another fantastic place

Yesterday morning we went out to Maylands Waterland which is on the east side of the city and about 15 minutes from here.  It is an awesome fun water park for little people with lots of swimming pools, none of which are deeper than 0.7 metres.  The boys had such fun wading in the water and playing games.  There are waterfalls and fountains to play in and baby pools that are as shallow as 10cm or 30cm.  The little pools have shade cover over them so are really great for babies to play around in.  There are streams for racing Pooh sticks and lots of shady areas to picnic.  We thought we would be there for a couple of hours but spent most of our day there.  My friend and I sat in the deepest pool chatting with our hats and sunglasses on for most of the morning.  Hugo and his friends took breaks from the water to play on the many jungle gyms and play equipment.  It really is just good summer fun. 

My job is great on days like this!!

We were all really exhausted last night and woke up to face a 40 degree day!  The air conditioner is working overtime and we are staying in doors for most of the day, only sneaking out for a swim at Ondine's pool later and to check the boards at school to see which class the boys are in!

bad jabs

As it turns out our boys are not completely fit to be in the Aussie school program as there are some vaccinations missing off the required schedule.  Russell was one of those children who just skipped the MMR while the Autism drama was on.  There is also a Men C vaccination that is required here and the clinic was not happy about some of the timing between some of the other jabs.  I have quickly learned that it is better to just fit in with the strict system and swim with the current.  So this week we have accumulated 7 pricks in the space of two visits to the clinic.  The good news is that they are free, the bad news is that Russell still needs two more in March and Hugo needs two more in June. 

We innocently stepped in to the clinic with our Lady Buxton cards today to get Russell's MMR.  The nurse went over each card carefully and the next thing I knew there were syringes being filled and emptied, plasters all round, lots of wailing and gnashing of teeth and the sweet jar had been depleted.  Interestingly my blonde boys (who shall remain nameless) do all the screaming.  The one with the curls who hangs around in the background steps forward and offers an arm without even flinching every time.  He still can't work out what all the fussing is about!

So here they are, nursing their wounds and pleading disability when I call for help with the chores.  Man flu, boy jabs, they are all the same.

Australia Day

These Aussies know how to do public holidays.  They don't just pay lip service to the event, they bring on the bells and whistles and shout the cause from the rooftops.  The city turns out in blue and red and flies the flag from every boat, gazebo, car and bike.  It's World Cup Soccer all over again for one day!

We started our day down at Deep Water Point, our local strip of the river.  We were four families and we all spent the morning kayaking, swimming and playing on the beach.  We took our turn on the communal barbecues for a mid morning brunch fry up and tucked into the champagne and OJ.  The river was full of boats pulling skiers and tubes.  There was a great holiday atmosphere.  The 20 somethings were having a party in one section of the riverbank and face paint was the norm, full blue Lycra body suits an acceptable option and Aussie flag bikinis par for the course.  What fun!

By 1.30pm we took the troops home for a rest and repacked the picnic baskets for the evening out.  We all regrouped at 4.30 and made our way to South Perth to claim our piece of grass along the riverbank to watch the city put on a show to remember.  There were jumping castles and fun rides all afternoon and by 6pm the planes were flying low overhead in perfect formation.  A massive Aussie flag drifted along the river towed by a helicopter.  Skydivers appeared as if by magic and banners trailed behind small planes as we waited for the main event.  The children had a great time rolling down the hill and scooting along the paths until they became just colourful glow bangles floating in space.  At eight o' clock the city was dark and the biggest and most beautiful fireworks display that I have ever witnessed played out in front of us with the city lights as a backdrop across the river.  The explosions came from several barges in the river as well as the tops of the city skyscrapers.  It was nothing short of spectacular and lasted 40 minutes!

We are not quite Aussies, but today we are feeling privileged to be part of this incredible spirit.

lazy summer days

We are still having holiday fun.  Our days are filled with walks, swims in the river, jumps off the jetty and picnics at all the lovely spots.  The boys are so relaxed and enjoying their lego and planx, rediscovering old toys, reading library books and honing their Wii skills.  Somehow, inspite of the busy days there is very little "lying-in" here and we are all up and active before 7am.  Rob slinks out in his suit just as we are downing our smoothies and planning our next outing.

