The House Of Hot Kettles

I'm packed and I'm stacked

Specially in the back.

Well, mostly.  Just waiting for a couple of loads of washing to be washed and dried, and I also need to pack the computer and camera up, and make some playdough, and then I'm good.

And I finally got the opportunity to rearrange the rockfall and plant the black mondo grasses today, for our water[less] feature.  And after that, Mark erected the badminton net and we played a game - but in the dusk, which made it very difficult.  Fun times.

So, off we go in the morning.  We're going to take the scenic route to Katoomba, going via St Albans and Richmond.  Must remember to pack lots of snacks and bottles of water.

Voyeur

Our house, in our tiny tiny village, makes an appearance on Google Street View.  We weren't home - at least the car's not in the drive - and luckily I wasn't gardening at the time.  Mmmmm... that would have been nice, me immortalised in my horrendous green gardening trackpants and my red clogs, asking a whining toddler to be quiet.

Arlo's first haircut tomorrow.  I've been talking it up but he appears bemused [of course].  I rang to make the appointment and the stylist helpfully arranged for us to have chairs next to each other (I'm having a trim).  I cannot imagine that this will be successful but at least Mark is home and will be there to assist.

We're also going to test drive a Maclaren Volo stroller tomorrow, to downsize from the Quinny which is simply too unwieldy for us now.  I have been hesitant about the Volo because once upon a time I owned a pair of Volo fins which both broke spectacularly on the same dive, fighting the rip off a headland.  It was a design fault, in my opinion, and I hadn't had them long.  So I am wary of all things Volo.  But all my stroller research leads me towards the Volo as being the most suitable for our needs and GOOD GOD I CANNOT BELIEVE I AM WASTING BLOG SPACE ON DISCUSSING THE MERITS OF A STROLLER.  What has happened to me?   

Fish and Chips in the park

With Aunty Dooj and Murray today, who were in the midst of readying for their big excursion to Cape York... the lucky buggers.  Arlo and I were getting cabin fever so I called Jude, unaware they were heading off this week.  She managed to fit in a trip to the park for fish and chips and gossip and a play with the kids.

Here's hoping Aunty Dooj, Uncle Tone, Criffitah and Moo have a fantastic time - they deserve it!  I'm only jealous we can't come too....

This week in Arlo's diary

Today (Sunday): [lame] second hand baby goods expo with Madeline.  Coffe and play with Dave and Lillian (note: make sure to push Lillian and get in her face; she is not wary enough and should be more cautious) .  Cry lots at bedtime.  Dream about green trains.

Monday: In The Night Garden.  Gardening.  Shubbelling.  Wheelbarrow rides.  Shubbelling.  Whining and crying.  Stealing mama's gardening tools.

Tuesday:  Go pick up Grandmazz.  Go to airport, pick up dadda!  Go home with dadda while mama and Gmazz go do something else.

Wednesday: Have haircut with mama in the morning.  Go see Aunty Shell and/or Aunty Leis and respective cousins while dadda does some work.

Thursday: packing and housework.  Gardening.  Shubbelling.  Maybe some painting?

Friday:  Lots of driving! Going for a BIG weekend away in a house that sleeps 18 peeps.  Eeek.  Be sure to push Lillian some more and make her very clingy to her mum and dad.  No, wait, rethink strategy: clingy Lil means less Mad cuddles for Arlo.