my sister's garden in Fremantle

I went on a holiday to Fremantle for four days to see my sister. How lovely to travel peacefully solo, to take a break from early rising and toy-tidying. How amazing to visit a home where all items are not in the process of continual rearrangement. How lovely to get home and hear and see and hold my children.

fire

This summer we had, on the same day, Melbourne's hottest recorded day (47 degrees) and Australias worst natural disaster. Fire everywhere. Screaming north and south winds fanning flames. Huge treetop fires that ate up everything. Lots of people died and pets and homes were lost. A whole lovely forest village (Marysville) was pretty much wiped out. Our family was OK, but we watched in shock.

first day of school

My little big girl, all ready for first day of school. Messing around on the step. Excited and nervous.

hot

How hot we were this Summer. We had a crazy (over 40 degree) heat-wave that went on for days and days - way too long. Our valiant fan-cooled house held out as best it could against the onslaught, fans whirring, with no sign of a cool change. We spent a lot of time in the pool, our plants frizzled, our cats panted. It was pretty hard going.

Cranbourne Botanic Gardens

hands

Two hands with treasures at the Botanic Gardens.

top family

Top family at the tippy-top of the toppest tower in Melbourne - the Eureka Tower. I could not bear to watch Ella and Jamie throwing themselves against the windows in excitement.

party dresses

At the National Gallery. Ella and Poppy taking a short break between face-painting all the guests at my birthday party.

boy with bean

Rare to go out with one and not two small people. Ella stayed home to help Dad with an important 'secret' project. Jamie came with Mum, Auntie and Nana to ACCA to see The Waterhole, was fed jellybeans and tickled and chased.

let's dress up

A pirate shop-keeper and a tree-climbing clown. A small boy sweltering in his clown-suit which he insisted upon wearing around the Botanic Gardens.