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Tag: holidays

  • FEATURE: Are we there yet?

    FEATURE: Are we there yet?

    Cuddles with Ella in our hotel room.

    THE O’Briens took a bit of a working holiday to Hobart on the weekend, complete with an introduction to the phrase “are we there yet?’’. This is how the weekend played out:

    Friday morning: Hit the road from Devonport to Hobart. Unfortunately, what used to take us 3.5 hours, now takes nearly a whole day. What with stops to milk the cow (me) and feed the masses (Ella and Holly …. oh, and The Bloke in The Shed). Five minutes in, Ella asks: “are we there yet?’’. My first real introduction to a phrase I will now hear for the next 18 years. Strangely, Bindi the Jungle Girl got louder and louder through the CD player as the trip progressed. Memo to self: Buy car DVD player with headphones for the kids.

    Friday afternoon: Booked into The Old Woolstore Apartments (our regular haunt) and spent the arvo watching Ella jump on her big bed. The temptation of a trampoline indoors is just too much for her. This time The Bloke in The Shed and I took the King bed and Princess Ella had to settle for the Queen.

    Trying to get a decent shot of Ella is challenging!

    As you can tell…

    Friday evening: Ate at Hogs Breath, mainly because it was right across the road from the hotel. Baby Holly ate half an avocado, all my carrots and a curly fry. Yet she still woke during the night for feeds. Sheesh.

    Saturday morning: We headed further south to the “bush’’ for lunch with Barb from Suenos De Alhambra – Life in the Huon Valley and her family. Visit her newly revived blog – it’s fab. After attacking the dress up box (a lady in heels through to a robot), Ella came away with this gorgeous hat to take home.

    The tiger hat and pumpkin hat.

    Saturday evening: If you were on Facebook and Twitter, you would have read my tweet/status. It said: “ The girls are sound asleep and hubby’s at a work-related dinner. It’s just me, the laptop and lots of peace and quiet! Bliss!’’ Need I say more.

    Sunday: We headed home to Devonport. It was one of the wildest trips we’ve had in a while. Rain and wind on the outside of the car and wind in it (Ella+tummy ache=pppeeeewwwww). Boy, was I grateful to finally be back home. And not just because of the weather, but also due to one small question: “are we there yet?’’.

    Sunday evening: One of Julian’s old work shirts died to make a pirate bandana. Ella might just smell like Cap’n Jack sparrow today as part of Pirate Week at child care. True character acting.

    Arr, me hearties!

    What did you get up to on the weekend?

  • FEATURE: Oh my, you have a very big… boat!

    FEATURE: Oh my, you have a very big… boat!

    WITH all the excitement of our Melbourne trip now behind us *sigh*, we’ve already started planning the next interstate holiday *jump for joy*. But it’s not for a quite a few months yet *sigh*. But by then the weather will have picked up *jump for joy*.

    Our options are to fly or go via this.

    Well, the version without eyes and a mouth, anyway.

    Princess Ella gets to see this out the lounge room window every day. If you haven’t figured out what it is, it’s the Spirit of Tasmania. Each time we watch it come in and out of the Mersey River, Ella remarks “there’s Uncle Rick’s boat’’. He doesn’t own it; he just sailed on it – once.

    Funny story, just prior to going to Melbourne, Julian was talking to Ella’s child carer. Ella repeated her usual “yes, we’re going to Melbourne to see Uncle Rick, aren’t we Dad?’’.

    “We hear so much about Uncle Rick. Apparently he has a really big boat?’’ the child carer said.

    Julian then had to explain that the “big boat’’ is actually the Spirit. The child carer had more than a little chuckle at that.

    Due to the boat being so visible, there’s been repeated requests we go to Melbourne on “Uncle Rick’s big boat’’ instead of the plane this time. However, there’s a huge issue with that.

    As I was telling Tina Gray on her post the other day – the post where she revealed a rather green looking version of herself on the Manly Ferry – I actually suffer the same disease. This is despite being the daughter of a rather keen trout fisherman.

    I might add though, there’s a big difference between fishing in a lake and fishing in the sea. Although, give me fishing from the shore and that will make me really happy.

    A very young Ella fishing with her Nan.

    Unless I don’t catch anything.

    Ella after catching her very first fish a couple of years ago.

    I NEED calm seas when I’m on vessels of any size. The last time we went to Melbourne on the Spirit of Tasmania, I ran out of seasick tablets, followed by having a panic attack and then ending up in the single bed WITH The Bloke in The Shed.

    Let’s just say, he wasn’t impressed! It was 27 degrees, there was no ventilation and me squishing him up against the wall just made things even hotter. And no, I don’t mean in THAT way. There was nothing romantic about this scene at all.

    Anyway, after all that, we’ve now debating whether to go to Sydney and Queensland too.  No boats, ahhh. If anyone would like to sponsor these trips, my bank account details are…

    What’s your favourite place to holiday? Is there somewhere our family should be visiting?

  • PHOTOS: What big teeth you have

    PHOTOS: What big teeth you have

    DURING our trip to the Melbourne Aquarium a fortnight ago, Ella became fascinated with these shark teeth. And, as you can tell by the photo, she clearly wasn’t frightened of them.

