Gardening by Sabrina

As usual we will wait for Sebastian to take his morning nap before going out to hang out the laundry. Even since that incident of "Locked out", I will get Sabrina to tag along when I hang out the laundry at the backyard. Today is no difference. As I hung out the laundry, she wanted to help me put on the clothes pegs. After putting on a few, she decided that she wanted to do some gardening. She knew that I will water the plants after hanging out the cloths so she kept playing with the hose which was at the side of the backyard.

After a while she abandoned that idea and walked round the garden pointing to all the pots of plants and started naming them all as trees, flowers and colour of the pots. Adrian had taken out one of the chilli plant and placed it outside on the ground instead of the growhouse as we felt that the plant might be dying. Our innovative Sabrina decided that she wanted to save the plant by........planting more branches. She found all those loose branches and started putting them into the pot of chilli plant. As she put, she commented that "It's a tree". I am not sure if I should laugh or faint or scold her. In the end I just let her plant all the branches as it's her attempt to "save the plant". Hahaha..

Shortly after that I started to water the plant. As she was really "hosed" by Adrian on Saturday when she was in the backyard playing with the bubble machine and Adrian was doing gardening, she tried as best as she could to stay far far away from the hose. Instead she passed me the laundry basket as she knew that I will wash it. She also passed me the styrofoam box that we used for gardening and get me to clean it. With that she decided she had enough and wanted to get back into the house. While all these are happening, our little Prince was happily sleeping in the room, oblivious to what was happening in the garden.

Today is Tuesday aka Pizza day. So Adrian bought a pizza back and after dinner, Sabrina continued with eating her cornflakes. She put the bowl of cornflakes on the floor and Sebastian saw it and wanted to grab the bowl. We asked Sabrina to give "Didi one cornflakes" and she happily obliged. She not only gave him one cornflake, she gave him a few more after he had finished his. When we asked her for some, she refused. I guess only Didi has that priviledge.

Updated Aust Time 10.20pm

LOCKED OUT

It must be hilarious to some. I was locked out in the backyard by Sabrina. So how did it happen? Woke up in the morning and showered the kids before bringing them downstairs. Switched on ABC HD for the kids to watch their routine kids cartoons. And as usual I will hang out the laundry while they watch the programs. At times Sabrina will follow me and "sweep" the garden while I hang out the laundry but today she was rather engrossed in watching if I am not wrong " In the blue house" that she ignored me. I quickly hang out the clothing. By then, she decided that she wanted to join me by wearing my shoes. I told her No as I was going in and I think it was at this moment that she flick the switch the other way to lock it. I only realised when I was done watering the plants and was about to go in. Opps...it's locked. I therefore asked her to flick the flap back but as there was 2 flaps, she was flicking on the wrong flap.

I was really locked out of the house or should I say locked out of my house by my daughter. I was without my phone, keys or anything and both my kids are inside the house defenceless. Luckily I heard my neighbours in their backyard and quickly leaned over and asked to borrow their phone to call Adrian. Adrian was at his seat as he answered the phone. From his tone, I know that he was lost for words. I guess he must be wondering if he should laugh or faint....hahaha. Anyway back at home, the kids were still not sure what happened as they continued watching "In the Night Garden". My neighbours were very sweet. The wife asked where my hubby was working and I told her at Cochlear at Newstead. She was all for helping out and even commented that hopefully I do not mind as she was still in her pyjamas. I was also still in my pyjamas. They suggested opening my garage door with their keys to see if it works. I was for all suggestions. The husband came back and said that he was unable to open the garage down. He suggested prying the flyscreen so that we can put our finger in to flick the flap. With that he climbed over the backyard fence with a clothes hanger. After a while he was able to flick it out and he even help push the flyscreen back in place. He then asked to go through my front door back to their place as he had earlier climb over their backyard fence. Thank God they were at home if not I would be dead meat. I just kept thanking them profusely.

Came back home and called Adrian again to inform him that I was back home. He was laughing and told me to bring Sabrina out when I hang out the laundry in future. Haiz....Will be planning to cook some nice curry and gave some to my neighbours. Hopefully they take spicy stuff.

