tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38092599125393523792024-03-19T20:15:55.833+11:00Two Little PiratesEmmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634383197755226856noreply@blogger.comBlogger208125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809259912539352379.post-5209139451301876972019-04-12T10:04:00.000+10:002019-04-19T09:41:02.223+10:00Planning a family ski trip to Niseko ... Japan?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am the first to acknowledge that I am not at all qualified to write anything about Niseko. We spent just under two weeks in Niseko. When I wrote the blog post about Whistler we had been there five times. That said, there is a definite lack of information out there about skiing Japan with kids so I am happy to throw my hat in the ring and share what I now know.</div>
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<b>Why Niseko over any of the other Japanese ski resorts?</b></div>
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When I investigated skiing in Japan I literally googled Japanese ski resorts and started with that but after much deliberation I made the decision to go to Niseko as I felt that as the resort was very established and popular with the Australian market it was probably the best place for our first visit to Japan. Shortly after I committed to that decision a lovely family friend got in touch and asked if we were interested in joining them for a trip to Niseko. That sealed our decision, Niseko it was</div>
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<b>Where to stay in Niseko?</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys and other kids from The Aya playing out the front of the hotel. (The Aya had a great supply of toboggans at reception. Just ask to borrow however many you need.)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Residence 102 at The Aya, this was our private ski in/out entrance, From here it was less than 200m to the chair lift and not even 20 metres to the Go Snow ski school drop off. </td></tr>
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Niseko is comprised of four different ski resorts. Annapuri, Hanazono, Niseko Village and Grand Hirafu. We picked Grand Hirafu as our location as most of the restaruants that we wanted to checkout were in Grand Hirafu and also the hotel options in Grand Hirafu seemed the best. We booked <a href="https://www.ayaniseko.com/">The Aya</a> which is positioned in a fantastic ski in/out location at the base of the Grand Hirafu chairlift and it was excellent. I could not fault the accommodation in any way. We spent the first half of the holiday in one of the residences, sharing it with our friends, and it was amazing. We had a view straight onto the base of the mountain from one side and from the other we gazed onto a beautiful snow covered grove of trees. It also included a private onsen and our own ski in, ski out entry. The ski room was enormous with lots of storage for all of the ski gear. The walk in the morning from our apartment to drop the boys at ski school was literally less than 20 metres. It really was a great location. We were walking distance to the Seico Market, the local supermarket, Mick's (a fantastic bar and bottleshop), lots of fabulous restaurants and most importantly, the on site restaurant Ginger, had amazing coffee. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skis!</td></tr>
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The Aya really ticks all the boxes, it has a very funky vibe and great staff that well and truly went above and beyond. As in the front desk staff helping our friend's 25 year old son clean up a vomit covered bedroom after one of the kid's came down with gastro and we were all out having dinner. I was super impressed. For our first time to Niseko, I think we really nailed it with the accommodation. There were a couple of other hotels that looked like they might be worth investigating also, <a href="https://www.skyeniseko.com/">Skye Niseko</a> looked great. It is positioned a bit further up the mountain and is also ski in/out. Ross and I had a lovely lunch at the deli here one day and from what I could see of the hotel it looked pretty amazing. It would just be a slightly longer walk to the village if you wanted to go our for dinner and if your kids were attending regular ski school you would need to either ski them or walk them down to the ski school base. <a href="http://thevaleniseko.com/accommodation/">The Vale</a> is literally next door to the Aya, so again an amazing location in the heart of the village, ski in and out and it also had a very cool vibe about it.</div>
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These Villas belonged to the Aya and looked incredible. They were right outside our apartment and they had the most glamourous young couples staying in them (it turns out that there is a lot of money in online gambling, who knew?) and if money was no object for me too, I would definitely love to stay in one of them one day!<br />
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<b>Which Ski School?</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hamish and his friend that we travelled with waiting for their lesson to begin at Go Snow.</td></tr>
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Niseko is different to every other resort that we have skied at with children. There are multiple ski schools and they are all privately owned. More importantly they are all associated with the different resorts that make up Niseko. When you are picking your ski school definitely investigate whether it has a base at the resort that you are based at. As we were staying in Grand Hirafu we picked <a href="https://www.gosnowniseko.com/">Go Snow</a> for our ski school. This decision was also influenced by the recommendations of friends that had previously skied Japan. My thoughts on the ski school are a little mixed. Go Snow was in a great location, the meeting area for Yama Riders (8-14 year olds) is just outside the front of The Aya. The meeting spot for Ninja Kids (3-6 year olds) is next door to The Aya's Ski Valet room so it was definitely the best for us as far as location. The instructors were also great, Hamish and his mate that we were travelling with even had an instructor who attended the same school as me in Canberra, just 30 years after my time there! It was more that the ski school levels are pretty lax and there were a real mix of abilities at the advanced level of the ski school program. We had a fair few complaints from the boys at the end of the day that they had to spend a lot of time waiting on runs as the other two kids in their class were both unable to keep up and struggled with many of the runs. It is also frustrating as the Ski School were not permitted to take kids aged under 13 years through the Gates (this is where all the good skiing is) and were limited to only skiing the main runs, which are very busy and pretty basic skiing. This rule also applies to private lessons unfortunately. Definitely do some research before you book into any of the ski schools. Confirm that the location is convenient and ask lots of questions. One friend told us that the ski school she booked her daughter into refused to serve lunch as part of the day program, so they had to ski back to the ski school base, collect their daughter, feed her and then return her back to the ski school. Go Snow did feed our kids and there were no food complaints!<br />
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<b>Dressing the kids for skiing Japan</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hamish rugged up against the cold.</td></tr>
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It was cold. The coldest I have ever been skiing. It is the only time Hamish has asked for glove liners. Up the top of the mountain it averaged around -12C. The village was around -6C. There were times it was colder as the wind up high added a little something extra to the chill. Hamish wore <a href="https://au.icebreaker.com/en/kids/oasis-long-sleeve-crewe/IBO188_WS.html?dwvar_IBO188__WS_color=C47">Ice Breaker</a> as his base layer, added a merino wool top over that and then a light down vest under his ski jacket. He has <a href="https://www.kjus.com/us/en/kids/">Kjus</a> Ski Wear and he said that he never felt cold in his body, only his hands. I ended up giving him my Ice Breaker merino wool glove inners in order to keep his hands warm as it was that cold. He doesn't like the artificial hand warmers. He also for the first time asked to wear a balaclava. The cold/snow/ice on your face in Japan is quite something. Do not send little ones out in Japan without their faces covered, buy either a merino wool or fleece balaclava to wear under their helmets. I would say the same for the adults. It was soooo cold. I ended up wearing my Ice Breaker neck warmer as a sort of face mask as at times my face did not feel like it belonged to the rest of my body. If you are planning to ski Japan often, I would investigate investing in proper heated gloves and boots. The main thing is dress yourselves and the children in quality ski gear. Skiing is an expensive enough holiday as it is, there is no point going all that way and not being able to get out and ski because you are too cold.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first day in Niseko and we seriously thought we had arrived in skiing heaven. Incredible powder, bluebird skies, it was magical. My friend Jennifer and I skied long after everyone else had retired for the day. I am so glad we decided to stay out that day. We were able to witness the most incredible pink glow over the resort as the sun set and we also made the most of the good weather. It didn't take us long to realise that blue skies in Niseko are rarer than hen's teeth.</td></tr>
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<b>Ski Hire?</b><br />
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We prefer to hire our skis each season. The boys do have their own skis and poles but we don't travel overseas with them. Primarily because, no one wants to fiddle about with oversized baggage at the airport and also because you can then check out all the new demo skis each season as part of your ski hire package. Another factor to consider when making the decision to travel with your ski gear is whether your travel insurance will cover the cost of any damage to your ski gear. Ours does not and we have a comprehensive annual policy that includes skiing as part of the extras. Our ski gear is not covered for damage on snow or in transit, so we have always opted to rent our skis (we do all travel with our own boots though). These are the two options for Ski Hire in Grand Hirafu that we looked at:<br />
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<a href="https://www.rhythmjapan.com/?msclkid=0d094fd7b7e61522826813b803cb4122&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=RLSA%20%7C%20Customer%20List%20%26%20Non-Converters%20%7C%20TWA&utm_term=%2BRhythm%20%2BNiseko&utm_content=Brand%20-%20Rhythm%20Niseko&gclid=CLH_o7n3zuACFdLJ1AodJTsHOg&gclsrc=ds">Rhythm Snowsports</a><br />
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We used Rhythm because when skiing in Australia that is where we have always hired our gear from. It turned out to be a great decision as they appeared to be the biggest rental shop we saw in Niseko. They also have a relationship with The Aya and have a small service desk in the Aya's ski valet room. It turned out extra handy for me as one day when I went to pick up my skis after lunch I found that someone had replaced my poles with their significantly shorter ones. The Rhythm staff member at The Aya was great and swapped them over immediately for me. Another reason to hire from Rhythm is that there is a fantastic little coffee bar within the store that has excellent coffee. Drinkable coffee is always a lovely and welcome surprise when travelling. Rhythm delivered all our ski gear directly to the Ski Valet at The Aya, when we checked out we simply handed it all to the Rhythm staff member on duty in the Ski Valet room. Super easy.<br />
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<a href="https://www.larryadler.com/skiandsnowboardhire">Larry Adler</a><br />
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Larry Adler's is basically a Sydney institution, there are multiple stores in Sydney and they always have gorgeous window displays. The family we travelled with hired all their gear from Larry Adler who then had it all delivered to the Ski Valet at The Aya, but if you want to switch anything over you need to walk back to the Larry Adler store to do it. Also, once you are done skiing you need to return the ski gear to the Larry Adler store. It also definitely did not have the range of options that Rhythm had.<br />
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<b>Where to eat?</b><br />
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We booked our trip to Niseko is July 2018, so a full 7 months before we travelled. Friends that had travelled to Niseko in the past and also out wonderful <a href="https://theluxenomad.com/">travel agent</a> advised us to make our dinner bookings as soon as possible. Luckily we heeded their advice as I did a quick ring/email around, got a few suggestions and then asked Ari from the Luxe Nomad to go ahead and make bookings. Incredibly, 7 months before our trip several of the restaurants that had been highly recommended were already booked out. Almost all the others refused to take a booking without a credit card. Regardless, we had some absolutely amazing meals out. These are the stand outs that I would recommend.<br />
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<a href="https://www.kamimura-niseko.com/reservation">Kamimura</a><br />
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Kamimura is conveniently located in the heart of Grand Hirafu and was walking distance from The Aya and... it is probably the best degustation menu I have ever had. Ever. It was literally astonishingly and mouth wateringly amazing. If you go to Niseko and you enjoy food, please do make the effort to visit. It wasn't a cheap meal but it was truly extraordinary. All the dishes are made with locally sourced ingredients and they literally burst with flavour and texture. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ross and I were lucky enough to meet Chef Yuichi Kamimura, what a treat. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HcCpo-7xdwlBXcsWDwzxvFZKZ5LHgDVDXDU8gyhIzfc2bqA5UeCD5KsXaYPIr5cEXByG7tGP0TArtRvJbfFywHxcahEbc2VCyfhldiNKuTRJQnIEwLTMiFN4d9vhnqGUCaj_VK0ecGQ/s1600/IMG_4479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HcCpo-7xdwlBXcsWDwzxvFZKZ5LHgDVDXDU8gyhIzfc2bqA5UeCD5KsXaYPIr5cEXByG7tGP0TArtRvJbfFywHxcahEbc2VCyfhldiNKuTRJQnIEwLTMiFN4d9vhnqGUCaj_VK0ecGQ/s640/IMG_4479.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Other great local restuarants I would recommend include <a href="https://abucha.net/">Abucha 2</a>, <a href="https://www.ezoseafoods.com/">Ezo Seafood</a>, <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowUserReviews-g1025639-d2496292-r123671164-Rin-Kutchan_cho_Abuta_gun_Hokkaido.html">Rin</a> and <a href="http://www.winedineniseko.com/niseko-restaurants/yukitei">Yukitei</a>. All of these will require bookings months in advance. As soon as you have booked your accommodation, book the restaurants you are interested in visiting.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6HhoARAKGoCGVvVhYofST8uhThpyFlno2XyMfpKELn4VVc7z7ZTqcZs4mpwlEojKFsuNxm4SazF9FA3mdbJ61Br6K8FjjmiLWY6XW7MReEa1-nVukCzTiFPDgrlX8-47OwxkKRM3I4Y/s1600/IMG_4428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6HhoARAKGoCGVvVhYofST8uhThpyFlno2XyMfpKELn4VVc7z7ZTqcZs4mpwlEojKFsuNxm4SazF9FA3mdbJ61Br6K8FjjmiLWY6XW7MReEa1-nVukCzTiFPDgrlX8-47OwxkKRM3I4Y/s640/IMG_4428.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea Urchin... so delicious!</td></tr>
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Family travel tip... always pack a deck of UNO!</div>
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If you are in the mood for something other than Japanese, we all loved <a href="http://www.nisekobarn.com/">The Barn</a>. Locally sourced ingredients and a fantastic location. The staff here were amazing also.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx9qtYYoxdFIVkn9pMPbaK0vpLjGuULGiezN-NL6q8Mk2HDj5rINMvLxjpK25HD3bJmlf9xUnodGB2QLpAOXDHkDJisnVTuvU-o6bclnDJvtdhym8Si9x8LmcABIkmERXIeDSZ2s8J9lM/s1600/IMG_4556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx9qtYYoxdFIVkn9pMPbaK0vpLjGuULGiezN-NL6q8Mk2HDj5rINMvLxjpK25HD3bJmlf9xUnodGB2QLpAOXDHkDJisnVTuvU-o6bclnDJvtdhym8Si9x8LmcABIkmERXIeDSZ2s8J9lM/s640/IMG_4556.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Barn by Odin, the building was inspired by traditional Hokkaido architecture and was very impressive. Definitely worth a visit</td></tr>
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If you are in the mood for something cheap the <a href="https://www.snowboard.com/travel/mountain-eats/best-secret-spots-niseko-food/">food trucks</a> are also fantastic and the kids will love it. These are all parked in the heart of Hirafu Village and are right near the Seico Mart. You can't miss them.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The food trucks offer a variety of cheap, fast and easy meal options.</td></tr>
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If you are in the mood for some Apres-Ski, the best option we found was <a href="https://www.micksniseko.com/">Mick's</a>. A fantastic little wine bar diagonally across the road from The Aya. It is a wine bar and also a bottle shop. We ended up having drinks here most evenings when we were intending just to buy a bottle of wine to go with dinner or a bottle of champagne for some apres-ski drinks. It is just that kind of place, welcoming, fun and friendly. That said, Mick's really does have an incredible selection of wine and also some great local beers and whiskies.</div>
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<b>How to get to Niseko?</b><br />
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We flew ANA from Sydney to Tokyo and then Tokyo to Sapporo (New Chitose Airport). From the airport our travel agent (<a href="https://theluxenomad.com/">The Luxe Nomad</a>) booked us transfers with <a href="https://www.skyexpress.jp/">Sky Express</a>. We were met at the airport by a lovely New Zealander from Sky Express who helped us with all our gear and explained to the driver that we wanted to stop for food and toilet stops at around the half way point. Our return transfers were also with Sky Express and the service was faultless. There were 9 of us and we travelled in a mini bus that was spacious and comfortable. Also, the seats had proper seatbelts. Even better, almost everyone had a nap at some point in the journey.<br />
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<b>What to do on non ski days?</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRJAlUgWTKee4e1Zd3RNJGt1wWx45DK4ag0zV562xupxBM1gQBoDBmLnOkPLtLtDGCjBkWofAQ2lGBLdeM5vGljthCLTKrNvo49PyKMgqqanQLZLwOugY0g7xpDc7QenP16eOJua8n44/s1600/IMG_4458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRJAlUgWTKee4e1Zd3RNJGt1wWx45DK4ag0zV562xupxBM1gQBoDBmLnOkPLtLtDGCjBkWofAQ2lGBLdeM5vGljthCLTKrNvo49PyKMgqqanQLZLwOugY0g7xpDc7QenP16eOJua8n44/s640/IMG_4458.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We spent one fabulous afternoon <a href="https://hanazononiseko.com/en/winter/activities/snowmobile-tours">snow mobiling at Hanazono</a>. We booked a taxi to transport us all over to Hanazono and then the boys had a play on the kids snowmobiles (if they have snow mobile'd elsewhere I would skip this. The "guides" were super strict and the boys got a little frustrated with it.) Afterwards though we all did a proper snow mobile tour and it was amazing. We were unable to do the Panorama course as the visibility was very poor and the guides considered it too dangerous so as an alternative we did an extended tour of the Rabbit course and it was beauitiful and exhilarating. The course takes you through what in summer is a golf course and must be incredibly beautiful to play golf at as it was quite spectacular even in winter. We cruised along icy paths past groves of trees and picturesque mountain views and it was really lovely. We all loved it, from the 7 year old to the 67 year old!<br />
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The boys also loved the <a href="https://hanazononiseko.com/en/winter/activities/tube-park">snow tubing</a> that was also available at Hanazono. It is a very kid friendly tubing park and you could easily leave the kids to play for a couple of hours while you enjoy a peaceful lunch inside!<br />
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<b>Do we recommend Niseko for a family ski holiday?</b><br />
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I have been asked this a few times and definitely have mixed feelings. <br />
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<u>The positives about skiing Japan are</u>:<br />
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The time zone is similar. Realistically it probably took a similar amount of time to get to Niseko as it would to get to Whistler, the extra flight, the transport from New Chitose to Niseko all adds up, but the bonus of no significant jet lag is not to be disregarded. <br />
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It was amazing to experience Japanese powder, it really was something else and I have never experienced powder like it elsewhere. I would also say that it is very pretty skiing Japan. Some of the runs in the gated areas were exceptionally lovely.<br />
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Japanese food! So delicious.<br />
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Culturally it was fantastic to experience something different.<br />
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<u>Not to say these are negatives, but they are things to consider when making the decision to ski Niseko (also please remember we only have been once and for a very brief time and they reflect only my experiences):</u><br />
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The mountain is busy. The lift lines are like Perisher on a Saturday in school holidays. The lift lines are also very poorly managed. They do not have mountain staff organising the lines into groups of four for a chairlift of four and so on. It is very frustrating to watch lift after lift go up the mountain with only 1 or 2 people on a 4 seater when there are a hundred keen skiers and boarders waiting in line. This was the situation at all four of the resorts also unfortunately. <br />
