Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!



A short Christmas Video

Orca and the Vegans

Hi all..... We just noticed we posted our last Blog a day early - So here is the November filler...... All is well in the 80's and summer is in full swing.


Summer fun

All things aqua!

This post while a little late just catches up with Grandma's last week and the start of summer (well kind of). It started with a visit to the most expensive Aquarium in the world and culminated in a day of pure relaxation, well, as much relaxation you can get with two young kids. Christmas (which is very different and not quite the same here) is approaching fast and it's soon going to be the quest for a fat goose, only hope the weather is not 40+ when we cook it!



Splish Splash

A Day out with Thomas

The rain finally held for a day to give us a great day out with Thomas. This time we actually managed to bring the camera with so we have footage and pictures to share with you. We were lucky enough to have Grandma along for the ride this year.

After a light lunch we headed off to the Caribbean Market where Grandma shopped while the boys played in the amusement area and later Mom and Karli enjoyed the views from the lift.

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Good old steamy fun........

Kids birthday parties - who needs them?

Karli had his first real Birthday party. The theme, Hot Wheels, the colours purple and red. The kids (and adults) had a great time especially with the pinata which proved to be rather tough with the dads having to give it a bash to help out!

Note the end picture, our automatic little Hoover unbeknown to us was helping himself to all the leftovers...thank goodness we caught him in time.

The Boys and Granny went to Waves (indoor leisure centre pool) which gave Mummy a break to get the party organised.


Its the done thing...........

Karli turns 4

Grandma arrived Friday 25th Sept in time for Karli's birthday (birthday party to follow next week with way too many kids). My team, St Kilda, lost the Grand Final this weekend and the rain just won't stop as winter refuses to leave Australia. Its going to be a busy few weeks with Granny while Granddad Karl Snr. gets some well deserved rest.

Earlier this month Karli went to a friend's party which he enjoyed. The boys also enjoy those hot days splashing by the pool when the sun decides to shine.


Wii Fit & blowing candles

It's been almost a year!

In less than a month we would have lived in Australia for a year. Nothing could have quite prepared us for the change. There is nothing like living somewhere to truly understand what makes a place tick. So, what have we been up to in the 80's this month? In a word MOVING.... this time to Bentleigh. It was quite painless with most of the hard work being done by the movers.

We made the mistake of going to the Scienceworks museum (which currently has a StarWars exhibition) today and even though we were there at opening time half of Melbourne turned up making the cramped and badly laid out "spectacle" hard to endure. I suppose when the weather isn't great what else do you do as Melbourne is built for the outdoors.

On the up side, the weather is cheering up and bike rides are the order of the day so it is off to Allnutt park which is only a couple of hundred yards from home.


Bits and bobs

Activities in Winter

It's been a month since our last blog, how time flies. Most of the month has been spent finding a new place to live. Unfortunately with the market as it is and with the shortage of good rentals we were lucky enough to find a place which we hope will tick most of the boxes for a couple of years. The weather has been good but when it's cold and windy we find ourselves "relaxing" at home listening to music and playing games on the Wii.


Indoor fun

Winter is most definitely here

Hats and gloves are the order of the day on my walk to the station in the morning as the temperature hovers a few degrees above zero. But then the sun comes out and warms Melbourne to a comfortable 14 degrees. (click here for stats) It's even warm enough to go to the rock pools just off Rickett's Point Beachside Cafe to look for shells or have a round of golf. If not, we go indoors for a game of ten-pin bowling or a spot of 'window' shopping at Chadstone shopping centre.


Bowling and beach in winter

It's Winter and the Saints are winning!

Karlie saw the 'world premier' of the Yo Gabba Gabba concert at the Palais theatre in St Kilda after a twirl on the Carousel at Luna Park. The following weekend the boys saw their first football game at the Etihad Stadium...it was hard work keeping them entertained, I just don't think they could have lasted nearly 3 hours in the cold so we had to leave during the 3rd quarter after pretending Dad's beer was a football.