    Unprompted, she did this pose.

    Can you see my teeth?

    Come a little closer…

    Scary.

    There’s still time to enter to win two nights in a one-bedroom Medina Apartment (valued at $1000).

    Linking up with My Little Drummer Boys’ Wordless Wednesday. Click on the link to check out more photo posts. (Apologies for the fuzzy quality today. The camera does not like the dark!!)

  • SHED: I know a bad omen when I see one

    SHED: I know a bad omen when I see one

    View from the seat at the MCG

    AS A mad Magpie attending his first Collingwood live game since the little princesses were born,  I knew it was gonna be a long day when the first person I saw at the ground was Geelong premiership captain Tom Harley.

    Maybe, just maybe, if the next person I saw was Collingwood premiership captain Nick Maxwell things might be alright, I thought. I turned the corner … and there was Joffa – Collingwood’s comic-like cheer squad leader. Crap.

    Earlier in the afternoon I’d left Princess Kel and the li’l princesses after a long day of shopping to make their way back to the Medina Grand, while I jumped onto a tram on Flinders St to get to the MCG.

    A view of the city from the MCG walkway

    It was a bitterly cold evening and Kel was concerned I did not have a jacket, despite shopping for one all afternoon. In stark contrast to how it normally works (I’m the shopper of the family), Kel had seemingly bought half of Melbourne and I’d bought nothing.

    “Julian, you’ll freeze,’’ was Kel’s parting comment as I kissed her, assuring her I’d be OK. It was on arrival at the MCG I spotted the merchandise stand. “Got any Collingwood jackets?’’ I enquired, as the lady proceeded to unveil a sparkling new Magpie waterproof, lined polar fleece jacket.

    Entrance to the 'G

    I rang Kel: “Want the good news or the bad news?’’

    “What?’’ she replied, suspiciously.

    “Well, I’m not gonna freeze anymore … I bought a Collingwood jacket and it only cost me $100 … Hello? Kel? … Are you still there?’’ Bonus.

    Princess Kel bought me the ticket to the game as a Christmas present (actually she didn’t buy the ticket, she just said I could go). I organised the ticket, which looked on paper a bloody good seat, through an equally mad Magpie workmate. With much excitement, I raced to my seat to check the view only to discover it was right on the fringe of the Geelong cheer squad. Sent a scathing text message to my workmate. Double crap.

    Among my new Geelong “friends''.

    Oh well, best enjoy the night anyway. To my surprise I found the surrounding Geelong supporters bloody nice people (thus disproving my previously held theory about Cat supporters). I enjoyed the game and had a ball despite the eventual Magpie loss, roaring myself hoarse (which Kel would have been most embarrassed about had she been there).

    My beloved Pies were pretty ordinary on the night but, had Geelong lost, their supporters could have felt more ripped off than the MCG patrons who pay $8 for a mid strength beer.  I raced home, still buzzing from the experience, to the comfort of our hotel room and the li’l princesses sound asleep. Magic.

    Tell us about your best experience at a sporting event.

  • WIN: Two nights in a one-bedroom Medina apartment (Valued at $1000)

    WIN: Two nights in a one-bedroom Medina apartment (Valued at $1000)

    SINCE blogging about being Spoilt on a grand Melbourne holiday (Medina Grand review) and asking Did you know fish eat pumpkin?, there’s been a lot of interest from you, our readers. So, as a way for you to experience exactly what it’s like to live like princesses (or princes), we’ve decided to allow one lucky reader to live like we did.

    If you have no idea what I’m talking about, let me refresh your memory. Last week the O’Briens went to Melbourne and indulged in three nights’ accommodation in a stunning room at the Medina Grand in Melbourne. This was our room.

    Our two-bedroom Medina Grand room

    You can visit the review post to see how that room ended up!

    There are a few Medina options in Melbourne, but the Medina Grand suited us because it was an easy walk to the Melbourne Aquarium (or pram ride, for Ella and Holly), simple trek home from the MCG for The Bloke in The Shed (or more like a tail-between-his-legs waddle after the Pies’ loss) and quick tram ride to Harbour Town (the highlight for Ella – the tram, not the shopping). Although, if we hadn’t missed the stop, we might have shopped at the new DFO South Wharf instead. But anyway…

    And did I mention pancakes?

    Ella stuffing her face with pancakes, while Uncle Rick watches on.

    What made our holiday was the hotel. There is nothing better after a hard day slogging it out at the shops, than coming “home’’ to comfort. You can read the full review at Spoilt on a grand Melbourne holiday. And Ella hasn’t stopped talking about her big bed

    Ella's room

    or that big box of toys.

    The toy box and kiddie chairs.

    The thing that appealed to us about Medina is it’s family friendly – just check out its Facebook page MumSpace. It’s an online mother’s group that Medina created to thank one of its most valued group of guests. Yes, you guessed it, us mamas. The group has been up and running for a year now (it just celebrated its first anniversary) and has more than 10,000 fans!