Updated Aust Time: 10.56am

Dust Storm and kids' injections

Queensland was very affected by the dust storm from SA today. At around 11am, it was really red just looking outside of the windows. It was very very cloudy and there was some strong wind. I quickly collect the laundry that I had hung outside to dry in the morning. Luckily they were all dried and I closed the sliding door slightly smaller. As both the kids still have some runny noses, it's better to take come precaution by minimising the amount of dust that penetrate through the fly screen.

Prepared lunch and waited for Adrian to come home as the kids are die for their injections this afternoon. We had actually arranged to have them take the jabs last week but I felt sick in the middle of Tuesday night and they were down with flu so had to postponed it to today. I was half hearted about going as I looked at the weather but I guess we do not have much of a choice.

Went off to Chermside Medical shortly after 1.30pm as Adrian forgot to make the turn into the carpark and we had to make a detour back to the centre. Brought both the kids to see Dr Morgan for some routine checkup and Sebastian is currently 11kg standing at 77cm. He's a tall boy. But this wiggly worm was not all saint at the examination room. He was busy exploring all the stool and the standing lights while the GP was asking us questions and jotting them down into the system.

Next was Sabrina's turn. As usual, she does not like visits to the Doc and made quite a fuss when the GP wanted to check her ears and examine her. But the worst was yet to come---- The jabs. It had been a long time since Sabrina had her last jab. If I do not remember wrongly, her last jab was when she was 18mths. Oh dear and she is currently 43months old. Wow...that's a long time. We are definitely in for a big fight.

Sebastian went in first to see the nurse. He was just wiggly but I was able to hold him to have his jab. He needed 3 jabs today, 1 in his right arm and 2 in his left arm. He was alright after his first jab on his right arm. It was the 2 jabs on his left arm that sent him crying and refusing to stop fr a while. But once he was given the chance to wiggle out of my arms, he was happy again.

Sabrina went in shortly after we came out with Adrian. I could hear the nurse telling her to stay still and all. But knowing my little girl, staying still was never in her vocabularly. She somehow managed to have her 2 jabs, 1 on each arm and came out crying but with 2 balloons. At least she was still happy enough to bid goodbye to the nurse before we left. Till her next injection when she turns 4.

With that we went off to Westfields for a quick window shopping as I have driving lesson today. The kids felt asleep while we shopped and we went home shortly after Sabrina woke up just in time to wait for my driving instructor to drive up our driveway. She was commenting that this dust storm made her silver car looked like a brown one when she had just washed it the night before as one of her students had a test this morning. Anyway, she wanted me to work on my positioning on the road and of course my left turn.

Came home for dinner. Just some simple fare - bat kut teh, vege, fish and Red Rooster chicken that Adrian went to Stafford to buy. Send the kids up to bed early so that I can clean the floor. It was really bad. The cloth that I used for cleaning the floor was a deep blue and each time after I cleaned the floor, it's yellowish brown. Imagine the damage that the dust storm had done to the floor....Haiz...I guess I will need to clean again tomorrow before the kids can play. Let's hope that dust storm will subside tomorrow.

Updated Aust Time: 11.31pm

Footsal at Chandler Sports Complex

Adrian came home after sending James back with pizza. So after pizza, we went off together to Chandler Sports Complex where Adrian plays with a few if his colleagues every Tuesday. Usually I will sit at the Grand Stand with the 2 kids. At times I will migle with any of the spectators especially when they have kids. Sabrina will be running around and so will little Sebastian. And on top of that sometimes the football will be kicked up onto the Grandstand and I would have to run to get it and throw it down to the players. I think usually I am the one to do it as there were very few spectators at the Grandstand.

Anyway Adrian's team was trashed today again. Went off to Hungry Jack for a quick bite. Sebastian refused to sit for long in his highchair and ended walking round HUngry Jack and hold and behold he banged into the drinks refilling counter and had a bump on his head. He cried so loudly that Adrian's teammates were wondering what happened. Luckily he subsided after eating a french fries. We bade them goodbye and went home. Both kids were very tired but they refused to sleep till we came home. They knocked off soon after we reached home. What a day....

Updated Aust Time: 11.24pm

Sneak a "Lolly"

Woke up pretty early this morning as Sabrina woke us both up at around 7am. Gave her her milk and I came downstairs to hang out the laundry. After that was done, I went upstiars to find Sebastian awake as well and Adrian was already getting ready for work. So gave Sebastian his milk and I lie back on the bed. But after he had his milk, Sebastian had other ideas, he lie back on his cot and was just playing around with his blanket and towel and everything that is in his pen. Adrian left for work shortly and Sabrina bid him goodbye.

