Part Two:: A Weekend Venture To The Capital:: The Human Brochure

We woke, breakfasted with Family Hugo and Elsa, and Family Pigeon Pair, and were on the bus in record time on Saturday morning. We were ready to nerd up at Questacon for a few hours.

First up the smalls checked in with the tastebud doctor who gave them some food dye to check how many taste buds they have. Funnily enough - both have few - so really there's no reason they can be fussy at dinner time - BUSTED.

If you've never been to Questacon before, it is great. I remember going there as a 12 year old, and having immensely good memories of it. Going back was ace. There are so many hands on exhibits, and it's seriously  subliminal learning (isn't that the best kind?!).

We high-fived and hugged astronauts, watched 10 volcanoes explode, I conned Matt into going down the vertical slide three times in the name of getting a good shot (which I never got), and we learnt about the invasion of Planet Fwah. It was good fun for both Matt and I, and the kids. 

After we'd exhausted ourselves at Questacon we meandered our way to The Lobby for an incredibly hearty meal. The kids played merrily outside after refuelling, ready for the next adventure. 

Then we were whisked back to the hotel to rest before our next outing. The National Zoo & Aquarium (which is btw - privately owned).

I had no idea that we were about to be offered an incredible opportunity to feed animals. The zoo itself offers a very intimate feeling - and we were about to get up close to some animals to feed them. The Doctor was busting to feed the tiger and the lion - and so he did. Tick - dream come true. Tiny opted for the giraffe (with the longest tongue I have ever seen - that quivered when it was close to the carrot Tiny held aloft) and a bear. Not just some little teeny bear, but a big bear. A really big bear. 

And then the kids held a corn snake. Ew. 

Following the zoo we headed off to Cockington Green. Have you ever been to Cockington Green? BOOM! You see what I did there?!

Cockington Green has been around since the 70s - and is - once again, family-owned. It's pretty darn rad in my book. Miniature this and miniature that. I remember being a 12 year old and thinking it was pretty swell. And being a 33 year old, well it was pretty darn swell too. 

There's even a miniature train you can ride on around the gardens. Super. Duper. Cute. 

And as if that wasn't enough rad in our day - we then went to the National Dinosaur Museum. I wish we'd been able to spend more time here. The man who showed us around was SO on the money - he really nailed it in terms of brevity and pitching it to his small audience - and yet - all the adults were completely spellbound by him too. 

This was something I noticed a lot on our trip to Canberra. The awesome people who showed us around were so passionate and into what they were talking to us about - they knew it by rote, and they just got it right. 


Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. Honesty is the best policy! Our accommodation and itinerary was covered for the weekend. We liked it. We had fun. We wanted to share our trip to Canberra. 

Part One:: A Weekend Venture To The Capital:: The Human Brochure

Just in case you missed it, last weekend we went to Canberra as part of The Human Brochure. We were in the 500 selected out of 31,000 applicants to take part in this world first online experience - pretty darn exciting.

So us four humans left Sydney as soon as Matt finished teaching on Friday, and hit the road. It was such a pretty drive. You know when you've had a long week - there's nothing that gives you perspective quite like going on a road trip - straight out of the city and into the real world. It perfectly quenched my thirst for space - those green rolling hills, that unending blue sky. It got me dreaming. 

Before I knew it - and before the smalls could be too disgruntled and start chiming in with 'how much longer?' - we were meandering our way through the green, tree-lined streets of Canberra. 

Our first stop was to meet with the rest of The Human Brochure group that were at the Australian War Memorial. Unfortunately we were late, but we managed to spot some rabbits grazing on the lawns (see that top pic where Tiny expresses her excitement), and then made our way inside. 

Firstly - I was nervous. Mainly because this is what I was wearing, and when we walked in - there were many people dressed in military uniforms from different eras, and I was afraid I was going to be mistaken for someone in costume (it wouldn't be the first time for Canberra to do that to me*).

It was such a great evening, and I learnt so much. I am always interested in hearing about war-time efforts, it's so heartbreaking, and incredible what our men and women went through during this time. 

We're absolutely going to go back to the Australian War Memorial - they're hosting an open day on 6th April 2013 that I've heard is going to be a big one. 

And you might be thinking, might be interesting for you PMM, but what about the kids? Well they were definitely catered to. There were dress-ups, puppet shows and stories - all of which were perfectly pitched to their younger audience (and I found interesting too). Plus the exhibits are really interesting - you could spend a few hours there, easily. 

If you're in Canberra on 11th November, or can travel there easily - it would be worth taking a look at the AWM's Rememberance Day services. 

We then made our way to our accommodation for the weekend - the Clifton Suites on Northbourne. The kids always love staying in hotels (who doesn't? No housecleaning!), and the rooms were so spacious the Doctor and Tiny asked if we could live there (heck, our two bedroom apartment was bigger than our house). 

Finally, we wrangled the smalls in to bed and crashed for the night - preparing for the big weekend that lay ahead. 

* When I was in Year Six, we visited Canberra. Because I was the tallest out of the year, the waitress at the restaurant asked me at dinner time if I was sitting with the teacher's table. HA! She thought I was a teacher. And I was a lanky 12 year old. 

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. Honesty is the best policy! Our accommodation and itinerary was covered for the weekend. We liked it. We had fun. We wanted to share our trip to Canberra. 

Day 27:: Frocktober - We Hit the Capital

STOP THE PRESS:: 

I just found this in my drafts. PEOPLE. It was in my drafts. What was I thinking?! I must have been completely exhaustipated after a big and busy and brilliant day in Canberra. So here it is. It's late. And I'm sorry. I'll personally pen you an apology note if you'd like. 

We were in the capital and we stepped out for Frocktober - day 27.

Today's outfit:
- vintage frock donated by Georgie Love.
- Country Road cardigan
- Country Road shoes
- vintage scarf
- not sure about tights
- another of my Mum's belts
- Gorman bag

We can now resume regular programming. PHEW! 

Day 28:: Frocktober - The Nation's Capital

I am so pooped after our fabulous and memorable weekend in Canberra as part of #humanbrochure - I'll report back later this week. So much to see and do. 

In the meantime, Frocktober is winding up in just three short days.

Can you sponsor me? Will you sponsor me? I'd love to make it to $3,000! SO CLOSE! All money goes to ovarian cancer research - currently there is no screening test. If you donate money, it means you can help fund more research.

Every 10 hours one Australian woman dies due to ovarian cancer. Wouldn't it be incredible to change that? 

YES! 

Please sponsor me!

Today's outfit:
- hat - I can't remember, but Michelle from Hugo & Elsa has the same one in black (much better colour, my white one is the filth)
- dress is vintage and on loan from my sister
- vintage scarf as belt
- shoes - Chucky's

We Are In Canberra

We drove down to Canberra yesterday to be part of the #humanbrochure - it was such a pretty - and short - roadtrip, I've already started planning our next trip down.

We arrived at the Australian War Memorial to meet with everyone else, and hear stories about our brave Australians who went to war so young, and so many who never made it back.

The kids got to dress up in the different uniforms and learn more about men and women - many who were not really so much older than our own children - who did brave things. Oh the loss. 

It's incredibly humbling.