'Sorry R, my pension didn't arrive. I don't have any money', so said Hippie Niece when she, her twins and a friend arrived for our aquarium visit. 'No', R said, 'It came early Christmas week and is now back to normal'. She should have known that.
We've put a brave face on publically dear reader, but it was a horrendous day. Hippie Niece, at the age of 28, had the twins so excited they were uncontrollable. R ushered them into the carpark and I was not there but they screamed with excitement. They were then quite good for a while as they played with the toys in Little Jo's old toybox.
Then it came time to go to the toilet and one would not. She was under the dining table just screaming. Nor would she put her shoes on.
Eventually we left home and caught a 58 tram and walked a block to Sea Life. We used our spare Mykis for Hippie Niece and her friend. Hippie Niece has already been embarrassingly fined in front of us on a tram for not paying her fare. She is entitled to a concession fare, but would she plan ahead? Of course not. $40 for her friend to Sea Life, kaching, $30 for her to Sea Life kaching, about $18 for their tram fares, kaching, lunch for all, $64. Don't worry, the gay uncles will pay. Well, I am going to put my foot down with a firm hand about that. No more.
The aquarium is really quite good now and probably worth the $30 to $40 admission. But don't go during school holidays. Over the phone I once asked our Science Museum the best time to visit to avoid crowds and she said, after 2.30 weekdays when the school groups have left.
The twins meals were missing when the food was ready, so R had to go back. So badly organised. One of the twins threw the top of a drink bottle onto the floor and Hippie Niece insisted she pick it up and put it in the rubbish bin. Another on the floor screaming session. Then another when one wouldn't put on her shoes. They were ok when looking at the shark and stingrays swimming above us, but then another screaming session.
R called it quits and we came home after about three hours. One had to be forced to toileting but it was then too late.
One picked up a fake apple from our fruit bowl as they were leaving. R took it from her. On the landing another had a lay on the floor screamings session. She then hit her heel on the bare straight edge that is exposed as The Building is having the carpet replaced. Blood was involved. Sadly I can't say the twins are good children and none in our family have ever behaved so badly before.
The contrast between the firm but nice way Oldest Niece deals with her three, not tolerating any bad behaviour and always remaining calm, is such a contrast to the loving but clearly not working the way the twins are being brought up by her sister Hippie Niece.
Once gone we rested for a bit, then off to the airport to meet Little Jo who was arriving from a scout jamboree in New Zealand an hour before her mothers'. Her flight was 6.10pm arrival, Sister's 7.05. We had to meet Little Jo, have her ticked off as been collected by a responsible adult and Sister suggested we dine McDonalds. The absurd situation of two exits from arrivals at Melbourne Airport continues, but at least here are now tv monitors to see people coming out of the entrance you can not see. I was at one exit, R at another. Little Jo came out from the exit I was monitoring. We had stood there for about an hour waiting and that was hard. Little Jo was receptive to a hug from me, and of course R gave her a big one. R always like to be early, but this time we were absurdly early for an international flight arrival. However, I know better than to go against him.
Linkt (road) tolls, probably a bit over $10, kaching. Parking $23 kaching. Dinner for Little Jo, $10. Little Jo did offer to pay. What happened the sullen uncommunicative 12 year old child we knew last year? She was bright, bubbly, talkative and just lovely. Bone Doctor said in a private moment, she has changed in the two weeks of the jamboree, and I agree.
Sister and Bone Doctor have been known to swear but not in general conversation, rather like myself and R. Little Jo was sitting reading on the scout jamboree and said how the leaders leaders swore, saying shit. Sister immediately chastised Little Jo. Then Little Jo said using sotto voice for the key word, repeated what they said that one of them said fucking. Sister looked apoplectic! Little Jo then said the scout leaders realised she was within earshot and moved away. Mummy, I was just telling you what they said.
Sister and Bone Doctor in NZ cycled, walked distances, canoed and all those kind of things we have never done. They were allowed one meeting with Little Jo during the jamboree. The last night Little Jo stayed at an airport hotel in Auckland while Sister and Bone Doctor stayed in a hotel in Queenstown. They compared notes on what they watched on tv. David Attenborough doco on Australia, something else with I think an Australian focus. Sister then went to sleep. Little Jo stayed up watching a Michael Jackson doco, but said once she heard about touching a penis, she turned the tv off. Our Little Jo is no longer so little so henceforth be referred to as Jo. Where the eff did those twelve and a half years go?
As recompense for our efforts, Sister and Bone Doctor had bought us a one litre bottle of duty free Scotch. While we don't normally don't indulge on weekdays, we did that night.
Left home at 5.30. Home by 9.
Next day was Mother Day and she behaved quite well.
Here are some photos from the aquarium. Only the saltwater crocodile photos worked well. No flashlights allowed of course.
Scary. The croc was the only creature on its own in a tank. No surprise I guess.
Lion fish with poisonous spines.