I can't deny that there have been days that I have felt battle weary and like I am going slowly crazy.  Call me a princess, but this is my first seven week holiday without help and it has had its moments.  I have had three full-on little guys around me for 15 hours a day which can wear out the toughest amongst us.  There has been no Lara and Liesel or granny to take them off my hands overnight or for the day; no Mavis to leave them with while I shoot off for retail therapy or coffee.  Play dates have actually been quite lean as we are the new kids on the block.  The two families we are the closest to headed for Cape Town for the whole holiday!  We have had lots of invitations to meet for a play but no down time for mom!  On the whole I have had a blast, but I can't deny that it has felt very relentless at times.  Grocery shopping with three wild boys all over the trolley can test the patience of a seasoned mother.  There have been disagreements to mediate, games to play, speech therapy to keep up on, bikes to push,  traffic to navigate, ice cream trucks to negotiate, picnics to pack, cookies to bake, paintings to do, stories to read, trees to climb (to rescue small bodies), bums to wipe, meals to cook, clothes to wash and hang out, rooms to tidy, beds to make, and finally, three warm bodies to tuck in at night.  Phew!  It's the endless table manners, disputes, disciplining, explaining and listening that gets you.  "Feed them and they grow", I am told.  Let's hope.

I always felt guilty sitting with my feet up and a cup of coffee when Mavis was cleaning around me or playing with Hugo.  Now I long to do just that and seldom have the time.  That's the irony of life, I guess.

I am looking forward to the new term, I confess.  Our builder starts working on the new house in two weeks.  I start cleaning and painting over there too and we plan to move in a month's time.  This time finances and council delays dictate that we will have to live through some of the renovations but we won't be put off.  We are so excited about making a house a home again. 

But for now, we are meeting the gang at Zephyr Cafe for morning snacks and play.  This evening we are going north for a braai with the Jordans and tomorrow is a public holiday:  Australia Day.  We are all joining in the celebrations and fireworks.  It's 30 degrees, a bit cooler today and we are just about ready to go out.  I just  have to find the hats, pack the water bottles, hang out the washing, make the bed and unpack the dishwasher!  We'll get there eventually and I will somehow manage to get everyone's order right and cope with a milkshake falling over, too!  Holidays, you gotta love 'em.

across the river

We went to a kids' birthday party at Kings Park on the weekend.  Kings Park is a really beautiful botanical garden with amazing fountains, play areas and trees.  It is situated on the northern bank of the river just on the the city's edge.  We walked over the high suspended bridges which allow you to look across the Swan River back towards Mount Pleasant.  This photo shows the Canning bridge with its original wooden stilts in the distance that form part of my river running route.  The river takes a turn to the right just past the tall building into our area, Mount Pleasant.  The yachts on the right of the photo are part of the South of Perth yacht club which is a 4km run from home. 

But today is rest day.  I will just look at the view from here.

the six month mark

So we have made it to a milestone.  We have been living in Perth for six months already.  Wow, that's half a year!  The time has flown by while we have been very busy conquering all the many "firsts".  On reflection the overall experience has been very positive.  We have chosen our suburb and city well, we have dived head first into everything and given it all a go.  We have more friends than we expected to have at this point and there are still some more "firsts" to come.

This move has stretched us out of our comfort zone and given our lives a big kick in the butt.  We have put ourselves out there for scrutiny and have put our best collective foot forward.

The ten things I have learned in six months in Australia:

• Big Brother is most definitely watching me
• housework does count as a workout
• true friendships will survive the great divide
• Rob is more gorgeous without stress and excessive travel
• our boys are resilient and strong
• there are wonderful people wherever you go if you are open to meeting them
• you take yourself with you
• there is unique beauty in every new destination
• koala bears only live on the east coast of Australia
• it's tough not having a pool

flood disaster

The vastness and diversity of this country leaves me breathless.  Here we are in the south western corner of Australia in plus 38 degree heat, facing severe water restrictions as a drought sets in.  Our neighbours across on the east coast are in the middle of unbelievable and incomprehensible floods.  Brisbane, the state's capital, and 75% of Queensland (the largest state in Australia) have been declared a state of emergency with water levels rising by 21 metres.  The CBD of Brisbane is under water and 22,000 homes have been destroyed.  Many of the nation's head offices are in Brisbane and 5,000 companies have been put out of action.  The power has been cut to 128,000 homes and many people are considered lost.

The devastation is immense and the recovery will take years and billions of dollars.  This is a very sad day for Australia as the floods have been named the largest natural disaster in the country's history.

There is a television channel dedicated to reporting the news from Queensland as the water rises.  All of us have watched in horror as boats, shipping containers and cars have literally somersaulted down the raging torrents that are sweeping through the streets.  The powerful force of the water has ripped up roads, jetties and buildings as it flows fiercely to the sea.  Thousands of people have been left stranded and devastated by their loss.

As one reporter boldly put it this morning:  the nation is in the lap of God.  Us meagre mortals are powerless in the face of this force.  The encouraging part is how well the people of Queensland are managing the disaster and rallying forces to save people and property.  This is a country of extremes.

