First Day of School (aka Daycare)

So it was Ellis's first day of school. It has gotten hot again and I was sweating - I had forgotten what a pain it was to get ready to get out the door. I think there was also a touch of guilt in there that was adding to my feeling or stress. Cyp was sweating too - but this was just the night sweats that come with his affliction (He's gotten new antibiotics though, so he's feeling better today - Friday).

Adding to the stress was that we were waiting for our Coles grocery delivery. I had set it up before I knew Ellis would be going to school on Thursdays. So the plan was that I would take Ellis to daycare and Cyp would wait for the delivery. Fortunately the delivery came first thing so we could all take Ellis. Did I mention that it was hot? We were sweating even more by the time we got to the ferry terminal and it didn't help that it was rush hour and the ferry man sat there for a while. By the time we got off on the other side we were melting. Cyp set off with the stroller and Rowan and Ellis and I plodded along behind. After encouraging Ellis to try to keep up, I suddenly had a brainwave. "Halt" I yelled.

"Ellis - can you sit on the front of Bob?"

"yup" he said and dutifully climbed on.

Hooray! Now Cyp was the only one sweating as he pushed both kids and all accoutrements that hang off the stroller.

We got to the parking lot and dropped off Ellis - met with Miss Erin (who is his teacher) - Ellis was in the meantime running around testing all the toys to make sure that they were up to par. There is a giant sand box ("sand pit" I was later informed by Ellis) and some balancing type things - really rather good for a parking garage.

We left after I had gotten the lowdown on where everything goes and how everything works - said a quick goodbye to Ellis and skedaddled (not supposed to linger over the goodbyes). Ellis hardly noticed we left - he was busy hopping on some fake stepping stones they had put out.

Cyp headed off for work and I decided to trek to Brisbane Bubs to try to find a double stroller. So off I set. I was flying! Man was I making time. I hiked through Fortitude Valley (known here as the Valley), which used to be home to a lot of hotels (Aussie word for bar). It is now home to a lot of upscale furniture stores and Chinatown - in an odd way, it is much like our gastown - not as nice looking, but same concept. Old part of town where the sailors used to hang out - kinda skid row that is now becoming gentrified I think.

Brisbane Bubs is kinda like Baby's world - i.e. overpriced. I had done some research on strollers but none of the ones I researched were there and it looked like I would have to get a Phil and Teds. I agonized for a while and decided to wait until Cyp could come with and help me bring it home. So I headed back.

I stopped in a shop in Chinatown on the way home and picked up some essentials - hoisin sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, spices etc. Now I had fairly heavy bags, I decided it was time to unload at home.

At home I also managed to get in a lot research - found a Phil and Ted's online that was $100 cheaper - was skyping with Sue at the time and she suggested ebay australia. I checked it out and found one in our area - it was already up to $405 with 3 days left to go, so I decided to bite the bullet and pay $600 for a new one. Maybe I can sell ours once I'm done with it. Tanya asked me today if I would now sell Bob, but I don't know....I should, but he's part of the family!

I also phoned Target to see if they had the Jupiter (top rated on choice.com - Australia's answer to Consumer Reports) but no one had ever heard of it (It's made by Target).

So - stroller bought, bank account signed up for, I decided to head out again to see if there was anything else we "needed" I was playing beat the clock and had 2 hours until I had promised myself I'd pick up Ellis (4:30). Daycare is open from 6:30 to 6:30 - I wonder if some parents actually leave their kids there for 12 hours. Maximizing your daycare buck.

So - Rowan and I wandered to BWS (Beer Wine Spirits). I wanted to get the rewards card (it goes with Woolworths - last time I was at Woolworths, they didn't have any), oh and while I was there thought I'd pick up some wine - 3 for $21 - not bad. Then I hit Woolworths - I had walked three blocks to find the BWS I knew only to get back to Woolworths and see one right there - duh.

Ok - I spent quite a while in Woolworths - you may have noticed that I haven't mentioned Rowan - he just sits there -happy as a clam - he did start to whine in Woolworths - I gave him a scrub brush - that solved that. He gets a lot of attention here - poor Ellis. Actually, Ellis does quite well for attention too - people always make sure to ask him first how old he is. They are really good with kids, but then they always have to comment a lot on Rowan's legs. His legs are quite something.

Oh - so I think I've finally figured out where they keep things in the grocery store - eggs go with cereal (did I mention that they don't keep eggs in the fridge?) and an entire aisle seems to be made up of Arnott's brand (they make tim tams and just about every other cookie or cracker sold in Australia). They do not sell nut free cookies here.

I went to pick up Ellis and found him bawling his eyes out - I guess other mummies and daddies had started to show up and he was feeling bad. He looked pretty woeful. He had wondered where we had gone. Apparently he had been good up until 15 minutes earlier. He really didn't look it though - his eyes were very red.

I packed up his stuff, which was scattered all over and we headed out. I decided he could ride on the front again - maybe I didn't need to buy that double stroller after all! Rowan doesn't like the cramped feeling - he boots at Ellis and pulls his shirt - it's funny.

I decided it would be easy dinner night and I was going to make prepackaged pasta (Cyp was probably wondering what I did with all my time - couldn't even make proper dinner) - I was exhausted! He got home though and said he couldn't eat dairy with his new drugs so I decided to cook the fish that I had bought at Woolworths (less than $5 for a big piece of Ling - not sure what that is - not green so not ling cod). It was yummy.

Ellis was the most well behaved he's been in a long time - So cooperative and happy - can't decide if it's an act so we won't send him back or if it was good for him to get around some kids and away from mummy that always says - "don't do that"