Reasons Why We Love Germany...

Pretzels, beer and good food.  Need we say more???  

Having a great time in Munich bar a couple of hiccups getting here, but that's to be a post when I return home. 

Here I Am...

...again.  This time in the wonderful city of Paris...

Life has been good so far for us.  Even though we left a little over a week ago, it seriously feels like we've been away for ages!  

We have spent the previous two days in Euro Disneyland which was enjoyable, but I did get a little 'over' strollers and families.  Terrible, I know, but I can only handle a few days where there are masses of families about and whinging children.  (Mine, obviously never whinges.)

  

But Disneyland was great.  (Monet and Lyndon in the teacup ride, above!)  Monet had a fantastic time and that was what it was all about.  She met sooooo many characters and happily posed with many.  But the biggest smile and hug was reserved for the final character she met.  Minnie Mouse.  Monet even did the 'Minnie Mouse' dance in front of her which had Lyndon and I laughing!

But more about Disneyland upon our return.  We are in Paris after all.  And Monet and I are off to Giverny tomorrow to Claude Monet's Garden.  I'm looking forward to that...

London was wonderful.  Our hotel was brilliant, in a great possie for us at the right price.  I even got to meet up with Bob-Kat for a couple of pints not far from Trafalgar Square which was brilliant!  (Hi Bob-Kat!  Her link is on my right-hand side there - go and say Hello!)  It was also nice to spend time with Kimbofo, which is one of the main reasons why we're on this side of the world.  

So to all friends and family, we are well, happy and have many more adventures to follow.  Stay tuned.

Smashing...

All is well my blog friends.  Very, very well.  

We arrived safe and sound to a freezing London town on Friday morning.  Our hotel is comfortable and in a great position.  We're having a ball.  We really are.

Monet is brilliant, there has been not one mention of home so far which Lyndon and I are rapt about.  

We've spent quite a bit of time with my sister and done a bit of site seeing.  

I haven't uploaded any photos onto the Laptop yet so stay tuned.

Better go, Oxford Street is calling us...

More to come...

One

Blast off.

We'll be at the airport this time tomorrow and I doubt I'll have time to catch my breath this afternoon so I thought I had better do my post now.

I have a few last minute items I need to purchase today and need to finalise our luggage.  My hand luggage still needs to be packed (with all on-board liquids not more than 100ml packets blah, blah, blah....)  

Lyndon has been in Brisbane for the last few days and returns tonight, only to return to the airport tomorrow morning.  He doesn't have time to breath either.

I think it kind of hit me this morning that I'll be seeing my (one and only) sibling in a couple of days time, sitting in her and her partner's apartment, munching away on some breakfast.  It will be great to see her in her own territory again.

We have a couple of friends over in London too that we will be seeing.  One hasn't ever met Monet and the other saw her when she was like 4 months old.  Kim hasn't seen Monet for two years so I am sure she will get a big surprise when she sees in the flesh her walking, talking, eating, playing, funny little niece.  Weird.

I'm a bit worried about the cold but that is out of my control so I shouldn't worry about that!  We'll cope.  You always do.  

The last few months have been leading up to this particular moment, it is hard to believe.  All our planning, paying, internet hours, beers, late dinners on the weekends, have lead to this.  The stressing, the 'getting excited', the countdown, the blogging, the well-wishes.  No wonder we need a holiday.  (Not that it is going to be a relaxing holiday!!)

I'm sure things won't stop when we return.  We have other things on our list to cross off by years end.

I'm not sure if I will get around to posting when away (I'll try, even if it is just a photo), or if I will be able to visit my fellow blogger blogs (which I will miss - imagine all the reading I'll have to catch up on after a 3 and a half week absence.)

Okay then, best be off.  I have washing to put out, a car to wash, floors to vacuum, a kitchen to clean, KMart to visit, packing to be finalised, some sorting out to do, a mailbox key to give to the couple downstairs, some plants to water, an iPod to update, some forms to fill out, some money to transfer, some phone calls to make, a little girl to get organised, a fridge to clean out, a husband to collect from the airport, some emails to send, some little girl gifts to wrap, oh the list goes on (& on & on...)

Cheers. Woo-hoo!!!

(Oh and Leesa, if you're reading this, 'well done' *snigger snigger* and yeah, would you mind turning the hot water back on for us a day or two before we return?  Thanks dear. xx)

Two

Can you believe we leave in two days time?  