Usually I would have ignore the 2 kids and continue to lie on my bed and rest for a while. But today Sabrina was a little disrruptive and wanted to go downstairs to play. In the end, I decided to change the bedsheets. She loves it when I changed the bedsheets. It sort of gave her a chance to pull all the sheets from the mattress and she loves that. So she "helped" with the changing. Bathed the 2 kids and left them upstiars to watch Hi 5 while I quickly came downstairs to vacuum the floor before bringing them down.

Actually as I was vacuuming the floor, I have this strange feeling as it was rather quiet upstairs. I mean with the vacuum, I should still be able to hear them whether they are crying or running around but today it was very very quiet. I quickly finish the vacuuming and went upstairs to find fast asleep Sebastian in his pen, a blank TV screen and hold and behold.....Sabrina in the other room eating lolly. I was not sure whether to scold her or to laugh at her. I just brought her to the bathroom and clean her up. She was not very dirty to start of with, just a little sticky. She just kept telling me "yum yum" and "yummy" and gave me some of the sweet. She did not resist as I think she was worried that I will scold her. Usually she would have made a big fuss if we were to eat her food. Anyway she was pretty happy about eating that little sweet and I just let her be. Honestly, it's only recently that we allow her to have a little of sweets and ice-cream. Cannot imagine if we had given her earlier, I think she will be more hyper. Without all the sugar content, she is already so active, if she had more, I would have more headache.

Updated Aust Time: 10.37am

Mr Cool is now Botak Cool

Finally shaved off Sebastian's long hair. I could not stand it being so long moreover with summer coming up in another few months, I really could not bear to see him in long hair. The last time he had a haircut was when he turned 1 month old last year. My aunt was around to help me shave him.

Came back from grocery shopping around 1pm. Quickly brought out the shaver that I left charging this morning before we left. As Sabrina was still sleeping in the car, we quickly brought Sebastian to the backyard and started our mission. Adrian carried him while I shaved. He was quite cooperative initially and allowed me to shave his hair. But towards the end, I think he grew impatient and started to fidget a lot and wail. So we quickly abort out misson seeing that he is almost all bald. Hahaha. Anyway by this time Sabrina had already woke up and crying as she does not like the sound of the shaver. Adrian was covered with hair as well. So took Sebastian to the bathtub and quickly cleaned him up while Adrian continuesd downstairs to tend to the garden. He needed to change the plants to a bigger pot.

Took some photos of Mr Botak Cool and he does look so cute without his hair. We were commenting that he looked so much like Adrian when he was young. And now without the hair, he looks really like Sabrina. Strange isn't it, with his hair he does not look like Sabrina as he grew older but without the hair, he's back to resembling the sister. I told Adrian "Same factory, what you expect?" Hahaha

Happened to see my aunt on skype and skyped us and spoke for a while. She was the first to see little Botak. Just kept commenting that he look so cute. Spoke to her for a while before my uncle called her. Skyped my parents later on in the night and off to bed for the 2 little monsters. What a Sunday.

Updated Aust Time 11.06pm

Habourtown with Adrian's friend

Brought Boon Guang to Habourtown today. It should be considered a shopping paradise for many tourists and locals alike. We usually go there when we want to get some good bargains on Canterbury, Pumpkin Patch and Cotton On Kids. Anyway decided to bring him to Habourtown as he had not bought anything for his wife yet. SO we thought going to Habourtown would be a good idea.

Picked him up from his hotel at around 10plus and off to Habourtown we went. While on our way there, both kids slept in the car. Sabrina must had been very tired as she woke up pretty early this morning considering that she slept rather late the night before. It's a good thing too to have her sleep as she would be able to conserve all her energy at Habourtown.

Reached Habourtown at around 11.30am and both kids are up and about. Started walking round and went for lunch at Nando's. Luckily Boon Guang was able to find something suitable for his wife and his 2 nieces. Went off for my favourite at Habourtown - Moven Pick Ice Cream on waffle. It's always a must for me when we visit. I just cannot resist it and I don't care my in laws think I am fat. Can't be bothered now that I am mother of 2, what is going to happen to me if I am all bones and no fats at all. I have to admit that I did put on weight after giving birth to 2 kids. Which mother doesn't? I just want to be happy with the way I am which I am although you do hear me saying often enough that I want to lose weight. Anyway hubby totally ignores me whenever I mention that I want to lose weight. He will say and I quote him " fat or thin also my wife". Hahaha.

