Day 235

It's Kai's 5th birthday! And what birthday would be complete without a very sweet treat after dinner?

Day 234

A day of sunshine!! We walked into town for some fish n chips and a little shopping. Again goofing around with the camera, this was the best jumping photo we could get after many failed attempts...

Day 233

The australian political system is much different from american democracy and we are amidst a change in government in this country at the moment which I've been trying my best to understand. Today was election day (every third year an election can be called at any point within that year) for the new prime minister/party in power (it would take ages to go into detail about how the system actually works). I was lucky enough to join Kath and Hugh while they voted!


Then we made the trek to Phillip Island to Kath's family's holiday house where we spent the day relaxing, walking/goofing around/laughing on the beach, and playing board games including scrabble, pass the pigs, and pick up sticks.

Day 232

It seems as though the dark side of the Force is missing someone...


I took a weekend trip into Melbourne to visit Hugh and Kath. My first night in the city and already into some live music! Hugh and I (along with a few of his mates) went to see the Hungry Kids of Hungary at the East Brunswick Club.

Day 231

It was a slightly dramatic night as Digby got a bone stuck in his teeth and we had to rush him to the vet to get it removed. Thankfully he didn't have to be put under! He did, however, leave his "scent" all over the vet's office before heading home...

Day 230

Mmmm pies and milk after swimming lessons.

Day 229

Darcy and Digby in the backyard.

Day 228

Afternoon play time at the park...

Day 227

Last day of Oz Kick (kids footy league)... Kai and Loki (pictured) got medals for the end of the season.

Day 226

We celebrated Loki's 8th birthday today at Time Zone in Geelong (an arcade type place).


At night we ventured into Melbourne for the footy (Australian rules) game! Geelong Cats vs Western Bulldogs (our team)... we got destroyed unfortunately.

Day 225

We drove out to Lorne today to try to jump on the big trampolines but it turned out they were closed... the only way to get there though was to take the Great Ocean Road! Here is the start.

Day 224

Kai had the morning off from Kinder so we spent about an hour playing in shaving cream on the kitchen table. It was awesome!! We played with a few matchbox cars and created our own race track, etc and also used the space to practice some numbers, letters and addition. Wish I could take credit for the idea but unfortunately it came from a friend. Can't wait to show the other two boys about this bit of fun.

Day 223

Darcy and I had a few friendly moments today (he is taking his sweet ol' time warming up to me, as boys do), one of which involved the use of my ugg boots on a very little 3 year old boy. He certainly was not afraid to ham it up for the camera after I discovered my boots had gone missing.

Day 222

The map I would ideally use for my trip around Australia happens to come from a children's book called "Are we there yet?" by Alison Lester. It hits all of the important landmarks/parks/etc and is a good starting point for what to see in this enormously wonderful country.

Day 221

The famous Bell's Beach is just here in my "backyard." It's 5km out from town, near Kai's kinder and it's been considered the birthplace of surfing in Australia. It's also the reason we are the home of many surf shops like RipCurl, Billabong, Roxy, Quicksilver, etc.

Day 220

Ross' parents and sister stopped by for lunch today but I didn't get a chance to snap a photo! (Last minute again) This is Digby, one of our puppies, fast asleep next to the fire.

Day 219

Today we went out to Point Lonsdale to spend some time with Lou's mum and stepdad, Helen and Pete. We walked along the beach for a good while and out onto the rocks near the entrance to Phillip Bay. The views of the cargo ships entering and leaving port were spectacular.

L-R: Ross, Loki, Kai

Day 218

The weather is not awesome at the moment (we're still in the dead of winter down here) but Kai and I got to sneak away to go play at the pirate ship park today.

Day 217

I almost forgot to take a photo today so this is rather last minute!! I moved on from Sydney to just outside Melbourne to a town called Torquay, which is the beginning of the Great Ocean Road and the birthplace of surfing. I took a live-in nanny position with a family including mum (Lou) and dad (Ross) and 3 boys Loki, Kai and Darcy. You're going to see a lot of them on here over the next few months! This is my new room in their lovely home... what a great feeling to have a bed again :)

Day 216

We went bowling with Mel's friend Matt today who is such an interesting and lovely character... anyway, you can obviously tell from the score that I am a star bowler. Watch out.

Day 215

Incredible discovery!! Mel's hamburger phone, same as the one used in the film Juno... "I'm sorry I can't hear you I'm on my hamburger phone." I mean seriously, wonderful invention.

Day 214

My first bubble-o-bill... the childhood favorite ice cream in Australia.

Day 213

Richie and I did a bit more sightseeing today including the ever popular Pitt St Mall (shopping district), Chinatown and St Margaret's Cathedral. We walked EVERYWHERE. I discovered this street sign outside of Paddington Markets...

Day 212

I splurged and spent the money to go to the Sydney Aquarium today. It was awesome!! There was a huge exhibition on all the different kinds of sharks (it included the jaw/teeth of the largest shark ever recorded) and had all sorts of displays of the coral reef and the fish of australia. After the aquarium, I browsed around Darling Harbour (the boat show was on all weekend so there were hundreds of boats in the marina) and made my way to the Maritime Museum. It was a great (sunny) day of sightseeing.

Day 211

We all took the ferry to Manly Beach (one of the northern beaches of Sydney) for more fish 'n chips and a bit of a lazed day...


Kid, Sash and I walked along the beach and up to a lookout over the ocean before heading back to the city.

Day 210

This afternoon Mel, Rachel, Demmi and I drove along the coast to Scarborough for a fish 'n chips lunch and some coffee.


In the evening, Kid and I took the train up from Wollongong to Sydney to spend a few days with Richie and Sash (and I got to be a bit more touristy).


How amazing is the view from North Sydney over the harbour?!?

Day 209

I went for a beautiful walk out to the Wollongong litehouse this afternoon to pass a bit of time while I started applying for nannying jobs.


Tonight we celebrated Mel's friend Zoe's birthday with lots of chocolate cake (and a homemade strawberry sauce reduction).

Day 208

A baby huntsman spider... this thing was HUGE and yet so tiny compared to a fully grown one!

Day 207

The beaches in "the gong" are beautiful... and they have an amazing running/bike path that goes along for miles it's fantastic! (Also notice the sun finally came out)

Day 206

I finally made it to the gong (aka wollongong)!! Mel and I had a bit of a nerdy night under blankets full of laptops/computer gadgets/etc while it was blustery and rainy outside.

Day 205

A night on the town with Richie, Sash and George... Gryon reunion!

Day 204

Went for a bit of a shop at the Outlet mall-- George got a 2 for 1 special on shoes, check out the new (multi colored) kicks!

Day 203

George and I spent the day being touristy around Sydney... we went on a harbour cruise, walked across the harbour bridge, and walked out to see the opera house. After Sash finished work we were lucky to grab her and head out to the Bondi beach RSL for a few drinks and snacks.

Day 202

My last night in Perth and I'm all packed up for my midnight flight to Sydney...