    So, just for a minute, picture yourself here:

    Or here…

    Or even here.

    Well, dream no more. You can have a chance at living it.

    To go in the draw to win two consecutive nights accommodation for two adults in a one-bedroom apartment at a Medina Apartment Hotel of choice across Australia, simply tell us which Medina hotel you’d like to stay in? You can find hotel locations on the Medina site.The giveaway closes Sunday, June 5 at 7pm and a winner will be drawn randomly and announced on this blog and via Facebook and Twitter. Australian residents only.

    Want more entries? Then here’s how you can up your chances in the draw. Each task is worth one extra entry, but must be included as a separate comment (or it won’t count).

    1. Click the Facebook button below and share this giveaway with your Facebook friends. Then leave a separate comment saying something along the lines of “I’ve shared this on Facebook’’.
    2. Click the Twitter button below and share this giveaway with your Twitter followers (Twitter handle is @ThreeLil). Then leave a separate comment saying something along the lines of “I’ve shared this on Twitter’’.

    Total Prize Value: $1,000 

    Terms and Conditions:

    Prize must be redeemed at a Medina Apartment Hotel in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Wollongong or Darwin. Prize is not refundable, non-endorsable or non-transferable.  Prize is for two consecutive night’s accommodation in a one bedroom apartment for two adults at a Medina Apartment Hotel of choice.

    Bookings should be made in advance to avoid disappointment. All prizes are subject to availability. Additional spending money, meals, insurance, taxes, passports, visas, travel to and from the winners choice of Medina Apartment Hotel and all other ancillary costs are the responsibility of the winner.  The winner must provide a valid credit card at check-in to cover any incidentals incurred throughout the stay.

    In the event that, for any reason whatsoever, a winner does not take an element of the prize at the time stipulated by the Promoter, then that element of the prize will be forfeited by the winner and cash will not be awarded in lieu of that element. The prize will be issued in the form of a gift voucher valid for six months from the date of issue.
    PhotobucketWinner announced at Medina Apartment winner is…

  • Happy holidays with kids? You bet

    Happy holidays with kids? You bet

    No Fairy Floss, but fairy face painting instead.

     HOLIDAYS pre-kids used to be different.

    Pre-kids, holidays were about sipping copious amounts of cocktails poolside at resorts or staying in fancy hotels and blowing money at shopping centres like an Aussie P Diddy (without the bling and just one babe on my arm rather than 10 of them).

    With kids, it couldn’t be any more different.

    Nowadays, a holiday destination is chosen on how many parks it has, whether there’s affordable accommodation and if we can arrive without one of the little tackers spewing the contents of their breakfast all over the back seat.

    That doesn’t mean holidays with kids are any less enjoyable – in fact, I’ve discovered quite the opposite.

    Cue: Three weeks holiday.

    The most common question when telling people I was taking leave was: “Where are you going?”

    The answer: “Nowhere”. This was more often than not met with sad, sympathetic looks as if I’d just told them of a death in the family.

    Well, I can tell you, “nowhere” has proved to be one of the best holiday destinations ever.

    It was a conscious decision with the good wife (Princess No. 1) to simply spend time as a family, enjoy the lack of stress involved with packing and unpacking (with kids) and wake each morning treating the day as a new adventure.

    Also, when you have a four-month-old baby who sleeps less of a night than Keith Richards, then staying in a foreign environment is frankly not appealing.

    So instead, we’ve taken day trips to pools, parks, beaches and the Don River Railway (although Princess No. 2, three-year-old Ella, wouldn’t have her picture taken with the Thomas the Tank-looking train because it “doesn’t have a mouth yet, daddy. I’ll come back later when it has a mouth.”).

    One of the holiday highlights has been a dad and daughter trip to Henley-on-the-Mersey, Latrobe’s remarkable multi-faceted festival on Australia Day.

    Fair dinkum, there’s ferret races, woodchopping, helicopter rides, pony rides, cherry pip spitting comps – even Denise Drysdale.

    Stuff the ferrets though.

    All Ella wanted was a ride on the shuttle bus to and from the event – a legacy of singing “Wheels on the Bus” and the fact she’s never ridden on public transport (something she’ll no doubt make up for in her uni years).

    To Ella, the bus rides that day were akin to bungy jumping from the Sydney Harbour Bridge … that was until she saw kids eating strange pink fluffy wool-like stuff.

    We’d carefully avoided exposing Ella to the wonders of Fairy Floss, therefore naturally she was inquisitive. So, I told her the truth.

    “It’s called Fairy Floss, it makes you really sick if you eat it and mummies get REALLY grumpy with daddies if they find daughters have eaten it,” I said, using the most serious face.

    Note to Kel: As a trade off for my little fib, you get to tell her about the birds and the bees when the time comes. Sound fair?

    Other day trip destinations so far have included the awesome Launceston Aquatic Centre (get there if you haven’t been yet), the good ol’ Dinosaur Park at Ulverstone with adjacent safe beach and the kid-friendly Devonport Aquatic Centre.
    So what’s your best day trip destination? Have any secret spots you want to share?