Normality!!

Thursday 24th September 2009

Well happy 20th month birthday to me! Wow so big!! Well I have to say that all in all this week has been quite quiet in terms of social activities but we have been busy. On Friday we drove back into Sydney from the Blue Mountains and then had to get on an aeroplane to fly home - it was quite a tough flight as we had booked it in the afternoon and therefore it seemed to take forever as we were not sleeping that much. We eventually got home at 11pm and had baths and straight to bed - it was lovely being back in my own bed again though and nice to see Pooh Bear again.

On Saturday we had to do a major big food shop as we had no yummy food in so we headed off to 360 and bought loads of yummy food and then we chilled out in the afternoon eating it all!!! Daddy also went out and bought a power drill to start doing some DIY - well it was a bank holiday weekend here. Then on Sunday the DIY started - we knocked down wardrobes, put pictures up, daddy cooked a lovely roast dinner and mummy and I put up some shelves. We also caught up with news from the UK. Then on Monday daddy still was not back at work as it was Hari Raya, so we went out shopping and bought mummy a bike and me a seat to sit on the back and ride along - and of course the very funky looking cycle helmets - mine is pink!!!

Then it was back to normal on Tuesday as daddy went to work and mummy and I headed off to Parkway to do some shopping and have coffee!! I started my swimming lessons again and got my first certificate and swimming badge - i am a level 4 duckling now!! Well done me - it was lovely to be back at swimming class and Izzy is back too so that was nice. Finally we had a nice lunch with daddy today after mummy had gone to collect her F1 tickets! It is all very exciting though as there are lots of big cars around - I was very happy today looking at one in the shopping mall - wow!!! Sadly I am too little to go at the weekend so i will have to stay up and watch it with the babysitter!!

Well sorry it is short and sweet this week, but am sure i will be back with more news and gossip to tell you all next week, until then take care
love and kisses
Eleanor xx

One wedding and lots of hills

Thursday 17th September 2009

Well we have had another busy week, starting with a trip out on a ferry to Manly and another beach and lots more photos of the views!! Then on Friday I had my first ever proper haircut at the hairdressers and i was very very good according to mummy and daddy. Afterwards we had lunch, played with Thomas the Tank in the toy shop and headed out to the museum all about convicts in Australia (we looked for any naughty relatives but did not find any!) and then we headed out to Kings Wharf to see Cameron and have a few drinks in the pub, before the big day on Saturday.

Saturday morning was spent making ourselves look gorgeous and then we headed across the road to see Cameron and Jen get married - yeah!! It was lovely and I enjoyed seeing everyone all dressed up, then I headed home to spend some time entertaining the babysitter whilst mummy and daddy headed down to the Rocks for the reception. Sunday we headed off on the ferry again to see the new Mr and Mrs Malone and have some really yummy pizza before coming back to the hotel and collapsing for the night in preparation for the rest of our busy week.

The rest of the week was spent driving and driving and looking at views with mummy and daddy saying wow a lot!! We headed first to Windsor and spent the night in a lovely hotel where we had a yummy dinner - with a great running course for me - run down the slope, round the big sign and then climb the three steps and off i go again - yeah!!! Then we were off driving again and headed into the Blue Mountains - via the very long scenic route (and the Botanical gardens for a fab cream tea) before arriving at the Coach House which was to be our stop for a few days and i finally got a room of my own instead of sleeping in the lounge!

We visited some caves and saw stalagmites and stalagtites - unfortunately there were loads of stairs and things which looked fab fun but i was deemed to young to run around on my own - so i had a mini sulk, but was soon wowed by all the pretty lights and rocks and the little baby that was on the tour as well!! We also did lots of running this week as mummy and daddy tried to encourage me to get form point to point a little quicker than i was and in the right direction - we had lots of races which was great fun!!

We have also eaten lots of food and most of it has not been that great - i have had my usual fruit and yoghurts, but a few things like chips and chocolate have been slipped in too - and even a marshmallow!!

Well think that is most of the news and gossip from the week. we head back to Singapore tomorrow and i have had a fab holiday but am looking forward to catching up with my friends again and going swimming in the pool - Australia was far too cold for that!

Love to all

Eleanor xx

Sydney, Australia!!

Wednesday 9th September 2009

Apologies for doing this a day early, but we only have random internet connection - there is a lot of news this week so far though so should be quite a busy blog anyway.

