Winter?

Monet and I are now on the Final Count Down to our date with a silver jet.  Two weeks today we would have been already reunited with our Lyndon.  We are missing him terribly but knowing that it isn't many more sleeps helps a lot.  He feels the same.  Five weeks apart is just too long for all involed.  But we are coping and we are all safe and well, besides being a little cold.  Well, Monet and I are a little cold, not Lyndon.  

It is icy cold outdoors today.  None of us would be at all surprised if it actually snowed (remembering we are eights day away from Summer here in Australia!)  I have friends camping this weekend near Cape Liptrap and I was planning a visit, but I have had second thoughts.  

Monet and I have spent the past week at both sets of (Grand)parent's homes.  We have spent time with Monet's cousins...

and visiting one of my old friends in Inverloch, who has a dog Monet quite adored...  

This week Monet and I are venturing to Melbourne and popping in to visit H&B which I am looking forward to, and having a shop in Chadstone with both of Monet's Grandmothers.  

I am hoping the weather cheers up, these cold grey days are doing my head in.  Tracey in Townsville (about 400-odd kilometers south of Cairns) is sitting beside her air-conditioner today and here I am, sitting snug by the Coonara trying to defrost my frozen toes.  

I know where I'd rather be if given a choice. 

Yep, that's right, with Lyndon.

For Monet...

Monet is seriously in love with the following song, by French trio 'Le Tone'. The song is called 'Paris Delhi'... Keep an ear out for the lyrics "Bollywood, Delhiwood...Spicy food, very good"...

I know it is probably not everyone's cup of tea but it seriously makes me smile, especially when Little Miss attempts to sing it.

(Thanks to Nanna and Poppy for having the CD in their car when driving to Melbourne a few weeks back when Lyndon was around.)

Ladybird, Ladybird...

When staying at Lyndon's parents house the other night and enjoying the lovely warm evening, Monet and I were playing (?) in the backyard.  She was busy riding the trike they have available for the grandchildren to use, when she spotted a Ladybird in the grass.  

It ends up there were more than one.

Dozens in fact.

Monet collected as many as she could, happily placing them in the trike's 'bucket' and rode around, taking them on a little ride until they flew off to their homes... 

So in her Nanna and Poppy's garden there are many Ladybirds to be found.  At her Grandma and Grandad's garden there are little fairies to be found.  Including this big one...

Gee she looks happy doesn't she?  *smirk*

In other news, guess who gets to spend the weekend in Melbourne (with friends) beginning tomorrow, without a little somebody???  Meeeeeee......yippeeeeeeee.......

A Coat and a Jab

I've been sorting through my old wardrobe here at my parent's house.  I have been finding lots of things long forgotten about including this little number, modeled by our own beautiful four year old Miss Monet...

The winter jacket was actually worn by me, when I was four.  I think my Grandmother had bought it for me, to wear on those cold, winter days when I went to Kindergarten.  (Well, Monet won't be wearing that when she goes to Kindergarten now will she?)  It is in rather perfect nick and if we were residing in Victoria permanently she'd be wearing it now.  

Monet thought it was rather wonderful to be wearing her mum's 31 year old coat.  I wonder what else I might dig up in that wardrobe?  (Plenty of junk waiting to be piffed no doubt!)

In other news I had three jabs in my arms yesterday.  My right arm was so sore last night I couldn't lift it.  I had a bad night sleep, due to being not able to sleep on my preferred side.  (Don't you hate that?)  Monet had to have two jabs but she has been fine.  Who would wanna move to the UAE?  *wink wink*

Itchy Feet

I got my car yesterday - it was transported from Cairns to Melbourne via truck.  It is nice to have my own wheels again and Monet was thrilled to have her own booster seat back.  It doesn't take much to please her....at times.  (Just don't go asking me how many times she's been grumpy lately!)

It feels like the middle of winter in country Victoria today.  Lyndon's parents had lit their fire because they knew Monet and I were popping in to visit for a while this morning.  Good thinking Nanna!

Lyndon's sister had her heater on when we spent a bit of time there today.  (I think she knew I'd whinge otherwise! *heehee*)  

Lyndon has settled nicely into life, half the world away from Monet and I.  He states it is the best decision we've ever made by moving over there.  He is looking at getting his two girls over there in the first week of December.   He has been busy shopping for a few needed items.  Like this oven for example...  (Nice shoes!)