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The main ski trails are also very crowded (and a little boring) and there are a lot of beginner skiers. More than I have ever seen anywhere. The gated areas and off piste skiing however is brilliant and quiet but you are skiing at your own risk and there are costs associated with any recovery. I would also advise that you store all the emergency phone numbers for the different resorts into your phone in case of any incidents. We spent most of our time skiing in the gated areas and outside of the resort boundaries. In two weeks of skiing, I only ever saw ski patrol go through a gated area once. We did come across other skiers of course, but in some spots it was rare and for safety reasons I would only ski in the gates with an operating mobile phone and with another person. This is all very problematic for family skiing. If you have children that are accustomed to challenging skiing and have been skiing double black runs and couloirs elsewhere, they will be very bored in ski school in Japan as they are not permitted to ski through the gates. (Even if you pay for private lessons as we discovered). We ended up skiing with the boys most days so that they could actually enjoy some decent skiing. <br />
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All that powder does come at a price, it is an almost permanent white out. Our first day skiing was a magical blue bird day and I am truly grateful we got to experience that one day of incredible skiing as every other day had next to no visibility. It is very, very cold and it is almost always snowing. Again, this is not ideal for families. Hamish and I got horribly lost one day and I was frightened I would lose sight of him at some points and we are very experienced skiers. This is something that I would definitely consider if you are beginner skiers as the legendary Niseko white-out is not for the faint hearted. The cold and the lack of visibility would not be fun for little kids and I would also be fearful of putting them off skiing for life. Skiing is not a cheap holiday and to go all that way and with that kind of expense and for the kids to hate it, would be so disappointing.<br />
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Niseko is also very expensive. The entire trip cost us double a ski trip to Canada. I am glad we went and experienced it but the expense was phenomenal. We stayed in comparable hotel accommodation, at both destinations we eat out every night and we book the kids into ski school at both. Niseko was easily double the cost if not more (sorry Ross!). <br />
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<b>So would we go back?</b> I asked Ross this recently and he said he would go back for a boys trip with his mates but not with the family. I would have to agree. I am very glad we went and experienced Niseko but I probably would not travel there as a family again. I can see much more value skiing elsewhere in the world as it was so tremendously expensive. I know this will polarise some people, we know some very committed Niseko ski families, so I guess it truly depends upon what you want from a family ski holiday!<br />
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<br />Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634383197755226856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809259912539352379.post-13936784082143418262017-06-12T15:26:00.000+10:002018-03-31T07:59:02.094+11:00Vietnam - Halong Bay<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3jOFTXtgMZGVNz715fdhhlw4gMe1zWl2HTbEccYhYz_jOr7bDOJkg-7jdZWbnQH5oCoJLeQ6mzeQBpV9Q2CN-l0WOZjOJ0qmzRAtv6-JKsVUXlXa1RVhLGXQuk8aa5iWyd71Cqu-oe8/s1600/IMG_0301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3jOFTXtgMZGVNz715fdhhlw4gMe1zWl2HTbEccYhYz_jOr7bDOJkg-7jdZWbnQH5oCoJLeQ6mzeQBpV9Q2CN-l0WOZjOJ0qmzRAtv6-JKsVUXlXa1RVhLGXQuk8aa5iWyd71Cqu-oe8/s640/IMG_0301.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The incredible view from Surprise Cave in Halong Bay</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The next stop on our journey around Vietnam was a cruise around the magnificent Halong Bay. This part of the holiday was the absolute highlight for me. We left Hanoi for Halong Bay, not entirely sure how much we were going to enjoy Halong Bay. We had left booking the cruise options until the very last minute, as no one could make their minds up about when and where to go. One of the significant disadvantages of travelling with a large group is the need to take multiple peoples annual leave options and interests into consideration! As we had deliberated for so long about where to go and what to do, we were unable to book into our preferred option for the Halong Bay part of the holiday. We had intended to book a private cruise on a traditional Indochine Junk, which sounded divine. Sadly, they were all booked and the next best option that we could find that could accommodate all of us was a 3 day cruise on </span><a href="https://www.aucocruises.com/" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Au Co 1</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">. We were all a bit unsure about what this experience would be like, none of us are cruise people and the idea of being locked away on a boat with 66 other tourists filled some of us with trepidation. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Upon arrival at Tuan Chau Port, where our cruise was to depart from, we were ushered to the waiting area with our fellow travellers, all of us surreptitiously eyeballing each other. A few other families, multiple young couples and so on, then much to our collective horror, a large group of young men suddenly appeared. All of them dressed in matching colourful Hawaiian shirts. The communal gasp of horror was almost audible. My sister in law and I locked eyes, both of us instantly imagining all sorts of potential raucous debauchery. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Shame on all of us though, the cruise was amazing, we loved every second of it. Writing this today, months afterwards, I would still say that it is one of the best things that we have ever done as a family. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The Hawaiian shirted louts? Well, they turned out to be a group of Norwegian engineering students that were finishing up a study tour of Asia and were a charming and polite group of young men, who turned out to be great fun to be around. A true lesson in not making assumptions was learnt.</span><br />
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The boat was very clean and well equipped. The food was great (no one got sick!), the seafood barbeque dinner in particular on the boats rooftop was memorable not only for the magical setting but also for the seafood feast. The crew of the Au Co were fantastic, lots of fun, brilliant with kids and very talented at keeping everyone entertained. There were plenty of different activities available onboard and it is important to note that there was no obligation to take part in any of these. Indeed, I wouldn't have known that some of them had even taken place had the boys not participated and provided me with feedback. Activities that were offered on our cruise included kayaking tours of Ba Trai Dao area and also Dark and Bright Lagoon. A traditional bamboo boat ride during which we actually saw some Cat Ba Langurs playing. Apparently we were extremely lucky to see these as there are fewer than 60 remaining. Ross and Hamish were able to paddle very close to them in their kayak. I tried to take photos but couldn't manage it with my phone unfortunately. In the evenings the boys busied themselves squid fishing off the side of the boat with the crew. Every morning there was a tai chi lesson on the deck, Hamish, my nephew and my Mum all did this together and enjoyed it! There were cooking lessons and fruit carving lessons before dinner. All in all, if you wanted to be busy there was plenty to do, if you just wanted to lie on the deck drinking cocktails and soaking in the wonder of Halong, that was equally possible!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qJ58HPU2Js6Y6gHRVb40Aq9c_RBuzkh0I5jT2B5Qlpbtw7ozwu_rzgnvzF8qdPdlZiy9dB5xJf2Qu63aKvIIRmssNy-L-nNs1iDqJ9M_eD87mToeigP-959KkHSXcSN0RKss12cvYQQ/s1600/FullSizeRender+%2528012%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qJ58HPU2Js6Y6gHRVb40Aq9c_RBuzkh0I5jT2B5Qlpbtw7ozwu_rzgnvzF8qdPdlZiy9dB5xJf2Qu63aKvIIRmssNy-L-nNs1iDqJ9M_eD87mToeigP-959KkHSXcSN0RKss12cvYQQ/s640/FullSizeRender+%2528012%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nick on the top deck of the Au Co 1</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuL7kchCoNjt_UYDULuv23aZSCr3Is2sh7HX0YaejrYzLJZn0ahGsvRx9eON0QKPOndS99O53oM_TILI-ms5DNrRG4neHUzTelnBxuf1wx3sPKWN1p_UMKxcRnsTwS81Kc66XO9Gm8gJQ/s1600/IMG_0253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuL7kchCoNjt_UYDULuv23aZSCr3Is2sh7HX0YaejrYzLJZn0ahGsvRx9eON0QKPOndS99O53oM_TILI-ms5DNrRG4neHUzTelnBxuf1wx3sPKWN1p_UMKxcRnsTwS81Kc66XO9Gm8gJQ/s640/IMG_0253.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every evening we enjoyed sunset cocktails on the rooftop of the Au Co and marvelled at the wonder surrounding us</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Activities of note included a visit to Surprise Cave in Lan Ha Bay. The cave was enormous, made up of three separate chambers, all filled with delicate stalactites and stalagmites. It was quite a hike both up to the cave and then back down again and it is not something that I would recommend unless you are reasonably fit and confident on your feet. We all enjoyed the exercise though and it was well worth the walk to enjoy the magnificent view from the exit of the cave. Our visit to the cave was very early in the morning and the caves were empty as we walked through. I have since heard that it can be chaotically busy later in the day when the day boats visit Halong so that is something to consider when tossing up between an overnight cruise visit to Halong or a day trip. </span><b></b><br />
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Inside one of the immense chambers of Surprise Cave. The two tiny figures are Hamish and my nephew who ran about inside the cave having the time of their lives. <br />
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The largest chamber inside Surprise Cave is the last before you exit. </div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The Cave was used by the Vietcong Army as a hide out during the Vietnam War and it was this aspect of the caves that probably fascinated the boys the most as well as the opportunity to have a run around. For the rest of us it was a great opportunity to get some exercise and I would also recommend visiting the caves just to see the view from the caves exit.</span><b></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bikes lined up in preparation for the tour of Viet Hai Village</td></tr>
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Another amazing Halong Bay experience organised by the Au Co crew was an afternoon spent exploring Viet Hai village on Cat Ba Island by bicycle. Well we all cycled to the village and Nick who was training for NSWPSSA Cross Country ran the 6km to the village, much to the amusement of everyone else on the cruise and the villagers. He was able to keep pace with us all also, pretty impressive in the heat and humidity!<br />
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Viet Hai village until recently was completely self sufficient and essentially isolated from the rest of the world only accessible by rough tracks through the jungle. It is home to 80 families and is now open to a small amount of tourism. We were permitted to visit as many of the Au Co Crew grew up in the village and the village is now the primary supplier of vegetables and fruit to the Au Co. We were lucky enough to be given a tour of the sustainable and completely organic garden beds that supplied the majority of the food we were enjoying at every meal!</div>
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The "Au Co Organic Vegetable Gardens" on Cat Ba Island</div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">After the tour of the gardens we were then permitted to explore the village and visit the small school. Once again, we were the only tourists to be exploring the village and the whole experience felt like such a privilege. Chatting to the locals who all adored the boys and Hamish and my nephew loved an impromptu soccer game with some of the local boys. The cycle ride to the village itself was beautiful, passing through tropical jungle and fields of grazing animals , there were a few hills but nothing too challenging and all the children managed the ride easily. </span><b></b><br />
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Soccer truly is the worlds number one sport! Hamish playing soccer with the boys of Viet Hai village that was cut off from the rest of the world until relatively recently. </div>
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Halong Bay is incredibly beautiful, the water is so still and the impressive limestone island formations so extraordinary that you truly experience moments of breathtaking wonder. Be warned though, the rubbish in the water is appalling. The crew explained to us that most of the rubbish floats down to Halong from China and that almost all the professionally operated cruise ship companies are now sponsoring rubbish collection programs. Even so the amount of rubbish is extraordinary and there is only so much that the cruise ship companies and local people can manage. If any readers are lucky enough to visit Halong Bay and experience the serenity and yet striking beauty of this World Heritage listed site please consider writing to UNESCO and lobbying for the protection of the people whose livelihood depends upon the cleanliness of the water, those that inhabit the floating villages and simply for the protection of the environment.<br />
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Tips for Halong Bay:</div>
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- Pack a few warm clothes, the evenings out on the deck were quite cool and we were literally layering clothes on in order to keep warm. The days were beautiful though and the water was lovely and refreshing. (Yes we swam despite the rubbish and no one ended up sick or acquired google worthy skin infections!)</div>
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- Make sure you pack a waterproof camera or a gopro to take photos of kayaking expeditions.</div>
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- Book well in advance and only with a reputable company, we have heard a few horror stories about overbooked ships and shonky cruise ship operators. <br />
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<br />Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634383197755226856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809259912539352379.post-1052629559871035532017-06-02T19:51:00.000+10:002017-06-02T19:53:31.556+10:00Vietnam - Hanoi<h2 style="text-align: center;">
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The April school holidays were spent exploring Vietnam and Cambodia and it is almost certainly the best holiday I have ever been on. I find myself thinking about the many experiences we had and the incredible places we visited often. We travelled with my parents and my brother and his family as a celebration for my Mum's 70th birthday and I admit, I was terrified before we left that it was going to be a nightmare. I literally had sleepless nights imagining all the potential family dramas but in the end it was absolutely fine. There is a lot to be said for multi-generational travel actually. </div>
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Our holiday began in Hanoi. We left the day school finished and I felt so disorganised before we left. It was the least preparation I had done for any holiday. I needn't have worried though, the company we used to plan the holiday were fantastic and Vietnam is a fabulous country to explore with children. The Vietnamese love kids, somewhere whilst on this holiday I read that the Vietnamese adore children as they believe it brings them closer to God, and they really do seem to cherish children. From the guides we had in each city, to the hotel staff, to people on the street and in shops, they all adored the children and were happy to chat with them and indulge them. Vietnam really is a fabulous family holiday destination.</div>
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Our first morning we explored the streets near the hotel. A short walk from our hotel was the lovely Hoan Kiem Lake. We wandered around the lake in the early morning bustle of the city. As we walked my dad was telling us that the last time he was in Hanoi, which was in the late 1980s, there was still the wing of a B52 bomber poking jauntily out of one of the city lakes, left as a constant reminder to the people of the catastrophic effects of war. The boys of course delighted in hearing this story.</div>
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These photos don't really illustrate the activity that was taking place all around us. It was very early in the morning as we walked and there were people doing tai chi classes, hawkers selling their wares, shop fronts opening, people on their way to work, joggers and cyclists all around us competing for space along the walkway. Yet, at the same time it was as incredibly peaceful as these photos suggest.</div>
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Highlights of our time in Hanoi included exploring the bustling French quarter by cyclo. We all had our own cyclo driver and I was the last to leave. My driver was holding the most enormous cane and terracotta pipe and as we pulled out he had a long suck of whatever it was that he was smoking and then he was off, we explored the "36 streets" of the old quarter, him pedaling my 180cm tall frame around and I was eventually the first back to the hotel. Love to know what my guy was smoking!</div>
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Mostly the drivers went in single file as we pedaled around the streets so it was easy to keep an eye on those kids that were alone with their cyclo driver. The youngest two both travelled with an adult much to their disgust. The oldest one, looked like a little Maharajah in his cyclo! We all loved this method of exploring the city and I would recommend the experience to all. I was able to sit back and relax and really admire the fabulous old buildings and watch the passing traffic, soaking it all in properly.</div>
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Another highlight from Hanoi was our hotel. Most of the hotels we stay in are amazing but I only ever include details about the hotel if I think that they are truly unique or special. Our hotel in Hanoi was definitely worthy of a mention. We stayed at the <a href="http://www.sofitel-legend-metropole-hanoi.com/">Sofitel Legend Metropole</a> and it was stunning. The hotel is located just moments from the lake which was fantastic for us, Nick was (and still is) training for some up coming cross country races so he was able to jog around the lake safely every morning without us being concerned for his safety. He is 11 and quite mature though. It is also walking distance to the old town. The hotel itself is stunning, with French Colonial architecture and is soaked in history. Jane Fonda stayed at the hotel during her controversial trip to Vietnam in the 1970s, Graham Greene stayed at the hotel whilst writing The Quiet American. W. Somerset Maugham was once a guest and wrote The Gentleman in the Parlour at the hotel. I loved our stay here, both for the fabulous ambience and the history. I highly recommend it. </div>
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Other activities in Hanoi included a visit to Ho Chi Minh's Tomb, it was here that I really felt a sense of Vietnam's Communist ruling party. The vast Ba Dinh Square where the mausoleum is located and where Ho Chi Minh delivered his Declaration of Independence speech in 1945, really does have echoes of China's Tiananmen Square.</div>
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Two of those tiny figures in the distance are Hamish and my nephew. There is something about wide open spaces and the desire to run for small boys. The boys also enjoyed observing a changing of the guard ceremony which was done with all the necessary pomp and circumstance.</div>
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If in Hanoi I would also recommend a visit to The Temple of Literature, the home of Vietnam's first university. It is over a 1000 years old and home to the UNESCO heritage listed Stone Seles. Stone tablets that record exam results from the Le and Mac dynasties (1142 - 1779). Ha, that might motivate the students of today to study harder knowing that their exam results were to be carved into stone and then added to the UNESCO world heritage list! The boys were nonplussed by these though and much more impressed with what they deemed to be the biggest Taiko drum they had ever seen. (Nick is in a Taiko drum group at school). The Temple is a lovely place to visit, it is surrounded by high walls and inside has a peaceful, tranquil feel away from the chaotic streets of Hanoi just outside the boundary walls,</div>
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The only museum we visited in Hanoi was the Museum of Ethnology, here my Mum whipped out notebooks and pencils for the boys. One was very into it, one lukewarm and the other blankly refused. I loved my Mum's idea of the boys documenting their holiday with drawings and written notes and wish that they had agreed to participate with this but sadly no. Whenever they did agree to document anything the Vietnamese people around us were fascinated by their drawings.</div>
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My last recommendation of things to do and particularly with children is to attend a Vietnamese lacquerware workshop. We watched with interest as the artists began with a wooden base, then painted or decorated the wood with an inlay of egg shells or mother of pearl. The boys even got to try their hand at a few of the different stages involved in creating a lacquered work of art.</div>
