[Sorry, this is much delayed… we’ve been home for a week as I write this. We’ve been a bit busy!]
We’ve been promising to take the boys to Australia Zoo for ages. It’s been hard finding the right occasion when other activities, visitors or weather didn’t foul up the plans. But last weekend the visit happened! The zoo opens at 9 am and we were in by 9.30. The ticket girl took pity on us and gave us seniors’ rates (us obviously, not Jack and Phroggy!).
First it was feeding the otters…
Then a lot of climbing on dinosaurs (not real ones!)…
Then we had koalas with which to get friendly and kangaroos to feed…
There were dragons to avoid stepping on…
… and we had the compulsory crocodile show in what was Steve Irwin’s “Crocoseum”. The show is still using images and videos of Steve made before his demise almost 13 years ago!
And all the usual suspects including Glenda’s favourites – giraffes on the day.
Especially when they chase a keeper into her truck and keep her there till closing time. Talking of which we held out to the bitter end and got picked up in Africa by the sweeper bus. Just as well because it was a 30 minute walk to the exit!
Back at base, on another day, we found a water jet park. Jack’s idea of not getting wet (we had no change of clothes with us) was to get saturated.
After, we had a bit of a drying off session on the front of the car!
… with Jack modelling my fleece on the only occasion it was worn by anyone in the whole trip!
Then I took Ben after school one day to get equally wet, but with replacement dry clothes!
Jack went climbing – first with me on the belay ropes and later with Robin…
We HAD to have an Easter egg hunt… but hiding them was difficult with two sets of hawk-eyes on the look-out!
We had more fabulous sunsets…
And we learnt new card games (like clock patience) and tricks (like card pancakes)…
There were presents virtually every day! But some were more educational than others!
Jack’s reading has come on leaps and bounds while we’ve been here. And Benji’s sums are amazing. I ask him what 2+2 equals. He tells me four and asks me what is twenty thousand, hundred and twenty six plus forty seven… You just can’t win!
Anyway lots of family stuff happened and we managed to meet up with Trish and Trev at Rice Boi restaurant – a very in place with the young generation. We fitted in seamlessly (although we did have to get a quiet table outside on the wharf!)
So we get to the end of the Australian journey. We have one episode remaining… our trip home. So there is one more post to come – but it’s also much delayed by jobs and activities at home…
I’ll just leave you with the Australian answer to the British rule about no electricity within a hundred metres of bathroom fittings.
??????