I had a “winter wig out”. It was nine months post relocation south to cooler climes in Melbourne and I was deep in a winter funk. The fact that I had spent the entire winter caring for germy children, and being myself a host to a million germs didn’t help. The September school holidays were…
Whether you feel like giving your kids a geology lesson, or just visiting a hidden gem of a picturesque walking trail Organ Pipes National Park is worth a visit. Formed as a consequence of one of the world’s largest lava flows the basalt columns have occurred as a result of cracking and cooling lava (over…
An hour from Melbourne in the picturesque Dandenong Ranges we discovered just what half a million tulips look like. Spectacular. The Tesselaar Tulip Festival has a 60 year long history of turning a working tulip farm into a major tourist drawcard for the Dandenongs. We visited in children’s week which meant there were enchanting extras…
Allegedly when I first visited the beach aged 9 months my mother placed me on a blanket within the strict confines of a playpen. Not to be contained I managed to scoop handfuls of sand into my mouth – the consequence being that I pooped sand for days. The moral of the story is…
Spectacular spring weather led us down today to an enticing bend of the Yarra River in Warrandyte. My four year old son had one thing on his mind – feeding the ducks, and came armed to the task with half a loaf of stale bread. My heart swelled with pride as my little animal…
A bit of happy dancing is going on in our house this week and not only on the part of the kids. The reason – it is Melbourne Show Week. Visiting the Melbourne Show was one of my most beloved childhood traditions and whenever I get the chance I visit agricultural shows all around Australia.…
My kids asked me the other days when the olden days were. It was a question that gave me pause for thought. I asked them when they thought it was, and they said when their grandma was a girl (the 1940s and 1950s) I said I thought it was probably when my grandma was a…
There is a reason I haven’t featured any family friendly properties in Sydney on this blog before. The reason is that despite visiting Sydney often with my kids I am usually disappointed with our accommodation. This disappointment is sometimes due to price – Sydney is fabulous, and popular for being fabulous hence hefty accommodation…
I struggled a little with what to call this post. Runners up in the title stakes were “The House of no sleep goes on a holiday” and “The house of cruddy lungs goes on holiday”. Ultimately though the “House of germs goes on holiday” seemed most apt. Because that is what our family is, a…
“Gardening is an act of faith in the future” the sign reads at the entrance to Veg Out, Saint Kilda’s organic community garden. Saint Kilda has long been famous for sex and drugs so a public demonstration of faith in the future by the individuals and community groups that tend more than 140 plots in…