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Hanoi was a wonderful introduction to Vietnam and it is well worth a visit, if only for a visit to the fabulous Sofitel Legend Metropole for a drink at the bar and then a cyclo ride around the old quarter. I will follow up in the next few days or so with the next leg of our holiday. The magical and magnificent Halong Bay. </div>
Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634383197755226856noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809259912539352379.post-52644357745900225962017-05-31T10:19:00.000+10:002017-06-02T09:00:24.928+10:00A pool landscaping update<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKKhHPrbj7lJwfyzxWFdDXH0iwrzXIheB1XEvbTi3QYUXRlR0PhGc59kK-e_q9A4BCFgy5Q0186HvsZWQDtRZzTUARC4yUyfIbXB0W9FKxTo8770QEMAirbysNDA_Ohhyphenhyphenp9_xRKVNI1o/s1600/Pool+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKKhHPrbj7lJwfyzxWFdDXH0iwrzXIheB1XEvbTi3QYUXRlR0PhGc59kK-e_q9A4BCFgy5Q0186HvsZWQDtRZzTUARC4yUyfIbXB0W9FKxTo8770QEMAirbysNDA_Ohhyphenhyphenp9_xRKVNI1o/s640/Pool+1.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We have made some significant changes to the landscaping around the pool in the backyard. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The pool was quite exposed previously, with the
neighbours house virtually looking directly onto it. This, combined with an almost complete absence of greenery, made the pool area feel barren and boring. We wanted to create a sense of
privacy and also make the pool a more relaxing place to be.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> We began by creating a garden bed along the fence line with the intention of growing plants to create a natural screen between us and our neighbours. A second garden bed was then added </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">between the pool and the cabana and we are thrilled with the end result, the entire area is far more intimate and more resort like now, a much more enjoyable place to go for a swim!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The new garden beds and decking going in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The fabulous new garden bed in front of the cabana. We currently use the cabana as a guest room, however I am tossing up changing the space into a backyard games room. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A sneak peak into the cabana through the bromeliads, gingers, cardboard palms, strelitzia and one flowering canna lily.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXi8mWXHQKse2CgOFGKCBsqSD6qZleyn4cAoaHPhhlvKa9yHU-ivxCBHdWLG3mt4On28Qtrxpq-nYu1IChruRh6rqYf-vYQocXU8wjbZ0niyExwI_fmLbKwExv-95X35SN4Us4wjnJ4M/s1600/cabana+garden+bed+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXi8mWXHQKse2CgOFGKCBsqSD6qZleyn4cAoaHPhhlvKa9yHU-ivxCBHdWLG3mt4On28Qtrxpq-nYu1IChruRh6rqYf-vYQocXU8wjbZ0niyExwI_fmLbKwExv-95X35SN4Us4wjnJ4M/s640/cabana+garden+bed+5.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The new garden beds with their amazing tropical
plants have created an incredible pool oasis.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ross spent hours scouring ebay and gumtree and was able to source most
of the plants cheaply and in some cases they were even free! The mature yuccas for instance were free to
whomever was prepared to dig them up.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Taking the time to source mature plants was well and truly worth it as
the garden looks like it has been there forever.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We were also very careful to choose plants
that do not shed lots of leaves as cleaning leaves out of pools is a nightmare
and not something either Ross or I fancied spending our weekends doing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There were two things that precipitated all this work to the back garden, the first was that all the decking had to be replaced around the pool. The previous home owners had painted the boards black which had damaged the wood badly.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We were unfortunately also unable to flip the
boards as they had been nailed down.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sadly we had to start again completely which really troubled me
environmentally but at least the new decking has been screwed in and will be treated
only with the appropriate wood decking products!</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The second thing that inspired the new pool landscaping was the position of the pool fence.</span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">On the garden side of the pool there
was a small strip of garden between the pool and the pool fence.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Visually and practically the position of the
glass fence just didn’t work and I am so glad we moved the fence to the coping, as it has made an enormous difference to how the whole area appears. Practically it has also made a big difference, as</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> there are no more bits of grass and
dirt being tracked by the kids straight into the pool!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">New pool fence in and what a difference! Meanwhile the plants are maturing well and it will not be long until the green screen takes it's full effect, providing some privacy from the neighbours. The greenery when layered against the gum trees beyond will add even further depth to the garden, increasing the sense of space. It is a lovely place to be now, it really is extraordinary the difference plants can make to the feel of a place.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634383197755226856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809259912539352379.post-79627883747743528862017-05-24T14:11:00.001+10:002017-05-24T14:12:43.595+10:00The Laundry<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So my new years resolution this year, along with the ones I
make every year (to read more, exercise more ... similar to everyone else's I imagine!)
was to write more regularly on the blog.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I have always enjoyed writing and I think that it helps me with my anxiety, much like writing a diary I suppose.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I also love looking back at all my old blog
posts and feel sad that the blog is so sadly neglected nowadays.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> As it</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> is virtually mid way
through the year, </span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I thought it might be
timely that 2017 might be the year that I actually keep one resolution.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> I am
determined to try and make some changes this year and one of them might as well be updating the blog.</span></div>
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So in the spirit of updating the blog, here is a house update.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">We have finished the cabinetry in the laundry which looks fabulous and is also very practical.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I am not quite sure how I have lived without the hanging rail for so long.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Every laundry should have one.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Especially when you have two lots of school uniforms to iron each week.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">When we purchased the house there were built in cupboards along the wall on one side of the laundry and on the other side ran the bench top with space for a washer and dryer below, at the end of the benchtop there was a laundry sink with a standard Bunnings cupboard underneath. Left of the washer and dryer there was nothing. The benchtop was in place but below it a big empty gap.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I suspect that the original owners were intending to install more cabinetry at a later date or perhaps planning to have bespoke baskets made to store laundry in?</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">We decided the empty space was best used to make two very large laundry drawers.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">These were custom made by our cabinet maker and I am delighted with the outcome.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Both boys do a lot of sport and consequently there are scary amounts of washing to be done.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">These laundry drawers are life savers.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The laundry always looks neat and tidy regardless of the amount of stinky dirty washing accumulating.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> At the same time we also replaced the cheap Bunnings cabinet under the sink with a cabinet that matched the pull out laundry drawers. Ab</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">ove the benchtop, I made use of the blank wall and had more cabinetry made to fill in the space and also for further storage.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The position of these cabinets then created the natural wall to position a hanging rail over the laundry sink.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
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The cabinetry above the benchtop is so useful and has the additional benefit of making the room much prettier. When you have to spend a good deal of your time in a room doing chores you may as well make it as pretty and pleasant to be in as you can!</div>
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Laundry shelves store vases, spare pegs, bits from my enamel collection, beach towels and some of my many baskets. I am delighted with the changes to the laundry and now it only needs one more thing. An interesting light fitting, any suggestions welcome!</div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634383197755226856noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809259912539352379.post-65971027703629601542017-05-19T14:13:00.001+10:002017-05-19T15:51:18.344+10:00Planning a ski trip to Whistler?<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXhgudgjkiMv-xi61NcyC1kwrUH3TbombX0UDkUD_GjWqqxqN4Tjz2LEeEi1nwTyEc_EblTFuG1h4k00A8-k1RQJiZQVQ-c-Z72nNpvUWbLO6P3qzQjuhvuTeqp-SQC-frfOk1LhqeqA/s1600/IMG_1574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXhgudgjkiMv-xi61NcyC1kwrUH3TbombX0UDkUD_GjWqqxqN4Tjz2LEeEi1nwTyEc_EblTFuG1h4k00A8-k1RQJiZQVQ-c-Z72nNpvUWbLO6P3qzQjuhvuTeqp-SQC-frfOk1LhqeqA/s640/IMG_1574.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Over the years I have written multiple emails to friends with detailed tips about what we recommend and love in Whistler, so I thought that I might collate some of the information that I have gathered over the years to share with anyone that might be considering a family ski holiday to Whistler in the future, and as it is the first thing that I get asked every time:</div>
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Whistler, Blackcomb or Creekside? </h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from our hotel room at the Pan Pacific Village Centre</td></tr>
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Whistler is essentially divided into three separate villages. The largest of which is Whistler. Blackcomb is a short walk away from Whistler and has a significantly smaller and more intimate feel and then Creekside is situated a short bus or taxi ride away from Whistler Village. I literally know nothing about Creekside, I have skied down to it a couple of times and yet, I haven't even done that for several years now. So apart from the fact that I have noticed several amazing houses in Creekside and that we have heard that Creekbread is apparently fabulous and a reason to visit Creekside, we are yet to make it happen. Although last trip we did do a drive through the village and it looks lovely, otherwise though I know very little else about Creekside so will leave it at that as I am most definitely not qualified to write any sort of recommendations about it. That said, I also have never stayed in Blackcomb, although Ross (my husband) has stayed there with friends on boys trips and we have had lots of friends stay there.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hamish outside Crystal Hut on Blackcomb Mountain</td></tr>
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Ultimately though we elect to stay in Whistler Village, our primary reasons for this is the easy access to the Whistler ski school, facilities that we use daily like the library and the bookshop and of course to be walking distance to all the great restaurants in Whistler Village. That said, we travel with several other families every year and most stay in either Whistler or Blackcomb, so we also select Whistler for accommodation as it makes it easier for us to meet up with friends for drinks or dinner and our children do all attend Whistler Ski school together.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me (Incognito in ski gear!)</td></tr>
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Where to stay in Whistler Village:</h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The creek that runs through the Village frozen and covered in snow.</td></tr>
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<i><b><a href="https://www.panpacific.com/en/hotels-resorts/canada/whistler-village-centre.html">Pan Pacific Village Centre</a></b></i><br />
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We have always stayed at the Pan Pacific Village Centre, it is a small boutique hotel centrally located in the heart of Whistler Village. </div>
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Reasons why we love the Pan Pacific Village Centre:</div>
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The rooms are generous, modern and very clean. </div>
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The kitchen is well supplied and has a full size fridge and a proper stovetop and oven. </div>
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The 2 bedroom apartments are a true 2 bedroom apartment, not two adjoining hotel rooms with a connecting door (an arrangement that I really dislike!).</div>
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Some of the upper floor 2/3 bedroom apartments include laundries, otherwise there is a large communal laundry on the ground floor. The washing machines cost $2 Canadian.</div>
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The hotel hosts an apres hour every afternoon from 4pm, the boys love this as there is a hot chocolate bar and also chocolate chip cookies for the kids. Ross loves apres as the bar staff will happily bring him a glass of red to enjoy in the hot tub!</div>
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On weekends the Pan Pacific this year added a S'mores Bar to the pool area. This was enormously popular with all the hotel children as they delighted in toasting their marshmallows themselves and then assembling their s'more sandwiches together. S'mores are a North American/Canadian campfire delicacy of crackers, toasted marshmallows and melted chocolate squished together. Surprisingly delicious!</div>
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The hotel provides kids size bathrobes to wear down to the pool and hot tubs. For those of us travelling from Australia and lugging ski gear and winter woollens, these are the kind of small but thoughtful details that do not go unnoticed.</div>
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A buffet breakfast has also always been included with our room. It is fairly simple, scrambled eggs, bacon or sausages, hash browns and either waffles or pancakes are the hot selections. Alternative options are a small selection of cereals, porridge, fruit salad and a selection of pastries and toast. This is served downstairs in the same room that Apres Hour is hosted in adjacent to the pool area. It is very convenient having this option, as ski school starts at 8:15am most mornings, so the option of heading straight downstairs and having breakfast organised for you just makes the morning go that little bit smoother!</div>
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A secure ski locker is provided over at the Pan Pacific Mountainside (the sister hotel), about a 3 minute walk away, literally next to the Gondolas. The lockers store skis/snowboards comfortably and the room they are positioned in is heated but we still elect to carry our boots back to our room each day. It is a short walk and the option to dry the boots properly in front of the fire is important to us. Especially as the boys still manage to get the inside of their ski boots soaking wet almost daily.</div>
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It is a boutique hotel so there are no restaurants or bars downstairs, room service is provided by Earl's, a Whistler institution! If you are looking for a hotel with lots of bars and restaurants as part of the experience I would look at staying at The Westin instead.</div>
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We are huge fans of the Pan Pacific Village Centre as the hotel staff make every effort to ensure that your stay is comfortable and indeed unique. The attention to detail is second to none. My husband travels all the time for work and is generally the Platinum or Black level member of multiple hotel loyalty programs and as a I am a former Flight Attendant I have stayed in too many hotels to count and for both Ross and I to feel that the Pan Pacific Village Centre is up there with the best indicates how special it is. I would not say this about very many other hotels either and no I have not been paid or rewarded in any way for this review. It is an excellent hotel and I highly recommend it. </div>
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<i><b>The Westin</b></i></div>
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We have lots of friends that are regulars here, so over the years we have seen several different combinations of rooms. The location is fantastic, very close to the Gondolas, Ski School and the day care centre. As it is nestled at the foot of Whistler mountain, many of the rooms have lovely outlooks straight onto the mountain. The rooms however are quite old and dated and are of the traditional, adjoining hotel room kind. The kitchens are also very small, more like a tiny kitchenette, if you are planning to cook the majority of the time I would not recommend the Westin as the kitchen facilities are very basic. None of the rooms as far as I know have laundries, there is a laundry with one washing machine and a dryer located on each floor though.</div>
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The good things about the Westin:</div>
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Great location near the Gondolas, Day Care Centre and the Ski School</div>
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They have a ski valet at the base of the mountain to hand your skis to when you are done for the day! (The only thing that I am envious of at the Westin!)</div>
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The hotel is huge with a variety of restaurants and bars downstairs to select from. </div>
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There is a great restaurant in the lobby of the hotel where the kids can make their own pizzas. We have dined there a few times with friends and although the atmosphere isn't amazing and there are much better places to eat in Whistler, the kids love the opportunity to whip up their own pizzas!</div>
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The downside:</div>
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The rooms are a bit old and dated. It is definitely not the standard you would expect of a Westin Hotel.</div>
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<i><b>Pan Pacific Mountainside</b></i></div>
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This is the sister hotel of the Pan Pacific Village Centre but it is quite different. It is significantly bigger and is less family focused. So for those wanting more of a base of the mountain right, in the heart of the village feel, then this hotel would be a great fit. It is positioned just next to the Gondolas and is a short walk to the Ski School and the day care centre. The rooms are very spacious and modern but none have laundry facilities, there is a communal laundry located in the basement level though. The Mountainside does not offer an Apres Hour, S'mores Bar or Complimentary Breakfast either, when I asked Pan Pacific Management why they explained that the Village Centre (the hotel we stay at) is operated as a boutique stand alone hotel and I believe it is the only hotel in Whistler to offer these unique options. If you choose to stay at the Pan Pacific Mountainside ask to have a room with a "Mountainside" view as they have a great view of the Fire and Ice show that runs on Sunday nights and as there are frequently fireworks over the village, the views from this hotel would be fabulous. If you opt to stay at the Pan Pacific Village centre you are invited over to the Mountainside hotel to watch the Fire and Ice show from their swimming pool and spa area that looks out over the mountain. If you are staying at either hotel do take advantage of this opportunity as the view is brilliant and much better than that from down near the Gondola's. There is also a hot chocolate bar for the kids to help keep them warm.</div>
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<i><b>Other hotels?</b></i></div>
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Of all the hotels in Whistler Village I have also seen rooms at the <b><i>Hilton, Crystals</i></b> and the <b><i>Sun Dial</i></b>, if you have any questions about these specifically feel free to email me. We have never stayed at any of them though and only have had friends stay at the Hilton. Ross and I just asked to see 2 bedroom apartments or suites at all of these, (plus lots of others) but these listed are the most popular of the accommodation options so I thought that I would include them as we have seen their 2 bedroom apartment options, we just haven't stayed at them!</div>
