Visitors - Helga and Charlotte

Had to get up early today (7am) to empty our hall cupboard in time for Mario and his son who have ripped it out of the wall and are currently replastering the wall behind it.

So I did manage to crawl out of bed at 7am but then sat down at this PC and suddenly it was 8am. So then between 8am and 9.30 I cleaned the kitchen, vaccumed the house, empty the hall cupboard (contents now on our patio) just in time for Mario's arrival. Then the phone rang and it was a very nice surprise indeed. Helga and Charlotte were to pay me a visit.

By the time they arrived I had even washed the floor in the kitchen, hung up the washing, put on another load and put on the dishwasher. It's amazing what can be done in a very short amount of time when there is not time..and what takes forever to do when there is plenty of time!

Was nice having Helga and Charlotte with us. The spent a couple of hours here and then Charlotte looked tired but was not comfortable enough here to go to sleep so Helga drove off again. I have forgotten how much stuff one has to pack to take a baby anywhere. Helga had the boot full. Bags of toys, change of clothes, prams, blankets, etc. By the time you add getting ready, driving here and back, packing up again and unpacking at home to the 2 hours...you would have an entire days effort. I was reminded of when Peter was 6 weeks old. I brought him and Michael (then 3) from Gladstone to Melbourne for a 6 week holiday with Mum. And we went by train from Gladstone. Had a bassinet with me and cloth nappies. We got caught out at Gimpy. There was a flood and the train had to spend 24 hours in the station. I was lucky having a baby. The local Salvation Army captain took us into his house, fed us and gave us a bed for the night and the chance of a hot shower. Then the local chemist donated some paper nappies...first time I had paper nappies...because I only took a few nappies with me and they would not have lasted the extra 24 hours. When finally we took off again we went to Brisbane. I remember lugging everything including the kids across a road and a bridge to get from the northbound to the southbound railwaystation in brisbane. I had with me all our clothes and some food. I can't for the life of me remember how I managed. From Brisbane it was to Sydney and there I changed trains for Melbourne. I was breastfeeding Peter at the time. And because of that (and the fact that people were not comfortable having a lady breastfeed in public) the conductor gave us a small compartment to ourselves! By the time I arrived in Melbourne I smelt as though someone had vomited all over me...from the breast milk leaking and not being able to have showers for a few days!
I guess I was young, strong and full of energy!
Mum has arrived so I must dash. More later!