Jo and Vesna's big day out

Today, my best friend and I braved going to the city with the kids. I haven't been to the city for ages, so it was a little daunting. We caught the train to Spencer Street (sorry, Southern Cross) and then walked up Bourke Street to the mall to see the Myer Christmas windows. This year they were cute, but unspectacular - a bit of a disappointment really, given I'd been raving about previous years to the kids. Oh well, we got over those then walked through Myer to find Santa - only to be greeted by a mile long queue. We decided it wasn't worth the wait, so left to find a place for lunch. With three young kids where else do you go but McDonalds (we could have actually done a few things, but her little boy is only 3 and not into sushi yet, as my kids are) where we filled up again and had a toilet break. We then proceeded to walk some more across the Yarra bridge and down Southbank, which again, was incredibly unfestive. The kids had begun to get tired and whinge, so we had almost decided to go home, when we spotted the aquarium. I knew it would be something the kids would like if only I could get them there, on their own two feet. So I said "Right, we're going to see some sharks and the fish. Stop whining, start walking and be brave, OK, we need to get there. Let's go." So we did.

It made the trip worthwhile, really it did. We saw all the usual things, some shark feeding, the stingrays bullying the divers for food (they are sooooo big, those rays) and my daughter was especially fond of the penguin exhibit. We saw everything, ate yummy food, had our photo taken in one of those cheesy digital set-ups where you point to nothing and they photoshop you pointing to some really great sea life. After we'd seen it all, we headed back out, walked some more to the station and were just in time to catch the 4.15 home. The kids were exhausted but happy.

I'm keeping the photo as a momento of "j and v's big day out" where we made sure we didn't count anything - dollars or calories. I don't actually know how much I spent today, but we ended up having a great time and the kids are really tired so they'll sleep really well tonight.

Anyway, it's back home now. I'm on Mr Scorpio's computer, while he's out wrecking himself at the squash courts. Adam Lambert is blaring from the speakers and I feel good. Really good.

I'll be back soon, because I want to record my trip in writing, so I don't forget.

PS, Melba, I saw Time Traveller's Wife - Eric Bana was good, really good as Henry. As soon as he walked onto the screen, I knew he'd play the role well. The movie was good, but the book was better.

CYA