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Blackcomb</h2>
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Blackcomb is located about a 10 minute walk away from Whistler Village and has it's own smaller village atmosphere. It is much more intimate in feel than Whistler Village and if you are seeking a quiet, restful ski holiday with less apres options, I would definitely recommend Blackcomb. The walk between Blackcomb and Whistler is lovely and is something that I would suggest anyone visiting the area do. The path is well maintained and includes a covered bridge which always makes me think of Anne of Green Gables. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHyjuuO0COK9BagwSPUdVfuZrCIAGHxxPOPfmHiaWppCbzbO2bSn_AJr4Ik5HaaUwjzvZqxlnTApAW_Burx1wjq8K69BoT65mOKpmkm5SY832EI5XjFElhtJL0PyfVCI3_8rKUgXtvH0/s1600/covered+bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHyjuuO0COK9BagwSPUdVfuZrCIAGHxxPOPfmHiaWppCbzbO2bSn_AJr4Ik5HaaUwjzvZqxlnTApAW_Burx1wjq8K69BoT65mOKpmkm5SY832EI5XjFElhtJL0PyfVCI3_8rKUgXtvH0/s640/covered+bridge.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lovely covered bridge on the path between Whistler and Blackcomb Villages</td></tr>
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<u>Ski School</u></h2>
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Whistler, Blackcomb and Creekside run three separate ski schools. This seems to catch a lot of people out so if you are staying in Blackcomb, make sure you enrol your children into Blackcomb Ski School and so on. Otherwise you will be walking them over to Whistler Village very early in the morning. The main reason we return to Whistler year after year is for the ski school and I know we are not alone in making this decision. The ski instructors are brilliant, so the children love going, it is as simple as that. Hamish, my now eight year old, has been attending Whistler Ski School since he was three and has loved every minute he has spent at Whistler Kids. Both Nicholas and Hamish are great skiers for their ages and we credit that primarily to the wonderful ski instructors that they have had at Whistler Kids Ski School. Nicholas has been skiing double black runs confidently from just after his ninth birthday and Hamish isn't far behind. In fact this January Nick skied the Couloir Extreme, considered to be one of the top 10 most extreme ski runs in the world, and made it look easy! Few 11 years olds can add that to their list of experiences and it is something that neither Ross nor I would have been confident to do with him. We did have to sign a waiver permitting him to ski double black runs but it is something that we completely trusted his ski instructors to do with him. We have even been lucky enough to have some of the same ski instructors over the years and as a result both Hamish and Nicholas have developed a lovely rapport with their instructors as they have got to know them so well.</div>
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As well as seeing the same instructors year after year we have also got to know fellow ski families from around the world. Hamish has had a little boy in his ski school group every year for the past 5 years from Buenos Aires. When they were both 3 year olds Leo was unable to speak a word of English and it has been lovely to watch his English language skills develop at the same time as his skiing. As they were allocated a Spanish speaking Ski Instructor (the same one 3 years in a row!) Hamish has also picked up some Spanish along the way!</div>
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We know families that religiously put their kids in ski school like we do and families that don't. It is a completely personal decision and probably one for a different blog post but Ross and I are committed to sending them to ski school and believe the many different benefits are worth it. </div>
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Reasons why we love ski school:</h2>
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The instructors will take them to to the terrain park. Both our kids can now pretty consistently land 180s and that is something we would never have been able to teach them.</div>
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The kids love the ski instructors. They are generally young and very cool. One year Nick had a former Italian ski champion as his instructor. Ross and I came across them on the mountain one day and then watched in amazement as the instructor skied expertly down the mountain, <i>backwards, </i>yelling directions at all the boys!</div>
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A hot lunch is included. The younger children always go back to the Ski School Base, older kids often eat out on the mountain. The ski school caters for all dietary needs and the menu changes daily with various meal options. Even the fussiest child will find something that they will eat. I remember one child one year ordering a strawberry jam sandwich everyday for 2 weeks, another family that travel with us each year have a son that is gluten, dairy, corn and egg free and the ski school manage to feed him a nutritious lunch daily.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6LRUy8qd13ZIerLHwa7ORKbSFJe3AvQExOD_8Lh7DrSb_pnFblRalpyVDaWQrr-L1exEq2lVn1JEPGC1zEiUbC7s3N7IMC_-UzyAvUA3zl2bLMEqFeLZanYEd9PN6j80ZTfIpyvHrOk/s1600/Hamish+outside+the+Lift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6LRUy8qd13ZIerLHwa7ORKbSFJe3AvQExOD_8Lh7DrSb_pnFblRalpyVDaWQrr-L1exEq2lVn1JEPGC1zEiUbC7s3N7IMC_-UzyAvUA3zl2bLMEqFeLZanYEd9PN6j80ZTfIpyvHrOk/s640/Hamish+outside+the+Lift.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Tips for ski school:</h2>
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We book the boys into <a href="https://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/snow-school/adventure-camps">Adventure Camp</a> each year. They do the 5 day camp each week. On the weekends we usually take the opportunity to give them a break from skiing, unless of course it is a cracker ski day!</div>
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If you book your children into Adventure Camp, start getting organised on the Sunday before it starts. If you are hiring their gear go and collect it all the day before as it always takes longer than you think. Choose a hire place that is close to the ski school as it is then easy to go and swap anything that you might discover doesn't fit properly after a few days. If their boots get very smelly and wet, don't hesitate to take them back and swap them for a clean dry pair either. Also go to the Whistler Base and pick up their Adventure Camp tags and attach them to their ski jackets. If you discover any problems with any of the bookings, sorting everything out the day before will be much easier than on the morning Adventure Camp starts. It sounds obvious but we see families trying to sort out problems on the first morning of Adventure Camp every year.</div>
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Tuck a spare pair of gloves or mittens into a pocket for younger kids. Their gloves can get very wet as small children seem quite unable to stop themselves from constantly sticking their gloved little fingers into the snow.</div>
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<i>Do you tip the ski instructors?</i> (We often get asked this one!) Yes, we do. About 10 - 20% of the cost of the camp. We give them cash in Canadian dollars. We have seen all sorts of tipping from a handful of coins to literally wads of cash. We have also seen bottles of wine, chocolates and so on. Do what you want and it certainly is not expected. Ross and I like to tip them as they are mostly young students from around the world and we are always grateful to them for how well they have cared for our children.</div>
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For the little ones or the not so experienced skiers they do have dress up days and various themed events, we have never packed any items specifically for these, though I have noticed that some families do. If you are so inclined perhaps email the ski school in advance and find out what events are on whilst your children are attending so you can be prepared.</div>
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Dressing the kids for Ski School:</h2>
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The most important thing is probably layers. We dress our boys in a base layer of Merino Wool. I like Icebreaker the best. For ski gear we have always bought everything that they wear and then hired the actual equipment. So, we dress them in a merino wool layer of leggings and then a long sleeve underlay top. I then put both boys in a second Icebreaker mid-layer long sleeve top that is a thicker version of the base layer merino wool top. Over the top of this they then wear their ski pants and jackets. We have used Obermeyer, Spyder and Kjus for ski gear for the kids over the years. Kjus has been the best as far as wear, warmth and quality goes. </div>
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For gloves we have always purchased Gordini Gore-tex gloves or mittens and each child gets two pairs, as they get older we will probably be able to reduce this to one, but at the moment I find that they need a second pair to take to ski school with them to switch over at lunch. Both pairs somehow come back soaking wet at the end of the day!</div>
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Inside their helmets, again buy these... it's a no-brainer, literally. We use a very fine fleece balaclava for cold or windy days, on sunny days they just wear their helmets as the helmets are lined inside there is no need for an extra layer. It's no fun being too hot either. Don't buy expensive goggles, they seem to scratch these easily and as all their helmets get thrown into plastic storage tubs during lunch, the goggles get trashed fast. Buy cheap ones that you are happy to replace. Often.</div>
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Socks, I have always bought Smartwool or Icebreaker and always a wool blend. Buy two pairs of socks as well.<br />
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We mainly buy the boys ski gear in Canada, the prices are fairly similar (depending upon how the dollar is) so its not that we are seeking bargains, more that there is a better range. The <a href="http://www.funforkidswhistler.com/">kids shop</a> in Whistler is fantastic with a huge selection of kids gear. Buying online might work out cheaper but I like the option of being able to actually try the gear on the boys. We have also had a pair of ski pants split on the first wear and being able to take them straight back into the shop and have them replaced on the spot was definitely worth it. This was a pair of top of the line Spyder pants and Fun for Kids exchanged them for a new pair. </div>
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Boots, skis and poles we hire and that way we can change things up easily if anything is uncomfortable, smelly or wet. Kid's ski hire is free with an adult's ski hire at Whistler so that is something to consider, also most travel insurance plans will not cover ski equipment. We hire it all as it also means that we are not travelling with oversize baggage.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHb0KjzHWljL6HtmRbQWRnSvLzUHiYZEkuPzrQg0PgnA-q1jziJQEqwJFcCIdysFoso3tEnuNvFg6FksncDC024svFo_3DhIdnyVU7uuvvtgGHYLe62EAizGqxFTFvFu5DaN2oycFtApo/s1600/Powderhounds.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHb0KjzHWljL6HtmRbQWRnSvLzUHiYZEkuPzrQg0PgnA-q1jziJQEqwJFcCIdysFoso3tEnuNvFg6FksncDC024svFo_3DhIdnyVU7uuvvtgGHYLe62EAizGqxFTFvFu5DaN2oycFtApo/s640/Powderhounds.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two Little Powderhounds!</td></tr>
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WHERE TO EAT?</h2>
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In the village:</h3>
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<b><a href="https://earls.ca/locations/whistler-village">Earls</a></b></div>
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Located just across the road from the Pan Pacific Village Centre and in the heart of Whistler Village. Why we love it? Mainly because the boys love it there as do all of their friends. Nick loves the hamburger and Hamish loves the ribs. I am happy with a bowl of the clam chowder. It is usually the first place we go when we arrive in Whistler every year! </div>
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<b><a href="http://www.araxi.com/">Araxi</a></b></div>
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We might eat first at Earl's but this is definitely our favourite place to eat. Every meal has been sensational, the produce is locally sourced and the seafood is incredible. I can't recommend a restaurant more highly. The kids menu is fantastic for anyone worried about their little gourmand and despite the fine dining atmosphere it is very kid friendly, after all it is a ski resort town. For wine lovers, the wine list is unbelievable, think short novel kind of length!</div>
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<b><a href="http://teppanvillage.ca/">Teppan Grill</a></b></div>
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We have had some great nights at this place. All children seem to love it as the chefs always put on a great show. It is located upstairs above the Fun for Kids Shop. It is a fun place to eat at in large groups also.</div>
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<b><a href="http://sushivillage.com/">Sushi Village</a> </b></div>
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A favourite with the kids and if you are a fan of sashimi, you must try the sockeye salmon. </div>
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<b><a href="http://www.grillandvinewhistler.com/">Grill and Vine</a> in The Westin</b></div>
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Located in the lobby of the Westin, the atmosphere is a bit lacking and the food isn't remarkable (there are much better options in the village) but our kids love the opportunity to make their own pizzas and they then enjoy playing hide and seek in the cavernous lobby of the Westin afterwards with their friends, (something I can remember loving doing as a kid so we indulge them every now and then with a meal here!) meanwhile we enjoy the rest of our meal in peace and quiet so definitely not a bad option.</div>
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<a href="http://www.oldspaghettifactory.ca/locations/whistler"></a><br /></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.oldspaghettifactory.ca/locations/whistler">Old Spaghetti Factory</a></b></div>
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Incredibly good value and very filling meals. It truly is a Whistler institution. It is positioned in the heart of the new part of the Village underneath Crystals. It gets very popular during the peak ski season so I recommend booking in advance, especially if you have a big group. The meals are simple, but hearty and it is extremely well priced. </div>
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<b><a href="http://cows.ca/">Cows</a></b></div>
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Another Whistler institution, an enormously popular Ice Cream bar that you will often see queues of people lining up outside for. If you have kids it is a must do! It is positioned along the walkway between the old and the new village.</div>
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<b><a href="https://www.purebread.ca/">Purebread</a></b></div>
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Lovely little café and patisserie located across from the Ice Skating rink in the old village. I highly recommend visiting if the kids are ice skating or tobogganing to grab a hot chocolate and a little treat!</div>
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On the mountain:</h3>
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<b><a href="https://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/the-village/dining/rendezvous">Rendezvous Lodge</a> </b>(Blackcomb Mountain)</div>
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Located on Blackcomb Mountain just near the Peak to Peak gondola. This is a great place to eat on the mountain as there is plenty of food choices, think Taco Bar, Japanese Ramen Station, a Thai Wok bar and so on. </div>
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<b><a href="https://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/the-village/dining/steeps-grill-and-wine-bar">Steeps Grill and Wine Bar</a></b> (Whistler Mountain)</div>
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We have had many fantastic lunches here. It is located in The Roundhouse at the top of Whistler Gondola. It is a great place to meet for a nice lunch on the mountain if you have anyone travelling in the group that is unable to ski, as it is easily accessible to non-skiers or beginner skiers. Although some of our lunches here have rendered expert skiers to complete novices! The Salmon Chowder here is the best in Whistler (I order it everywhere we go!) and the Sockeye Salmon is also outstanding. If you have a large group you will definitely need to make a booking as it gets very busy.</div>
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<a href="https://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/the-village/dining/crystal-hut"><b>Crystal Hut</b></a> (Blackcomb)</div>
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A cosy little log cabin perched on Crystal Ridge (Blackcomb). Famous for it's waffles and also wood oven baked lunches. It is tiny (cosy!), so the lunch time crowds can make seating a bit tight. We often find if we pop in around 11am we have no trouble finding a table. It's the perfect time to share a plate of waffles and have a hot chocolate to warm up. The ski school at Whistler often take the children here for lunch on the day that they ski Blackcomb Mountain, something Hamish looks forward to all year long!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFY6MSEoX-JEcaXl6ciXos1jEs0NwGMACnx56HIVEKonohgaChLdbWKBrKZ41KbyamuO09sObknew-AhPIwh5HQbKuZlmj0aGklTqszNscfB0CxwQZpRl7-_vBLSuGGbRww0VMWCZuJQ/s1600/waffles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFY6MSEoX-JEcaXl6ciXos1jEs0NwGMACnx56HIVEKonohgaChLdbWKBrKZ41KbyamuO09sObknew-AhPIwh5HQbKuZlmj0aGklTqszNscfB0CxwQZpRl7-_vBLSuGGbRww0VMWCZuJQ/s640/waffles.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>This is just a short list of places we have visited many times. There are many other restaurants that we have visited and enjoyed but as we haven't been to them more than once I am not adding them to the list.</i></div>
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COFFEE?</h4>
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<b><a href="http://mountcurriecoffee.com/">Mt Currie Coffee Company</a></b></div>
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The best Coffee in Whistler for the Australian coffee connoisseurs. If you are longing for a proper flat white, I recommend making the effort to get your morning coffee from here.</div>
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<b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/LiftCoffeeCo/">The Lift</a></b></div>
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A good alternative to the above and in a great location just across from The Westin. </div>
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What to do for kids on non ski days?</h2>
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We usually give the boys a break from skiing on the weekends, partly to give them some time off the snow and partly because the weekends are the busiest times on the mountain, hence longer lift lines, more accidents on the mountain and so on. These are some of the things that we have done in the past or are planning to do on our next trip:</div>
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<b>Ice Skating at the outdoor skate rink:</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwA5AP8Y0FUP47uKHxNO2nLCl2dkcKhi8cgRzyDSPJSSXA8iYzT8BsGWHYGEUG0W05NlellcLVtnCeCGUEnIiJ8kgRLq9fxKNFGSKvClErd7-9UaikKPrl_hf2T242aJOb0iqgPsc4FE/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwA5AP8Y0FUP47uKHxNO2nLCl2dkcKhi8cgRzyDSPJSSXA8iYzT8BsGWHYGEUG0W05NlellcLVtnCeCGUEnIiJ8kgRLq9fxKNFGSKvClErd7-9UaikKPrl_hf2T242aJOb0iqgPsc4FE/s640/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The <a href="https://www.whistler.com/activities/ice-skating/">ice rink</a> is located in the old village in the Olympic Plaza</div>
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You can hire skates at the little kiosk next to the rink.</div>
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There is a huge outdoor fireplace to sit near if you are not skating (go and grab a hot chocolate and a pastry from Purebread, directly across from the skate rink)</div>
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<b>Tobogganing:</b></div>
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There is a small toboggan park suitable for young kids just next to the skate rink, between the rink and the playground.</div>
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Most hotels will have plastic toboggans you can borrow for the afternoon, if you have a little one that struggles to walk in the snow it might be worth hiring or buying a toboggan for the week as you can then tow them along any snow covered paths (if it's a bumper season, almost all the paths will have a hard packed snow base). </div>
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<b><a href="http://www.whistlerlibrary.ca/">The Library</a>:</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPYWr5g19by1hoG5ge68407zfvUdDrYdw7XjcBtjWZVHFW7SwKP3S21x8REt7EeaXAk7gQ2aVBAfDnGR6mHZoJbs3HEPODxkhu2qEYHS_BqfAO0iHhaxUTNSIaj9GWV1CK9GEp4X6gZg/s1600/Whistler+Library.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPYWr5g19by1hoG5ge68407zfvUdDrYdw7XjcBtjWZVHFW7SwKP3S21x8REt7EeaXAk7gQ2aVBAfDnGR6mHZoJbs3HEPODxkhu2qEYHS_BqfAO0iHhaxUTNSIaj9GWV1CK9GEp4X6gZg/s640/Whistler+Library.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Visitors to Whistler are able to get a temporary membership to the library for $10. The library is well stocked, has a fabulous kids section, free wifi and a huge open fire with a tea and coffee bar. A great place to take little ones for a story time session or just to collect some new reading material.</div>
