Keeping it local

We have been staying local for the last week or so.  The weather has been a little colder and we have had some drizzly days.  Monday was the coldest day in two decades (11.7C / 53F) and we doubled up the duvets at night.  Our house is drafty, and like most in Sydney, does not have central heat.  Ram tweaked the timer on the solar electric water heater to give us a bit more hot water.  The kids are still happy to run barefoot inside and layer up to head outside.  

We made a return trip to the library in Glebe yesterday.  The city just announced a 12-month waiver of library fines, but we did not want to take any chances getting Beast Quest back to the stacks.  The kids experienced some of their first public transport frustration while waiting for the 370 bus.  We watched one bus zoom by as we were waiting to cross the street.  Then a second one came and we dramatically jogged beside it as it crept to a red light.  We kept plugging along to the bus stop, but sadly did not make it there in time to flag the bus down.  It zoomed away and poor Kiran started crying and yelling at the bus.    Of course the next 10 minutes did not bring another 370 bus and we had plenty of time to talk about bus schedules and disappointments.  Kiran was so affected by this, that he insisted on walking the 7 kilometers home from the library.   He just did not want to spend time waiting for another bus.  Priya was asleep in the carrier, and despite a little drizzle and wind, Kiran wanted to keep walking home.  He managed the epic trek from Glebe with few complaints, and we had a good rest with our new library books at home.   Luckily, the Newtown library renovations are scheduled to wrap-up in a few days so our next library quest will be much shorter!

Other local jaunts include climbing a Moreton Bay fig tree and going for fish and chips at Doyle's in Watson's Bay.  There were plenty of seagulls to watch on the beach and we brought home seashells and sand in our pockets.  We also had a successful outing to the Inner West Steiner Playgroup this morning.  Kiran was a bit reluctant to mingle, but Priya jumped right in.   She donned an apron and kneaded some bread dough.  The little loaves baked while we all had our morning tea outside.  Everyone brought a piece of fruit to share and the playgroup leader made sandwiches with honey and avocado.  Kiran warmed up when the lemonade was poured, although he said it could have been a bit sweeter.  They had fun playing outside with wooden rocking horses, brooms, and trees to climb.   I had a chance to visit with some some local mums and dads and it was a really nice morning.   We rolled home with warm bread and an invitation to return next week.  Priya was happy to share her hard earned loaf with Kiran and he was quick to say he might like to help knead the bread next time.  The kids will join a Waldorf school when we return to NOLA, so we are happy to dip into a playgroup aligned with this model while we are in Sydney. 

Fun in the "tree structure"

Seasoned climber

Watson's Bay

Mural on Union Street

Post-playgroup pocket park