Swinging free

I have not seen any swings at any of the playgrounds in Singapore for a long, long time.

MDH and I think the absence of swing sets in Singapore is due to the overwhelming presence of concerned parents who view swings as the breeding ground for Broken Bones and Nosebleeds.  However, I am inclined to believe that these parents are hardly likely to bring their kids to the outdoor playground which is full of Germs and Dirt, so I'm not sure why the swings have disappeared.

I miss the swings wholeheartedly and I speak as one who has received a broken arm as result of a fall from a swing set which I was using in a non-orthodox manner (i.e. serve me right).

At this playground that we visited in Mollymook, there was not only a swing set for big kids and tiny kids (a seat with a belt - Stardust used it quite safely, as you can see in the picture below), but also a wheelchair swing (no pictures because there was a shy little boy using it)!

How cool is that?

Singapore has a very long way to go before it becomes a child-friendly destination.

With a smile and a song

We're travelling back to the Other Big City and it's a long journey, so we stopped over at Mollymook Beach - a sweet little village just as cute as its name. 

As we were getting ready for breakfast, a chorus of chirrups sounded outside our room.  We pushed the curtains aside to find a small band of sparrows and a few parakeets waiting patiently on the balcony.  They eyed us expectantly.

What could we do?

Phillip Island for toddlers: Flora and Fauna

A day by the sea

So we met up with my mate from Northern City and spent a day along the coastline. 

We found this secluded beach and saw, in the distance, a pod of about thirty dolphins leaping and somersaulting their way across the bay.  They were too far away for us to take a picture and even though we joyfully ran along the beach trying to keep up with them, they were much too fast.

As my friend and I caught up on news, MDH and Stardust squatted in the sand and drew pictures using twigs.  Well, to be accurate, MDH drew pictures with twigs under Stardust's supervision and direction.  

As you can tell from the picture, Stardust is really into the 'Mr Men' book series at the moment (his favourites are 'Mr Happy' and 'Mr Bump').  Can you identify all the characters?

We wandered through the gum forest and along the coastal pathway, chatting about the migratory routes of people.  Stardust had an encounter with a very large green grasshopper that was sitting in the middle of the road.

Afterwards, we retired to a cafe which boasted gorgeous views of Port Phillip Bay, and had coffee and chocolate chip cookies whilst watching the boats drift lazily across the waters.

Building a world

This morning, whilst waiting for a friend to fly in from Northern City, we went to play in the field behind the apartment.

It was dry but the skies were grey and gloomy so we didn't want to walk too far from shelter.

Stardust, collecting as usual, started picking up seedpods that had fallen from the trees.

As he pottered around, we found more and more seedpods of different shapes.  Some of them looked like pinecones.

He started to pile the pods and cones on the ground in the lee of the barbeque pits so that they would be protected from the harsh winds. 

MDH helped him build a teepee around the cones out of twigs and leaves.
We found more dried leaves and flowerheads and used them to decorate his castle.

It's looking pretty good!

Rain is coming...I wonder if the teepee will last until tomorrow.  I sure hope so.  The boys seem to be quite proud of their architectural wonder.

The Dark Ages

This place where we are staying now only has dial-up internet! 

Normal programming will resume after the weekend.

:)
tscd

The Sydney Royal Easter Show 2010

I have ALWAYS wanted to go to a county fair ever since I read about them in 'Farmer Boy', 'Charlotte's Web' and 'Blandings Castle'.  I really like the idea of families from the farming communities coming together to show off their superior skills in animal husbandry, agriculture and craftsmanship...and I've always wanted to witness a pumpkin competition.

We got to Sydney just in time to catch the tail end of the Royal Easter Show and I was really excited about bringing Stardust along.

It was AWESOME!

We ate baked potatoes, whilst sitting on bales of hay and watched a sheep-shearing demonstration, then Stardust met a family of prize-winning pigs...

...watched some dancing horses...

...rode on a hundred-year-old wooden carousel...

...and touched a GIGANTIC first prize pumpkin!!!!

Plan for the week ahead

Day 1: Recuperate from car journey
Day 2: Explore local county
Day 3: Explore adjoining counties
Day 4: Meet up with friend and explore countryside
Day 5: Meet up with another friend and explore cityscape
Day 6: Travel to seaside town and live in hideous hole cheap motel
Day 7: Travel to another seaside town and live in seaside inn

Thoughts on a car journey

1. Keeping a small wiggly child in a carseat for 5 straight hours is like trying to imprison the Kraken.
2. Bringing rice crackers to feed the Kraken with was a brilliant idea.
3. The remake of 'Clash of the Titans' was highly overrated.
4. The Ozzie radio station played a mix of Bach, Country-Western, Cake, Jordin Sparks and Islamic Altar Call. Them DJs must have eclectic tastes.
5. Australia Vogue doesn't have enough pictures in it to amuse a 2 year old.
6. Not bringing the cover for Stardust's milk bottle was a stupid, stupid idea.
7. So was not bringing enough rice crackers.
8. Sheep appear to neatly graze in one direction whilst cows are not quite so militant in their feeding formations.
9. Echidna look very sweet when they are trundling along the side of the road.
10. I think I like pugs.