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<b><a href="https://squareup.com/store/fathomstone">Make your own Inukshuk</a>:</b></div>
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The Inuit people of Canada traditionally used Inukshuks as markers of sacred places and navigational tools. In the basement shops below the Hilton hotel there is a stonemason who runs Inukshuk making classes for kids. My boys have never done this one but most of our friends kids have and all enjoyed the experience. </div>
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<b><a href="https://whistlercore.com/pages/daily-classes">Rock Climbing</a>:</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ0VEdJD2pOFRSP4a_6aDb09RxLb-qDSGHMwpMx6jryEryWiJdWL-9Qpi8D5AVhDtAXMWqj0gRt73qoSs3QP0cpU6fzPWzEppzANyC2T43hhXN3MGALRdcEilxEWlNUN2LVvwyuEZsCl0/s1600/rock+climbing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ0VEdJD2pOFRSP4a_6aDb09RxLb-qDSGHMwpMx6jryEryWiJdWL-9Qpi8D5AVhDtAXMWqj0gRt73qoSs3QP0cpU6fzPWzEppzANyC2T43hhXN3MGALRdcEilxEWlNUN2LVvwyuEZsCl0/s640/rock+climbing.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Over near the small supermarket in the new town there is an Indoor rock climbing centre that offers an evening program for kids that lasts for 3 hours from 6pm to 9pm. It includes a pizza dinner for the kids and is an excellent alternative to finding a babysitter for the evening if you want to have an adults only dinner! We have booked this for the boys a few times with several friends and they have loved it.</div>
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<b><a href="https://www.whistler.com/activities/tube-park/">The tube park</a>:</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpANv0OspQH16Go8nxot_NZeZr8zCrI1PuBOeWRdW6Egk6Mp_4ZKe8gCQIJ6jBe9x-XnmXzaOFs9EbLRMBOKsCAanf-RtRXMc0jfNT5yqGukv72l0SX3BLkmzjYFw-S1OXTKLZ6mSbTU/s1600/IMG_0205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpANv0OspQH16Go8nxot_NZeZr8zCrI1PuBOeWRdW6Egk6Mp_4ZKe8gCQIJ6jBe9x-XnmXzaOFs9EbLRMBOKsCAanf-RtRXMc0jfNT5yqGukv72l0SX3BLkmzjYFw-S1OXTKLZ6mSbTU/s640/IMG_0205.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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It is easy to get to if you jump on the Excalibur Gondola and get off at the first stop. It is then a short walk across the snow to the tube park.</div>
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Children need to be a minimum of 3 years to tube, there is also a mini-kids lane for those that are over 3 but not tall enough to ride the full length lanes.</div>
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Wear your ski gear as it gets cold and wet and also proper snow boots (ski boots are not permitted though)</div>
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<a href="http://blackcombsnowmobile.com/"><b>Snowmobile Tour</b></a><b> :</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpqSOy4DS0UMIaVyg1csgOJGeb-QM_zraknEwyDppA3BpzpG2a0c7jpDBvaaJlEqimZrDgekaJPZRR4cNu66qV3rlZP-nwTvqfPg5gUoqUBaghwCy3fINtKRRvYShz6fXLt9qcjAVwr8/s1600/IMG_8808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpqSOy4DS0UMIaVyg1csgOJGeb-QM_zraknEwyDppA3BpzpG2a0c7jpDBvaaJlEqimZrDgekaJPZRR4cNu66qV3rlZP-nwTvqfPg5gUoqUBaghwCy3fINtKRRvYShz6fXLt9qcjAVwr8/s640/IMG_8808.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Last year we did a tour of Brandywine Falls Provincial Park with Blackcomb Snowmobile Tours and it was tremendously fun. We booked a half day tour and explored some of the more remote parts of the National Park, where we were able to see beautiful winter scenes and endless mountain views. <br />
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They even have darling kid sized snowmobiles and a kids track that they let the kids go mad on. Needless to say, my two speed demon risk takers loved every second of this! Our guide (a lovely young Irish chap on his gap year) ended up letting Nick have a go on one of the adult snow mobiles, I think he missed his little brothers, (he was the eldest of eight!), and took a bit of a shining to Nick. Needless to say, this made Nick's day as he raced around a frozen pond at hair raising speeds. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgynVSu8BQLFjTQQ9M-lZcwTr8_afdrGQ9D1PQ8uKQdNaZWaitxoogSxZs7vQMXHksEKuvJTrVcLWwa0M_Z3obi9TH1MYnfqYpwcVMuS6PSwaZx_-MfwKXp1ewnjT5MEQ3ZahjwSELYyT0/s1600/IMG_8734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgynVSu8BQLFjTQQ9M-lZcwTr8_afdrGQ9D1PQ8uKQdNaZWaitxoogSxZs7vQMXHksEKuvJTrVcLWwa0M_Z3obi9TH1MYnfqYpwcVMuS6PSwaZx_-MfwKXp1ewnjT5MEQ3ZahjwSELYyT0/s640/IMG_8734.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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How to get to Whistler from Vancouver:</h2>
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<b><a href="http://www.whistlershuttle.com/whistler-shuttle/vancouver-airport-to-whistler">The bus</a>:</b><br />
This is the cheapest option that I am aware of. <br />
Pros: someone else is driving, they collect you from the airport and they drive you to your hotel. <br />
Cons: if your flight doesn't have enough passengers to justify a bus leaving they will make you sit and wait for another flight to come in. This happened to us one year and is why we have never used the bus again. The bus makes frequent stops once you get to Whistler which adds a fair bit of travel time into the journey. The bus is the longest of the different transport options.</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.whistlerairporttransfers.com/">A driver in a private car</a>:</b><br />
Most of our friends use this option.<br />
Pros: someone else is driving. You can stop whenever you like to use a bathroom or do some shopping. You don't do a scenic tour of Whistler Hotels and Lodges. Journey time is relatively fast depending upon how many stops you make.<br />
Cons: The most expensive option.<br />
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<b>Renting a car</b>?</div>
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This is our preferred method.<br />
Pros: You can stop wherever you want. You get to experience driving on the Sea to Sky Highway! We have a child who gets very car sick so we also prefer to drive ourselves as the trip is long and winding. We need to do lots of fresh air stops and obviously this isn't easy on a bus!<br />
Cons: One of you needs to drive and in Canada it is Right Hand Traffic. If you are not confident driving on the other side of the road I would definitely not choose this option. You need to drive from the airport, through Vancouver and up to the Mountains along the Sea to Sky highway. The road is excellent and it is mostly dual carriageway but there are points that it is single lane and it can get icy despite being very well maintained. Snow will be banked up on the sides of the road and so on. It is however, the most spectacular road I have ever driven on, the mountains on one side and the most beautiful coloured turquoise ocean on the other. If you are comfortable driving in RHT then I would absolutely choose this option. We hire from Avis who allow a one way rental to Whistler. The Avis drop off in Whistler is a short walk from the Village centre.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBU7C3mPVFRjSnoHk81vSTRHrgYvd2gYFvk-Pde8GUD2IVlyvT2xM_DtbkCXZVCHidzsc9aaRYgesw2PJWBEzK7_8GcRCo9w0RmEf-2t6ijBUJjyPQJoS_ihoPrXw7wckjLP-9gQQmmXc/s1600/Hamish+catching+snowflakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBU7C3mPVFRjSnoHk81vSTRHrgYvd2gYFvk-Pde8GUD2IVlyvT2xM_DtbkCXZVCHidzsc9aaRYgesw2PJWBEzK7_8GcRCo9w0RmEf-2t6ijBUJjyPQJoS_ihoPrXw7wckjLP-9gQQmmXc/s640/Hamish+catching+snowflakes.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Please remember that my recommendations are based entirely on our own experiences and what we have enjoyed as a family. If you have any further questions I will do my best to answer them. If you are considering a family ski trip to Whistler, do it. Canada is so incredibly beautiful and Whistler is a truly magical place to ski, you wont regret it!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xx__7bheLQBQt5HZnyqdogcvh-fgj7x-bQB4PtVGaZRsgJkpEjHBEybuMYwyddhDakQ1hCQ-apnjiCBSI0QdUeW9eEIlySzxiiFQjPSdJQVbCusDiyWeRREQWmwes-wgytqpk_3aFqg/s1600/beautiful+whistler.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xx__7bheLQBQt5HZnyqdogcvh-fgj7x-bQB4PtVGaZRsgJkpEjHBEybuMYwyddhDakQ1hCQ-apnjiCBSI0QdUeW9eEIlySzxiiFQjPSdJQVbCusDiyWeRREQWmwes-wgytqpk_3aFqg/s640/beautiful+whistler.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magical Whistler sunset </td></tr>
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Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634383197755226856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809259912539352379.post-15369110970873019992016-06-30T21:34:00.000+10:002016-08-24T21:43:35.973+10:00Eight! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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8 years old. </div>
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I can't quite believe it has been 8 years. Although, it's closer to 9 if I think about the day that we went to Bondi Junction for the 18-20 week ultrasound and the sonographer asked us if we wanted to know your gender, oh I know I replied, it's a little boy. I was right. I have been wrong about so many things, but not about you!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvv7zTj4QOJ3PBb5BdpVjD9-418WkdhQ2iaQ_QrvI_tYwPYaHaOSp13TYtBYw5E5V8OYl3CGTpT_b_5PmP6G9xbTOQOzsynSW7BzXTYdsBzQml6SNL7MOdse_1HLbNXPJVjSbKxAnZqE/s1600/DSC_0261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvv7zTj4QOJ3PBb5BdpVjD9-418WkdhQ2iaQ_QrvI_tYwPYaHaOSp13TYtBYw5E5V8OYl3CGTpT_b_5PmP6G9xbTOQOzsynSW7BzXTYdsBzQml6SNL7MOdse_1HLbNXPJVjSbKxAnZqE/s640/DSC_0261.jpg" width="422" /></a></div>
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At 8 years old you are a true delight. You always have been though. Your love of being outdoors continues. You have moved on from birds. Currently you are obsessed with sport. Specifically soccer, cricket, athletics, cross country running, skiing, surfing and cycling. When you grow up you are going to be a "champion ski racer and jumper" (actual quote). </div>
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You are quite a character. You have cut your own hair more times than I can count. Most children grow out of this in the toddler years or don't attempt it at all! Not you, I think that the photo above is an attempt to photograph the latest haircut. You were trying to cut a line in, "like all the soccer players have in their hair." </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1NvwWdBZY7rwoySgIizbry_6UTVa_oIOgoKrxWyrXxRgcpasE79gnh8GcWxzReqtxufSG0iL_t0badSltTugEALeARYazsQjsFhgaRF4i83Wq8MYmMo1e6mOT56T2Q7IpzI0Wki-iTs/s1600/DSC_0305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1NvwWdBZY7rwoySgIizbry_6UTVa_oIOgoKrxWyrXxRgcpasE79gnh8GcWxzReqtxufSG0iL_t0badSltTugEALeARYazsQjsFhgaRF4i83Wq8MYmMo1e6mOT56T2Q7IpzI0Wki-iTs/s640/DSC_0305.jpg" width="422" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzrGjcQycOvd6Cw2CeBhGDMM-yA7AW4ZvVKdqjImisYy6O9p-RzX_6BXNt7GgPzskXKlWigrxkqJup_-Dc5kxlKpURHnXCxF2WgrEfRvsQOlg1VC545NYOSHffY8jcEOIp7s0ojpG81Q/s1600/DSC_0324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzrGjcQycOvd6Cw2CeBhGDMM-yA7AW4ZvVKdqjImisYy6O9p-RzX_6BXNt7GgPzskXKlWigrxkqJup_-Dc5kxlKpURHnXCxF2WgrEfRvsQOlg1VC545NYOSHffY8jcEOIp7s0ojpG81Q/s640/DSC_0324.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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You prefer to be outside at all times. Even if it is pouring with rain and freezing cold I will find you outside, either bowling over and over again at the wickets, kicking a soccer ball into "franklin", playing hand ball against the side of the house or jumping on the trampoline. You are thrilled when someone agrees to play outside with you, sadly this doesn't always work well with your brother. It almost always ends in tears and a howling protest of some sort from you.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_IctyR5xNsAL0JiLUu0ecYFMIUcwc7CJ1nvtWdXlatHFo_BG8AxJDcLHKfPz09UDMsG1S1AX47UZEJJKiHZ_LS1pN10ODlAGssvDn50S7bVkc0twMOFJ0dqkJvxnJqcMjGSxJ0NxIFY/s1600/DSC_0372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_IctyR5xNsAL0JiLUu0ecYFMIUcwc7CJ1nvtWdXlatHFo_BG8AxJDcLHKfPz09UDMsG1S1AX47UZEJJKiHZ_LS1pN10ODlAGssvDn50S7bVkc0twMOFJ0dqkJvxnJqcMjGSxJ0NxIFY/s640/DSC_0372.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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You play the viola and are in the string orchestra at school, I hope you continue to play the viola for years to come, and that it gives you as much pleasure as it has given me watching you learn to play. I am so proud of how much you have achieved musically. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwh6YNw6xXvjuOEphRfzhd8WFRsStaJ9JV4beBU90lPCE49XgL3a9dxwImnoh2aQX57IvlOFz47_x5B86le25BwTnG_UPv5zyWUHnim0GX8fm5Pfi2vyj_5PcoISHxF8SKcxRQRone7Q/s1600/IMG_3242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwh6YNw6xXvjuOEphRfzhd8WFRsStaJ9JV4beBU90lPCE49XgL3a9dxwImnoh2aQX57IvlOFz47_x5B86le25BwTnG_UPv5zyWUHnim0GX8fm5Pfi2vyj_5PcoISHxF8SKcxRQRone7Q/s640/IMG_3242.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Your best friends at school are Elijah, Scott and Hugh. Your favourite foods are pizza, spaghetti and meatballs, sushi, sweet potato and vanilla ice cream. You loathe cauliflower. I can manage to make you eat almost anything, even mushrooms and eggplant, both of which you are lukewarm about, but the performance you put on about cauliflower is worthy of an Oscar. You are a talented athlete and can bowl better than kids much older than you, even better than many adults. Your current favourite reads are the Harry Potter books, Deltora Quest, the How to Train Your Dragon books, anything by Graeme Base and your perennially adored, very well thumbed Berenstain Bears books, almost all of which you know off by heart. You will watch BTN, Top Gear and any sport that takes your fancy on TV but that is quite literally it. Although, you do also love the Harry Potter movies and drive us all mad, with them. For when it is your turn to choose a movie for family movie night you invariably choose a Harry Potter. This is starting to wear a bit thin with the entire family.</div>
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You still adore lions and Big and Little will always be your adored side kicks. I can't even imagine the heartbreak if we lost one of them a<a href="http://twolittlepirates.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/little-and-big.html">gain</a>. They truly are part of our family now. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQbxmvn_K5P35pQFOeUbS9NPCOmB847f7Vw9ULRp7u-5qLYaF1WSAjEuHrnrVvFHzbyyPRK8LZkpK9sxhYcmaq3XPKBV5o-mzu72PDilZRZZWIDrRxu2KIpjOzKGY1YfOx69LMDIGhEw/s1600/IMG_5777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQbxmvn_K5P35pQFOeUbS9NPCOmB847f7Vw9ULRp7u-5qLYaF1WSAjEuHrnrVvFHzbyyPRK8LZkpK9sxhYcmaq3XPKBV5o-mzu72PDilZRZZWIDrRxu2KIpjOzKGY1YfOx69LMDIGhEw/s640/IMG_5777.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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You are a special boy, little one. Happy Birthday.</div>
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Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634383197755226856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809259912539352379.post-88759919942509161382016-06-03T09:41:00.000+10:002016-06-03T09:41:28.964+10:00The joy of boys!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
As I haven't written a post about parenting the 'Y' chromosome in a <u>very</u> long time, here is an update:</div>
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They break bones, badly.</div>
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Both of them.</div>
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Probably because they have no fear! That would be the seven year old up there on the top of that orange pole. Note all the other 7 and 8 year old boys seem to have remained sensibly at ground level so perhaps it is just that my boys are extreme risk takers?</div>
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I often find elaborate "scenes" such as this one, set up in random locations around the house.</div>
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Often the "scenes" appear to have been catastrophic.</div>
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You quickly learn who all the sports stars are. </div>
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The brotherly love is touching. The 10 year old offered to help the 7 year old find some sponsors for his school Zumba-thon. For those that can't read his handwriting that would be Bill Gates and Queen Elizabeth sponsoring H some rather large sums per minute.</div>
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Yes, the 7 year old was sent to school with this form and yes, I crossed out Nick's additions! </div>
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Every minute of this testosterone loaded craziness is worth it though, especially when you get treated to impromptu music recitals with football cleats on!</div>
<br />Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634383197755226856noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809259912539352379.post-70260155412889574632016-05-11T14:07:00.001+10:002016-05-11T14:07:25.098+10:00Life lately...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My orchids are flowering again, two of them for the second time in a 3 month period. Friends keep sending me photos of miserable and <strike>dead </strike>wilted orchids asking what it is that they are doing wrong. I seriously have no idea what it is that I do right though. I did write a <a href="http://twolittlepirates.blogspot.com.au/2015/11/indoor-plants.html">pos</a>t on how I look after mine not that long ago if anyone is actually interested. I wonder if it is the spectacular antique ginger jars they are housed in. Speaking of which does anyone know where to source genuine ginger jars from in Australia? Not, the mass produced ones that you see everywhere but authentic antique jars? My Mum was telling me that when they were buying these in the 1970s, way back when they were on posting in Cambodia it was hard to source genuine jars even back then. I imagine it is next to impossible these days but still, I would love to know if anyone ever comes across them. I particularly would love to know more about mine as well.</div>
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Another view of them bathed in a sunset pink glow a few nights ago. The sunsets in Sydney have been truly spectacular recently. </div>
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My Mother's Day sleep in came courtesy of Scrabble. It is a new obsession in this house. I am secretly delighted as the Monopoly Board has been hurled a few too many times lately and Scrabble is something I would actually choose to play. My friends used to roll their eyes at me regularly whenever we were on holidays together and I would pull out the board games or a pack of cards. So I must say I am thrilled that I now have willing and able board game buddies at my beck and call, especially ones that are actually able to play the games I want to play. I am thinking it might be time to teach them 500 or cribbage. </div>
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My darling boys both chose Cyclamens for me from the Mother's Day gift stall at school, they know me well! I could not have asked for a more perfect gift from them. I even love how H selected white and N picked out pink! I have them together on a shelf in the kitchen and they look so pretty together. </div>
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My Mother's Day gift from Ross was this stunning and ever so pretty dress from Magali Pascal. Ross chose it for me in Bali a couple of weeks ago when he was over there working (again, lucky thing!!) and I love it! It pains me to admit this, but I think he might be better at picking out clothes for me than I am. I feel so lucky and privileged, thank you Ross, N and H, I had a lovely day. </div>
<br />Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634383197755226856noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809259912539352379.post-86582018529357041542016-05-08T16:28:00.000+10:002016-05-08T16:28:07.700+10:00A garden update<div>
Lately I have found that rather than play "catch up" I long to simply document the day to day. I find myself feeling guilty that I haven't written up the last trip to Canada (almost 5 months ago now, yikes!) or the most recent school holidays and then, because I don't actually feel like writing about either of those things, the blog just gets ignored. I am wondering if, rather than feeling guilty about not documenting my life in calendar order, it might be a better idea to just write about whatever I feel motivated to. That way I might actually end up writing something on the blog, <i>something</i> is surely better than nothing!</div>
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Inspiration today lies in documenting the continuing work on the garden at our "new" house. When we purchased this property the garden was virtually a blank slate and even featured a travertine path that quite literally led to nowhere. As Ross and I are both passionate gardeners the unloved state of the garden actually appealed to us! We both saw it as a welcoming challenge and have really enjoyed working on the transformation of the garden.<br />
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One of the first things that we addressed in the garden was the problem of the foot path that led to nowhere.</div>
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It is the front path that leads directly out from our front door to the street, but it just ended at nothing at the start of the nature strip! It drove me mad as the letter box was on the other side of the driveway at the corner boundary of the property and there was no front fence, hedge or anything else installed to define the perimeter of the property or to make sense of that bizarre front path.</div>
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We deliberated for some months about whether to plant a hedge as a front border, install a traditional wood picket fence or to do a sandstone and picket fence combination. The sandstone combination won out in the end. We both felt that the sandstone/picket fence had more of a beach house feel and would ultimately be the easiest to maintain. Picket fences are hard work, they need regular painting and hedges need frequent trimming.</div>
