Day 4 Saturday is For Play!
So we decide to take the train thing to the ferry at Circular Quay to go to Watson's Bay. A place called Doyle's is famous for their fish and chips. It's a nice day and a nice ride. The Man read about a tea garden. The ferry ride is beautiful. We ride by Bob Barker's shark ship which is on public display , the Sydney Opera House, and interesting homes along the way. One that stands out was also glass facing the harbor, including the garage which was on the top level. So, there is a huge park or garden as you come off the dock. Then a little ways down is a little tea house/coffee house attached to a mini-library which is closed. The area is fenced in and there are milk crates with toys for children to play in the garden. Nice concept. Muffin and a 5 yo Aussie boy, who was adorable but tormenting interact a bit. Adorable little Aussie girl running around with no shirt and only her skirt. So much more relaxed here than the US. The Muffin has said nothing about how people sound. Maybe it is her experience with Angelo and his family in Richmond, former Pres. of The Man's company. Then we go get the fish and chips. They were fine. You have to pay extra for vinegar and "tomato sauce"/ketchup. We ferry it back to our apartment building, but first stop at a new to us, grocery store called Woolworths! Yes, same name as he old five and dime, but better! They call it Woolie's here. Oh my. So much better and bigger (3 levels) than the one we've been hitting and not much farther away from our apt..
We have dinner with a woman from the Richmond office, here for work. That was fun until Muffin hit her tantrum time. She insists on flying home and is wearing her new red cape all through the town. So funny.
Sunday- Slow Starting though Early Rising
We don't even get out of the house until after lunch. I made a grilled cheese (grilled cheese at shops here are not quite the same as our old staple) for Muffin and it is the best she has eaten since arriving on these soils! As soon as she is strapped into the stroller she is asleep. Not kidding. Not even out our apt. door. Huck won't nap in the stroller no matter how tired he is, Muffin won't nap in a bed no matter how tired she is! She keeps missing the fun of Darling Harbour! It is packed. Maybe because public transportation has special Family Day rates on Sundays. Kids are all playing in the fountains. It is so cute. We walk around a bit and the n head into this Australian, American Gallery/Musuem. Of course, we did it not as thoroughly as we tend to do without children. We are getting close to the end and a group of Japanese tourists want to take pictures and videos of our darlings in their stroller. Maybe they thought we were a happy AUS family. One gestures to stand behind the stroller and take our picture. Ok. Done. I am trying to take pics of them taking pics because it is so funny at the time. Then...I get to the front of the stroller and laugh out loud and share with The Man just where "Darling Muffi's"hands are placed. Think along the lines of Darling Nikki by Prince. Yup. A dozen Japanese people with pics of our precious ones.
We tempt fate and decide to try to get up in the Eye tower again, but lil Huck is tired. So we get a drink and sit a bit while I nurse him and he naps. (Nursing mama's credo, "When in doubt, pull your boobies out!")Then we just decide to eat dinner at their lovely food court. It was a little Italian stand and the food was deliciousness, so was the wine and Muffin ate again! Also,Muffin nebbed completely on the diners beside us. She comes from a long line of nebbers:) The Asian trio beside us were doing some serious shopping and seemed like college-aged max! Two Marc Jacobs handbags from the female shopper. One for her mother for Xmas ($1200 American price, God knows what it cost here)and one for herself. I love that kind of shopping, but holy trust fund, that is to a whole new level. 3 grand on two bags.
Again, the whole house seems to shut down early. I stay up a little later, though tired, filling up my online shopping cart for the groceries I will get delivered on Monday.
Occasional Care
There are about 80 or 90 locations where you can drop your children off for one to 8 hours. This is what Jennifer, the realtor told us about and showed us one in her village, Crow's Nest. I liked the concept, but was skeptical about leaving my kids like that. But only 15 children are allowed at once and there is a 4 to 1 teacher ratio. It seems nice. Just have to prove your immunized. Something to consider doing so nails and hair and Christmas shopping can be done. Muffin wanted to stay and play. We may try to take her on our next realtor appt.
But whoopsie, just relocated the brochure. It is $100 registration fee, plus your hourly fee. Not really unfair, but don't know if the reg. fee is only for one center or all and I don't know whereabouts we might be resting our heads.
The Educational Toy Shop in Crow's Nest
Right in the same area as the Occasional Care Centre we toured is this shop. Seth comes out and says they have this big throw pillow thing that says it is a magnified atom or something. Then sees the tag, "The Clap". It is gonnorhea. Hilarious! I thought this would be a funny gift to give somebody! Certainly not a young child. Here is your toy pillow from Santa, honey, this one is called The Clap. Apparently they have a whole line of VD pillows. Goodness!
Toy Libraries
I read about Toy Libraries on another blog and Jennifer, realtor mentioned them as well. Neat concept. Just like books, except, I think you bring one of your own and take another and I assume you never can predict getting yours back! So more like a Toy Swap. Neat idea, huh?
People here just seem generally receptive to kids and I have never seen so many people in a big city with prams.
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