A case of orange pyjamas

Winter is approaching

One good thing about winter, no &*^%ing flies. Can someone please tell me where they go so I can rip their tiny wings off and feed them to local crocodile.
It's been a good month again with lots of firsts..... We have put in an offer for a house (father in law doing property searches and mom sending much needed $'s), played tenpin bowling and Karli has finally started to ride his bike - OK OK, he only does it if he gets a damn star. The kids are playing nicely and Karli loves all his extra-curricular activities while Marti thinks he is 4 years old getting into all types of mischief.
We are slowly getting used to the 80's, "again".


Things to do on the weekend (please visit Vimeo to watch this in 720p) - 3min30sec

Lots of firsts !

The year is passing us by so fast, we nearly forgot to update the blog for April. We had a couple of weeks school holidays where Karli had no kinder or swimming lessons and Mummy didn't have her 2 hour 'break' at the MOPS session. Days were spent going to the park, making a mess indoors and out and your general mayhem when the routine is a bit off balance.

Karli had his first putt-putt game with Dad and loved it so it was off to the golf shop to buy his first 7-iron with which we went down to Sandringham driving range to whack a few balls. On the 15th of April, the boys went to a Hotwheels show at Federation Square, they loved it, there were cars everywhere and we even got to take home a couple for keepsakes. The boys had their first Easter egg hunt and the findings are still sitting in the cupboard, to be shared sparingly!!!



Always something fun to do

Almost Easter

March is almost over and we are getting ready for our first Easter in Australia. This month was rather full, firstly with a 'Playschool' concert, followed the next weekend by a "Day out with Thomas" where we took a trip on Puffing Billy and saw the 'Fat Controller'. Unfortunately, we left all recording devices at home, so we'll just have to go again in the Spring!

Then it was off to the Melbourne Grand Prix, it was a baking 30 degrees, loads of walking and we were all shattered on the way back home. We saw Roary the racing car and walked past Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello as they drove into the grounds. The following day was spent with friends at Luna Park where Karli went on his first 'scary ride' the Ghost Train.



A couple weekends of fun (for whom I wonder)

Labour day weekend

Finally a long weekend. It was spent looking at houses on Saturday and then the annual Melbourne car show on Sunday. Monday was spent at the Moomba Waterfestival in the city where everyone had a great time, noshing on ice-cream, candy-floss (fairy floss here) and corn-dogs. Karlie had his first ride on a rollercoaster (see clip) and he loved it and we saw some 'real' dinosaurs which he wasn't so keen on especially when the one came up real close and sniffed him!
Note: When an event happens in Melbourne -> Everyone turns up.



Moomba Waterfestival (don't forget to click the HQ button)

The heatwave!

We had our first taste of real heat, nearly a week of 40+ degrees. We stayed indoors most of the time and thank goodness we have aircon. It was off to Adelaide on the 7th Feb, the hottest day of all and the day the fires broke out and we returned a week later to a smoke covered Melbourne.

We had a great time in Adelaide, catching up with friends, driving through the Barossa Valley region (stopping at Penfolds and Jacob's Creek wineries) and taking the kids to Wiggly Worms.

Life is slowly starting to feel a bit more normal and we are settling into a routine of sorts.


Just running

Overdose on beach

If you are not taking part in the Monopoly championship at the local Mall then there is no other place to be than the (Aspendale) beach as it's what they do here, beach and BBQ. After three days of solid 43+ degrees (nights dropped to 28 at 3am) we went to the beach, early I might add and what do you know, there was not a fly in sight. Karli is learning to body-board and daddy and mommy are trying to remember what to do on a beach (it's all coming back) while Marti just smiles and gets on with being 1.



9:30am@28degrees (make sure you use the HQ - bottom right)

2009 starts as 2008 ends

Another year starts much the same as it ended. We had our first 40 degree day so the boys enjoy keeping cool in the pool or just sitting under the trees licking ice lollies.

We went to the Melbourne Aquarium to see the new penguin attraction, it was a lovely day and we got a good shot of the city. We headed towards Mornington again but stopped off in Frankston at the funfair, Karlie had his first ride on the big wheel and the tea cups and for once we forgot the camera!

We finally made some space in the 'box room' and set up the Thomas train set again after over a year. The boys had great fun, especially Martin, he just watched in amazement as Thomas is his favourite at the moment.



Thomas gets a make-over