I love Victoria!

Wednesday just gone was washing day! We washed and washed and washed. Getting the sleeping bags clean is just lovely!


On Thursday after the boys doing some school work in the morning, I braved the Melbourne roads with Harry. We went to visit my very good friend Emily (Emily and I go right back to year 1 and have always kept in touch) who has moved with her husband Trevor and 3 boys to Melbourne at Christmas time. In February she had boy number four – Ryan. I was aiming to get to Emily’s house by about 12.30pm and didn’t get there until after 2pm. There were several teary phonecalls to Emily in between as I just couldn’t get myself where I wanted to go. My sense of direction and map following has never been one of my strengths, and I was just so frustrated as in addition to this we have a pretty basic GPS which kept telling me to turn right when there was ‘no right turn’ signs, or turn left while I was part way over a bridge…


Anyway, Harry and I were very happily to finally arrive and it was wonderful to see Emily. She is quite amazing, managing the comings and goings of her brood and still managing to do things like bake slices and Anzac biscuits.


We walked up to pick her sons Harry and David up from school, and my Harry played on the playground and later at Emily’s house with her boys while Emily and I could catch up. Old friends are so wonderful as Emily knows me inside and out and we always take up as if we’d had a similar chat just a week ago. Sign of a special friendship I think.


Harry and I left just as Emily’s husband Trevor arrived home from work – good to see him too! Emily printed out a Google map so theoretically I would have no problem finding my way home.
All went well until I had 2km before I got home to Sharon’s. I kept following the GPS directions and spent goodness knows how long simply driving around in circles, once again punctuated by the GPS telling me to make turns I couldn’t take.


Aaaaarrrggghhhh! Harry was so good. He sat in the front seat stroking my arm or legs telling me ‘it’s all right Mum’ as I was alternatively swearing with anger and sobbing with frustration. Somehow we got home!


When we got home, my cousin Mike, Kerry, Erin (6) and Charlie (4) were there for tea. We had such a good evening! It felt like I was Mike and Sharon’s little sister, and it was such a good feeling being surrounded by my cousins ( Kerry is Mike’s wife, but she feels just like a cousin too!) , their four gorgeous kids along with Trevor, Max and Harry.


So apart from driving dilemas, Thursday was a wonderful day!


On Friday Kerry picked me up in the afternoon and took me to see Charlie’s Kinder. In Victoria, the four year old programs are not run by schools but either as part of a childcare centre or as standalone entities. Fees are charged too. It is quite different to how Kindergarten is set up in WA. CHarlie’s centre looked beautiful – lots of space and natural light – just how an early childhood centre ought to be!


We drove to Erin’s primary school who were having an open day to celebrate the school’s 130th anniversary. How different to Dalyellup College where we’ve just celebrated our 10th! We had a wander through the classroom and got to look at the old photos and giggle at the 70s and 80s hairstyles! An old fashioned classroom had been set up with wooden desks and slates. Kerry said that the kids had all tried writing with ink.


Outside the school has an established garden which is very well supported by the school community. I took lots of photos – especially to show Edwina, Max’s teacher who has worked really hard to establish the Eco Centre at Dalyellup. This is what it could look like in the future!


We then went to listen to Erin sing in the Junior choir. She performed in the front row and sounded brilliant!!

Max, Kerry and Charlie

Erin's wearing the white top and brown scarf.

  

The part Max liked the best was afternoon tea!


It was great to see the school.  Charlie is going to start Prep (Pre Primary) there next year and already seems to be known by everyone. Everyone was so friendly and it has a lovely atmosphere.


That night Trevor whipped up a pizza storm which we all enjoyed.

Max and Erin

Erin making pizza base

Max, Charlie, Grady and Harry

squashed Iris, Harry, Grady and Charlie

I tried valiantly to get a photo off all six kids together, but didn’t quite get there!! It was like the kids all know intrinsically that they are related, as they just play so well. Max finds the younger boys a bit of a challenge, but has hit it off so well with Erin and Iris. Harry is in a funny spot as he’s not as little as the little kids but not as big as Max and Iris but still has a great time. We keep hearing peals of laughter and busy activity, and they all love watching a DVD together!