MelodyCheapo.com

It's not everyday you receive an email from Disneyland so I thought I would blog about it. Not Disneyland 'Disneyland', but Paris 'Disneyland'. Does that make sense?

And why should Melody be receiving a personal email from Paris Disneyland? Because I booked a 2 night stay, 3 day pass from there, that's why. We're very excited.

We are staying at one of the Disneyland hotel resorts there which includes Breakfast with some Disney characters. (I hope we get to meet Minnie Mouse. That would make someones day, let me tell you.) The hotel we are staying in looks great and the two Disney parks will keep us occupied. If not, there is a little town slap-bang in between the Eurostar station (we'll be catching the Eurostar from London direct to Disneyland), Disney parks and the hotel complexes. I doubt we will even contemplate wondering what we could do.


Of course I am always on the 'puter organising, researching, looking, browsing, working out sums, blah, blah, blah. I went to one of the local Travel Agencies (a Flight Centre) the other day to help me out on a few questions I was constantly asking and stressing myself about. (Go and see a travel agent, put your mind at rest, Lyndon kept telling me!)


While I was there she sorted my questions out and also looked up about staying at Disneyland (I was curious at the price she could quote me.) I just about fell out of my seat when she told me the best price she could do for the 3 of us was at least $500 more than if I did it myself, booking direct online. It certainly pays to shop around and spend hours (and hours, or days even!) on the Internet.

Curiousity got the better of me, so I got her to see if she could find any good budget hotels in Paris for us for a couple of nights, in areas I have been looking at. (When we went to Paris in 2000 we stayed in Passy, basically opposite the Eiffel Tower. This time I am looking at staying in another area of Paris.) The cheapest hotel she could get me was $700 for 2 nights for the 3 of us. And they weren't above 3 stars either. I have found some beaut hotels via my new favourite website EuroCheapo.com (thanks H&B for the heads up on that one) and Booking.com. I reckon I have it down to two different hotels, with a 2 night stay costing between $350-450. Including breakfast. And en suite bathrooms. Might be tiny, but who cares? End of the day we'll only be sleeping there and I am guessing we'll all be so exhausted that we'll sleep soundly (*fingers crossed*)

Our itinerary is just about set in stone now, with train travel organised and accommodation just about all sorted. And doing the majority of this by myself online has honestly saved us at least $4000 all up I predict. True. I'm thinking of opening up my own online booking agency, MelodyCheapo.com I'll find you the best prices in town... (How many of you clicked on the supposed link? *heehee*)

By the way, this is my 300th post on Blogger. Woo-hoo.

What a Doll...

Ever since Monet taught herself to dress properly, she has also (at long last) worked out how to dress all her dolls, including Barbies. We've been seeing a lot of this lately...

Monet sitting there dressing and undressing her Barbies (after dressing herself in her fairy/ballerina outfit!) It keeps her occupied. I don't complain. The concentration (and sometimes frustration) is amazing.

Lyndon and I came in from having a couple of 'sippers' (*ahem* Saturday afternoon beers) on the balcony the other night, to discover Monet had set up a picnic for all her dolls in the lounge. All complete with a new packet of bibs I had bought many moons ago but had never opened. We wondered why she wasn't outside annoying us. *snigger. snigger*

Monet was quite thrilled earlier this afternoon when I suggested to her to take along her doll, Lulu, in 'her' stroller for a walk up to the local shops. Oh my, was she excited. She dressed Lulu in her little tracksuit and matching shoes, she then packed her little bag and slung it over the stroller handles and away we went. Happy as Larry was my Monet.

You can only imagine the smiles and grins we got as Monet stopped and showed Lulu certain things in the shop windows. It was honestly too cute for words. Too cute!

I always wondered when this would happen. I don't have to wonder any more.

Update...

For someone who rarely gets sick, I've been sick! Urgh. I spent Thursday evening looking inside the toilet bowl which is not a good image, I know. Lyndon had to take yesterday off work to look after Monet whilst I spent the day in bed snoozing. I feel much better today, thanks for asking.

We've got a lot going on at the moment in our household, so I don't know if it was all catching up on me or if I had a 24 hour bug or what. I do suspect it might have to do with dehydration for the fact the past week has been so rainy and cool by Cairns Wet season standards (about 29-30 with about 85% humidity) and then on Thursday the temperature to jumped up to about 33-34 with even higher humidity. The weather is playing with my body. I'm putting it down to that.