Drove him back to his hotel for him to prepare for his flight back to SG tonight. Have a safe journey. Who knows when we will meet again.

Came home and skyped Adrian's parents and again they mentioned that I am fat and kept asking if I am pregnant. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..shut up both of you. I am fat not pregnant.

Updated Aust Time : 10.50pm

QBE Riverfire

Finally the annual QBE Riverfire is here again. This is a display of fireworks, a full 30 minutes at 3 different locations. I can still remembered vividly the QBE we went the year before. I was till heavily pregnant with Sebastian. We went off for dinner at Fishes before proceeding to fetch Nash, Adrian's colleague to go together. And a few days later, I popped and Sebastian arrived on Planet Earth. How time flies. Sebastian is already 1 and the QBE is back again.

We decided to keep today a very relaxed day. So in the morning, we went off to Farmer's market at New Farm Park. Finally the gourmet strawberries are back in season. So bought 500g at $7. Yet to try them, hopefully it's the type we ate last year. We also bought a papaya which they called at Paw Paw here. Did not read the signage properly and thought the it was $2.99each instead of $2.99 per kilo. Anyway it's slightly different from the one back in SG. So I take it as a trial and see if it's good. Going to let the kids try them after I cut them tomorrow. Not sure if they will like it.

Came back home and let Sabrina had her nap. Sebastian was already asleep while on our way back so we left him in the car and sleep as our car is garaged. Clean the house and mop it and Sebastian woke up just as I was about to finish mopping the floor. Anway Sabrina woke up shortly and we changed and went off to Fortitude Valley to have dinner before going to watch the fireworks.

Managed to reached the Riverside Centre at around 6.35pm. The display of fireworks was not due till 7pm. Anyway Sebastian was sleeping so it was just handling of Sabrina while Adrian found a good spot to record the whole show. Just at about 7pm, there was a short buist of fireworks. It was just to inform the public that the display was going to start soon. Our silly girl was so hysterical that she dropped some of the Arnouts Biscuits that she was having. It was also that this point the Sebastian woke up so both kids exchanged places. Sabrina was more than happy to sit in the pram but just kept telling me to "Let's go". I just ignored her.

Soon, the display of fireworks started. It was really good. It went on continuously for 30minutes. It was awesome. There was also the F1 Jets. It will be the last year that F1 jets will be used as it's retiring. Anyway throughout the show, Sabrina did watched and towards the end kept holding onto my fingers. And not forgetting her repeating "Let's go". Sebastian was happily watching although he had just woken up. He was more than happy to see the display. But I guess towards the end, he must had felt tired again and did make some noise.

After the display, we came back home, tired but had a great time watching the fireworks. Let's hope we can see it again next year.

Updated Aust Time: 10.52pm

Adrian's birthday

Time really wait for no Man. Today Adrian celebrated his 36 years on Planet Earth. He went off to work as usual. Came back home and we went off for dinner at Hog's Breath. Have not gone there for a long time. So decided to go there and have a good meal. Going there with our eyes shut as we know it's not going to be a cheap meal but we just want to enjoy our food.

Ordered Fish for Sabrina from the kids menu. We had soup, potato skins, ribs and lamb cutlets. The lamb cutlets was like some add on and it was really delicious. It was not chewy but instead very juicy. The ribs was good as well. It just so happened that the soup of the day was potato and bacon and we ordered 2 bowls of it. Delicious. Even Sebastian loves the soup and kept wanting more and more of it.

Spent $90 on this dinner but it was really good. We were so full that we could not eat any tibits after the kids slept.

Happy Birthday, Hubby. May what you wish for come true soon.

Updated Aust Time: 11.00pm

Sebastian turns 1 today

Our little boy turns 1 today. How time flies. It just seemed like yesterday that I was still carrying an infant Sebastian in my arms and now he is already 1. Soon he will be 2, 3, 4 and so on and so forth and even start schooling. By then he might not even want us around as he will be surrounded by friends.