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Ross installing the frame for the wood "pickets" before the sandstone cladding went on.</div>
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The pickets going on post-cladding. </div>
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When we installed the stone fence we also relocated the letterbox and chose one that could be integrated into the fence itself. As someone will invariably ask, the letterbox is the <a href="http://robertplumb.com.au/product-type/letterboxes/mr-kelly-intergrated-front-open-letterbox.html">Mr Kelly Integrated Front Open Letterbox from Robert Plumb </a>. Please ignore the front of the house and the rest of the front garden, that is all still a work in progress! </div>
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In the rear garden the most recent gardening work has focused on building a garden bed that runs almost the entire length of the back of the house and deck.</div>
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We have clad this garden bed in the same stone from <a href="https://www.ecooutdoor.com.au/">Eco Outdoor</a> that we used for the front fence. We also intend to use this stone in the landscaping that is currently taking place around the pool and to clad an indoor/outdoor fireplace that we have on the back deck/living area. </div>
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Ross put a lot of thought into the plants in this garden bed. Amongst hardy and drought tolerant succulents we have planted lots of sanseveria, cardboard palms. philodendrons and rhoeo. At either end of the planter box have we selected two mature plants, a multi-headed dragon tree at one end and a frangipani at the other. We placed the dragon tree at the deck end of the planter box as it is quite a statement plant and will look amazing once established.</div>
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The frangipani came from our next door neighbours garden and already looks like it has been there for decades with a lovely aged patina to it's trunk. The planting of this garden bed has completely transformed the back of the house and I am thrilled with how it has turned out.</div>
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Meanwhile, work continues elsewhere in the garden, the pool truly is a construction site at the moment and another stone garden bed is about to be constructed further along the deck. I am looking forward to sharing these projects once complete also!</div>
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Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634383197755226856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809259912539352379.post-13257633996517699032016-04-07T13:47:00.000+10:002016-04-07T15:26:35.928+10:00Catching up - Bali<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last December, Ross and I popped over to Bali for a whirlwind few days. Ross had a few days work in Denpasar so, thanks to my wonderful parents, I was able to accompany him on the trip. As he was working I spent most of my days reading by the pool or wandering through the fabulous shops and gardens. We also had some wonderful meals out with some of Ross' work colleagues. Mostly expats that live in Jakarta and that are lucky enough and close enough to have holiday houses in Bali. Their lifestyle sounded fabulous to me until I heard about the traffic issues in Jakarta. One family we had dinner with had boys at the British School in Jakarta (where I went to Pre-school way back in the late 1970s!) and despite the fact that the school is only 8km from their house it takes them two hours on a school bus to get from A to B. My 40 minute school trip (yes, some days it can even take longer, sob!) sounded not so bad after hearing their tales of traffic woe. <br />
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The first few days we stayed at the W in Seminyak. It was gorgeous and as we had a villa with a private pool, extremely relaxing. I floated about the pool amongst frangipani flowers, read lots of books and caught up on sleep. It was heavenly.</div>
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I did manage to leave the hotel every now and then. Coffee at the <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Restaurant_Review-g469404-d6764599-Reviews-Corner_House-Seminyak_Bali.html">The Corner House</a> in Seminyak became an essential part of each day quickly. Easily the best coffee we found in Bali and the most charming little cafe to sit in and enjoy said coffee. It is well worth a visit if you are in Seminyak. Even the Bathroom is gorgeous!</div>
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Homewares shopping isn't too bad either! This is <a href="http://www.kimsoobali.com/">Kim Soo</a> near the Petitenget Temple. Lots of gorgeous things to be found inside!</div>
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After 4 nights at the W, we moved to the incredible Ayana, famous for the adults only pool and the Rock Bar. Both well worth a visit and I actually thought that this hotel would be fun to stay at with the kids. There were multiple pools and the gardens were a delight to wander and explore. The staff bent over backwards to ensure we enjoyed our holiday experience as well. </div>
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The kids pool was being renovated whilst we were staying there so this is unfortunately the best photo I was able to take of it, but seriously how much fun does that look?! When I showed the boys they insisted that we take them next trip! </div>
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This is the divine adults only pool. Truly spectacular!</div>
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Whilst we were at the Ayana we celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary. 11 years, sigh. I feel so lucky and so blessed. </div>
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So that takes us up to mid-December. I'll try and add Christmas and our annual trip to Whistler before the year is half over!</div>
<br />Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634383197755226856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809259912539352379.post-79728623989248123722015-12-15T19:44:00.000+11:002015-12-15T19:44:05.089+11:00Double digits<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Captain has recently celebrated his 10th birthday. It seems but moments ago that the Doctor at Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok, a gentlemanly old Sikh, nodded kindly at me over his desk and said yes, Madam, there really is a baby in there, as he read my blood test results to me. I must have looked quite disbelieving!<br />
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To celebrate reaching double digits, the Captain chose to have a sailing party. Luckily, Balmoral Sailing Club have a fabulous kids program that includes holiday camps (the best!) and Birthday Parties. </div>
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The party celebrations began with a Hobie Cat race. As the Captain sails on an Optimist in his Development Squad, he loves any opportunity to jump into different sailing craft and Hobie Cat's are one of his favourites. They can pick up a bit of speed which appeals to little boys of course! The boys were split up into two teams and off they went. </div>
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They had the time of their lives out on the harbour for an hour or so, meanwhile we sat back on the beach and enjoyed the wonder of hosting a party for a dozen 10 year old boys. It was so peaceful watching the two rainbow coloured sails darting about on Middle Harbour! </div>
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Eventually, the boys did reappear though and both teams of course insisted that they had won the race. Before they could actually establish who truly had won, the instructors managed to distract</div>
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them all with a stand up paddle board lesson. Nick loved this so much that a paddle board has been added onto the Christmas list this year! </div>
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The final activity was some crazy made up game that the instructors from the yacht club came up with. I never actually quite got the gist of it, but it involved lots of running, crawling and hiding in a maze of paddle boards propped up in the sand. The boys LOVED this. Lots of stealth type stomach crawling and deviant dashing between the paddle boards, the boys were in their element. </div>
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We ended the party with fish and chips and chocolate cake.</div>
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So my darling boy at 10 years old you are: feisty, determined and dare I say, a little bit witty. Your determination never fails to astonish me. You are an incredible athlete and excel at cross country, athletics, sailing and skiing. You also love cricket and soccer. </div>
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Up until last week you wanted to be an architect. This all changed though after Grandma and Grandpa took you for your first proper experience in a flight simulator and as a consequence you have switched career paths to aviation. Your favourite TV show though is still Grand Designs (UK of course), closely followed by Top Gear (UK of course). </div>
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Your favourite books are the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz and The Henderson Boys series by Robert Murchamore. As a result, you have also dabbled in espionage as a career choice and did request that we send you to Eton as you considered that a pre-requisite!</div>
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Your favourite colour is still red. Your favourite food is pizza. You are pestering us for a dog. You play the classical guitar and sing in the school choir. Your favourite subjects at school are art, drama and sport. You have a lovely group of friends at school.</div>
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You are a skilled negotiator and are willing to debate anything and everything. This skill of yours is simultaneously infuriating and impressive. I, for one, look forward to seeing where this takes you in life. Happy Birthday Captain. </div>
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Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634383197755226856noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809259912539352379.post-21535618961267233982015-11-09T12:06:00.000+11:002015-11-09T17:15:25.543+11:00The Indoor Plant<br />
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In the late 1980s NASA investigated the benefits of indoor plant usage <a href="https://archive.org/details/nasa_techdoc_19930072988">as a pollution preventative solution</a> for possible use in space stations. They were able to find several plant species that assisted in reducing pollutants in breathable air. More recently, scientists have discovered that planting green walls and vertical gardens in urban areas, <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120718143913.htm">reduces the most toxic pollutants significantly</a>. I could keep on quoting and referencing different studies but I think that there really is no doubt now that surrounding ourselves in plants and greenery is of significant benefit to both our health and the environment. <br />
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Visitors to our house often comment on our indoor plants. Our house does have a bit of a 1970s boho vibe though, when indoor plants had their first heyday! All the greenery inside the house looks so pretty and it just makes so much more sense economically to decorate a house with living plants. A growing plant should ideally last a lot longer than cut flowers. <br />
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The above photo was taken in our dining room. I have a fiddle leaf fig in the corner and monsteria growing in the Turkish canoe. The canoe was originally home to all the Cymbidium orchids but the orchids have all been relocated to the garden and are currently part of a new garden bed I am creating out of an old wood sabot sailing boat. More on that another day though! </div>
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Fiddle leaf figs are super easy to take care of and are probably my favourite indoor plant. My number one tip for taking care of them would be to wipe their leaves down every 6 weeks or so with milk. I know it sounds crazy, but I remember seeing this tip years ago on Gardening Australia and it just works I promise you. I have huge, over 10 feet tall plants inside the house and they look so healthy with fabulous glossy green leaves. I literally fill a small container with milk, I know someone will ask, so full cream ordinary milk. I then dip an old rag into the milk and wipe the leaves down with the dampened cloth. Make sure each leaf is wiped clean of dust with the cloth. You may need to get a fresh cloth every now and then depending upon the size of your fig. Other tips for taking care of figs would be to only water once a week or so, allowing the roots to dry out between waterings. If you need to re-pot, find a pot that is only a fraction bigger. They get distressed if the new pot is significantly bigger than the old one. </div>
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This photo is of our dining table. Where I have Phalaenopsis Orchids and a Cyclamen that is somehow flowering in both white and fuschia! Phalaenopsis are my second favourite house plant and I have many in the house. They thrive on neglect. I water them very infrequently and I only ever use the water left over from steaming vegetables. I wait until it is cold and then give them all a splash of it. It seems to work and mine flower regularly with multiple stems. I also wipe their leaves down with a wet cloth once a month or so. I have never fertilised them (apart from the old veggie water!) or re-potted them, so I can't offer any advice on either of those aspects of Phalaenopsis care!</div>
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In our entrance I have a Cymbidium Orchid. These I have more difficulty getting to re-bloom. I have resorted to selecting a new one each year and the old one is relegated outdoors to the garden. The only thing I have observed over the years, is that moving them around the garden often precipitates a new flower stem! </div>
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On the coffee table I have a little marble pot of succulents. These thrive on neglect too. I rarely water them, maybe if one of the boys leaves a water glass on the coffee table I might splash the remnants on top!</div>
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In the living room, I have the most spectacular Sansevieria. I don't know what it's full name is unfortunately, but it is definitely part of the Sansevieria family and it is the most incredible looking plant. It reminds me of seaweed drifting in the ebb and flow of the ocean, as there is a lovely fluidity to it's shape. When we bought it the nursery staff instructed us to be very conservative watering it. I probably only water it 4 or 5 times a year! I do wipe down it's leaves with a damp cloth regularly though. </div>
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As you can see above I also have Peace Lilies in the living room. They do like regular watering. I empty the boys drink bottles into them after school everyday in a loose rotation. Ensuring that each plant gets a top up of water fairly regularly. The main thing with the lilies though I find is to pop them outside whenever it is raining. This seems to keep them very happy. If you do not have an outdoor area to put them to collect rain, I would just pop them under a cold shower every now and then! </div>
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Any indoor plants I am missing that I should add to my always growing collection? Any other tips? I would love to hear from some other plant fans.</div>
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Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634383197755226856noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809259912539352379.post-80447059902117337572015-11-04T20:07:00.000+11:002015-11-04T20:07:10.024+11:00Halloween 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I am not sure if it is my upbringing attending American run International Schools or a childhood reading American children's literature, (any other Harriet the Spy fans!?), but I have completely embraced Halloween and love everything about it! I know and can understand the many myriad of reasons people dislike Halloween. However, on Saturday night in our neighborhood I only witnessed children having a glorious time and a true sense of community. R took the boys out "Trick or Treating," only knocking on the doors of the houses that were obviously participating, and he reported back that they had a wonderful time. The boys even apple bobbed for the first time at a neighbour's house, both of them returning with wet heads of hair and grins from ear to ear! I remained home to answer the door to our "Trick or Treat" visitors and delighted in all the costumes and the opportunity to chat with and also meet for the first time some neighbours. </div>
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And so in the interests of actually documenting what happens in our lives and as Halloween is something that these two look forward to with as much joy and anticipation as they do Christmas, Easter and their Birthdays, this was Halloween 2015. </div>
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A Vampire (he somehow always manages to look suave and elegant) and a Naughty Little Devil, a rather apt costume choice for this young man! It is also so interesting to see their dress up choices each year and how they have evolved over time, reflecting their very different personalities. I for one am already looking forward to Halloween 2016 for this very reason!</div>
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<br />Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634383197755226856noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809259912539352379.post-45161393292369656512015-11-02T12:29:00.000+11:002015-11-02T12:57:03.928+11:00September school holiday wrap up (a wee bit late...) Now that the boys are in Week 5 at school I felt it was warranted that I update the blog, especially considering there are only 4 weeks of school remaining until they are back on holidays again. A frightening thought!<br />
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The holidays were fabulous. Both boys spent a week separately in Canberra visiting my parents and then a week was spent with us all together at the holiday house. Lazy days spent surfing, bike riding, eating, crab catching and playing cricket on the beach. The water was so crisp and refreshing we swam everyday despite the fact it was still on the chilly side. Spine tingling rejuvenation therapy for all of us.<br />
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On our last evening we were sitting out on the front deck when someone walked past and called out that there was a whale and her calf frolicking in the water. Glasses of wine and dinner preparations were quickly abandoned and we all raced down to the look out point to watch. It was a joy for all of us to watch the whale and her baby playing together as they found somewhere safe to rest before they commenced their migration south for the summer. I didn't take any photos as I didn't think to grab my camera or phone and I am actually glad that it turned out that way. We were all so uplifted by the experience of watching the whale that I am delighted I was in the moment and enjoying it, not focused instead on trying to capture the perfect photo.<br />
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Lastly, I can't tell you how happy it made me that the 7 year old is still little enough to squeeze himself into a plastic storage tub for his evening bath. My baby for a little longer. There truly is joy to be found in the little things everywhere.</div>
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<br />Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634383197755226856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809259912539352379.post-44734138676230681252015-08-28T17:59:00.002+10:002015-08-28T19:22:01.050+10:00Sailing - a magical and empowering sport for children<br />
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Each Sunday morning the Captain heads out with a handful of other like minded children for "<a href="http://www.yachting.org.au/participation/sailing-pathways/green-fleet-introductory-racing/green-fleet/">Green Fleet"</a> training. He returns hours later, energised, with salty hair and clear, sparkling eyes. Tales of whales and fairy penguins abound. Sailing truly is a magical sport for children, it is one of the only sports that allows a child complete freedom. As you can see in the photo above, my little 9 year old is the Captain of his own ship, literally. There is no parent sitting beside him dictating how things should be done. He is making decisions alone. The consequences of which he will also have to accept. He is in charge of rigging up his boat and packing it away after each sail. Through all this he has learnt responsibility and discipline. Sailing has also taught him about the environment, he now has a deeper understanding of the weather. The direction of the wind. The risks of a storm. </div>
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A friend recently watched Nick as he sailed out one Sunday morning and commented on how quiet it was. There was just the noise of ropes banging against masts and the odd squawk of a seagull. The children themselves are remarkably quiet as they head out. Each one focused, as they pop their centreboards in and settle themselves, preparing for a day on the water. This peaceful quiet is not to be underestimated in this day and age, when children are surrounded by stimulation and noise. Indeed, it is a true break from everyday life for a little boy.</div>