It is not long before our big holiday and we'll be jetting off in a silver jet bound for the other side of the world. Monet cannot wait for the fact she actually 'gets' the clothes I have up high in my wardrobe for our trip. I never knew my daughter was so 'into' clothes until now. Talk about fussy and Little Miss Independent (you have no idea!) She has chosen all her new threads which we had to buy because her wardrobe is a constant 'summer' one, so some 'winter' threads have been purchased. She's become obsessed with cooler weather, wanting to constantly wear scarf, mittens and hats. What have I done!!!???!!! I swear she changes her clothes she's wearing about 5 times a day lately. Think she's so good being able to reach them in her wardrobe and put them on by herself. As I type this she's changing her clothes for the 3rd time, no actually, the 4th time today and it's not even 1pm.

I have been busy booking and organising our trip. We're visiting Venice for a few days and have confirmed our accommodation where we'll be staying here...

Of course I'm not spilling the beans on the hotel's name but it looks gorgeous. (That's the entrance) I'm hoping it will be as nice as what the pictures look as you can never be quite 100% sure can you?

Train tickets have been purchased, planes booked and hotels too. My birthday is coming up and I have requested tickets for a morning tour for Monet and I do see this, not far out of Paris...

I *simply* cannot. In case you are wondering, it is Claude Monet's House and Garden. It's been my dream for about 20 years to visit so it is a must! I think I'll need to purchase another memory stick for my camera as I imagine I'll be taking thousands of photos, the majority being taken at Monet's garden!

I hope you're all well, looking at Monet's garden makes me feel a whole heap better...

Absolute Power

Monet and I have not long returned from a little outing to the Barron River Power Station. To say that it was 'unreal' is a little bit of an understatement.

We had visited before, back in May last year. It was an impressive area then, with a big bridge/walkway over the Barron River's waters and boulders to the little power station there (a Hydroelectric station - pretty fascinating.) I can see today why that power station is where it is. Today it was pretty awesome.

And powerful.

Can you see what I mean?

The sound was so loud...

I was amazed by the absolute power of the water, the colour (dirt from the Tablelands) and just how scary it actually was. It is also a scary thought that this (dirty) water is being washed down the ocean/Great Barrier Reef, several kilometers away.

It did rain pretty much constantly overnight in the area I live, though Cairns Airport only (!) reported about 99mm overnight. I take it the Tablelands had more than us. When we woke this morning and travelled to Playgroup I could see that the Barron River was flooded, which is why I decided this afternoon to take a drive up to the power station.

Amazing stuff. (I don't even think there was any White Water Rafting happening today - way too dangerous, especially with the warning of Crocodiles being flushed down from the hills...)

My Name Up In Lights...well, sort of.

We had a bit of fun yesterday morning...Maybe I should say that 'I' had a bit of fun yesterday morning...

Can you see my name?

biglittlesister, with the answer 'Straight Lines'...

Sunday mornings (and other times too) on our Pay Television, one of the music video stations, Music Max, have a segment called 'Know All'. Basically a series of Music related questions pop up on the screen and you text in the answer via your mobile phone and your name and answer appear on screen. I have no idea about prizes or anything, it was just the 'trill' of seeing your name on tv that had us giggling away like school children. I was using my 'real name' then saw some people using 'funny' names so I started texting the whole biglittlesister thing.

Oh and the question there that I answered was 'Silverchair opened the 2007 ARIAs with a performance of which song?'

Then this morning I decided to sign up for 'Earth Hour', which is happening on Saturday March 29th at 8pm. Basically you sign up to commit to turning off all your household lights for an hour to save energy. Checkout this You Tube clip and the official Web Page if you are interested in signing up (it is open to everyone, yes, even YOU!)

I hope after watching you are now going to sign up.

After signing up I was busy reading the hints page on the website when I see my name floating across the screen...

Twice in 2 days. I think I must be some kind of superstar. *heehee* I always wanted to see my name up in lights (of sorts)!

Playing 'Airports'

I couldn't help myself yesterday when Monet and I were in Target. As we were browsing (well, I was browsing and Monet was touching!) I noticed a great toy for Monet which was half price (I am a great bargain hunter so I couldn't pass it up at under $10). This is what it is...

