Unfortunately, my computer ate my pictures from yesterday. Had some cute ones from a good park we found. Instead you get an unclear shot of the old wool stores that have been turned into upscale condos.
Yesterday we went to playgroup - it was a scorcher so when Ellis said he wanted to leave I happily agreed. Playgroup usually ends in disaster because I feel I have to stay to help clean up - this time I said - who cares! It worked well - no tantrums.
The bad side of this was that I had made an appointment to see a house in Hawthorne (near playgroup) but we had three hours to kill at high noon in 35 degree heat. My obsession with being on time really is a hindrance some days.
We took the city cat across the water from New Farm to Hawthorne. Tanya (Cdn friend) had told us that there was a good playground there and there was. They cover the playgrounds here with big shades which is great. I parked Rowan under a tree in the breeze and went to the playground with Ellis. He climbed the spider web (ropes in a grid) - I was the spider who had to catch the fly. It was really too hot for this game, so I was glad when he befriended Eddie (or actually - he befriended Eddie's cars - Eddie was also three and was sending his cars down the slide - this was great fun).
I've discovered that I'm quite good at getting information out of people. I started talking to Eddie's mom - she takes Eddie to gymnastics every week in Hawthorne and then ends up stuck in the park near the city cat on the way home. She moved here three years ago when Eddie was a baby (from the UK), recently divorced, she bought an apartment downtown (she pointed it out to me - you could see it as it has a big tower on it), which she has been trying to sell ever since. I told her I was going to look at a place to rent. She said - "I should have done that." Anyway, I learned lots more, but won't bore you. I did not learn her name, but I bet if I went back next Wed, I would find her there. Eddie and Ellis got along quite well - wondering if it's because I mentioned that Eddie had two e's in his name like Emilie.
I asked her if I could walk to somewhere to eat lunch and she kinda looked at me like I was nuts - "well, I suppose....it's only about 5 minutes I guess....never done it myself."
How hard could it be? Ellis hopped in the stroller and we were off. Yah - there does not seem to be shady tree lined streets here. You are lucky if there is a sidewalk - the main street was only about three blocks away (long ones) but it was too hot. We finally made it and found Oxford Street (this is a nice street) lined with cafes and trendy stores. It was nice. We also passed another great park on the way. I felt I deserved a sit down lunch and so found the Citrus cafe (too bad - computer ate pictures). Ellis was super well behaved and we had a very civilized lunch. Rowan was also a star and to top it off, we actually got table service here. I think almost every restaurant we've been to, you have to go up to the counter to order.
At the end, I asked if I could pack up the rest of Ellis's lunch - the server told me they weren't allowed to do take away, but she brought me this great little container anyway. It felt so weird not tipping (they don't tip here). When you go to a restaurant here, you may be shocked by the prices - but then, in the end, I think it's about the same as tax and tip are included in the price. So lunch was $19,50 for a lamb souvlaki wrap and a personal ham and pineapple pizza on a chi chi street.
I then took Ellis back to the park we passed and then had to use threats and bribes to get him to leave. Just as I was leaving the park, I got a call from the agent to make sure we were still on. "yup - just walking over from the park now." Pause. "okay" she said.
About five minutes into my walk I got another call.
"Renee - do you want a ride?"
"Oh, no - almost there and I've got my kids."
I pulled up outside the house. I can only imagine what I looked like. 3 hours in the blazing sun. I could see my feet - I was wearing my nice shoes I got in Hawaii (they are fancy thongs - they still call them thongs here) and my feet were dirt encrusted. I could feel the 6 layers of sweat that had melted and dried on my skin. Rowan looked like a lobster with sopping wet hair from sweat - Ellis was probably looking the best. He doesn't seem to suffer as much.
That may be why she proceeded to chat on the phone for about 5 minutes while we baked some more on the street.
I tried to pull off the "I'm a lady of leisure and usually hang out in the salon" look, but I don't think it worked. To top it off, the house was owner occupied and the owner is one of those people that obviously subscribes to Home and Garden. We walked in and I wanted to say - "Can I just sit here a minute in this nice air conditioned room on the white leather couch?" Ellis immediately took off running (as he does). She asked him to stay with his mummy. She looked at us very suspiciously as we walked by the Christmas tree that was overflowing with presents.
I did my best to sell us as good tenants (not sure why I did this - I was pretty sure we wouldn't apply for this house - it just wasn't us - paved backyard). Surprisingly, I got a follow up call from her today to see if we were going to apply. Nope.
All to soon, we had to leave the air conditioned bliss and head back out to the hot pavement. We hiked back to the citycat terminal and slogged our way home.
Got home, put on our swimming suits and hit the pool. As soon as Rowan knows we are walking through the garage toward the pool door, his little arms start flapping away. He gets very excited. Yesterday, Ellis jumped in the pool at least 10 times. Yup - that is how hot it was.
The best part was - it was date night. Our babysitter came by at 6 - Ellis seemed happy to see her and we got to go out. Hooray.
Saw the Christmas tree at City Hall all lit up. It has a solar panel star at the top that loads up energy during the day to power the lights at night. Seems more Christmassy at night when you can't see the palm trees swaying.
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