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Nick started sailing at 6 years old. I hope he is still sailing at 96 years old. That is the thing with sailing. It is a sport for a lifetime. A sport that will allow him to explore miles of coastline. Feel the wind in his hair and the sun or the rain on his face. A sport that will foster a love of the outdoors and a respect for the environment. A magnificent sport.</div>
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Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634383197755226856noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809259912539352379.post-90774772827197173322015-07-07T14:15:00.001+10:002015-07-07T14:15:56.984+10:00The brave knight turns 7!<br />
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The little guy just turned seven and to celebrate his birthday, we recently hosted a Brave Knight's Birthday party. His school just did a unit on Knights, Castles and Fairy Tales and I believe this might have inspired his theme of choice. He certainly has a passion for Knights and Castles now.</div>
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He chose the "Fleur de Lis" ("We learnt about the Lily in Italian at school Mummy!" The indignant response when I asked how he knew what the Fleur de Lis signified) and the Phoenix for the banners.</div>
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The brilliant Sir Ian of <a href="http://knightquest.weebly.com/">KnightQuest Birthday Parties</a> came to supervise the jousting, dragon slaying, sword fighting and generally keep the twenty five little boys, sorry brave Knights, in order! He did an amazing job and if anyone needs a brave Knight, I can recommend Sir Ian!<br />
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The nearly 10 year old had to be persuaded to participate, refused to wear his Knight's costume, insisted on wearing his beloved Hawaiian shirt, claimed it was all going to be boring and in the end had the time of his life!</div>
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So, at seven, H you are still my darling baby (and always will be!). You are well read. Current favourite books are The Famous Five series, Roald Dahl, Charlotte's Web and any Atlas, book about Birds and Wildlife or similar nature guide. The most well thumbed of these is The Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds which you leaf through regularly. Despite the fact that it probably weighs more than you do! It delights me no end that one of my children finally appreciates Enid Blyton and as a reward I permit you to read the original first editions. Books that I have spent most of my lifetime collecting and are extremely <strike>valuable</strike> collectable! </div>
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Your love of nature and the outdoors is limitless. You would rather be outside at all times. You rarely watch any television and have little interest in any screen time at all. </div>
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Your determination to win at all costs is alarming. You disgraced yourself at tennis lessons recently when you lost a game for the first time (against a boy much older than you!) and hurled your tennis racket over the fence. I wish I could say that you had witnessed this sort of behaviour on television, but as you rarely watch any I can't. This determination doesn't stop at tennis unfortunately, you are determined to be the best at everything you try. Your school report reflects this as does your track record at almost every sport you put your mind to. </div>
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Despite this determination and ambition you are the sweetest, most affectionate child. You are adored by everyone. Your best friend is Dexter. Your favourite colour is red. If you could be an animal you would be a lion. Your favourite sport is cricket. You are constantly practicing your bowling technique. Your favourite food is pasta. You are going to be a ski instructor when you grow up, indeed you managed to land your first 180 on your birthday last week! A pretty cool birthday present! Happy Birthday my darling boy.</div>
Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634383197755226856noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809259912539352379.post-27859972936802517492015-04-20T19:50:00.000+10:002015-04-20T21:11:35.565+10:00School Holidays <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The school holidays are over and I am busy trying to convince the boys that the school routine is really much more fun for all of us than the carefree days of the holidays. They remain unconvinced.<br />
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Easter, the highlight of the holidays for the 6 year old, was low key and relaxed. Last year we had Easter at Depot and the boys were desperate to return as apparently the Easter Bunny was significantly more generous there and also provided a variety of eggs previously never seen before. Much to their disappointment though we elected to stay in Sydney as we needed to do some things around the house! As you can see, the Easter Bunny on the Northern Beaches of Sydney still provides ample eggs and bunnies for small children to ruin their teeth with.<br />
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The nine year old is now quite the salty sea dog and spent most of his holidays at sailing camp. </div>
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The six year old is still the outdoorsy type.</div>
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He spent his holidays outside. He truly is a naturalist.</div>
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<br />Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634383197755226856noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809259912539352379.post-62001738858577610202015-04-17T16:48:00.000+10:002015-04-17T16:48:50.557+10:00Los Angeles Way back in early January we visited Los Angeles for a few days en route to Canada and in the interests of actually documenting some of our life events on the blog I thought it was about time I wrote a post about it! <br />
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We have visited LA on our way to Canada (and on two occasions also on the return trip) for the past three years. Partly because we like to break up the long trip to Canada with the kids and partly because we love it there. My husband lived in LA for a while in his twenties and gets a hankering for a visit every now and then. I love the shopping and the restaurants! The boys are learning to love it!<br />
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We have stayed either in Santa Monica or in Beverley Hills. Both are great places but if I had to choose between the two locations I would pick Santa Monica. Choose a hotel along the promenade and then it is an easy walk to the beach, playgrounds and one of LA's best shopping precincts. If you are travelling with kids the promenade in Santa Monica is brilliant for children and a great place for them to explore and burn off some energy!</div>
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Despite our frequent visits to LA we have never 'done' Disneyland. The boys have never even asked us to go. Everyone from the moment we get on the plane in Sydney assumes that is why we are heading to California and asks the boys if they are looking forward to Disneyland, so it isn't even as if they don't know about it. They just don't seem to be that interested in going. They do get excited about our annual visit to <a href="http://pizzeriamozza.com/">Pizzeria Mozza</a> though! </div>
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Activities for kids that they have enjoyed in LA have included a visit to the <a href="http://californiasciencecenter.org/">California Science Centre</a> to see the Space Shuttle Endeavour. The exhibit wasn't complete in January 2015 but it was still well worth a visit. The boys couldn't quite believe the size of it, nor that it had actually been into space, and multiple times at that. The rest of the Museum is well worth investigating, it is similar to Questacon in Canberra with lots of hands on exhibits </div>
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The highlight for the boys though was a visit to the <a href="http://www.petersen.org/">Peterson Automotive Museum</a>, the home of the Hot Wheels Museum and all sorts of other fabulous cars. For my two little car fanatics this was literally paradise. </div>
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They really enjoyed the Hot Wheels exhibit but they also loved the rest of the museum. It is home to one of the largest automotive collections in the world and of course has lots of cars that have featured in all sorts of Hollywood films. Including multiple Batmobiles and so on!</div>
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Their father loved this one, a 1966 Jaguar XKSS formerly owned by Steve McQueen!</div>
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My favourites were a toss up between these two! Who remembers the movie the above car came from? I seriously must have watched that movie a hundred times with my brother.</div>
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The boys could have spent all day exploring the museum and it is well worth a visit if you are in LA. </div>
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The highlight for me in LA is the shopping and just simply exploring. All of these photos were taken around Melrose Place as I love it there!</div>
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If you are looking for a decent coffee in LA - ignore everything on tripadvisor and other forums. Everywhere we tried was terrible.</div>
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<a href="http://www.alfredcoffee.com/">Alfred</a> we just stumbled across and thank goodness. Perfect coffee every time. They know what a flat white is. Enough said.</div>
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Food wise the highlight of our trip to LA each year is Pizzeria Mozza! We have two pizza connoisseurs in the family and they rate the pizza at Mozza as they best they have ever had! Everything that we have ordered there has been fabulous though!</div>
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The Ivy at the Shore in Santa Monica is great too for breakfast. Not so much for the coffee but do go for the atmosphere and the boys rate the pancakes highly!</div>
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Look at that bougainvillea. A visit to the Ivy at the Shore is essential just to walk through that fabulous entryway. Until next time LA! </div>
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<br />Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634383197755226856noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809259912539352379.post-41038623498906578732014-12-30T07:45:00.000+11:002014-12-30T07:45:40.924+11:00Tin<span id="goog_419024485"></span><span id="goog_419024486"></span>R and I recently celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary. The traditional gift for 10 years apparently is tin. According to wikipedia the modern interpretation of tin is diamonds. I would have been happy with diamonds, that goes without saying! The gift I did receive though is even better than diamonds.<br />
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My lovely and ever thoughtful husband suggested to me that I choose a new painting to celebrate our 10 years of marriage and so I did. I <a href="http://twolittlepirates.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/things-i-regret.html">finally got my much longed </a>for Alexander Mckenzie art work and it now hangs in pride of place in our dining room.<br />
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For the actual day of our anniversary though R whisked me away for a whirlwind getaway without the children. It was the longest I had ever been away from them (5 nights!) and I struggled, but as I knew they were in capable hands with my parents I eventually relaxed and started to enjoy myself!<br />
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The first two nights were spent in Port Douglas at the new QT Hotel. R is a huge fan of the QT Hotel chain and stays at the Gold Coast one several times a month. Yes, he travels a lot for work. <br />
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I haven't stayed at any of them, but when I walked into the hotel lobby and spotted this incredible wreath made of vintage glass sea buoys I knew I would not be disappointed. It was made by Nic Graham of <a href="http://nicgraham.com/index.php/home#about_us">g+a</a>, (the interior architects behind the QT chain) and is absolutely breathtaking in real life. It is almost reminiscent of a magnificent sea creature with it's shimmering blue and green colours and the dangling ropes are tentacle like in their delicateness. <br />
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The rest of the hotel is equally as charming and full of fabulous vintage nautical references that I of course adored!</div>
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On our second day in Port Douglas R somehow convinced me to get into a helicopter. My cheerful smile in the photo above really does not reflect how nervous I actually was! I know, for someone that worked as a flight attendant for years it is a bit crazy that I am terrified of small aircraft/rotorcraft! </div>
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The helicopter flight over the reef was an amazing experience though and it really was a fabulous way to explore the Great Barrier Reef. Such a different perspective to seeing the reef from a glass bottomed boat or snorkelling, both of which we have done on previous trips. Instead from the helicopter we were able to comprehend for the first time the incredible vastness of the reef. It is so enormous it is actually visible from space! It was also so pretty seeing it from above, a beautiful garden under the sea. We saw huge turtles that were the size of small cars, sharks swimming at great speed and the highlight for me was seeing enormous, colourful drifts of coral spawn! At one point we even flew over Australia!</div>
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Once again Tasmania was forgotten though!!</div>
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Port Douglas is very pretty and I loved our quick visit but after Port Douglas we drove back down the coast to Palm Cove which truly is the jewel on that part of the Queensland tropical coast. There is just something about those enormous and ancient paperbark trees lining the beach and esplanade that really is spectacular.<br />
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We have visited Palm Cove several times before but it was the first time we stayed at Peppers. As soon as we walked in I announced to R that we have to come back and stay here with the children soon! The hotel is positioned directly opposite the beach where the playground and swimming net is located and is walking distance to all the great restaurants and most importantly for the children, it has two fantastic pools!</div>
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For our anniversary dinner we had the degustation menu at Nu Nu's. We were both left a little underwhelmed unfortunately. The new location of the restaurant is stunning though. Last time we dined at Nu Nu's, which was about 2 years ago, it was part of the Pepper's hotel. The restaurant is now located at the new Alamanda Hotel, (the old Angsana) and is positioned right on the waterfront. I think it is the only restaurant in Palm Cove that is actually on the water and the location and atmosphere were absolutely perfect. The food though, sadly it just was not as good as the last time we ate there. R informed the wait staff that he was allergic to peanuts and would prefer that no other nuts were included in any of the dishes he was served. Literally every single dish we were served had nuts (yes no peanuts but everything else in the nut family just about made an appearance!) To say that this left a bad taste in R's mouth would be the understatement of the evening. We were unable to foresee this happening as the degustation menu is at the Chef's whim! It was quite disappointing as the last time we ate there it was truly amazing and we were really looking forward to eating there again. As in all things though, it might just have been a bad night and we would almost certainly eat there next time we visited Palm Cove. I would recommend lunch or breakfast though to make the most of that view! </div>
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Palm Cove really is magical. It is so pretty and unspoilt and well worth a visit if you feel like a tropical holiday without the tourist element that is omnipresent at so many other Australian coastal holiday destinations. </div>
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Our whirlwind getaway then wound up with two days in Melbourne that largely rotated around shopping, attending parties and catching up with family and friends! R was quite put out with me for choosing what he deemed to be "family destinations" for our 10 year wedding anniversary. He was desperate to go somewhere more exotic but for my first holiday away without children I insisted that we remain on the mainland and near an airport at all times! Next time though I think I am ready to cross the seas without them.... I just have to hope that my long suffering parents will put their hands up to look after the darlings again for me! </div>
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Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634383197755226856noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809259912539352379.post-1210679804021254092014-12-02T19:46:00.000+11:002014-12-02T19:46:35.610+11:00Painting the house<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When we purchased the house it was a very pale, nondescript grey colour and despite being a traditional and very popular colour for weatherboard houses, it just didn't work for us. So we have gone for something completely different, you can see the colours we painted the last house <a href="http://twolittlepirates.blogspot.com.au/2011/08/renovation-update.html">here</a>. This time we have chosen a very dark grey. It took us a while to find the perfect grey as we found that a lot of greys have blue or even lilac/purple undertones in certain lights, but the fabulous colour that we have finally settled on has worked out perfectly and we are delighted with how it has completely transformed the house. The architraves and trims now really pop out against the colour of the house and my next step will definitely be to put a potted bouganvillea on the deck to add a splash of pink to compliment the grey and white. </div>
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The front door colour though still eludes me. I suspect that is a decision that will have to wait until after we have started planting the front garden! If anyone has any brilliant front door colour suggestions for me I would love to hear them or if you have any dark grey houses in your neighbourhood, what colour have they painted their front door?<br />
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Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634383197755226856noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809259912539352379.post-38324274764303052852014-11-25T18:27:00.000+11:002014-11-27T16:04:51.486+11:00The House<br />
We have been in this house for a few months now and a lot of time has been devoted to re-arranging the furniture. I really don't want to race out and buy new things until I am absolutely sure it is necessary, so that involves time spent living in the house and truly thinking about how each space is used. If a cherished item doesn't work in one room it might be able to be used elsewhere for a different purpose!<br />
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One of the first rooms that I feel is coming together nicely is the dining room. Initially the room had a functional but boring Ikea pendant hanging in it which we replaced with these two converted French wool basket pendant lights from A Country Trader. The shadows and light that they cast around the room is stunning, in particular the reflections on the cathedral ceiling are spectacular. </div>
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R fell in love with the antique Turkish canoe (the big wooden object on the left in the photo above) recently at Garden Life and insisted on bringing it home. I could not for the life of me work out how we were going to incorporate it into our house and just had it plonked on the outside table. The outside table which is currently inside as there is no room on the deck for it outside! Then my clever sister-in-law V, suggested filling the canoe with orchids. Suddenly it completely altered the room. The table now looks like a console or a buffet under the window and the canoe no longer looks like something the boys should be playing in the pool with! Well, it never really looked like that but they were desperate to give it a whirl! </div>
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We still need to source some more dining chairs to finish the room off though. At our little cottage we had the table against a window bench seat so only needed 4, of the 5 chairs we have, for the other side. We are currently using one of the benches from the outdoor setting as a stop gap while we work out what to do. I would love to try and source some more antique Bentwoods similar to the ones we are currently using but I don't particularly like my chances. My parents picked them up in the early 1980s in Malacca whilst we were on posting in Malaysia. They even have vintage Chinese graffiti on them! </div>
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So the chances of me finding some to match these is virtually non existent! I shall start looking for chairs that compliment them, but I shall also begin the hunt for a whole new set of dining room chairs. If I do find something to replace my beloved Bentwoods I will then use them somewhere else in the house. Probably as desk chairs in the bedrooms and study. </div>