Flying for 8 hours

Prior to takeoff:
Explain to Stardust that when the 'Fasten your seatbelt' sign is on, it means that he has to be buckled up in the seat.  Prepare biscuits for takeoff.

During takeoff:
Allow Stardust a free flow of biscuits to encourage him to swallow and balance his inner ear pressure.

Hour 1:
Watch 'Fantastic Mr Fox' on video.  Stardust does not appear to understand the concept of headphones but is having fun wearing them and honing his fine motor skills by plugging and unplugging the headphones.

Hour 2:
Some turbulence occurs and the 'Mr Fox' video is disrupted - time to bring out a small box of raisins to keep Stardust distracted.  Stardust is happy to eat raisins and drink diluted apple juice through a straw.

Hour 3:
Lunch is served.  Stardust is unimpressed by the pasta but eats some of it.  I get to eat the chocolate biscuits that come with his meal as he has rejected it in favour of the fruit salad from my adult meal.  Travelling with a health-conscious child has its perks!  After lunch, I change his nappy and take out his small toy train for him to play with.

Hour 4:
The videos are back online so Stardust resumes watching 'Fantastic Mr Fox' from the beginning but without the soundtrack - he has dismantled his headphones.  Stardust doesn't seem to be bothered about the story as long as he gets to see stop motion anthropomorphic animals going about their business.

Hour 5:
Stardust is tired of watching the video, so we take out the colouring book and crayons and he does some scribbling.  He insists on wearing his broken headphones - I don't argue because it doesn't bother me so long as he is quiet.  He drinks up his milk and after this I change his nappy.

Hour 6:
Stardust is getting tired but he doesn't want to sleep so he lounge on a pile of pillows that I have arranged to cover the armrest (for some reason, the armrests will not lift up and out of the way).  I wrap my arm around him and he asks to watch 'Fantastic Mr Fox' - but I notice that he isn't looking at the screen but at his own hands. 

Hour 7:
Tea is served.  Stardust is totally unimpressed with the pancakes and sausages so I eat them.  He drinks diluted apple juice and eats some raisins.  After a nappy change, he decides that he wants to watch the Fox programme again, but instead of watching it, he holds up his toy train and pretends that it is part of the show.

Hour 8:
Stardust is very restless now and very tired of sitting in his seat for so many hours.  The plane is beginning descent so he is starting to pull at his ears as the cabin pressure changes.  I distract him by getting him to pretend that he is a shark eating up a big school of fish - he is able to decompress his inner ear by opening his mouth as wide as he can.  The video is switched off much to his distress but now there is much to see outside the aeroplane window.  We watch the lights of the city as they get closer and closer, until....

We finally arrive at our destination!

Packing for 8 hours

In my carry-on luggage:
8 disposable nappies
2 sets of long sleeved pyjamas
2 sets of mealtime equipment (bowl, spoon, fork, sippycup)
1 box of wetwipes
1 sweater (for me)
1 tube of lip balm (mostly for me)


In Stardust's carry-on luggage (yes, he has his own bag now):
10 books
4 finger puppets
3 toy cars
1 toy robot
1 trinket keeper containing random junk treasures
1 ziplock bag containing 10 arrowroot cookies (for take off)
1 box of raisins (for pockets of turbulence)
1 colouring book
1 set of crayons
1 set of markers
1 set of stickers

Onward, we go!

Pictures of the Day 4: The mountain, the sea, the beach

Pictures of the Day 3: Mt Kinabalu and...the BEACH!!!

Pictures of the Day 2: Orang Utan Sanctuary and...BEACH

Pictures of the Day 1: BEACH

Holiday!

We're all going on holiday to Kota Kinabalu!  Hooray!  It's been ages since we have had a holiday. 

Apparently, the hotel we will be staying in has got a great wireless connection, so I will be updating as we go along.

This will be Stardust's first plane ride where he gets a seat all to himself.  I've packed a big of goodies for him to keep him occupied during the trip. 

My biggest concern is the change in cabin pressure during the ascent and descent of the plane which causes inner ear discomfort - the main reason why children cry on the flight.  I have packed biscuits for the ascent (to encourage him to swallow often) and a 'Mr Happy' book for the descent (to encourage him to yawn or open his mouth wide).  For the flight, I have brought stickers and crayons, books and a new toy. 

Let's go!