It came in a small hard plastic suitcase. Inside? Loads of stuff - fake Euros, fake Passports, Boarding passes, plane tickets, hand held scanner, weight machine, blah, blah, blah...

So we spent some of yesterday afternoon 'checking-in', X-raying bags and Monet stamping my passport.

"Have you got your ticket to London?" Monet would ask me.
"Why yes, I do" I'd reply.
"And Germany. Have you got your ticket to Germany?"
"Yes, it's here"
"That'll be $20 please"
"wow, that's cheap. I think you're better off asking me for $2000 Monet"
"Okay. 100 Euros please."

Yep, we're ready to go on holidays. My girl, she'll be a pro 'checker-inner-er' by the time April rolls around.

*grin*

Sorry.

I had a bit of a sob this morning, as I sat and watched television. Today, in Parliament House, our Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, apologised to the Stolen Generation of indigenous Australians. It was a truly moving thing to witness.

For all my international visitors and fellow bloggers, from the early part of last century, until the 70's (the 70's, can you believe it?) between 10-20% of Aboriginal children were taken from their mums and dads in the name of welfare. (13,000 people all up!) Apparently too, in the name of 'getting rid' of the aboriginal race. For years this topic has been swept under the rug and not recognised in any shape or form. Prime Ministers have come and gone, but it was our (farily new) Prime Minister, who apologised to indigenous Australians for what has happened in the past and to recognise what did happen. You can read one of those child's accounts here.

Love or hate Rudd, I thought his speech was brilliant. It was heartfelt and honest and got the point across. You can read his speech here. It made me cry to hear it. As Rudd said, to imagine that happening now, to you. Being taken from your parents, for your children to be taken from you. I can't. It would break my heart as it did to those indigenous Australians decades before.

The young children were rounded up like a herd of cattle, thrown in the back of trucks and driven hundreds of miles from their homes. They never saw their parents again. They were divided into rows and were instantly told what religion they were and seperated from brothers, sisters, cousins and taken away to live in missionaries of their 'new' religion. A lot of children were then placed into 'white' communities and made to be 'domestics', stockmen etc., for little or no money. Many of these children were consequently raped. Many too ended up marrying a sibling, or a cousin, because they did not know they were seperated as children when they stood in those inital lines.

Our former Prime Minister, John Howard, refused to apologize to, what is now known as the Stolen Generation, saying that it really had nothing to do with us of today and it should've been the people who did those acts to do the apologising. For years there have been protests against John Howard and his govenment for not recognising the reconciliation process. One of Kevin Rudd's policies was to officially say 'Sorry' within the first week of Parliament and today was that day.

It was long overdue in my eyes.

There is a lot of work to be done in Aboriginal communities and I think from this day forward, non-indigenous Australians will become more aware of what actually happened decades beforehand. The Government are trying to get Aboriginal History to be taught in Schools. When I was in High School it was all about the European Settlement of our wonderful country. But the Aboriginal race is one of the oldest races in the world. Aboriginals were never discussed in my history classes.

I live in an area where there is a greater percentage of Aboriginals, than other parts of the country. There are a few who give the rest a bad name, due to alcohol addictions, petrol sniffing, incest. I'm not making excuses for the Aboriginal communities but I only recently found out that when they have 2 beers they are 'full-on' drunk. Their bodies were made to not handle alcohol. (I know mine isn't either, but I am fortunate enough to have a body that does not get excessively drunk after 2 beers, but as an 8 year old I would have been.) There are laws in this part of the country where casts of wines can't be sold before 4pm. (A cast of wine is an Aussie invention, 4 litres of wine in a box basically.) There are some parts of the country up here, where you are not allowed to carry alcohol, mainly in Cape York and parts of the Northern Territory. Also the Aboriginal community south of Cairns called Yarrabah.

We visited the community back in July (on one of our Sunday drives). It was about 30-odd kilometres south-east of Cairns, in a gorgeous area, surrounded by rainforest and a golden beach. The housing was terrible though - cyclone fencing, broken windows, dozens of stray dogs roaming the dusty streets. You get the picture. Since we were driving around, having a look (as you do) we saw Police at a house trying to stop a fight of some description. There were people driving around in banged up old Fords and Holdens and we saw overloaded bins of empty VB (beer) cans. For a place which was meant to be 'dry', I don't think it is policed very well.