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Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634383197755226856noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809259912539352379.post-4581604764174893762014-11-20T12:57:00.000+11:002014-11-21T12:56:54.759+11:00Flying with kids <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As a former Flight Attendant and someone that travelled extensively as a child (my Father was a Diplomat) I feel more than qualified to write a blog post about airline travel with kids. Plus I seriously get asked all the time by people what my top tips for travelling with kids are, so I thought that I would collate them all in a blog post for anyone who is interested. Please keep in mind though that this is just what has worked for me and my two rascals and is based upon my flying experiences.</div>
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<b><u>FOOD </u> </b></div>
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Firstly check what the airline provides.</div>
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Many budget carriers these days don't include food as part of the inflight service. They often sell food onboard, (check if you need to pre-order it) and keep in mind that popular items sell out quickly. A copy of the menu (for want of a better word) should be available online. If you have picky eaters pack your own or if you want your kids eating something semi-nutritious, pack your own. If in doubt, pack your own! Make sure that it is not something that needs to be heated up. For hygiene and safety reasons the Cabin Crew are not permitted to heat up food belonging to passengers. No, there is not a microwave in the galley (if I had a dollar....) Nor is there room in the galley to keep things cold. Use an ice pack and esky style lunch box if you want to keep anything on ice. </div>
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<b>If the airline includes food as part of the service: </b>Buying a child's airfare does not automatically mean the airline provides a special child's meal. This is something that you need to organise and be mindful that some airlines require you to book any special meals at the time of reservation. Most though only require 24 hours notice, it is worth checking this out before you book your tickets just in case. There are a huge variety of special meals available catering for almost every dietary need you can think of. One of my favourites is a fruit platter (FPML). The codes for a kids meal are CHML and for a babies meal, BBML. Never assume that your travel agent has ordered for you either.</div>
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<b>Eating food on board</b>: If you are travelling with a small child or an infant I highly recommend one of the adults ordering a special meal as well. The special meals tend to be handed out first, this means that one of you can eat undisturbed whilst the other tends to the needs of the kids. It is also handy to only have one tray down for food at a time, especially if you have an infant sitting on your lap! If you are travelling solo with a couple of kids this is when you need to ask for help. Feed the kids first and then ask one of the cabin crew to sit and hold the baby for you so that you can eat. </div>
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<b>What do we do</b>? I pack a lot of snacks. Mainly sliced fresh fruit, crackers, dried fruit, sandwiches, biscuits, veggie sticks, cheese sticks, sushi, tortellini (ricotta/spinach) mine will happily eat it plain and cold. I store it all in little zip lock baggies and then put it all together in my carry on in one big zip lock. That way if there are any questions at security about content it can be seen easily without needing to be handled. The bags can be re-used later if you are worried about waste. I always end up using them for a bunch of different stuff on holiday.</div>
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<b>Keep in mind: LAG's: Liquids Aerosols and Gels on an International Flight</b><br />
<b><br /></b> Flying internationally means that any liquids or gels need to be stored in a container no greater in size than 100mls and must be presented at security in a clear zip lock bag. This also applies to yoghourt and any drinks for children. You can take empty bottles though security and have them filled once on the other side and it is also possible to purchase bottles of water and other drinks once you have passed through security. Babies however are exempt from this rule so if you are travelling with an infant you are permitted to carry on board the 140ml sachets of pureed food and bottles of water larger than 100ml.<br />
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<u><b>ENTERTAINING THE MASSES</b></u></div>
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I pack both boys a backpack and load them up with a variety of stuff. </div>
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<b>Craft items</b>: The best ones are self-contained. You can pick lots of different ones up at cheap $2 shop type places. The Crayola "on the go" packs are great and at $3 (Kmart) are an affordable item. Invisible Ink books are always good. Mosaic kits, the Djeco ones are fantastic but I have seen cheap ones at KMart that look good as well. Sticker books and colouring-in are usually good for an hours entertainment. I always pack a set of textas in one of the bags as well as a couple of Pacer style mechanical pencils, no need for a sharpener or eraser that way.</div>
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<b>Books</b>: As I have two voracious readers I pack them both 2 or 3 books each to read for a long-haul flight. Go for paperbacks! </div>
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<b>IPods</b>: Both boys have iPods loaded up with hours of audiobooks. The 9 year old is currently listening to the William books by Richmal Crompton, The Just So Stories, The Jungle Book and The Railway Children. The 6 year old has on his The Magic Tree House stories (Mary Pope Osbourne), The Magic Faraway series and so on. The headphones we use are the Griffin ones. We like them mainly because they are over the head style and are volume limited. You can buy an airline adapter for them if you want to plug them into the airline entertainment system. They are compatible with iPads as well.<br />
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<b>Balloons</b>: Balloons are one of my top travel items. In the airport they make a quick, safe ball. Fantastic for unexpected delays or for a transit when you want to run them around a bit. Find a quiet spot and let them go for it. We have ended up with a bunch of other kids playing as well. Balloons are also an excellent way of helping kids clear their ears on descent. Hand them a balloon and have them try and inflate it. This is way more effective than a lollipop I promise you! We have the Tiger Tribe balloon balls, little canvas covers that go over the balloons for rough play but any old balloons will do and they seriously take up no room. Great in hotel rooms, hotel swimming pools and parks while you are away from home. Pack balloons. </div>
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<b>Other random things that work well on planes to entertain children</b>:</div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">A box of bandaids has been a life saver a number of times for me when the boys were little. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Bubbles, I recommend the touchable ones. The little container is under 100mls so meets the Liquid and Gel requirements for International flying and are great for airport transits and for hotel rooms. </li>
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Everything takes a lot longer with kids. Don't book connecting flights too close together, especially if there is a terminal change. They like to stop and look at stuff. You know, you are a parent, everything takes longer!</div>
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If you have a couple of hours (or more) between flights check to see if the airport has a playground. The one at Changi Airport in Singapore is well worth a visit if you have a transit stop. If there isn't a playground pull out the balloons and bubbles. If you have a long layover, more than 6 hours I would definitely consider checking into an airport hotel. You can have a sleep, go for a swim, have a shower, get outside.<br />
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I still change my boys (yes, even the 9 year old) into pyjamas and follow the whole bedtime routine as much as we can. With little ones I would put them into a sleeping bag if you use one. <br />
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I always get asked this so I will answer the inevitable question, yes everyone in business and first class change into pjs. Most passengers change straight after take off. In Economy and Premium Economy though it is pretty rare, so wear something comfy. For the kids though I would still change them into pjs.<br />
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<u><b>PAPERWORK</b></u></div>
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Keep all the passports and boarding passes together, either in a travel document wallet or a zip lock bag would do the trick. If you can, obtain copies of all the immigration cards/incoming passenger cards and fill them out at home beforehand.</div>
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If you are travelling alone with kids and you have a different last name to the children, you will also need a document from the other parent giving you permission to take the children out of the country. It does not matter if you are married to the other parent you will still need the paperwork. This happened to me in Singapore and a very good friend got pulled up in Sydney. Neither of us were permitted to travel until we provided the necessary documentation. You will need a notarized letter from the absent parent with all their details on it and all the relevant travel details (length of stay, destination etc). If the child had only one parent at birth you will need a copy of the birth certificate. </div>
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Photocopy all of your travel documents, your travel insurance, credit cards and passport, carry a copy with you (separately to the originals) and leave a copy with someone you trust at home. If something does go wrong or they go missing it means that the person at home will be able to assist you in replacing the originals. </div>
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If you are travelling within Australia and plan to drive at your destination I highly recommend travelling with your child's car seat. Just ring ahead to the airline to advise them that you will be travelling with a car seat and as long as the car seat meets Australian Standard 1754 (a red and white sticker usually stuck under or on the back of the car seat) it should not be a problem. Not all airlines do permit car seats on board though so definitely ring ahead to check that it is permitted.</div>
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I would be hesitant to consider travelling internationally with a car seat. Mainly because different countries have different car seat regulations and an Australian car seat might not be approved for use at your holiday destination. It would be a pain lugging around a car seat that you might not even be permitted to use.<br />
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<b><u>DESCENT AND LITTLE EARS</u></b></div>
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<b>Breast Feeding:</b> If you are breast feeding, definitely try and feed on descent as this will help baby with any ear trouble. Just try and position the infant seatbelt into a comfortable position for both of you! </div>
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<b>Bottle feeding: </b>As there isn't a microwave on board the Cabin Crew can only warm a bottle up for you by placing it into a pot of hot water. Do not fill any bottles up with aircraft tank water. Carry on a bottle of filtered water or you can buy one once you pass through customs if you are flying long haul. </div>
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As far as when is the best time to start nursing or giving the baby the bottle. Wait until the seat belt sign is switched on. The descent PA happens fairly early on in the actual descent of the aircraft and it is probably best to wait a while before you begin feeding. Otherwise you might find that baby finishes feeding well before the true descent starts.</div>
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<b>Older kids</b>: If they complain that their ears are hurting get them to try and blow up a balloon. It is without a doubt the most effective way of clearing troublesome ears. Lollipops work well too but I think more because the kid is distracted by the thought of getting a lollipop!</div>
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Having flown as an Unaccompanied Minor a number of times (albeit a very long time ago!) and looked after probably hundreds of them over the years I can reassure any panicky parents that your little ones are well cared for. There is always one Flight Attendant who is assigned to caring for the "UMs" and they will keep an eye on them for the duration of the flight. If there is a connecting flight involved the UMs are not free to wander the airport but instead are taken to a designated room in the airport that has toys and craft to keep kids of all ages occupied until the next leg of their journey.<br />
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Two things though: pack your child a jumper or a cardigan as they often complain of being cold in the chilly cabin and often those that are stuck in airports due to transit delays have no money or food in their bags. The ground staff are not permitted to feed your child anything and a delay can often be significant. Either pack some snacks or else give them a little money if they are old enough. The ground staff will escort the UM to the food court in order to purchase some food if the UM requests it.</div>
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<b><u>RANDOM TIPS</u></b><br />
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<b>A change of clothes</b>: Both boys get a complete change of clothes in their bags. I put them inside a large zip lock bag. The bag helps keep things together and flat in their backpacks and means that in the dark of the night on a plane you are not ferreting around in a backpack full of stickers, crayons and matchbox cars for a sock. Just pull the entire bag out and then re-use the same bag to store away the wet clothes or their day clothes. Keeping clothes in the bag also means that if they spill their drink, into their backpack whilst they are trying to get something out, the clothes inside are still dry. (Trust me on this one....). A change of clothes is also super handy if your bags go missing. In the bag on the left I have a pair of long pants, a t-shirt, undies and socks. I then squash the bag flat to squeeze out the excess air and zip lock shut. In the bag on the right I have a pair of pjs. These then slide into the back of their backpacks upright and take up next to no room! </div>
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<b>Planes and airports are cold</b>: Pack at least a cardigan or a jumper. For a long haul flight even if you are going to Bali consider packing a few extra layers in your cabin bag and especially for any children or infants. There are a limited amount of blankets on board an aircraft and you can always ask for one but it is best to be prepared for a chilly aircraft cabin by packing a few layers. A pashmina can double as blanket as well and takes up very little room in a cabin bag. For my boys I usually throw in an extra jumper or cardigan. Again I pop it into a zip lock bag and slide it into their backpacks at the back. In my bag I usually store a pashmina to use as a blanket if needed.</div>
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<b>Asking the Cabin Crew for something:</b> One of the main complaints that I used to hear as a flight attendant was that the cabin crew were unhelpful. Upon further questioning I would often find that the person complaining had at no stage pressed the call bell and actually asked for the drink, aspirin, snack (insert appropriate request here...). Don't be scared to press the call bell and ask for something. Even if the cabin lights are switched off and everyone is asleep. A Flight Attendant is always on duty and there is always someone on duty that is responsible for answering call bells. </div>
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<b>Flagging down a Flight Attendan</b>t: As a former hostie I do <b>not</b> recommend that you wait for someone to walk past in the cabin and then hail them down. The Flight Attendant walking past could be on their way to a rest break, in the middle of dealing with an on board medical emergency, indeed they could be on their way to doing any number of things and have almost certainly been flagged down half a dozen times already by the time you attract their attention. They will endeavour to remember to pass on all the requests that they receive on their way but a number of requests will of course be forgotten. Press the call bell.<br />
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If anyone reads this and has any further suggestions or even any questions please add them to the comments. We have a few flights coming up including our annual trip to Canada so I would welcome any travel tips. <br />
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Happy and safe travels to all.<br />
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<u><br /></u>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634383197755226856noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809259912539352379.post-74053628709728621122014-11-12T12:18:00.000+11:002014-11-12T12:18:32.138+11:00The lengthy absence<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I never planned to leave the blog unattended for so long or indeed leave without at least publishing some sort of a farewell note. Life just got in the way as it is wont to do and blogging became something I really didn't feel motivated to do. Every now and then though I will randomly be asked by a friend if I intend to return to it. Initially, my responses were vehemently negative, more recently though I have responded with a hesitant maybe and then today, I decided enough with the procrastinating. I need to update the blog, if only for myself as I love looking back at the past entries.<br />
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The most significant change in our lives is that we have moved. We are still on the northern beaches of Sydney, a few suburbs away from our old beach cottage. The old house sold after a week on the market and smashed the street record! Of course we were absolutely delighted, but also a touch sad to say goodbye to the house as we had truly put our heart and soul into the renovation and the garden. A young couple expecting their first baby are the new purchasers and were absolutely lovely when we met them and so despite the touch of sadness, I am also excited that a new family will now enjoy the lovely home and garden we created.<br />
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Our new house is mostly "done" although we intend to make some smallish changes in order to put our own stamp on it, the garden however is a disaster and R and I are both looking forward to getting our hands grubby and creating a new magical garden space. <br />
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The pirates? Well, they are no longer little. I will have to start thinking of a new name for the blog now! The 8 year old started at a new school this year. An all boys school this time which I had never intended to choose for my boys and yet it has turned out to be one of the best parenting decisions we have ever made. The 6 year old started school this year, at the same school as his brother, and he too is thriving. <br />
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Back to blogging though and whether I will stick to it this time?! I intend to try. <br />
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<br />Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634383197755226856noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809259912539352379.post-27627687481500539932013-06-30T14:20:00.000+10:002014-11-20T19:38:08.940+11:00The 5 year old<div style="text-align: center;">
So the next Steve Backshall is 5. As a future naturalist it was only appropriate he had a Bush Birthday Party.<br />
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At 5 years old you are the loveliest little boy, an absolute joy to us all. There is both a quiet gentleness about you (that I adore) and simultaneously a loud, rambunctious wildness about you too. </div>
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Your best friend is Joshua and the two of you hang out together all day long at preschool apparently. Your favourite TV show is Deadly 60 of course, although you don't mind Operation Ouch either. Apart from these two shows you are not a big fan of TV, you would rather be outside. You are a perfectionist... (I don't like too think too hard about where this trait came from!) and very competitive. You want to be the best at everything and I admire your determination. You can read already and it won't be long before you are reading chapter books. Probably before you start school even. Your favourite colour is yellow, orange will do though in a pinch. Your adore spaghetti and meatballs made by your Dad and pizza from Hugo's or Cavallino's. You are still very attached to Big and Little. The other day, whilst watching the Tour with your dad, you announced that you were going for yellow as it was your favourite colour. Going for yellow in the Tour is a safe bet! Later when they handed the days winner his <i>lion en peluche, a</i> toy lion that is remarkably similar to your beloveds Big and Little, you squealed with excitement and said that one day you were going to win one. As much as your father would love this I would prefer that you stuck to cycling as a purely recreational activity! </div>
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Happy Birthday my darling boy.</div>
Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634383197755226856noreply@blogger.com0