Australia zoo

An invitation to join the Ruchardsons at Australia Zoo sounded fabulous. After 10 days of solo parenting, I thought some adult company would be just what I needed. 

The croc shoe was definately a highlight, although after seeing so many in the wild we weren't as amazed as I was on my previous visit. It certainly is a very polished show. I think Steve Irwin would be very proud of the team that are running the zoo. 

Jed was comforting Charlotte during the croc show as she feigned fear.

We were lucky enough to come across this four year old Cheetah as it was out for a walk. The Cheetah's are not actually on display at the zoo so this was a bonus.

I must say if all the zoos we have visited, Australia Zoo would be up there as a favourite.

Thanks again to the Richardsons for a great day of laughs & fun, as always!

Solo

More Christmas craft. I fit so much into my day when the sun comes up at 4.45. This was before breakfast. 

Paper plate Christmas trees. 

After breakfast we headed out for a wheel alignment & a wander around the shops. I've agreed to host Friday night drinks, as is the custom at Graham & Libs. Noela suggested we transfer drinks to the pool so the kids can swim. What a fabulous idea. Carol, Noela & myself chatted & enjoyed a beverage, whilst the kids swam & ate chips. What a lovely afternoon. 

This hasn't happened for ages but it's a great way to save water.

What else would you do of an evening in Brisbane? Let's go cane toad hunting.

Today we headed to Jason & Teal's for a BBQ/swim day. The kids got on famously & really didn't want to leave. We may call in for a cuppa on our way past on Friday, as they are heading down the coast.

Aurora is a terribly unsettled baby. She fell asleep in the middle of all the chaos.

Being solo, with the kids, whilst travelling is no fun. International work trips are the WORST because I can barely even speak to Michael due to time differences. I especially dislike the weekends. No matter where you go you are surrounded by families enjoying family time & I really miss him. 

Having said that, we are heading to Movieworld tomorrow. I really don't feel like it but the kids are busting & we already have the passes. 

On a positive note, Roger is behaving!

Roger

Mechanic arrived Wednesday, as organised with my shiny new radiator.

As we were pulling the old radiator out we cracked a plastic cover from the radiator fan. We need a replacement because it's part of the support for the radiator. The only one we can find is from Toyota & it's $250.

Doesn't look like $250, does it. Another day at home. We'll try again tomorrow (Thursday). 

Christmas craft to while away the hours. we've baked, cleaned, done school work. One of our lovely neighbours even invited us for a swim. Hopefully we'll have a car tomorrow. 

Yes, after preparing me the possibility of further damage to the motor, all is good. Just short of $2,000 & I have to check fluid levels for a few days to make sure we don't have an air lock anywhere. I hope Michael is proud of me (lol).

There's no greater way to celebrate than with a swim at Redcliffe with the lovely Richardsons. We hadn't told them we were coming so the kids reaction was awesome. 

Nice selfie girls :-)))

Brisbane

The good news is that I found a mobile mechanic, on a recommendation from Graham & Libby's neighbour. He came out first thing Monday morning and....Roger needs a new radiator. How much would you expect to pay? $900 plus fittings! Just in parts we're looking at $1,245 and it's not fitted. We just have our fingers crossed that there's no other damage when he does the pressure test. 

Libby & Graham kindly offered use of their car so after a successful morning if school & the fabulous news about the car, we headed to Redcliffe for a swim.  A huge lagoon but it's fed by the sea which is nice. I even managed to reverse park the Suzuki. 

Today we did a few hours of school & then I mowed the lawn. After 12 months I was impressed that I could start the whipped snipper. I can hardly lift my arms  :-). This afternoon I though we needed some fun so our school sport was water balloon fights. It never gets tired for a laugh. I got smashed when they all ganged up on me!

Mechanic has the parts & will be here in the morning. Fingers crossed for another swim tomorrow afternoon. 

Farewell Gold Coast

So I farewelled my boy again but this time at 4am. That's just stupid o'clock. He's been booked on a 34hour flight to Germany. Should be a fun way to spend his weekend.

My mission is to find my way back to Libby & Graham's. As is always the case, something is bound to go wrong when Michael is away, or about to leave. Roger has started overheating. I watched that temp gauge the whole way home & left the air conditioning off. I got home but we still have a problem. 

On the way home we made a detour to the Carrera markets. It was so hot that we only had a very brief look before Keira started to feel sick. The worst thing...I couldn't put the air conditioner on & it gets so hot in the back of that car.

 We spent the afternoon creating beautiful headwear. What do you think Libby?

I think I'll try to track down a mobile mechanic on Monday. I got under the car & we are losing coolant. I don't want to risk damage to the motor &, if I do drive it to a repairer, how do we all get home...grrr! I do love a challenge. 

Gold coast

It was a stinker here today, as it was everywhere else. Michael has been booked a 5.55am flight out of Brisbane. It is not possible for the Lynns to be packed & dropping dad at the airport at 4.30 so dad has booked a hire car. The cheapest is a Nissan micra. He's taking the little girls on a tram adventure to pick it up.

They are very excited. 

Even a new hairdo for the occasion. When Michael returned Keira & I had a date to Pacific Fair shopping centre...OMG! It's ridiculous. My biggest concern was that I wouldn't be able to find my HUGE car...the micra. 

It looks as though we'll escape the Gold Coast just in time for schoolies to kick off tomorrow :-)))

Tweed Heads

Ok...so as we've travelled around this great country of ours, we've come to realise that crossing from one state to another makes you feel like a Mexican. Rules are different, costs are different, terminology is different. What you can & can't take across the border is different.  Well, car rego is no different. We decided that, to save the hassle, we'd just drive down the road, into NSW & get a roadworthy, pick up rego papers & done. Queensland do not need an annual inspections, and therefore do not have an e-check system...grrrr!

Michael dropped us at Kirra Beach for a swim, while he dropped the car off. Of course, in troopy style, nothing is ever that easy. E-check turned into five hours. There were a few repairs needed to the shocks. Let's just say we are all a little sun kissed. 

Tough spot for a picnic!

Remember, before children, when we could have had an afternoon nap...instead a tower (lol). 

A quick trip to the RMS to get a copy of the rego papers & I should be able to pay online tomorrow. Job well done!