My Melbourne Trip

Something I had always wanted to do was go on a holiday with my Mum and sisters, just the girls!  But sadly we never had the chance before Mum passed away 2 years ago.  

So I put the idea forward to both my sisters that we hit Melbourne for 5 nights!! One sister has a trip planned for next year so decided to give it a miss so my other sister and I got to it and started planning.

It was such a lovely time but sooooo exhausting!!!

Not to mention May is not the best time of year to go to Melbourne.  I found the weather alot like Wellington.  Cold, windy and wet.  But that's okay if you pay money to see a city you have to see it I guess. So the trusty old puffer jacket was an essential.  And an umbrella was a waste of time.

Not to mention the transport system....... which is AWESOME when you work out how to use it!!!

It took us one day to get our bearings.  And two days to work out the transport.  The first day we walked out of our motel and walked into town.  We knew we were staying on Londsdale St but when it was time to get out the map and head home (whilst feet are dying) we realized we didn't know which end of the street our motel was on.  The lady at the info center asked if we walked up hill or down hill as we walked to town. We had no idea. 

And on the second to last day after walking everyday to find a tram station, we realized we were 20 meters from one of the big tram stations.  Which is why every morning when we stepped out of our motel we were picked up by a stampede of what I called ants at work!  Everyone was getting off at the station all wearing black business suits on their way to work.

As you can see there was not much use doing the hair!

The highlight of my trip was Sovereign Hill village at Ballarat, which is a working historical village which you can purchase products from and the people are dressed in character.

Having a sing along around a fire.

  Tending the vegie garden.

One of the shop ladies.

I actually found gold!! And brought it home a little bottle.

Schools have camps at the village and dress in costume and re-live the daily routine of a child in the early mining days.

The queens birthday celebration.

Dinner at a VERY flash restaurant.  Check out the size of the wine glass!!

   

The historical buildings are so beautiful.

 The main street entertainment was cool and watching the little kids dancing in the street.

We thought we would walk to the markets for the morning, but who would have known it would take a whole day to get around the whole place.  It was truly an experience. 

A cute little french cafe at the markets.

Now this is the tram we had to look out for. The 'city circle'.

My sister Charlene and I riding the tram.  It was alot of fun!  We had some great conversations with strangers.

This is us waiting for the next tram.  We got off at the wrong stop and had to wait 15 mins for the next tram.  Was very funny!!

And this is literally what I did at the end of every day!!! 

We never cooked a meal but we also didn't eat out every night.  We were too shattered!! We ordered in a few times.

It was a great trip with great memories!! And it was lovely to spend that time with my sister.  Even tho she probably got really tired and frustrated with my map reading and direction skills.  (not my gifting)

I appreciated the opportunity to share this experience and memories with my sister.  

We will have to plan another one so all 3 of us can go!!!!

A Family Day.

We woke on a beautiful clear Sunday morning and decided it would be a great day to see the view from the top of Wairere Falls.  

So after lots of coaxing ( I could have easily given up)  we packed up a backpack and off we went.

I must say, it isn't easy to keep positive and excited about a family day out when the girls just won't play the game.  Yes, you could say we dragged them into the car.

But........ once we were on our way, all was well.

I am always the joke of the day, because I am (I will admit) the most unfit in the family. I start at the front and always end at up at the back. But that's okay I can live with that.  At least I join in!

There is such beautiful views to take in......

Look at this view!!

 

It was a 20 min reasonably steep climb to the look out with quite a few steps......

And another hour to the top.  We really had to talk the girls into going to the top. We assured them they didn't just want to go HALF way!!

And Mike assured us it wasn't as steep from here on.  (cough cough)

Kaysha being a tree hugger

But the view at the top was WELL worth it!!! And even the girls admitted that.

Yes it was thirsty work!

This photo freaked me out when I first saw it.

We hung out at the top for close to half an hour resting and refuelling. Then to tackle the trip down, which of course is much faster.  Mike, Kaysha and Tahlia chose to run most of it.

And still lots of love to go around.

From the time we got out of the car until we got back in was 3 hours.  No world record I know, but we certainly enjoyed the journey.  And it was a way better way to spend the day than on technology etc.

Four days later..........my calf muscles are still sore and I look really odd going down steps :(  But the girls have forgotten the pain already and would love to do it again!! I make take a wee longer to forget.

So yes! even when your kids are not keen to get out and about and try something new, it is well worth blocking your ears to all the moaning and just pack the bag, force them into the car and GO! 

Traditions that never die........

It seems to take just as long to get a blog done as it did to scrapbook!!!  Especially when we have to take turns to use the computer.

At the ages of 14, nearly 12 and 10 we were thinking that the annual 'Easter Egg Hunt' may have come to an end.  But no, all I heard all week was 'are we having an easter egg hunt?" are we having an easter egg hunt?"

So we went with it!  I don't know that this kind of tradition will ever end.

However we did start the Easter weekend with attending church on Thursday night to remember Jesus Crucifixion, followed by a traditional Passover dinner with Mikes brother and his family on Good Friday, and attended church on Sunday to celebrate Jesus Resurrection!!

12 of us sitting on the floor remembering the Passover

And following all of that, on Sunday afternoon we sent the children to the bathroom while we hid the easter eggs.  And the older they get the more creative we have to get.  They know that there is always an egg in the pot plant, or on the giraffes ears etc.

So here are some pics...........

Can you see the little yellow speck in the middle??

Too easy!

Not many in that basket.

This is Tahlias basket she made for homework.

And whilst eating all that yummy chocolate, OF COURSE we had to paint eggs.  Another tradition we have done for about 10 years now.  I'm disappointed I have no photos or anything of all the eggs in the past.  Because the artist element sure has come a LONG way over the past decade!!

Unfortunately Mike had to milk so didn't get to paint any this year :( We were hoping he would do an up-date of his caravan.  Last year he painted a replica of his pop-top camper except now the pop top has had a 'make over' 

So the fun begins..........

So these are some of our traditions that we love to share with the girls.  I do hope they will continue for much longer, because it is these times that we set aside as a whole family to 'hang out' together.