Down Underer

We have had a nice three weeks of Summer in Melbourne. We explored the concrete jungle of Southbank and found pleasant spots tucked amongst the high-rises: the South Melbourne market sells ruby-red slabs of salmon, the Yarra River offers congested walkways and sluggish, chocolate-coloured water all day long. A clever designer designed the anti-suicide barriers to diffract sunshine into a firework of sparkling light - it looks like pedestrians are teleporting onto the Queen's Bridge.

The weather has been balmy and we have enjoyed re-entering the summer months where we can take advantage of the weather to lounge in parks and beaches and swimming pools. We have been downing bottles of sunblock. They go especially quick as Tova insists on generously lathering her belly and putting three or four coats on her limbs. The days have flowed as quickly as the sunblock, and suddenly we are sitting and watching the traffic for the final night.

So on to more adventure! We are going to Tassie! Tomorrow we're all boarding the Spirit of Tasmania and venturing onto the Southern Seas. Will we spend nine hours cuddling with whales and swinging from the ratlines? Or will the girls be crippled by nausea (as usual) and we'll end up reading Roald Dahl aloud until our voices give out?

We'll spend a fortnight [normal word to use here, it's like we're in a Jane Austen novel. Cordial is also a noun!] exploring the island. Tamar Valley, the Bay of Fire, Freycinet, Maria Island, Cape Hauy, Launceston Gorge, Black Bluff,..the names are full of promise and mystery. Will Tasmanian Devils bite our ankles? Will the Aurora Australis finally reveal itself to a young namesake? What strange fate awaits us in one of the most remote islands on earth?*

* for Canadians anyway

Visit with the little blue penguins

We're good at smiles

And cuddles