Today we are all grateful for our safety and comfort as our hearts go out to the many people left with nothing.

a boy's best friend

Russell and Griet



You probably think I have totally lost my mind but this funny little scrap of a dog has crept into our hearts.  Let's face it, she is much lower maintenance than Rip and is easily transportable everywhere.  We seldom leave home without her!

She swims in the river, runs under the kite, chases the seagulls, is remarkably friendly to other four legged creatures and eats just about anything.

The boys are delighting in her constant tail wagging and need for tummy scratches and we are all pandering to Ouma Griet's every whim!



Matilda Bay





A true friend for Adam



fair dinkum aussie

Hugo

At least one of us is...

If any of us mentions that we are from South Africa, Hugo corrects us by saying we are from Australia.  He has whole heartedly embraced the moment and insisted on purchasing this T-shirt which has now been worn for two consecutive days.  He does sit on the beach and look out to sea and tells us that his grannnies and grampas are on the other side with a big sigh.  He asks me often if Aunty Gail is coming to visit us soon.  This has been an overwhelming experience for a little three year old who is trying hard to be a big boy like his brothers and understand everything.  Whilst on holiday he asked us when we are going to stay in our other white holiday house.  He can't quite grasp that we have bought the house and will be moving in permanently.  For Hugo, the house we are in is perfectly suitable and besides, we have only just unpacked.  He does have a point.

His sunny little nature and affectionate way warms him to everyone and he happily climbs on to any available lap.  His swimming has progressed at a staggering rate since "big milestones" and he is now diving to the bottom of the pool, taking breaths, jumping in from the deep end and swimming all over like a little seal. 

He is full-on and loves wrestling, any sport and taking on his brothers at any game or fight!  He eats for the A-team and has a zest for life that we can all learn from.

Hugo is still clinging to his afternoon nap and is snoring away right now which gives me a chance to blog.  I suppose when you go full steam ahead all day, your batteries do need frequent charging.

no pain no gain

Just sitting down to write this blog is a painful process.  I joined a friend at her weekly boot camp this morning.  Ouch!  There are muscles in my legs and bottom that have clearly been dormant for months inspite of my disciplined and motivated exercise regime.  Those very muscles have reacquainted themselves with me in screaming pain.  I can't tell you when last I did several squats while lifting a 9kg weight above my head, or throwing a medicine ball (to my so-called friend) while lunging forward. 

Since arriving in Australia both Rob and I have kept up with regular workouts.  The climate is so amazing and the surroundings are beautiful and safe so there really isn't much of a gym culture here.  Most people run, walk, cycle or boot camp outdoors to stay fit.  I choose to run and until today thought I was pretty fit and strong.  I can do 8km in around 45 minutes and enjoy the experience.  It has taken me six months to find other girls who run a similar distance and pace and am only now starting to make a social occasion of a run.  Up until recently my run was a chance for solitude away from my very noisy male dominant home and an opportunity to think and process my feelings.  It is often a prayer run too.  I have only started running with an ipod in the last month for a change of pace and stimulation and have really enjoyed the new approach.  Well, all the running has kept me slim and fit but clearly the toning has been neglected.  An hour of strenuous core and toning exercises this morning put paid to any ego driven thoughts of peek conditioning.  I am sore in many places.

The truth is that as I approach my 40th birthday and as we have just celebrated 16 years of marriage, I realise that I really am no longer a spring chicken.  Muscles do forget, the body gets out of shape too quickly and the laugh lines are on the increase.  Sadly, I am looking my years but I am doing it with a smile on my face and a great suntan.

The result of this morning's exploits is that I am now going to do boot camp every Tuesday morning to keep a check on my hibernating muscles.  When school starts I will have Ava and Hugo every second Tuesday as that isn't a school day for them and they can join the other kids on the spectators' jungle gym next to our workout area.  That way I kill the entertainment part of my job portfolio while getting a workout - quite clever really.

But for now, my beauty sleep is required.

lost and found

On Sunday Rob thought he would end his holiday with a kitesurfing experience.  Little did he know at the time that his outing would lead to a much bigger adventure than just holding on to a kite and balancing on a board!  We sent him off ahead and promised to catch up within the hour.  As we approached the part of the river that is densely populated by kites and big squalls of wind blowing over the water we could see Rob in the distance doing quite well.  By the time we had parked our car and bought the obligatory ice creams from the passing "Mr Wimpy" softserve van, he had disappeared.  We walked up and down the beach looking out for his bright green kite but couldn't spot it.  About half an hour later we saw Rob swimming to shore without his kite.  He had crashed the kite quite far from land and it had flipped over in the wind.  When he tried to turn the kite back over a widget on the bridal (bare with me if you know anything about kites or surfing at this point) jammed and the kite was set at full power.  He hung on for as long as possible and until the feeling of being pulled underwater while hanging on to a fairly heavy board lost the fun element.  He realised, thankfully, that his life was worth more than the $1000 kite even though this is not the time in our lives to be making those kind of repeat purchases without sucking in air through our teeth.  Rob dutifully remembered the teachings from his one and only lesson and released the emergency switch and let the kite go.  He then paddled on his board to shore, ran the few hundred metres up the beach and swam back out to try to recover the kite which was still blowing at full speed in the same direction as his efforts.  After a few hundred metres of swimming he realised that the kite was doing better than his high school freestyle and he abandoned the mission.