Nah, me either.

After doing so much Internet research I finally went and bought one of these to take with us today...

It is a 'Quicksmart' Easy-fold stroller.

It was a toss up on whether to buy something here or in London, but the price of this was under our budget, which I love, and Monet fell in love with the design (ours has these mini brown monkeys printed on the seat.)  When packed up it isn't as long as other bulky strollers and comes with a handy carry bag to sling over the shoulder.  (But I can't imagine walking around too long with 5.5 kilos strapped under my arm.)  

Monet still jumps in our pram and other stroller when out and about.  Even though her legs look long, they are only little and can't walk a long way.  And sure, she looks like she's about 5 and I *always* get looks when I am out and about pushing her, but I refuse to carry her for long distances.  I sometimes think about getting her a badge that says 'I am 3' so I don't get *those* looks.  

You should see her in this new stroller with her head touching the sunshade when it is down, but all strollers we tried were exactly the same.  (So my lesson here for you today is not to presume that the child being pushed in a stroller is not a 3 or 4 year old!)

Two days to go.  Two 'big' sleeps....until the dreaded 24 hour haul over to the other side of the world.  

Three

Just about there.

I quite successfully packed our bags this afternoon.  I don't know why I was stressing so much.  I have done well to pack one medium sized suitcase and one large(ish) backpack, for three people for close to four weeks away with room to spare.  *phew*

I made sure that everything (clothes-wise) that has been packed, mixes and matches.  I (quite smartly) have made sure that the two bags have equal amounts of our clothes each, so if one bag (God-forbid) gets lost, we still have one with clothes in it for the three of us.

(Auntie) Kim will be happy to read that I am about to head off to my local Coles Supermarket to purchase a list of goodies for her, since I do have room to spare for Violet Crumbles, Cherry Ripes, Strawberry-filled Freddo Frogs, Twisties and anything else I might just see.  

Just warning you now Kim, there is a little 3 year old you will be seeing, who would love to help you devour them!  

Six...

Look what Monet and I did the other day...

Yep. Made our own crayons.

Thanks to Matha Stewart via Kikimiss.

Very easy to do and a bit of fun was had by both Monet and I. But Monet is still not quite convinced that 'fat, round' crayons are for her. I will keep my eye out for some el-cheapo mini heart-shaped moulds that she should like.

Have you done anything 'crafty' lately?

Seven...

Queen. Of. Mean.

I am dreading less, the 24 hour plane journey with a 3 and a half year old girl...

Over the past few weeks or so, I have been buying bits and pieces to entertain her on the long haul over to Europe. Hopefully she'll be satisfied with this gift, I plan to present to her next week...




What little girl would not like about 1000+ stickers, a couple of colouring books, a paper doll book, new assortment of textas, crayons, pastels and paper all presented in a handy Dora carry bag? I can picture myself this time next week helping colouring and drawing (a big, big past time in our abode as of late).

I have also started the dreaded job of organising and packing our luggage. We've decided to take our big backpack and one middle-sized suitcase, with a handheld suitcase to take on board. I can always purchase another if needbe to bring back with us. As H&B tells me, she's the Queen of Mean, when it comes to packing so I am trying to follow in her footsteps. Packing light has never been a talent of mine but I think I am getting there.

Queen of Mean...Queen of Mean...Queen of Mean...Queenofmean...QueenofMean....

Eight...

When I speak to people with accents I realise just how 'Aussie' I sound. I tend to say 'Beawdie' a lot and 'terrific', I can't help it. When I say those words I can't help but think "Gees I sound Australian!"

I spoke to a lovely Frenchman, Thomas, from this website today (French Connection) and on Monday. Thomas with his thick French accent... Melody and her Aussie twang.

I booked a couple of tickets via the company, for Monet and I to visit Claude Monet's Garden in Giverny, 80 minutes out of Paris. A half day bus tour to the town and to Monet's house and Garden. I am pretty excited! It has been a long time coming, let me tell you, and I don't think I will believe it until I actually see it. Yippee.

Photo taken from French Connection's Website...

I love the fact that Monet, being 3, is free on most activities, including this Bus Trip. Lucky we're travelling with a 3 year old and not a 4 year old! *heehee*

I wonder what Lyndon will do with the five hours 'Melody-and-Monet-Free-Time'? I get a half day 'free-time' somewhere else. Fairs fair.

Can you tell I am getting excited?

The Big Countdown is on. Not long now. Eight days in fact...