Lyndon has many Aboriginals working for him. He claims they are the funniest most lovely people he has worked with and they work 'bloody hard'. That's the true Aussie spirit, right there in those workers. It is a pity that a few of them give them all a bad name.

Sorry.

I hope from this day on that Australia becomes more reconciled and helps make this country the best one there is.

(And I'm sorry to you for such a long post. All facts and figures and statements may not be 100% spot on, but this is my view and take on the happenings of today.)

Rain.

We've had our fair share of rain over the last few days.

Whilst the past three days have been constant (constant, CONSTANT!!) rain, this morning I woke to no rain (Hooray) and I could actually see some blue sky peeping through the clouds. By mid-morning the sky was clear and there was only a handful of clouds. Different story now though. It's back to grey skies and it is raining. Again. The 'Wet Season' has certainly arrived in our neck of the woods.

Don't mind me while I whinge away. I try not to complain though, it's not good for the soul to complain about stuff, but if I'm only complaining about the weather, well, life must be going along sweetly then, right?

What's the weather doing in your part of the world today?

The Secret History

I knew there was a reason why I kept Donna Tartt's debut novel, The Secret History. I knew it!

Like most of you out there, I enjoy reading. I always have and I always will. I guess it had to do with having a father who was a school teacher/principle and a sister who loved writing stories on her school holidays.

Over the years I have collected a lot of novels, but then I also have no proof of this. After so many moves, my novel collection has dwindled to a handful. I tend to pass on books now as it is very (very) rare if I reread a novel. Why should it clog up valueable apartment space when someone else can get enjoyment from it (and clog up their own space! *heehee*)

After recently finishing Marian Keyes 'Anybody Out There' (which I loved by the way, but will pass onto my mum) I was desperate for a book to read in bed. I hunted through my small collection of auto/biographies (these I do not part with for some reason or another) and then stumbled upon the Donna Tartt novel I purchased back in the mid 90's. I remember buying it on recommendation from Kimbofo.

I'm halfway through the novel again and absolutely loving it. If you could love a book, this one could quite possibly be the book for you! I had completely forgotten about the plot but you instantly getted hooked into the main character's world. I cannot wait to continue reading it because I have no idea what happens towards the end.

This is the reason why this novel has moved back and forth across the state of Victoria, across Melbourne suburbs and the move to Northern Queensland. I will not part with it. No matter where we move to in the future, it is one novel that is sticking with me.

Have you read any novels that you will not part with because you love it?

I Also Love London...

The second time I visited London was totally different from my previous visit 4 years before. (I backpacked alone through out the UK and Ireland in the winter or 1996/1997) Our trip in 2000 was totally different, as my big sister, Kimbofo had moved there. Lyndon and I visited in June of that year and it is a trip we will never forget. When we returned from our two and a half weeks away we vowed to return. (Yippee!)

There is something about London I just love, and to steal a line from Wendy James, London's brilliant! It has so much history to the sprawling city and a lot of people hate London who visit. I can't figure out why. To live there would be a totally different story but to visit it is truly a brilliant city. Images that you only ever see on television or in books/magazines come alive.

Big Ben. Check. Houses of Parliment. Check. Tower Bridge. Check. Buckingham Palace. Check. Trafalgar Square. Check. St Paul's Cathedral. Check. Hyde Park. Check. The list goes on (and on and on.) If you can't walk to your choosen destination, chances are there is a tube station close by.

Can you tell I have (yet again) been scanning my year 2000 photos onto my Flickr account again? *heehee*

We'll be arriving in good old London town in a couple of months time now, to the day in fact. We'll be checking into our hotel, not that far from Kim's place and enjoying a pint or two that afternoon.

Can I just say again, because it's my blog and I can say what I want, I CAN'T WAIT!!! Cheers.

(And yeah, here is a photo of us from that year 2000 trip, in a 900 year old pub, enjoying a pint each...)

I love Paris Any Time...

I've spent some of this (rainy) afternoon scanning some of my Year 2000 Paris, holiday snaps onto my Flickr account. If I wasn't looking forward to our forthcoming European Holiday before doing that, I'll give you the hot tip, I am now!

I can't tell you how many times I have flicked through the latest Lonely Planet Guide to Western Europe or how many times I have 'Googled' something to do with this trip. It is exciting stuff. In all honesty, I simply cannot wait.

