The Joys of Public Transport

I have a couple of nuances. Ok. I have a whole host of foibles (not to be confused with furballs). Getting to work sometimes requires me to take public transport. This is greeted by mixed feelings. Anxiety because I rarely catch public transport. Excitement because I get to sit and listen to music and not be stuck in traffic. Today I almost got off at the wrong station. Then I missed a bus. It's all in the timing folks, and in Sydney, if you ain't got your timing right, you are going to have to wait and wait. Walking from the train station to the bus stop involved walking through knee length grass on a sandy, rocky path in sandals. Hello snakes!

But as it turns out, my walk through a grassy knoll fared me well. I arrived at work on time. Early even. Bravo Sydney public transport. For today at least. I am sure you are truly relieved.

The Long Track

The Doctor and Tiny were busy busting each other's bubbles yesterday. Some days, they just wake up, and they hassle each other. Man it does my banana in.

I sent them outside. Such a splendiforous day. Who could be cranky in the sunshine? Who?! No one, that's who.

They got creative together and built an epic outdoor train track. Right down the side of the house, on a slope, so the trains just kept on a-chuggin'.

I love those sunny days when the bickering gets sorted out by themselves and they can play happily together. In the meantime I got to clean the floors and tidy the house a little. I would absolutely have preferred to be sitting in the sunshine playing trains today.

Train Portraits:: Tangara Meets iPhone

Tiny and I ride trains together. Sometimes. When we do, we document our little trips. Sometimes. This is Tiny looking very serious. I think it's reminiscent of those old school portraits when you had to look a little sombre. Tiny can do sombre very well. And she can do crazy in the coconut astoundingly well. One day you'll see her grasping a big golden Oscar because she's just nailed crazy in the coconut.

On The Tracks

On Saturday we journeyed to the Zig-Zag Railway. Matt and I have never visited the Blue Mountains together before, and given I am completely useless at directions, he was navigating, I took the helm. We drove like Thelma and Louise. Except we were husband & wife. With two smalls in the back. And Brad Pitt was unavailable. And we don't have a convertible. And I wasn't wearing a scarf in my hair. And we had no intention of driving over a cliff. A few crucial factors missing.

We got to our destination in time to board Thomas & Friends.

If you know us, the Doctor has been totally and utterly absorbed in TTTE for yonks. Seriously. I refuse to read the books because they're always so grumpy and cranky. I don't mind the train play, but the stories, well Rev. W. Awdry has a lot to answer for.

The Zig-Zag Railway was fantastic, and both the smalls were captivated with Tiny chanting 'engine, engine!'.

But this was like the perfect almost-ending to the Doctor's love for Thomas and his friends. He's moving on to other loves. Like dinosaurs and dragons. He still likes trains, but he often tells me he's more interested in the dinos and the dragons. I've long wished for him to move on from trains, we've spent hours together building tracks together, pushing engines around. And now it almost feels sad. I'm a sap. I know.

Do You Ever Take Pets Shopping?

Tiny and I went grocery shopping today. I had been putting it off for almost a fortnight. We'd been living on rice and red beans. Not really, but it was beginning to feel that way. I managed to pry myself off the couch and go where no trolley had been before. Ok they've been there plenty of times. Let's face it. Those trolleys are dirty, heinous little creatures that stay out late and get... trollied.

Tiny and I conquering the aisles. Look at us shop. Woohooo! We're like Thelma and Louise of the supermarket. Watch us ride over the edge of the frozen section.

It was only when we got to the checkout that I realised I had inadvertently brought one of our pets with us. I saw a silverfish scuttle from one of our green bags under the scales. Yuck. I pretended I didn't see him, though he was a rather over-sized little blighter. Double yuck. Anyone got any cures for silverfish? I keep bringing them up here because they keep appearing - right here. Right in my little home. I don't dig 'em.

On a brighter note, the Doctor stayed home and hung out with my parents in law. He came back into our house hauling some mean loot. One of which was this delectable box - how gorg is that? Now I'm just figuring out how many Thomas trains it will take to switch it out and make it mine. Mwhahahaha.

Superheroes

In some crazy attempt to steer my son onto another interest other than trains, even if it's just for a fleeting moment, I've told him I am going to make him a superhero cape.

I told him on the drive up to Tamworth, to which he replied, "That's a good idea". Or something to that effect.

So while I was home I went to Spotlight. I think they must seriously have a mega-store because I could have got lost in there for days, happily, alas I had to get home for lunch and a visit from my grandmother. There are so many goodies to pick up there, it's sometimes difficult to stay focussed, but you'd be proud, I stayed on target.