Nine...

My parents flew out from Cairns last Thursday evening after a weeks holiday.

On Thursday we decided to revisit the Flecker Botanical Gardens which we had all visited very early on in the year. Both of my parents had enjoyed the Gardens then and enjoyed it again on Thursday, exactly four months after their first visit.

It is a lovely place to visit and I keep forgetting that it is there. I should go more often.


Monet loves the paths and bridges and reading the little signs explaining the plants origins. She also enjoys running about...

...especially when her Grandad is chasing her...


...and Grandma's arms are there to protect her.

We enjoyed lunch at the Garden's restaurant. We shared a cheese platter which went down a treat and an assortment of flavoured breads.

There are some amazing coloured plants in the gardens, many I had not seen on our previous visit.
I just love the blackness of those leaves above. Amazing!

I'm not sure when we'll get to visit the gardens again, but make sure when you're in Cairns you do! *Melody points her finger at you*

How Much Do I Love This Song?

The answer? A lot.



Not bad for a 16 year old girl from Melbourne eh?

(Gabriella Cilmi - Sweet About Me)

I Deserve a High Five

Guess who Monet and I met yesterday?...

...That's Hi-5 in case you weren't 'savvy' with children's entertainment. (Including new member, Casey, who is replacing the retired Charli, along side Stevie who replced Tim at the end of 2007...)

I'm certainly in the good books with Monet after we missed out on tickets to their Cairns shows being held today and tomorrow. It is a little like missing the boat with those bloody tickets. By the time stuff had settled down around here from last week (and kind of forgetting to be honest) all tickets to their four, 40 minute shows were sold out. But I made it up by getting Monet to come face to face with her idols/stars...

Yeah, I win Mother of the Year award.

Just by chance yesterday I went to our local shopping plaza, 'Smithfield Center' on the hunt for a tie for Lyndon (another story that one!) Lyndon had mentioned that he did read in the local paper that Hi-5 were making an appearance at the KMart store there, but he had no idea of the time or day for that matter.

I saw a big poster as I walked in at 2:40pm, saying that Hi-5 were in store from 3-4. I rang up Lyndon who immediately got Monet to change (from her bloody ratty-looking fairy dress) into some clean threads and dropped Monet off just before 3pm along with my camera. It was certainly a team effort. (Thanks Husband!)

Into KMart we went, grabbed the new Hi-5 DVD (something HAD to be purchased for the group to sign - you just couldn't rock up without purchasing something, they, both Hi-5 and KMart must make an absolute killing in merchandise sales!)

We found (finally) the end of the line and stood patiently. There would have been about, well at least felt like, 200 people ahead of us. A couple of more people stood behind us and then the line was stopped by staff. It was 10 past 3. We were lucky to say the least. We waited and waited. Monet was brilliant. There was no wanting something to eat or drink or no toilet runs. There was no touching stuff, just a little girl standing besides me clutching her new DVD in line to see Hi-5.

Our time came.

Monet was star-struck. In fact, I think I was too.

(We like Sun the best! That's her in the photo behind Monet)

Back at home Monet could not stop smiling.

My job here is done.

A Perfect Day...

Lucky for us, the rain held off but we could see it on the horizon of the Great Barrier Reef. We sat on cushioned wooden chairs overlooking the sea through the palm trees swaying lazily in the breeze... Sounds nice doesn't it? Well that is because it was. The start of our reception on the lawns of the Far Horizon's Restaurant, part of the Asagna Resort in Palm Cove.

We had waiters presenting our drinks to us (champagne for me thanks) and a delicious array of canapes and cocktail finger food to indulge in. And there was heaps of food. More than what I expected. The Wedding Planner of the resort told me there would be ample food for our party and she was right. Considering it was a late lunch (our reception/drinks began at 2pm) which blended into the evening, I know we were all full.

Our food included Barramundi Spring Rolls, Cherry Tomato and Parmesan tartlets (Monet loved these!), Smoked Salmon on cucumber...

Smoked Chicken pate on mini corn pancakes (let me tell you - they were divine!), assorted sushi rolls, seared Tuna Niscoise, basil risotto with fried Halloumi cheese, Thai green curry (served in wee little noodle boxes)...oh the list goes on. So much yummy food. Worth the money, that is for sure, because it was immaculately presented and it was just enough for the 12 of us.

