Ice Play

Ahh, the joy of children old enough to amuse themselves in the morning. Our first two days of real holidays brought very enjoyable sleep-ins. Of course, after we are all up, there is a whole day to fill with activities and outings that will amuse three children ranging from four to nearly nine years old and not drive their mother to distraction - you can only play Junior Monopoly for so long. The weather is cold and wet(!) and we never complain about rain here but it does make long days at home difficult. Bethany and Joss spent some time racing on their scooters.


Thankfully, on Tuesday evening we received an invitation. Each winter someone sets up an ice rink in one of the old sheds at the showground - two rinks in fact with one being very small for the young learners. It isn't a high quality operation. I waited for the ice-smoothing vehicle I remember from Macquarie years ago, but there is no room for such a vehicle and the ice just gets very rough. I wasn't sure that one adult who hasn't skated for twentyish years, in charge of three children who have never skated was going to be worth $40! I'm still not sure...

When I set this photo up, Bethany was in it. You can sort of see her behind the fence.


Catherine, Hannah and Sam arrived and I was greatly amused by them falling over. I'm afraid I became quite preoccupied with catching it on film when I could have been helping.


I must admit I despaired of them gaining enough skills to do it alone. I had a very sore back from holding them all up. Bethany had great confidence but nothing to back it up.



At one point she just decided to stay down. When I caught her eating the ice, more than once, I let her put her shoes back on and play with the blow-up snowmen.

In the end Jossie and Hannah were able to have a go on the big rink and then came back to the little one to show off their skills.


I still found the falls amusing.


Jossie let me post this photo.


At the beginning Toby was a bit uncertain. He did not like the fact that his hands got so cold and wet when he fell but in the end he loved it so much he didn't want to go home.

He did five laps of the big rink and showed me his solo skills on the little one. Sadly, he fell over so little that I have no funny photos of him.


The photos are so grainy because I used my candlelight setting - sorry about that, lesson learnt.

Yesterday we went to the milkshake farm, also called 'At the Farm' to catch up with Liz who moved to Sydney at the end of last year. The rain held off until we left, so, as well as enjoying their hot chocolates and biscuits, the kids were also able to play soccer, in the sandpit and with the animals. I was so keen to eat my caramel cream pie that I totally forgot to photograph it.

Hey Tim, last night we had roast lamb so tonight I am making fritters! Come over!!