Things he can do currently

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• Can clap his hands.
• Do high five with us
• Walk around the house
• Climb up and down the stairs without aid
• Loves climbing up and down the stairs
• Loves watching Hi5 favourites
• Love watching In the Night Garden especially Iggle Piggle
• Loves blue
• Loves playing with balls and cars
• Loves chasing balls
• Loves hugging his dugong
• Likes to play with the washing machine
• Loves to play with his sister
• Loves bread, cornflakes, biscuit
• Loves to peel off Adrian's spectacles
• Can feed himself bread
• Loves playing with wetwipes whenever he gets the chance
• Loves to play balls at Kmart
• Recognises his name
• Superglue to Mummy

As it's Thursday, it's late night shopping. Brought the kids to Westfields for dinner adn on our way home we dropped by Baskins Robbin and got Sebastian an ice-cream cake for his birthday. It was a whole block of ice-cream with some icing on it. There was no layers of cake just solid ice-cream. It's the Golden Ribbon ( chocolate with caramel in in). Went home and took photos of the kids with the cake. Sabrina was very excited about the cake and kept saying happy birthday and chocolate cake. Sebastian was a little sleep thus he did not really want to cooperate when we tried to take some family shots. Anyway managed to take a few after countless unsuccessful attempts.

Happy Birthday Little Boy. May you grow up and be strong and healthy. Looking forward to your 2nd, 3rd, 4th...birthday.

Updated Aust Time : 11.05pm

Adrian's graduation at UNSW, Sydney 30/08/090 - 01/09/09

Finally was able to sit down and blog on this. Adrian finally graduated with his Master from UNSW after 4.5years. We flew down to Sydney and attended his graduation ceremony at UNSW on 31 August. This will be a long post I supposed as I will be consolidating these 3 days affair into 1 entry.

30 August, Sunday

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Took the morning flight (7am) to Sydney. I know it is very early but we were not given any choice as it was the only time slot that had the special fare of $69 at 7am. The next fare will be $120. We need to reach the terminal 1 hour before departure. The night before we booked a cab and arranged for a cab to pick us up at 5.30am. So I woke up at around 4.30am and quickly get ready the kids' stuff, hot water and all. Adrian also woke up shortly to wash up and get ready. The cab arrived slightly early and we quickly load the cab with our luggage and pram. As we did not want to disturb the kids, we decided that we will just carry them into the waiting vehicle thus I dressed them up more warmly last night as I was worried that it will be very chilly in the early morning. Managed to get them into the cab and off we went to the airport. It was a $33 trip from our place to the airport which is just a 10 minutes drive away. Closed our eyes on this trip.

Bought Hungry Jack breaky and board the plane shortly after 6.30am and off we went at 7am. Luckily when we took off, Sebastian fell asleep thus I do not have to worry about the air pressure on his ears. Sabrina was a little affected as she kept rubbing her ears and started crying a little. All went smooth as the plane took off. Sabrina had her share of hash brown and watched the shows on the Creative player as we need to pay to watch the programs in the plane. Domestic planes are slightly different. We need to pay for the viewing of programs and food and beverages we want on board the plane.

Finally the plane started to descend at around 9plus. Sabrina was affected again. This time she vomited but just a little. After a while she was alright. Anyway we felt that the plane did not fly at a very high altitude. Once the plane touched down on Sydney ground, we alighted and into Sydney we go. It was colder as compared to Brisbane although the sun was up.

Waited a while at the baggage collection and claim for our pram. We only left the airport at around 10plus. Went off to Europcar to collect our rental car. It was an i30, a very nice car. The interior was really nice and spacious just that the boot space was too small. Once our pram was in the boot, we could not put anything inside the boot. We ended putting our luggage in the front passenger seat while I sat behind with the 2 kids.

We drove to our accommodation -Randwick Lodge. Luckily we were able to check in when Adrian enquired at the reception. He even got them to arrange for the cot to be put in the room. Rested for a while and showered the kids before we left the lodge to go to Paddy's Market. Guess Sabrina was too tired and slept in the car and so did Sebastian. With the 2 kiddos asleep, I went to sit in the front passenger seat.

When we reached Paddy's Market, we drove round it a few times as we were trying to find the actual location. To top it off, Sydney's traffic regulations are slightly different. There were many no right turn sign and we ended up going round and round in circles. In the end we decided to park near to the market but we need to pay $12 for a day's of parking. As mentioned earlier, we are closing our eyes to this trip's expenditure so in we go. We felt that since we are not familiar with the state, we had better be safe by parking under secured territory.