See how nice and shiny and big it is.  And it is all mine!  *mwah haha*  Italian made, gas hot plates (haven't had gas hot plates for about 3 years!) and an electric fan-forced oven.  *sigh*  (In case you didn't know, all places in the UAE come without an oven and white and electrical goods are dirt cheap!)

Can't wait to go sitting by this pool too, which belongs to the place we will be living at...

I can already imagine Monet in there having a blast and me sitting on one of the pool lounges.

Roll on December!

(Flower shots taken in my parent's garden, the last two photos via Lyndon's mobile phone camera.)

When The Neighbours Are Away it is a Good Time to Play...

When growing up, if you ever went away, or the people next door went away, you would look after each others pets.  It was just something you did.  I used to love that job, feeding neighbour's pets, because usually their would be a cash fee involved.  *heehee*  

The family next door to my parents have gone away 'caravan-ing' for a few days (being an extra long weekend in this state).  Much to Monet's delight, Grandma has had the chore of feeding their pet bunny, Cottontail, in their absence.  

Also, much to Monet's delight, the family next door have four children, so there is plenty of activities to do over in their yard...

Much to my own delight, there were opportunities to take photos of a different garden.  *heehee*

(BTW, guess who backed the horse who came 2nd in the Melb Cup?  Thanks for the hot tip Lyndon!)

Busy Bee

Monet has been having a lovely time since arriving in Victoria.  And *spolit* too.  

She's been having a lovely time with her cousins, who all found Monet's 'Lace & Trace' good fun to do.  Nice, when you need a bit of quiet time yourself! (Isn't that right Nanna?) *smirk*

At her Nanna and Poppy's she loves riding their little old trike around the backyard.  (Monet has practically worn that jacket, hood and all, since we arrived!)

At her Grandma and Grandad's it is art/craft time.  Beading has been a hit here.  I'm scoring some lovely jewelry off her.

And painting, of course!

It has been a case of whatever Monet wants, she's basically getting.  (Is that a good or bad thing?)  Easy to justify as it may be sometime before she gets to spend such quality time with her Grandfolks again.

401

Very typical of me, but my last post was actually my 400th post on this version of biglittlesister.  I also forgot to wish my sister's partner a Happy Birthday for the week just past.  I hope I am excused - I have had a lot going on. (As if *you* all didn't know!)

We spent last weekend in Melbourne.  It was nice to do a spot of shopping in some half decent shops, but since when has Melbourne become so blue, tight jean orientated?  *blah* Living in Cairns I swear you can get away with wearing anything, anywhere, but since Melbourne is so fashion savvy it was a good excuse for us to buy a few new threads each.  We really liked the new(ish) DFO at Spencer Street.  (We liked it soooo much better than the Morrabbin Airport one we used to visit when we lived in Melbourne three years ago.)

Much to our delight, the weather was 'pleasant', even though the skies weren't blue.

  

It was nice to wander along Southbank again and meet up with friends at the Riverland Bar, down below Federation Square along the Yarra.   We like that outdoor bar so much, we visited it both on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

We met up with even more friends at a pub in Richmond and enjoyed a dinner out in a Beer Garden.  Monet and I didn't stick around too late as the Cox Plate had been run and there were too many horrible drunk people around, otherwise we had a rather good time.  

All up it was nice to spend a couple of nights in the town we once called home.  We stayed at Oaks on Market which we had stayed at once before.  It is in a good position, is reasonably priced (including buffet breakfast) and we will stay there again down the track.  We also had this view from our hotel room.

As much as we love Melbourne and as much as we tell people how much we are Melbourne people at heart, we know we're not ready to move back there.  Obviously there are other roads for us to travel at the present and according to this article in today's The Age, we've made the right decision.  (You have no idea how many people have asked Lyndon to 'take my business card with you' and asked to pass on their resume.  It is making us think the past 10 months have honestly been worth it and we got in at the right time.)

Today, Lyndon arrived safely in Abu Dhabi.  He is currently amazed by it all (the shops, the compound we'll be living in, the city, the palm trees, the current beautiful heat).  He has already told me how much he thinks Monet and I will love it.  I know he is right.  And I can't wait to get over there too now!

Monet and I are now at my parents.  I'm keen to have a drink in honour of all the good things life has in store for my little family at present and to celebrate over 400 posts!  (Any excuse, I know!)