Snap!

Mari has been helping me 'work' lately, and just loves to take charge. These are set up, styled and photographed by Mari all by herself. (I may have focussed for her.) But mostly it was a case of, "I can do it mummy. This is my job."

Off with the Fairies

We had a serious case of the "the walls are closing in and I can't stay in the house a minute longer" blues (Sing it with me!)
this morning. So, we went looking for fairies in the oak forest. The first photo is of Mari peering in the door of a fairy tree house. No one was home, so we settled for a picnic. And a very nice picnic it was too.

Facts

1. Being sick is boring. We've successfully established that over the last two months. Having flu, laryngitis, gastro, 3 week (and still going) cold, excema (on Rosa), and possible threat of chicken pox (Rosa again) since August, well, for lack of any other eloquent phrase, sux.

But...

2. Cleaning is fun! Well, when you've finished anyway. We've finally got the 'other' loungeroom converted from shambles to dining room / photo studio & art/music room. Hoorah!

Duck!

Can we send Mari to the Royal Acadamy yet? It's a duck. But you knew that already.

Aww.... *achoo!*

They might have a cold, but gee they still photograph well...

Sheesh.

You leave two sick kids in a recently tidied room for ten minutes and what happens?

This.

Port Fairy

We headed down to Port Fairy for their annual Spring Music Festival on the weekend. A four hour drive, but well worth it. I had the chance to experience four whole concerts, in child-free bliss. The first was violin/piano duo who played Beethoven's Sonata No.7 in c minor, op.30, No.2, which was stunningly beautiful. The violinist Cameron Hill especially was, well, just fabulous really. And speaking of fabulous, that night, I was dragged (protesting) from the house at 10:15pm to see the Stiletto Sisters, a trio that combine hungarian/russian style folk music with a dash of french passion and one hell of good time! I can't rave about them enough. The next day gave up some beautiful Schubert played by The Benaud Trio, and some very good (if rather unchallenging) Jazz. A great festival, but really, they do need to try and expand their audience somewhat. I'm sure I'm not the only person under 50 who enjoys a bit of classical and/or jazz every now and then. But sitting up the back (as I often was) my field of vision was filled mostly with a sea of grey. Which is fine. It's a grown-up alternative to the folk festival. But still, that's a whole two thirds of the population that they seem to be neglecting in their marketing.


Of course, being in Port Fairy, Mari was very interested in looking for fairies at the bottom of the garden, with moderate success, spring being the right time for fairy watching and all. And Rosa had fun playing with her very good friend Alannah. We also got the chance to walk along the wharf to check out the boats and soak up some sunshine between performances.

Big Smoke

We ventured down to Melbourne last week. The girls and I caught up with friends, and walked (and walked!) around Prahran, Camberwell and St Kilda. We attempted to have a quiet lunch on Wednesday at Fed Square followed by a gentle stroll around the Charles Blackman show, but were foiled by the football extravaganza(!) and an Australian Idol (i think) concert. Oh dear god! The rest of the week was spent shoe shopping (joy!), catching up with very dear friends and exploring Luna Park and St Kilda community garden. A fun but exhausting three days. Did I mention the walking? In new shoes! Phew.