The holiday is over – including a cameo from Kelly Slater

Well it finally came around – the last day of school holidays. I’d been dreading it so much. The kids were probably well and truly ready to go back but back to school for me is a big dose of reality that I just don’t look forward to each February.

With school comes lunches, morning chaos, afternoon chaos and homework duties and all things soul destroying kick back in again. Including appointment after never ending bloody appointment! Week 1 I can’t breathe until Friday, Week 2 I can breathe on Monday but only because I had a cancellation, Week 3 is looking good with two days I can breathe, but it’s still early days. I’m sure I won’t be afforded the luxury of two consecutive days with nothing on. Anyway, given the hectic schedule that the return to school signifies I was keen to make the last day of holidays one to remember.

We decided a trip up to the Donnybrook Apple Park would be fun! Kris surprised us on the morning with a detour to Gnomesville. (He really is getting good at these surprises.) The drive up to Ferguson Valley was beautiful. I feel so at home in the trees, especially the tall timbers of the South West. I know of people that see red dirt, or oceans at sunset and feel home but for me it is definitely trees. As soon as we got out of the car I was excited!

 

The excitement didn’t last long… while the kids were excited to see all the gnomes spread out through the bush I will admit to being a bit of a gnome hater (actually a LOT of a gnome hater.) Seeing the joy in their faces however was starting to win this gnomeaphobe over. I flicked a kick arse bull ant off of my toe, killed a marchie and tried to suck it up until Will pointed out that it was a lot like a cemetery and I started getting all freaked out again! The creepy panda in the tree assured me it was definitely time to get out of there. As we headed back to the car the kids expressed their absolute love of gnomes and asked if we could get some for home. I heard Kris giggling and telling them how much I love gnomes and that it would be a great idea! Bastard! These are some that caught my eye…(made super small for my viewing pleasure.)

 

My favourite - turtles - I'm not a turtlephobe

 

Finally we were safely back in the car and heading to Donnybrook. There is some stunning property through the bush, covered in my all-time favourite willow trees and of course the tall timbers. I fell in love with this dam and park bench. One day….sigh…

 

We arrived in Donnybrook and the park was empty so the kids had the run of the place for a while. Soon enough, it started to fill up though.

 

 

The temperature started to soar, the breeze died away and then….in he strode. I picked my jaw up off of the ground and decided to watch his technique. Maybe he could teach me a thing or two about push ups? ‘He’ being the Kelly Slater look alike who forgot to wear half of his clothes to the park. What a tease – I bet he knew the park would be full of Mums like me interested to learn the correct technique for chin ups and push ups. Unfortunately the show was soon over and the Brazilian backpacker left on foot. I managed to 'accidentally' capture these while snapping the kids having fun!

Phew...show over and it was time for an ice cream to cool off before heading home. We spent the rest of the afternoon watching movies and had a quick dip in the pool. Oh, and I was surprised to see this when I went outside…

Perhaps I wasn't the only one to learn a thing or two from Kelly?