Day 708: Swinging through

03/07/2023

Saturday morning was another case of Lachlan waking up in a brand new room. We had all had a brilliant night’s sleep thanks to the air conditioner, a rare commodity up here. Eloise was in a bright mood from the get-go thanks to the supplied breakfast, she loves a breakfast bar to kick start the day. Lachlan had a quick nibble before launching into his 2048 Olympics training program. He had done at least twenty sprints up and down before Eloise joined in towards the end of his training sesh for encouragement.

It was a short taxi ride with no child seats to the airport which Eloise described as “very cheeky”, Lachlan was enjoying the freedom. The girls did a solid job holding Lachlan in place during the corners. At least the traffic was significantly more orderly than our dash through Rome.

After waiting for the taxi the day was spent waiting for planes, trams, and trains with a car ride to get us all home just by 18:00. A long traveling day.

We were all shattered, it had been a nice family getaway. We were pleasantly surprised by Eastern Europe and the palaces throughout Wien. After Eloise had debriefed all her babies it was time for sleep. Both the kids were asleep in record time.

Sunday morning there was no time to sit around, unicorn Eloise sprung into action wrapping Emma’s present and working on her card. The girls hadn’t caught up since their haircuts, there was a lot of gossip to catch up on.

We made our way to the playground, on the way we definitely spotted the Scottish thistles this time.

Eloise was very excited to see Emma and went sprinting over to her with her present. Emma wasted no time tearing into it.

Eloise, Emma and Lachlan were enjoying playground time while Jo and Grandpa DAVE confirmed all these characters in FIK are real people. Suddenly the sky opened, it was about time Grandpa DAVE saw some Glaswegian rain. It was coming down hard enough that we had to dash under the trees.

Now we were a bit drier in the trees, Lachlan let rip with the frisbee and accidentally nailed Eloise in the face. Poor Eloise then decided it was safer to play on Emma’s scooter.

Throughout Nali and Grandpa DAVE’s packed itinerary, they had not managed to squeeze in a UK Sunday roast. Super Mum had done it again while we all unpacked and repacked.

Worried that his ol’ mate Paul was going to return, Lachlan took no chances and secured his own special bowl of carrots.

Sunday evening the Aussies continued battering England in England, beating them at their own games as “England coach Brendon McCullum hits out at Australia over Alex Carey ‘stumping’, as vision emerges of Jonny Bairstow trying the same tactic”.

This morning, Lachlan was up to his usual cheeky antics, he was thrilled after he nicked one of Nali’s hair ties going for the ol’ Eloise top knot look.

After a massive month of travel, the kids were run down and needed a rest today. Eloise had an easy one at home, no nursery today. It was going to be a massive week ahead for us all. Meanwhile, Nali and Grandpa DAVE journeyed across to check out Edinburgh, they had not been there since 1986. Along the Royal Mile, they dropped into the National Trust Gladstone’s Land “surviving 17th-century high-tenement house”. Nali tried on an assortment of hats before purchasing a Tam o’ shanter. Unbelievably one of their friends is having a Scottish-themed 60th party next week in Radelaide. Nali is well equiped.

Nali and Grandpa DAVE said that Edinburgh was packed with tourists. They left just a few hours before “King Charles III has arrived in Scotland in preparation for being presented with Scotland’s crown jewels… An early morning practice procession was staged in the capital’s Old Town on Monday ahead of the event”. Tonight was their last night in Scotland, flying back early tomorrow morning.