25/03/2022
The weather this week has been spectacular again. The kiddies have been enjoying the outdoor lifestyle. Eloise is always quick to suggest another trip to a playground, it is nice Lachnado is stable enough to play now, even pulling himself up and trying to walk.
Perhaps the poor boy is getting tired trying to keep up with Eloise. Lachnado actually enjoyed a midday nap, IN HIS COT! Super Mum was so happy, she did not know what to do with herself.
A quick hot chocolate and marshmallows (lots in Eloise’s case) before they were running about in the sun again. We think it was a blessing in disguise that we did not end up renting an apartment.
Monday afternoon Liam and Co headed down to Northern England. It was a nice scenic drive, perhaps a wee longer than he had anticipated. The benefit of travelling with locals was knowing the good services stops. Tebay Services Farmshop and Kitchen has been the best by a country mile. The Aussie BBQ playlist did the trick for the drive. Sadly Liam was busy when Scotland withdrew from the World Curling Championships after two further positive COVID-19 tests . This could have been his chance.
Further south in England, it looked like best friends of the blog, the Moores, were having a good time. It sounds like they have had a busy few weeks.
With Dad away, Lachnado again stepped up to the plate with a plate, helping Eloise look after Super Mum.
Super Mum and the kids are becoming well known in the local area. Not surprisingly, they did an impressive number of laps of the local area, lochs and playgrounds.
Liam arrived home late Tuesday night after a long drive. Sadly missing putting Eloise to bed, he had plenty of time to catch up with Lachnado, because, you know, he never sleeps. We think he may be teething again.
On Wednesday we received an Aussie care package containing Vegemite flavoured Shapes, Beerenberg burger relish and ACTUAL PROPER WEET-BIX!!! We were all very happy. Thank you again Moores! Very kind of you. Liam is trying to work out whether he rations the Weet-Bix until we next visit Australia, or does he just eat them on special occasions? UK Weetabix are absolutely, no good.
Eloise managed to find a new dress in her Narnia closet and had to show her duck friends.
According to Eloise, it is ice cream weather, although by her accounts, we are not sure if ice cream season ever stopped.
Sadly it was lunch in the shade for Lachnado, because he cannot grow any hair on his head and we did not want him to get sunburnt again. You try putting a hat on Lachnado. One does not simply put a hat on Lachnado.
When Liam finished work Lachnado took him back to the Roman bath-house, he is getting pretty close to standing unassisted, a concern for all.
With the car seats still out, Sophie figured it was her turn to drive the like-minded mummas to Bounce Back to Netball. The turnouts are still up and down, with only ten making it out. COVID-19 has been making it a wee unpredictable.
Thursday morning, Eloise pretty much woke up in the playground egg spinner thing.
After a big start to the week, Dad had to use up some flexi-time. Sophie spontaneously had the idea to go to Edinburgh for a long long weekend. Once Eloise had put on four t-shirts, there was a quick dash to the shops to stock up on food for Lachnado.
Scotland was scheduled to play Ukraine in a World Cup Qualifier at Hampden Park. Obviously, this was postponed. Instead, a friendly match between Scotland and Poland will be played. “The two nations will play each other in a fundraising friendly, with the proceeds – £10 from each ticket – going towards UNICEF’s humanitarian response both in Ukraine and in addressing the refugee crisis resulting from the conflict. The appeal will focus on ensuring families have clean water and nutritious food, as well as maintaining child health and protection services”. On the topic of World Cup Qualifiers, the “Socceroos’ automatic World Cup qualification hopes dashed in 2-0 loss to Japan in Sydney”.
This morning there was a mad scramble and dash to the train into Glasgow. We made good time and caught an earlier train to Edinburgh. The timing was right for Lachnado’s morning nap. He did not sleep on the trains but was happy chillin’ in the Batmobile which made the trip, dare I say, almost relaxing. There was plenty of room for Eloise to bounce around and do her thing.
When we arrived in Edinburgh we were appropriately welcomed by a piper. It was only a short walk to the hotel. Over the past couple of months whenever we drove past a hotel in Glasgow Eloise would ask if it is our new home. She was excited when we told her today it was. We had been to Edinburgh in our first week after arriving in the UK. However, this will be our first extended stay.
We dropped off the overloaded Batmobile as it seems impossible for this family to travel light and hit the street to explore and find some lunch.
Thanks to Jo’s great suggestion we hopped on the Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus. Eloise was very quick to second that. Two trains and an open double-decker bus. She was already sold on this holiday.
Many Harry Potter fans have speculated that Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is inspired by one of Edinburgh’s grand schools. George Heriot’s School on Lauriston Place is often linked to Hogwarts, particularly on Edinburgh tours.
We arrived back at St Andrew Square where Eloise ran around while Lachlan had lunch 2.0.
When we were leaving St Andrew Square we noticed Gordon Ramsey’s new Edinburgh restaurant, Bread Street Kitchen & Bar. There was a cancellation and we managed to get a reservation. The only problem was we were underdressed, we were not prepared for this. We dashed back to the hotel to check-in.
New city, new shops, the girls did not need another reason to hit the shops. Edinburgh’s shops were very busy. Glasgow has a larger population than Edinburgh, but the Scots were out in force today. We started at the fancy St James Quarter near the controversial W Hotel. “You can’t polish a turd, but you can clad it in bronze-coloured steel. Edinburgh’s new W Hotel is proof. Poking its faecal peak above the historic skyline, puncturing the globally cherished panorama of elegant stone steeples and spires, this shimmering pile is evidence that, despite all the Unesco World Heritage site protections, conservation group campaigns and lengthy planning negotiations, shit still happens”.
The boys were shopped out, so went for a stroll along the top of Princes Street Gardens where they found another piper.
Eloise found a new unicorn dress for tonight. Super Mum was not as successful but did manage to find netball shoes after three months on the hunt. We went to get ready and put on our finest pair of jeans and sneakers. After all that, Eloise decided she did not want to wear her new dress because she was concerned it would get messy. She noticed Lachlan was in his brown overalls and wanted to match him.
It was lucky we had asked if there were any tables left. The food was fantastic. Probably the best meal we have had in the UK.
After Eloise went for a cheeky night run around St Andrew Square. It was time for their bed. Which was again, surprisingly painless… For now at least…
Today, “Pre-departure COVID test for international travellers to Australia ditched” and “South Australia announces changes to COVID close contact rules”. Before COVID-19 Qantas, started filming a new version of our classic “I Still Call Australia Home” advert. It sat on a shelf for two years. Now, with all of Australia’s borders finally open and international travel back, it has been released, “and one day, we’ll all be together once more”.
[…] was then back on the train to Glasgow, a 50-minute ride. Much quicker than the train into Edinburgh. Eloise reflected on her exciting long long weekend in Edinburgh. We all had so much fun. Three […]