Rosie and The Operator are off to Queensland, Australia to visit family and soak up some winter sun after a particularly cold winter in Kiwiland, and, if the Aussies only do one thing right…its sunshine, so here we come!
A whistle stop tour we are having and Rosie got a bargain in trans Tasman flights…..so what if we had to drive up to New Plymouth, fly down to Wellington and then over the ditch to Brisbane…we are on holiday and I must have saved at least $50….all the better to drink you with!
Rosie watches Border Patrol and was disappointed they were not filming…she had dutifully ticked the declaration stating she was bringing food into the country and, when questioned by Border Security as to what type of food I had in my bags I totally became tongue tied after stammering out Pineapple Lumps….The Operator dutifully came to the rescue and announced the Marmite, L&P Chocolate and tinned fish. Border Patrol Man actually rolled his eyes and waved us through….the non verbal ‘Bloody Kiwis’, hanging in the air.
Rosie was excited! Never in all her years of travel has anyone been waiting at a foreign port to welcome them into the country. Sometimes Rosie just grins and waves at no one as she walks through the doors into the noisy arrival lounge as loved ones wait in anticipation to greet homebound travellers. Today, Rosie was excited because Whipper and YakYak would be waiting for her behind those sliding doors…and Rosie had requested a handmade sign with her and The Operators name on it.
With a big smile Rosie stepped through the doors, looked around in anticipation….and no one was there….literally….it was really quiet, a sombre, handful of people waited and no Whipper or YakYak.
Oh well, our cheap flight was running late on take off….then The Operator nudged Rosie…he had heard YakYak before he had seen her, and there coming round the corner was my blond, curly haired three year old darling in the arms of her father. All shy and clutching a handmade sign especially for Rosie….no kisses for Rosie….yet, shyness has the better of her, give her 5 mins 🙂
Whipper was mortified he was late, bloody parking! It didn’t matter, Rosie and The Operator were in Brisbane! Yay. Rosie was right, 5 mins later YakYak was yakking a dozen to the minuet and was all over The Operator.
Whipper and his wife PinkyFluff had moved to Brisbane with their family at the beginning of the year. YakYak is the oldest and she has a little sister ChubbyCheeks who is nearly one. After about a 20 min drive from the airport we pulled into Whippers apartment block and parked in the basement. YakYak saw us up to the apartment where PinkyFluff and ChubbyCheeks were waiting. Straightaway Rosie got the yummiest cuddle and kisses from two toothed, dribbly, plumpsious ChubbyCheeks….she truly is the most beautiful baby ever!
Whipper and PinkyFluff have a Penthouse, 3 bedroom apartment on the top of a high-rise and it is fabulous! Modern and new with a huge balcony and rooftop terrace that gives a fab 360 view of the whole city.
Rosie and The Operator had our own room with a beautiful balcony….well it was actually ChubbyCheeks room that had been cleared specially…my special babe had been relegated to the Portacot in PinkyFluffs walk in wardrobe in their suite…say no more…yes, the wardrobe is super star sized. Rosie and The Operator were shown around the house by YakYak then we all packed up for a walk into town for dinner.
The Famz literally live in the heart of Brisbane, a two minute walk from the Brisbane River right on the Southbank. They are in a quiet street just off the main drag but a stones throw from the action of theatres, cafes, restaurants, shopping and all sorts of lively entertainment. The beauty of it all says PinkyFluff is that they can walk or take a ferry, train or bus anywhere, and, as she says with two little kids…she needs to be totally portable. The full moon was out as we wandered in the balmy 20c evening into town.
Across the Victoria Bridge we went and entered Brisbane Square, it is full of seating, lush planting and huge round spherical sculptures glowing blue in the twilight. YakYak knew where everything was and had to race The Operator to each ball in turn. Highrises towered over Victorian sandstone buildings, all alight and glowing in the night, it was very special. We were headed to George Square just up the road…because tonight was…Games Night.
Every Thursday night is Games Night, outside in the city centre. They have giant games and anyone can play them….they also have tables with regular games on them for you to sit at and play. What a great way to meet new people or just get out and do something different. One of the only free games was dominoes, YakYak picks up how to do things so quickly.
Sorry about the picture quality, Rosie was taking shots on her phone and the Square was romantically dim.
There wasn’t a huge crowd out there, but there were groups of people clustered around every game. Such a great social concept and something quite innovative to bring people together.
Rosie was wheeling ChubbyCheeks around in her pushchair and the Chinese Checkers was being hotly contested with multiple players…it was a bit of a geek fest at this board, abit of Goth styling and silent angst happening there…Who does not love giant Jenga, quite strategic as the square had a wee slope to it that made the towers very Pisa like from the very beginning. The Operator thought the hazard cones were a nice Health and Safety touch.
Rosie was getting a touch hungry. Whipper and PinkyFluff took us to their favourite Italian for dinner! It seemed to be late but it was only 7.30ish, the two hour time difference was kicking in.
Welcome to Vapianos! Just down the road from the games in the Queen Street Mall is this crazy, lively, busy, place. They make their own pasta and grow their own herbs in pots and planters. They have a row of cooks at the counter all waiting to cook for you…you step up to the counter and tell them what type of pasta you would like. Then what type of dish and sauce and then add your meat if you desire. Fussilli Arrabiata with Prawns for Rosie please. Taggliatelli Carbonara with Chicken and Bacon for The Operator.
The meal was beautiful! Pasta cooked perfectly al dente and everything freash and tasty. YakYak had second dinner from her mothers plate and ChubbyCheeks dozed in the pram. Nice Appletini Pinky Fluff….will have to remember that cocktail for another time…ChubbyCheeks was awake and restless, time to get on the move and head home.
Rosie and The Operator cant believe we are here! We are so looking forward to tomorrow, The Famz have a full itinery for us and we cant wait!
Strolling home The Wheel of Brisbane glows in the dark and reflects in the inky river. Tomorrow we are going for a ride on her….YakYak is very excited as The Operator has the key to it you know….and has bought it all the way from New Zealand.