By then Sebastian had already woken up. So in order not to have him disturb his sleeping sister, I carried him to the front seat. By the look of things, we think that Sabrina would continue sleeping so we carried her into the pram and true enough she did not resist but continued to sleep. So with Sabrina sleeping in the pram, I carried Sebastian while Adrian pushed the pram and off to Paddy's Market we go.

Found it and realised that Paddy's is now opened from Thursday through to Sunday. I remembered 4 years back when I went together with my teachers and choir girls, it was only opened on Sunday. It was also because I went there once so I suggested going again for this trip of ours. There had been some changes. There are more stalls, that's for sure. There are many Asians too. I know that Chinatown is nearby but I am not talking only about the customers but the stall holders. Many of the stall holders came from Vietnam,China and even Korea if I did not recognise them wrongly.

We walked through the stalls. There were many stalls but there seemed to be lots of repetition. We even saw mangosteens and longans. It's such a rare sight. Did not buy any stuff except for some grapes as I was preparing for Adrian's graduation ceremony for little Sabrina to eat to keep her still in her seat.

By then it was already 2plus so we decided to have lunch before going to Adrian's friend, Lemmy's place. You might be wondering how come there was not talk about Sabrina. Well, throughout the walk round Paddy's, she was fast asleep. She only woke up after a 3 hours nap just in time to eat some of the food that we bought for lunch. Little Sebastian was alright just that he was hungry but we could not feed him as all his milk preparation items are under the pram and Sabrina was fast asleep then. So finally when Sabrina woke up, out she goes and in he goes for his feed. We had some Japanese rice with teriyaki chicken and fried seafood noodles.

After lunch, we brought the kids to play at the arcade that is beside the food court. As usual she only plays one game - drop a ball game (not sure what's it's called). She actually did quite a good job and we managed to exchanged for 2 key chains and a pink stuffed pig. These were all in exchange for $4 that we used to let her play at the game. Not too bad a deal.

Drove down to Lemmy's place at Kellyville. It was close to an hour's drive from Paddy's to his place. His area looks very new. There were still some houses that were still in the building process. Finally found his house after turning round and round. By then Sebastian had already felt asleep. Did not have a choice so I carried him out and he woke up. Luckily he did not make a big fuss.

Lemmy has 2 daughters both older than my kids. His elder girl is older than Sabrina by 6 months while his younger girl is older than Sebastian by 4 months. Both are very sweet girls. Met up with Lemmy's wife, Alice and her mother. Sabrina was off playing with the toys and when Lemmy suggested playing the trampoline that was in his backyard, she happily went straight in and started jumping. But I guess maybe it was a little chilly, she quickly jumped off and came into the house. When we do get our own place, it would be a good investment to have trampoline at the backyard for the kids to spend their endless energy.

Back in the house, she happily played with the girls' toys. I think she was spoilt for choices. There were just so much toys in that room. Anyway Sebastian had a great time playing with the toys as well. There was even a piano and drums set in that room. After playing for a while, Sabrina decided to conquer the drums set. We were quite hesitant as we were worried that she might spoil it but Lemmy was fine with it as his kids played with that as well. She started playing with the drum sticks and Lemmy was rather impressed as she did play with some rhythm and she even knew that she had to step on the pedal that was on the floor. He asked if we had let her play with drum sets before and the answer was zinch. He told us it would be a good area to start her on as she seemed very musically inclined.

Had dinner together with Lemmy's family and his friend's family. We stayed till around 9plus and left his place as i would be an hour's drive from his place back to our lodge. We were all very tired and all turned in after washing up. It had really been a long day.

31 August, Monday (Graduation Day)

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Woke up feeling rested. Bought the kids to the Coles which is just opposite our lodge. Bought some bread and SPAM and chocolate milk and not forgetting fresh milk for Sabrina. Went back to the lodge, had breakfast and off we went to UNSW to collect Adrian's gown and shop in the ARC.

Walked all the way from the Lodge to UNSW. It was not really far maybe from our place in St George's to the other side of Bendeemer Plaza. But it was much tougher as the road leading to the school was slightly uphill and was have got to pusha pram with little Sebastian in it. We walked around and tried to figure ouut where to go. Went to search for the Arc where Adrian was to collect his graduation gown and hood that he hired for $75. while in the shop, both the little monsters decided that shopping was for them and they walked round and round the shop while Adrian tried on his hood and gown. Sabrina was more interested in the water bottle that was on display as well as the cupboards where the items in the shop was stored. Sebastian was more interested in the clothes that were still in their plastic bags that were placed under the clothes on the rack.

