Feeding the 'roos.

It has been school holiday here for the past week and the girls and I have done a few things together.  Yesterday, my girlfriend and I thought we'd meet up at the Cairns Tropical Zoo with our children for an hour or so.  (The zoo isn't that big, but entertaining enough for little children who think it is 'the pants'.)

Now Miss Lily has decided that feeding the kangaroos IS the GREATEST thing ever.  I'm pretty sure Monet (now supporting a shorter 'do') thinks the same, and I can see why.  It is a pretty special thing...

There are other (mainly) native animals in the zoo, but I have to admit, the kangaroos are the favourite animals with us.

It is always nice to see joy in your children's faces.  Even if they are posing with their head in a billboard.

Lily has turned into a little terror the last couple of weeks and has really found her feet.  By saying that I mean if she sees a space to run, she runs!  Oh my.  Not long after this photo was taken with her and little A (both born in the same week), she was off!  *sigh*

As I said before, the zoo isn't that big and is easily done in an hour.  I am planning on taking the girls again next week to see the Crocodile Show which runs in the afternoon (we went in the morning yesterday.)  The zoo is home to loads of them so it'll be a change to see them active than the usual lazing about.

Back Where We Began

So, after arriving back in Australia in January, staying in country Victoria with family for six weeks, heaving our suitcases up to a furnished apartment for four weeks in the suburb of Cairns we once called home, finding a rental property in that same suburb (which are as rare as hen's teeth) and moving in there, 10 weeks later we found ourselves back where our hearts belong....back in our own apartment.  

I broke the lease of the house we called home for a short time, when we found out that the tenant in our apartment had given notice and was moving out.  As luck would have it, there is such a shortage of rental houses up in this neck of the woods, that a new tenant was found after advertising for one weekend, so I didn't feel too bad. 

We moved back 'home' last weekend.  (Yeah, we are expert packers and movers.)

It feels great to see all our stuff back in the place it belongs...

It is a bit cold now for the pool, but the complex pool still looks very inviting....

The view from our balcony has changed somewhat - the trees have grown a lot over our three and a half year absence.

But my kitchen is still the same and I love it.  The family have been getting some half decent meals for a change! *heehee*

We are happy here, in the meanwhile, until the next adventure (whenever that shall be), begins....

Winter is Definitely Here...

But winter in the north of Australia is much different to the winter in the south of the country!

To us in Far North Queensland, it means cool mornings (of around 15 degrees) and beautiful sun filled, blue, cloudless skies and the temperature steady at 25 degrees.

It is also the time of year when the Coral Sea changes from a murky, sandy brown (due to continual rain and rivers flowing into the ocean) to beautiful sea greens and blues.

It also means you can eat ice creams without them melting instantly.   But you can still get them all over your face given half a chance.

I can't stand being cold for too long (I get sick of hearing myself whinge) so I think living in the tropics suits us all...

Iron Man Triathlon

We went to go on a 'Sunday drive' yesterday but as soon as we left, we remembered something as we got stuck in slow moving traffic...

The Iron Man Triathlon.

There were something like 3000 competitors who attempted the course - though there was a half version (photographed here by me!) and a full version, which started and ended in Cairns city via Port Douglas up the Captain Cook Highway.

Yesterday the gods were truly smiling as it was the most beautiful topical day, after a week of continuous 'grey' and rain.

You really have to admire the men and women who do triathlons, in fact any form of strenuous exercise for such a long period of time.

Monet wanted to know if any of the competitors would spew in the car on the way home, like she did after her School's Cross-country run.  (I had to giggle at that and said 'yeah, probably!')

You can read more about the event here.

Traveling The World In Skirts

I love the series of skirts I have made involving travel.  Many (many) moons ago (ahem, about 10 years ago), I vividly remember seeing this woman in Chapel Street (in Melbourne) wearing this gorgeous A-Line skirt which was covered in 'Dublin Doors'.  

(Thanks to Google Images)

(I'm always on the hunt for the same fabric so if anyone knows where I can purchase some, point me in the right direction can you?)  When I wear my 'London' skirt I think of the skirt that initially inspired me. 

I love wearing my 'I Love Paris' skirt.  It reminds me of the times we have visited previously.

I am yet to wear this skirt, 'New York, New York'.  I love it too, but I haven't ventured to that city (yet) and feel a little hypicritical if I was to wear it.

I too love this following skirt, but as I haven't visited NY, I feel I can't wear it.  Silly, I know, but I might actually make myself one in this fabric because it is striking.  (And I love anything a little different.)

I do wear this one, 'Return to Sender'.  I love me a bit of blue. =)

Good For A Giggle

I think one of Monet's favourite activities is dressing up her little sister.  Lily loves it just as much.  

The other day, Lily came out dressed in Monet's old Abu Dhabi school uniform, complete with cap and not one, but two backpacks.  It is a wonder she didn't topple backwards.  Oh yes, that's right, she did (in a fit of giggles!)

Monet pulled out her old school swimmers/bathers/togs.  We laughed for ages over that as Lily's nappy was sitting out of the back cutout.  She could get away with wearing them (size 8) if she wasn't actually half that size.

Olympic swimmer in the making perhaps? 

Barron Gorge Hydro

I decided today, that after school pick up, I would take the girls up to the Barron Gorge Hydro center.  

Last Thursday evening, the area between Port Douglas and Cairns received close to 250mm.  Traveling to school on Friday, the Barron River, which we have to cross to get to school, was flowing very fast.  My aim was to see at least some of that water flowing fast.  

I was a little disappointed that the river wasn't actually flowing like we had seen before, but it is still spectacular to see.  

And to think this area is about a 15-20 minute drive from where we live.

I love the fact that the river helps makes electricity with the capacity to power thousands and thousands of homes.

Just down the river from the Gorge, is Lake Placid.  There used to be a little bar/cafe on the waters edge four years ago but now it is all boarded up and looking a little sad.  And to be honest, it is kind of a little 'spooky' down there when there is no one around.  But the girls still loved it.

And when you take a step back, it really is beautiful.

Mother's Day 2012

Hard to believe sometimes that these two little faces below belong to two little humans I helped make.  Weird.  

We had a pretty lovely day yesterday, celebrating Mother's Day.  MrL went and bought McDonald's for breakfast which I really appreciated.  (I usually cook us a breakfast every Sunday here in Australia and in Abu Dhabi I cooked breakfast every Friday.)

I did well with the Mother's Day present loot.  Perfume, a cook book and Monet chose well at the school Mother's Day stall.   She even gave me a present they had put together in her classroom.  "It's meant to be a joke Mum", Monet kept saying as I tried my hardest to compose myself and not cry.  lol.  (I spoke to a couple of other mothers at school today and they all said the same!)

Lunch time saw the four of go to one of my favourite spots in Cairns, to Mondo's.  There is something about this place I just enjoy.  I think the rest of Cairns thought the same with the number of people there!

Monet got a couple of comments from a couple of 20-something girls, who had taken their mother out for lunch.  I saw them looking at the four of us as we sat at the table next to them.  When they got up to leave about twenty minutes later, they came over to Monet and said that they seriously "loved" Monet's look, especially the frames.  "Keep wearing them, they are very, very cool and stylish..."  Such a giggle!  And then the mum piped in and said "Cool!" and gave Monet the big thumbs up.  Funny.

We wandered back to the car and enjoyed the stroll along the boardwalk and down towards the Lagoon.  The girls walked hand in hand and chatted away about such silly things, it made me smile.

A really nice Mother's Day.  2013 has big shoes to fill.