Our passports arrived safely in the mail last week, which is a load off my mind. We still have things to book but it will all get done in due time.

We loved Paris, back in 2000. Those of you who have visited the city before will know what I am talking about. (Well, hopefully those of you who have travelled to Paris do love it!) The architecture is amazing...

...the Fairy Floss is so very tasty....

and the road rules leaves something to be desired...

But Paris is just one mainland European city we have visited (besides those in the UK and Ireland). This time around we're planning on staying in four other cities plus Paris again.

Monet is constantly talking about Europe (gee, I wonder if that is because of me? *heehee*) and is talking already like she's already been there. She knows she'll be having Pizza in Italy, mum and dad will have Beer in Germany, we'll be visiting Sleeping Beauty in France (Euro Disney) and mum will be enjoying chocolate (and beer) in Belgium. And of course, no talk of our trip to Europe is complete without mentioning seeing Auntie Kim and Uncle T.

I love seeing parts of the world, puts everything into perspective for me. I simply CANNOT WAIT!!!! Yippee....

Lebanese Chicken

Eaten fresh of the BBQ or eaten cold the next day, a nice and tasty way to eat chicken. I marinated mine the night before, cooked on the BBQ grill (not flat plate as stated in recipe) and served it up with a fresh green salad and home-made hash browns. Delicious.

*Taken from Murdoch Books, 'Australian Family Favourites', pg 166, published 2007*

Ingredients

250g (1 cup) Greek-style yoghurt

2 tsp soft brown sugar

4 garlic cloves, crushed

3 tsp ground cumin

1 1/2 tsp ground coriander

7g chopped flat-leaf (italian) parsley

3 tbs lemon juice

1 x 1.8 whole chicken, cut into 10 serving pieces

cooking oil spray

Method

Put the yoghurt, brown sugar, garlic, cumin, coriander, chopped parsley and lemon juice in a large non-metallic bowl and mix together.

Add the chicken pieces to the marinade and turn to coat. Cover and refridgerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight.

Lightly spray the barbecue plates with oil, then preheat the barbecue to medium heat. Remove the chicken pieces from the marinade and season. Cook the chicken pieces on the flat plate, turning them frequently, for 20-30 minutes, or until they are cooked through.

Serves 4-6

Parcels...

Monet and I both got parcels in the post today. *lucky us*

Monet recieved these, from her lovely Victorian cousins...

...The look on her face was pretty much priceless when she emptied out the contents of the parcel onto the floor. Auntie Sarah must have somehow known that we were after more hair-ties (or hair-ups as we call them around here!) The hundreds we had have slowly disappeared over the past 18 months. I think those hair-ups go to the same place that the odd socks go to.

My parcel was big. And heavy.

A big fat roll of butchers paper, via the Queensland Playgroup website shop. I ordered this paper a couple of weeks back along with these cool kiddies paint brushes...


(The brushes arrived like 2 days after I ordered them, but the paper was out-of-stock)

See, I told you I was running a 3 year old Kindergarten didn't I? *heehee*

I guess we've got a busy afternoon coming up...

Valentine Kisses

We spent some of yesterday afternoon doing crafty-stuff. As we do. (I swear, at times it feels like I run a 3 year old Kinder for one child!)

We made these....

...Valentine Kisses. Heart shapes on card, cut out by me, coloured-in on one side and kissed on the other side by Monet and her telling me who they were for. The recipents to these kisses will be getting them in the mail within the week. (Hi Grandma, Grandad, Poppy and Nanna!) Each one has been sealed in clear contact. I put mine in my wallet.

Monet enjoyed making them, mainly for the fact that she got to put on some 'lippy' and kiss stuff.

Look at those lips!

I was inspired to do these by Kids Craft Weekly, who send out weekly emails on crafty ideas to do with your children, which I joined a couple of weeks back. (Via Kikimiss). Who needs 3 year old kinder when you have Melody Mum?

(Obviously Queensland does not have the 3 year old Kinder programme, otherwise the littlest memeber of this household would be enjoying her time at Kindergarten once a week. We have Playgroup which we still go to and love but no 3 year old Kinder. *boo hoo*)

Risoni Salad

A lovely, light tasting side salad. Try it for something a little different.

