Today I confirmed, as my inclinations suggested, that 'less is more', when planning a day with young children, and that their exhaustion can be your best friend. Having both Michael and Annie with me alone for a change, I'd initially thought I might do something ambitious, and take them into the city (a cramped but short bus ride, or 25 minute walk but with more pleasant train journey at the end) to go to the WA State Library, which was recommended to me as a place to take children by the wonderful woman at the WA Museum when I went with Michael.
On being told by Cherie that Paul was likely to want to Skype with the children at about 2pm our time, and having done a run down by the river at 5.30 this morning (Michael is a v. effective alarm clock) I decided instead to head to the playground near Kindy, in order to also get to the Post-Office and sort out my long-overdue postcards/parcels for various people.
When I attempted to go into the Post-Office on the way to the park though, both Annie and Michael kicked up a stink (Annie was actually tearful about it, which is pretty unusual for her - I think she was fazed by the fact that we were walking the route to Kindy, but going somewhere different), and I relinquished, taking them to the park first instead.
We had a long run around - although both were more interested in sliding down the poles that held up the swing set, and watching two men cut the grass, than anything legitimately proffered by the playground as entertainment - Michael though, endearing as ever -has taken to shouting 'Weeeee' at the top of his voice when engaging in outdoor pursuits, which makes him at least look and sound as if he's having fun.
Having successfully tired both out, the post-park Post-Office trip was far more successful, and I managed to buy stamps, envelopes, and address and weigh/post two parcels (filling in lengthy customs and excise info (embarrassingly having to detail the exact tacky Australiana I was sending), and even having to hand over I.D(!) whilst they merrily sang (on Annie's part) and charmed strangers (on Michael's part).
On being told by Cherie that Paul was likely to want to Skype with the children at about 2pm our time, and having done a run down by the river at 5.30 this morning (Michael is a v. effective alarm clock) I decided instead to head to the playground near Kindy, in order to also get to the Post-Office and sort out my long-overdue postcards/parcels for various people.
When I attempted to go into the Post-Office on the way to the park though, both Annie and Michael kicked up a stink (Annie was actually tearful about it, which is pretty unusual for her - I think she was fazed by the fact that we were walking the route to Kindy, but going somewhere different), and I relinquished, taking them to the park first instead.
We had a long run around - although both were more interested in sliding down the poles that held up the swing set, and watching two men cut the grass, than anything legitimately proffered by the playground as entertainment - Michael though, endearing as ever -has taken to shouting 'Weeeee' at the top of his voice when engaging in outdoor pursuits, which makes him at least look and sound as if he's having fun.
Having successfully tired both out, the post-park Post-Office trip was far more successful, and I managed to buy stamps, envelopes, and address and weigh/post two parcels (filling in lengthy customs and excise info (embarrassingly having to detail the exact tacky Australiana I was sending), and even having to hand over I.D(!) whilst they merrily sang (on Annie's part) and charmed strangers (on Michael's part).
The rest of the afternoon culminated in making pea and ham soup (I'm getting delusionarily Delia thanks to the wonders of Cherie's Thermomix) and continually checking the PC to see whether Paul had logged in to Skype. It was pretty frustrating actually that I largely planned the day around this 2pm Skype date (which, after Cherie calling semi-anxiously from work, turned into 'maybe 3 or 4pm'...I'm guessing Paul is sadly no more organised in the UK than he was here) which never happened. Guess I'll know for next time that it's only a casual arrangement.
There was just time left in the evening to watch another episode of Aussie Masterchef, to which I have become addicted (it featured Rick Stein...whose kindly and calming British mannerisms made me feel mildly homesick again), do some nice wooden puzzles with Annie and Michael (and laugh at Michael's improvisation for a bottle warmer, which resulted in him drinking out of Cherie's Uggs), and have a thorough discussion with Cherie on the merits of the iPod Touch, and various Elmo lots on Ebay before bed.
There was just time left in the evening to watch another episode of Aussie Masterchef, to which I have become addicted (it featured Rick Stein...whose kindly and calming British mannerisms made me feel mildly homesick again), do some nice wooden puzzles with Annie and Michael (and laugh at Michael's improvisation for a bottle warmer, which resulted in him drinking out of Cherie's Uggs), and have a thorough discussion with Cherie on the merits of the iPod Touch, and various Elmo lots on Ebay before bed.
Night night!
A xx
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