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
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