Fraser Island - in which we re-confirm how great and sandy you are

The annual Pine holiday headed north this year to Fraser Island where we camped and 4WDed it up.

Camping really makes me appreciate the closeness of a toilet at home, a sink with hot water and a comfy mattress.  And a separate room for children to 'think'.....

Fraser Island is beautiful, and we had wonderful weather all week.

On the barge heading over.

Caleb setting up the tent.  He required a little assistance sometimes.

Driving down one of the inland tracks on the way to Lake Mackenzie we came across a 30 m long 1 and a bit metre deep puddle to drive through.  Chris and Michael took about half an hour to decide whether to dive through or not, and walked through it a couple of times, and then a flood of testosterone hit and they drove through.

 We climbed this tree at Lake Birrabeen.  By 'we' I mean Aunty Katie and the kids.

Attempting to kick to the other side of Lake Mackenzie on an airbed.

At Lake Mackenzie.

The Pinnacles coloured sands.

We did a lot of this.  Driving up the beach on the sand at 80km an hour.  And through rocks and sand dunes.  When I drove my knuckles were white and we went very slowly.  I was reluctant to roll the car.

Eli Creek.  We were some of the 300 000 people who visit each year.

Champagne Pool.  Uncle Michael's thumb got in the road of a falling rock.  The rock won.  The thumb split.  Ow.  Lucky we (and by 'we' I mean Aunty Katie) had bought the first aid kit in the swimming bag!

Michael was not going to let a pesky dressing stop him swimming.  He gloved and gaffa taped up.

Eli Creek.

We took the long (5km round trip in the soft sand) walk to Lake Wabby.  Down the track...

Across the sand blow.....

Over the sand dune...

And into the lake!

We carried the snow boards all the way so we could slide into the lake - fun!  The busload of bikini English tourists looked on in envy.

The track back from Lake Wabby.

The girls were in charge of pancake cooking in the morning.

Thanks for the holiday everyone!

Waterbottle Battles

It has been one of my catch cries as a mum, as well as saying 'have you been to the toilet' and 'don't forget your hat', it is 'get your waterbottle'.

I am often the only one with a water bottle attached to me like a limpit. I am water bottle dependent. And I think my girls know this and take advantage of this. I have to bite my lip and breath ten times when they ask for a drink from my bottle - why didn't you bring your own when I reminded ten million time (I always over generalise). Not because I don't want my children's thirst to be quenched, or I resent sharing with them, or I am annoyed they forgot their own, or they completely know I always remember mine....

It's because I hate backwash.

Yes I went there. Tiny bits of matter suspended in my water swirling and settling like a snow globe.

I am thinking of making us all wear strap on hydropacks for our camping trip to Fraser Island this week.

holidays

The days seem to merge a little, and I am hanging onto the slight time difference from China which makes me stay up late and get up early.  Chris is away this week in Woorabinda hanging with some youth, so the girls and I are hanging at home.

I have decided to indoctrinate let them watch the BBC Pride and Prejudice.  We are watching an episode a day.  I like explaining how the language works to them, and translating what Lizzy is saying.  Nobody talks like that around here.  Maybe there should be more of that sort of conversational level - brilliant repartee and sparkling wit.  If only I had a scriptwriter available at all times instead of stumbling through conversations not really saying what I meant and regretting what I did say.

Chris took them through three movies of Star Wars while I was away.  I like to think I am balancing their cultural education with Pride and Prejudice.  They will end up with a mix of Pride Stars and Prejudice Wars.

Miss Bennett, I fear you are Using the Force.

traveling day twenty-five - in which we finally are home again

I am so grateful I had the opportunity to travel to Krygyzstan and China.  A big thank you to my wonderful husband who looked after the girls and the house and our lives while I was swanning around.

Things I was glad I packed:
- my sarong - storytelling prop, makeshift skirt, scarf, tablecloth, padding to bring home souvenirs, puppet theatre, room divider....
- my iPad - so many hours at the airport...
- baby wipes - so handy for everything
- snow boots and warm socks
- a torch - to read at night and find things
- a variety of scarfs for each occasion to make my travel clothes look more exotic
- American dollars to swap for Krygyz money
- emergency chocolate eclairs
- the right convertor plugs for the country for our chargers

Things I wish I had packed:
- a couple of singlets to use for sleeping in (the rooms were hot) and underlayers
- outer layer wet pants (adult pilchers) - for the snow
- movies on the iPad (the aeroplanes did not have TVs)
- my family

Now to settle back into work, school, house, church, family....... I have almost lost that feeling you get when you come off the plane and you feel as if you are in a bubble, and everything is operating around you through a layer of water.  My ears have nearly popped.  The kids and the dog want attention.

Onwards.