*Taken from Murdoch Books, 'Australian Family Favourites', pg 152, published 2007*

Ingredients
200g (1 cup) risoni
2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp lemon zest
2 tsp lemon juice
40g baby rocket leaves
1 1/2 tbs shredded basil leaves
1/2 small red onion, finely sliced

Method
Bring a saucepan of salted water to the boil. Add the risoni and cook for about 12 minutes, or until tender. Drain, rinse under cold water, then drain again. Put the risoni in a large bowl with the oil, vinegar, lemon zest, lemon juice, rocket, basil and onion. Mix well, season to taste and refridgerate until ready to serve.

Serves 4 as a Side Salad

Did You Know Cockroaches Can Fly?

(If you don't like creepy-crawlies, I will warn you that this post contains photos of 3)

Well, did you? I know they have wings and stuff but I didn't actually know that they used those wings to fly, dammit!! And how I found out? By spraying one which was on my laundry wall. It flew at me. AT ME. Now, if you don't live in the tropics of Queensland, you probably don't have any idea about the size of these cockroaches.

Queensland is famous for the Big Pineapple. The Big Mango. The Big Marlin Fish. Up the road we have a Big Peanut and there is a Big Banana with a Big Green Tree Frog on the road down to Innisvale. They like things big in this neck of the woods. Actaully, all around Australia you'll find 'big' things. Basically if an area is famous for something, usually produce, they'll biggify it into a tourist attraction, such as - Merino Sheep, Lobsters, Banana, Trout Fish, the list goes on. (Maybe some of my fellow Aussie readers could list more...) So to say that the Cockroaches up here are big is not an understatement.

Here's a photo of one found lurking outside downstairs.

It is about the size of close to 50 cent pieces. Big. *shudder*

Even the little lizards (skinks) are big around here. This one we spied while going to the pool the other day. Lucky this one (who was not even remotely scared of us!) was heading towards our next door neighbours storage shed and not ours (though I'm sure they hibernate in there too!)

Even the bugs around here are big. I don't have any photos of them to show you. But the noise they make are loud to suit their size. We even have Rhino-type gigantic Bugs up here, which have a horn-like growth between their eyes. *shudder again*

We have huge Orb spiders too. There was one in the Mango tree at Playgoup recently. It scared the bejeesus out of me when I spied it above our heads when I was pushing Monet on the swing.

Here is a photo taken on the walking track to Josephine falls, of an Orb spider. She'd be beautiful if she was not a spider.


So, did you know that Cockroaches fly? You'll be glad that the Cockroach didn't last long after flying full force at me. After I screamed and told Monet that Mummy was okay (just) I got the Cockroach back. Big time.

And did you know that Cockroaches can survive in a man-sized work shoe, with a man-size foot in it, and for that foot, in that shoe, could drive 20-odd kilometers to work and the cockroach could survive? You better ask Lyndon about that one. *shudder*

(Just in case you think that my house must be filthy to have Cockroaches inhabit my home, it isn't!! This is the Wet Tropics for you. You won't see a Roach for ages and then BAM, you see them. I think we might have to have the Pest Controler come around for a spray v. v. soon.)

A Morning Beach Bike Ride

This morning I thought I better get Monet 'out and about', after a couple of days cooped inside, bar an outing to the supermarket and a couple to the playground. I've got a bit of a head cold (can you believe it?, first cold since we moved to Cairns close to 2 years ago!), but today I feel a bit more 'together'.

With the little bike in the car I drove us down to the beach, knowing that Monet wouldn't beable to ride down to the beach AND then ride along the path. Talk about one happy little girl, knowing that she was not only going to ride her bike, but she was also going to the beach as well...

Monet had a great time riding along the path which stretches along both ends of the beach. It truly is a beautiful beach, our local, and to be able to ride your bike along side it is a bonus!


After putting the bike back in the car we sat down on the sand and Monet had a frolic, running around, drawing and running her fingers through the sand. I sat and took some photos (like usual) when Monet said she'd like to take some too. She took some beaut shots which I was really impressed with...

What do you think? I especially love the first one - the angle is great...

Not actually a bad photo of me, for a change! *heehee*

And this photo is just pretty darn clever for a 3 year old! To capture the plane, the rain cloud in the distance and the stinger net, all in one shot? I don't think even I am capable of that!

Maybe a new digital camera is on the cards for Monet to take overseas afterall.