This is about where we arrived on the scene and split into two groups plus dog and cars and drove over the bridge into the city and along the shore on the opposite side searching for his beloved kite.  We trawled the various kitesurfing and windsurfing hangouts to no avail.  We stared out on the same river from different vantage points hoping to catch a glimpse of the bright fabric.  Hugo, Griet and I headed home at sunset feeling quite sick and upset and were met at home soon after by the rest of the search and rescue volunteers, Rob, Adam and Russell.  Dinner was a quiet affair and we went to bed tossing and turning - Rob over what he could have done differently; me searching in my dreams for the kite.  By morning we had made peace with our loss and as a last recovery effort placed an ad in the local paper.

By midday at work Rob had spread the word and was advised to post an ad on the Sea Breeze website under "lost and found".  He went online and low and behold the Water Police had already picked it up and were looking for the owner!  The system really works here.  A yachtsman had picked up the floating kite a few kilometres down stream and had called the Water Police who had picked it up on a patrol boat.  I then went over to Fremantle today and collected it.  The very friendly and efficient policeman asked my name and within seconds his computer had told him virtually everything about me.  You really have to watch out for Big Brother here!  We left, happy and satisfied with the kite in perfect condition bar the tangled lines and each of the boys had a big sticker on his chest declaring that he is a Water Policeman.  I requested the details of the yachtsman to thank him and within five minutes of driving away Sgt Veal had called me with his details after checking with him that he was comfortable that his number be given out to us.  What amazing service!  And all that fretting for nothing.  Everyone here has such respect for each other's property that your chances of losing anything are quite remote.  Phew, and I am $1000 closer to purchasing my SUP Board (that's my next sport).

As for Rob, he is so relieved and will definitely write his name on the sail now.  He is considering doing the veterans iron man after his Olympic efforts on Sunday if his body ever recovers.  We have been told to keep the Water Police' number on hand and to call them immediately if something like this were to happen again.  A boat is sent out to rescue the kite immediately - a free service to the community.

Dunsborough down south

We have just spent a few glorious days down south in Dunsborough.  We rented a holiday house 1km out of the town on a small holding.  Beautiful bushland surrounded our house and the local kangaroos visited frequently!  They would appear from nowhere bouncing past our back door and then stop to watch us from about 20 metres away. 

The boys thought this was really special as the roos were totally wild and living in the bushland. 

Most of our days were spent on Meelup Beach, swimming, relaxing and playing in the sand.   We visited Moses Rock and Yallingup as well and enjoyed browsing the beach town's shops and eating in quaint places with our friends, the Zwitsers. 

Yallingup is great for big surf and boogie boards and all three boys are really getting into the fun of it.

The beaches are all pristine with squeaky sand and clear turquoise water.  There are beaches that remind us of Noordhoek and others that could be in Mauritius.  It was just all so beautiful and relaxing.

Today was back to normal for Rob, at least, who had to head into the city in a suit.  The rest of us tackled the housework, laundry and shopping and are now ready to enjoy another week of school holidays in Perth.

HNY

It's that time again:  Happy New Year.  What a big year 2010 has been for the Wilsons and I am sure 2011 is going to be another HUGE year as we move into our first real Australian home, apply for permanent residency, keep going with all the "firsts" and make more friends.  It is all very exciting and challenging.

Our New Year celebrations were good fun as we gathered with friends for a barbeque on the 31st then joined up with another crowd on New Year's day for lunch.  Last night we joined the crowds on the banks of the river near Shelley for a spectacular fireworks display.  The boys were really impressed and are enjoying all the fun celebrations.


Here are some more holiday snaps as we start on 2011.


Boy fun





scooters for Christmas




and a trainer kite...

Griet has become part of our family and is really enjoying the river walks and attention from all of us.  She gets quite excited when she sees us getting ready to go out and jumps in the car.  She has gone from moping around to chasing after seagulls, rolling on the grass and wagging her tail.  I think she is feeling at home.



2010 is a year we will never forget.  We are running full speed into 2011 and securing some great memories!