!!!  After walking around (god knows where) for over half an hour (with pram and scooter) trying to work out which direction the ball was taking me, we finally found the right stop.  By the time we arrived back in Collaroy and I could take in the most enormous breath of sea air, I realized that I am so not meant to be a city slicker!