This is what I've hunted and gathered to transform my son from train driver into superhero. What Superhero doesn't like a bit of bling? Keeps them looking schmick as they cruise through the air at high altitude. Think it can be done? Gosh I hope so for all of our sakes (otherwise you'll get some very funny after shots after I've had a go!). Luckily my sewing classes start in approximately three weeks, but I'll be darned if this isn't just the ticket to stretch my sewing know-how beforehand and show myself I can sew, even if it is wonky and wobbly and all of that. At least it will be made with a whole lotta love. Or even better, I will look for a simple tutorial.. Yes indeedy! If you know of one that's uber simple, can you let me know? Muchos grazias!

Edit: My good friend Google and I just found one here if anyone wants to create a cape too.

PS - If you were the Anonymous commenter (and we all know how much we love Anonymous when they have an acerbic tongue) who commented please send me your address. I have a Lucky Door Prize for you. As the winner of my Lucky Door Prize I'd love to send you a brand spankin' Webster dictionary, so that next time you comment, you can ensure your comment is spelt correctly. Because there's nothing more embarrassing than cussing on the mike when you can't spell the word, is there??

Why I Need An Expensive Counsellor (also known as: If I Ever Have to Play Trains Again, Someone Order Me a Lobotomy)

My little man is train mad. I've established this. Some people think he might just be a wee bit interested in trains. How wrong can you be? Totally. This obsession is hinged on a permanent train track set up in our living area. Makes for great night-walking episodes tripping over bridges and treading on small train parts. Ouch. But we're not allowed to pack them away, because that's where the trains sleep.

I wake up in the morning and one of the first things I am greeted with: "Mum, want to play trains?"

Sure. The 18th of Never suit you?

But I can't be so rude to my three year old. He loves the trains. Lives, breathes, even sleeps with his favourites on his pillow at night. He's now even started asking me to shape his hair into a train when we do the shampoo ritual at night. Plus he's informed me that he's not a 'dude', "I'm a train driver aren't I mummy?".

Sounds kind of cute? Well multiply all of the above by about a billion and then multiply that again by the number of days in a week. I. Really. Don't. Want. TO PLAY TRAINS!

I've tried suggesting other things, other interesting projects, crafting sessions (where I get to draw trains or even make drawings for his favourite trains), dinosaur excursions, but no, the boy is stuck - a steadfast train devotee. The Rev. W Awdry has a lot to answer for.

So this morning took us on a happy, joyful, therapeutic (for me) path. He wanted to play with playdough.

We whipped up a fresh batch, actually two. I took my frustrations out on that playdough. Here's our beautiful colours that I thought were going to immediately be melded into one - but nope, he's kept them separate this time. There's nothing quite so good as moulding fresh playdough, it's a great stress reliever, and just the making of it is fun, and easy for toddlers to be involved with (though this is cooked playdough - so the stirring is strictly for the mama).

Here's the recipe for this playdough (and it works well as a half batch as well).

From the pantry:

1 cup salt

2 cups plain flour

4 tablespoons of cream of tartar

2 tablespoons of cooking oil (we had to use extra virgin and it's fine)

2 cups of water

non-toxic powder paint or food colouring

Making:

In a large saucepan add all the ingredients* (except the food colouring), mix well. Add food colouring. Mix. Cook on medium heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring constantly until the mixture becomes stiff. Leave to cool for a couple of minutes. Store in airtight container in the refrigerator. You can add colour at the end, you just need to knead through, but makes a nice marbled effect.

* I suggest sifting the flour and salt to eradicate any bumps and lumps.

We've already made fresh pies this morning. Anyone want a sample?

I'm Going to Be A Train Driver

While we were driving to my parent's place (a five hour drive), Noah informed me that Matt was going to be a farmer and that I was going to be a train driver.

Let me tell you, I'm pretty excited that I am destined to be a train driver. City-trains. Look out Morris Iemma, I might even be able to get them running on time. Now wouldn't that be crazy.

Noah is crazy for trains. Not just a little bit interested. He's a boy obsessed. So it was very apt that my sister gave him a new book while we were away.

'Giorgio and his Star Crane Train' by Jessica Spanyol is such a cute book. And there's so much text, dialogue (but - you shouldn't be put off by that) and cute illos that are sort of reminiscent of Richard Scarry. The text is written in a way that it's fun to read (unlike Rev. W. Awdry's dry Thomas books which are epic) and look at each of the pictures - so there's plenty to talk about.

There are four books in the MiniBugs series - each with their own crazy vehicle, and each are definitely worth checking out. Meet the MiniBugs — four wild, crazy drivers, each with a book of his own. This is fast becoming a favourite in our house.