Adrian bought a hood for $125 as he had intention of taking a family protrait when we go back for CNY with hsi parents and this hood colour is not easily available thus the purchase. He also bought a jacket and a polo tee. Did not want to think too much on how much we spent. Just buy.

With that purchase, we went off for lunch at the school canteen. It was very crowded. We Had laska and some rice. Sebastian must have been real tired that he fell asleep after his feed. After lunch, we went round t he campus to take some photos. We then went in search of Adrian's professor, Dr Carmicheal. Finally loacted his office and found that we had just missed him by a mere few minutes. Adrian then went to check on something while I saw this man walked out of the Gents. Looks like her professor but I am not too sure so I told Adrian when he returned and it just so happened that it was indeed his professor. Spoke to him for a while and even took a picture with him and he was off to a meeting.

With all these intact, we quickly went back to the lodge so that Adrian can shower and change into his graduation suit while I get the kids ready. Took some picture of him in his gown in the lodge and off we go to the university.

Reached the uni early to take the protrait that they had arranged. Was thinking of taking a family protrait but Sebastian fell asleep. So in the end, told one with both of us and one with only Adrian in his gown. Quickly walked to the various spot to take more pictures. It was pretty crowded.

Finally we went to the hall and await to be seated. Was praying hard that the kids behaved themselves during the ceremony. Adrian had arranged for me to sit near the exit so that it would be easy for me to move around if I had to especially with the 2 little monkeys. Sebastian had just woken up from his sleep thus he was a little stoned. Sabrina as usual was trying to figure out the chair.

Soon the ceremony began. Sabrina kept wanting to leave and "let's go" was at the tip of his tongue when the graduation procession took place. I had to gave her te player and let her watch her favourite show before she was happy. But she soon wanted to leave again. In the end, I had to have her lean against my legs with the player and Sebastian in my arms with other player. I guess in general they did behaved themselves very well considering the duration of the ceremony. I managed to take some picture of Adrian but some were blur as it was too far and at times Sebastian was wiggling and it was rather difficult to take photos. The only hitch was Sabrina bitting Sebastian's finger as I think he was disturbing her. But all in all, it went well.

After the ceremony, we quickly proceed to have his certificate photocopied for the engraving of the plague that he had already placed order online. He even got a 60th anniversary cap. Took a final picture of him in front of the graduation symbol and off we go back to the lodge and to find dinner as well. As Sabrina did not have her nap in the after she knocked out while on our way back to the lodge. We stopped by a Chinese stall and ordered noodle and rice and went back to the lodge. Sabrina was so tired that she did not wake up for dinner but she had already had bread while waiting for Adrian to get his certificate photocopied. Adrian carried Sabrina to the room while I went to carpark with the pram, dinner and Sebastian. Had dinner while Sebastian walked round the room creating havoc. Finally put him to bed and we quickly packed the luggage and had some of the itmes placed in the car for our departure tomorrow early in the morning. Turned in for the night, finally feeling the tireness slowly setting in. Luckily we did not drive if not it would be even more tired.

1 September, Tuesday

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Woke up pretty early this morning at 6am as our flight was at 8am and we need to be at the airport at 7am. Quickly packed the remaining of our things, load the car checked out and off to the airport we go. Luckily both the kids were alright to be woken up so early in the morning.

Returned the rented car and went to buy Hungry Jack for breakfast in the flight. I even had grapes just in case Sabrina wants to eat. Finally the place took off. Sabrina did have a little trouble with her ear when the plane took off but it subsided after a while. Sebastian slept through take off and was eating his pacificer when landing.

Finally reached Brisbane after a 2 hour ride. Took a cab and back at home. Ordered pizza for lunch and we all went for a nap.

What a trip. We had fun but was very tired. Initially we did plan to drive down to Sydney in December to visit Lemmy when Adrian's compnay shut down for 2 weeks but Lemmy and his family will be in SG during that period. So that plan's off. We are thinking of going to Gold Coast and staying for a few days instead. See how things go along the way.

Updated Aust Time: 11.18am