Well the week started out in Singapore with playgroup again. I had a great time and did loads of painting and made lots of mess - luckily mummy is so clever and dressed me in yellow and purple and the paints we were using at playgroup were yellow and purple!! Think it was a coincidence but mummy claims not!!

Then in the afternoon we had to rush over to the shops to pick up my shoes for the wedding and a quick stop to have a ride on Bob the Builder and Barney!! Then we finished packing the bags and daddy came home and we rushed off to the airport - we were heading off to Sydney!!

The journey was nice and not too long (only 8 hours!) the food was a bit poor although we did have yoghurt which was nice. We arrived in Sydney at 5 in the morning, so we spent the rest of the day quite tired and once we had settled in to the room, had breakfast and a nap we were ready to head out and explore!!!

Stop 1 - we went up to the rocks and circular quay and stood under the harbour bridge and saw the Sydney Opera House, we then headed for lunch - yummy pizza (you will see that food seems to occupy a large portion of what we have got up to so far!!)

Stop 2 - Sunday - we headed down to the shops and looked around some lovely buildings and had coffee, headed off to the John Lewis of Australia and had lunch and wandered around the CBD before heading home and collapsing!!

Stop 3 - Monday - we headed down to Kings Wharf and went to the Maritime Museum, where we went in a submarine (i nearly was not big enough to be allowed on but I stood on my tiptoes!) it was great fun getting through the holes into the different areas - poor mummy and daddy struggled to get through the holes but they were the perfect size for me!!! Then we headed for lunch at the waterfront!

Stop 4 - Monday pm - we took a ride on the monorail and headed back to the CBD and went for a walk in Hyde Park, where i had a quick go at playing Chess. We then wandered up to the Parliament and the Domain Park and headed home again. We then had an amazing rainstorm which we headed outside into on our way to dinner - Chinese (western style) - yummy!!

Stop 5 - Tuesday. We had a huge walk today! We started out at the Rocks, then went to circular quay, along to Sydney Opera House, Mrs MacQuaries chair, the Botanical Gardens before heading off for lunch again!! Daddy took some great pictures of the bridge and Opera House and I got to play in the park with my ball - yeah! Then at night we headed off to Cockle Bay and walked around the waterfront before heading off for a yummy dinner which involved loads of meat - my fave!!!

Stop 6 - Wednesday - after yesterday's walking we decided to go on a bus tour today, so after breakfast we headed out on to the Hop-on, Hop off bus - we hopped off at the railway station and caught another bus which took us off to Bondi Beach for a spot of surfing!! Well paddling in our case as the water was so cold!!

So we have seen lots and lots of new and exciting things so far. Next week we have to finish our sights of Sydney, go to a wedding and then we are heading into the countryside. Will catch up with you all then,

Lots of love from Down Under!

Eleanor xx

Tropical living - sunshine and rain!

Thursday 3rd September 2009

Well the week started off well as we were back to playschool on Friday morning, there were lots of new people there which was nice and most of the group is nearer my age which is good - I am quite neatly in the middle. I got to play with the Wendy house again and the big climbing frame which was good fun and we also did some sticking and gluing -making photo frames!!

The weather has been quite grotty this week. It is either too hot to go out or very very rainy - I have included some pictures of me in my rain gear and getting wet out on our balcony - very good fun. Daddy went to Tokyo as well this week, so it was just me and mummy, which made it even more boring!! I was on my best behaviour for mummy though and slept well every night - for the first time consistently since we came back from the UK - jet lag, teething and colds are not that great for sleep!!

Speaking of sleeping, mummy and daddy are getting a bit worried that i might escape my cot soon. I have been caught leaning over the edge a little bit too far on a number of occasions, so they are thinking that i might have to move into my big girl bed a bit sooner than planned - watch this space! I have posted a picture of me playing in my cot - as well as sleeping there, i love pulling things into the cot and throwing things out of it, running up and down in it and falling over (and usually banging my head which just makes it even more funny), singing and talking with George and Pooh bear and reading in it. Although i am very clear when i have had enough and want to get out - it is fair to say that over the past week, i have perfected screaming!!

Another skill that i have learnt this week is spitting! I only ever do it when i am brushing my teeth though and love having a big sip of water and spitting it out into the sink - it does not always work though and sometimes i forget and drink the water but never mind!!

Well think that was this week. We head off to Sydney tomorrow on holiday which is very, very exciting so my next post will be from Down Under, until then take care and love to you all,

Eleanor McGovern xx