It did eventually begin to rain and we were then shown a little area on the side of the restaurant that we then claimed as our own. We had a few comfortable cane couches to lounge upon and some lovely single chairs with a couple of coffee tables in the center. Not that much coffee was drunk mind you, it was champagne and beer all round I think.

Lyndon's parents left to catch their flight back to Melbourne in the early evening and at about 10pm (I think! - I had no idea of the time all afternoon, I was having too a good time to worry about things like time!) my parents headed back to their hotel, taking our Princess Monet with them. It was the first time she had slept away from her mum and dad, but she didn't care - she was staying at a hotel with her Grandparents. (Apparently she didn't fall asleep for ages which is pretty typical and never returned home to our place till about 6:30pm on the following evening!!)

There was seven of us remaining and we enjoyed each others company for another hour or so before we finished up. And paid the bill. (Owch!)

We had a fabulous time and we were lucky to spend our special day with some of our most special friends and parents. Even though neither of Lyndon's siblings could make it (my new Sister-in-Law and Brother-in-Law,) or my sister, they weren't far from our thoughts, but we knew they were there in spirit. And besides, we'll be seeing my sister in two weeks time to celebrate anyway - hmm, maybe a duty-free bottle of Moet is on the cards! *wink wink*

At the end of the evening, back at our home, Lyndon, my husband *giggle giggle* said that they day could not have been more perfect. I agree. We did it our way, in our little area of Australia, in a place we love, we felt good, our child was very well behaved and it was not over the top, or not us. It was us. It was our special day spent with special people.

*smile*

...and then we were Husband and Wife...

Everything went to plan and we had the most brilliant Wedding day. Our plans went smoothly and it was exactly like we wanted, a small intimate wedding party at one of our favourite places, Palm Cove. No formality, just happy people on the foreshore, followed by constant nibbles and copious amounts of drinks to follow on the grassy lawns of the Far Horizon's Restaurant. It was our idea of perfection.

I was never going to be a white wedding bride with a hundred odd guests. I'm not one to wear white (to begin with) and I'm not one who likes attention. We only organised the wedding about 5-6 weeks ago after ditching our plans we made back in November. I'm glad we ditched those plans and organised this wedding when we did. To us, it couldn't have been more perfect.

My parents arrived Thursday evening as I dashed out the door to go to the hairdressers for a cut. Lyndon's parents arrived Friday lunch time, just after Lyndon and I had met the Marriage Celebrant for the first time and discussed what was to happen. We even choose the spot we were going to be married at the same time. (I organised and basically planned this wedding via a Wedding Planner on the internet - even chose my bouquet this way!) Friday was our first proper meeting with the Planner. Unreal hey?

Our four close friends from Melbourne arrived on Friday evening. The three of us met and greeted them at the airport and took them in two separate cars to their resort in Palm Cove. A car for the boys, a car for the girls. (Our other guest, also from Melbourne, was already up here.)

No one had seen my dress, let alone me in it, (bar Monet of course) until Saturday Midday when I opened up my bedroom door and asked my mother to 'help with the zipper'. I did my own hair (it's short), complete with a diamante bobby pin (a must have don't you think?) and my own make up. I never wear make up. On the odd occasion I do but I'm not one to wear it. I lashed out and bought some 'proper' stuff. I didn't want someone to charge $60 to do my make up - I'm not one for eyeliner (refuse to wear it) and I know I just wanted a simple 'Melody' look.

The tiny bottle of Champagne went down very (very) well as I sat on the couch with my parents and Monet, our little Princess who looked beautiful and behaved the way she should have - perfect. But Monet said she was nervous. Her tummy felt funny apparently, she told me in the back seat of the car as we drove the 5-odd minutes up to Palm Cove. Poor love.

Do you know how great I felt as I walked the footpath to the area where Lyndon, his parents and our five friends were waiting? Bloody marvellous, that's how!

I cannot begin to tell you how nervous Lyndon was, obviously the couple of beers beforehand did nothing to calm his nerves. He looked very handsome...

I think I smiled my way through the ceremony and spoke in a clear voice when saying our vows...

Monet clung to my legs and wandered down to the sand for a look. That was how I wanted her to be. Herself. And she was.

After 'the kiss'...

...and the signing of our certificate, we popped open a couple of bottles of champagne and drank from crystal goblets. It was perfect. Everyone was happy and smiling and proud. Maybe that was just me?

*heehee*

So that was our ceremony. Stay tuned for the 'reception'...