Ok, so it’s Father’s Day AGAIN, (do they get it twice a year?) and I want to help you choose something a little different, that Dad will actually thank you for!!  No crap mugs, no car washing kits, and fun for everyone, especially the main man!

Melbourne has so much to offer this weekend, it was truly hard to choose the 6 favourites… here goes…

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Four Pillars Gin Distillery

Dad will jump for joy when he takes his blindfold off as you’re driving into the carpark of Four Pillars! In fact, Mum probably will too! Send him on a tour of the distillery, let him have a few little tasters, then Mum can chauffeur him home like the king that he is!  (Make sure you call ahead as they need to know who’s coming…)

Spiffing Gift Idea

Location: 2a Lilydale Road, Healesville VIC 3777 Australia Tel: 03 5962 2791

Opening hours this Sunday: 10.30am – 5.30pm

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Boneo Maze

Make your booking and allow Dad to let his hair down in amongst all the Father’s Day fun. There will be a BBQ, beer and plenty of fun and games including mini golf! Come on.. Who doesn’t love mini golf…? A great chance for dad to spend some quality time with the gang, whilst mum enjoys the newly licensed café! Believe me the cafe is magic!! *You can thank me later….

Even Tiger Woods would be happy with this gift idea!!

Location: 695 Limestone Road Fingal Tel: 03 5988 6385 Opening Hours: 10-5pm

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‘Bad Shepherd is all about tempting you with fine craft beer and complementing that with a menu heaving with smoked meat delicacies and good ol’ fashioned comfort food’ . Let us lead you into temptation.

Bad Shepherd Brewing Company –  Ok, so ‘ewe’ve missed out on booking dad in here for Father’s Day because they’ve had people ‘flocking’ to get booked in… but, if you booked up for another day it would be a pretty rad present for dad to wake up to!! Not only can he enjoy plenty of delectable beers, the menu looks scrumptious too.  You could even get a gift voucher and let dad decide! Take away beers & merchandise are popular choices!

Click for a ‘Flocking’ good gift idea!! (ok, ok I’ll stop)

Location: 386 Reserve Road, Cheltenham, VIC Tel: 03 85553175

Email: info@badshepherd.com.au Opening Hours: 12-9pm

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YMCA Fathers Day Fun Run

It’s a little known fact that in 1910, the YMCA invented Father’s Day to recognise the important role they play in our society. So it makes sense to pull dad out of bed and stick his singlet over his head!

What a suprise for ‘Super Dad’! You can walk or run or skip or hop the 5km or the 10km course around the Tan, and you get to raise funds for a fab charity at the same time! When you’re done, drag Dad to Alexandra Gardens to play games and enjoy the bubble soccer, YMCA kids programs, petting zoos, skateboarding, live music and more!

Hahah if we booked this for Mr.W he would choke on his DAD Toblerone; however….

Register Here! (The 10km starts at 8am and the 5km at 9:30am Happy Father’s Day!! )

Get one of these racey gifts before they “run” out!!! 

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ACMI 

When I saw the line – ‘Craft your own comic book or graphic novel at the comic creation corner, and play a range of narrative based video games in our Games Lab’ I knew this would be a winner for Father’s Day! ACMI have gone and done it again, they’ve organised yet another awesome Free Family Sunday!! Click the link to see what else is on offer!

A Film-tastic Gift Idea

ACMI Opening hours – 10-5pm,
Free Family Sunday – 11 -4pm
Location: Fed Square, Melbourne, Australia Tel: +61 3 8663 2200

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Father’s Day Car & Bike Show

If Dad’s a bit of a petrol head then this will be the treat for him! Take a drive to St Kilda for the Greatest Show on Wheels at the 4th Car and Bike Show on Father’s Day 2017.

It’s a free public event featuring bands, a kids’ clown show, Luna Park Markets and plenty of food to fill dad’s tum along Acland St.

Gift for your wanna be Mark Webber right here!! 

Time: 10am – 5pm Location: Acland St Village, St Kilda (next to Luna Park) Cost: Free, no need to book!!!

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Holey Moley 

Look, I know Father’s day should be all about the kids, but hey, we all need a break sometimes!! Organise a babysitter and take the father of your babies to Holey Moley for a night to remember!  27 holes of insane indoor mini golf, with a huge bar, serving up some of the yummiest cocktails in town! I took Mr. W and he loved it! (More because I was terrible and he thrashed me but hey!)

Location: 590 Little Bourke ST, Melbourne, 3000 Opening times: Mon-Fri 12pm till late Sat-Sun 10am- late Cost: $16.50pp for 9 holes

A ‘Hidden Bar Tour’ could have the winner gift for Dad this Father’s Day!! 

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Whatever you decide to do, have an awesome time!!!

 

‘Dad – A son’s first hero and a daughters first love’

Olivia xx 

When you up sticks and move to the other side of the world, you look at all the wonderful things you and your family are about to experience. You look at the kid friendly spaces, the education system, the museums, the food, the commute, the holidays… The list goes on. What you don’t do, (and for good reason perhaps) is look at the negatives, like the crime rates, or the statistics when it comes to mental health.

When we moved to Australia, we were well aware that we had done very little ‘proper’ investigation into where we were going. We had toured the Sydney Opera House using Google Earth and found the Opera Bar, but apart from that we were running blind. Some may say we’re mad, but that’s just the way we did it.

Now in our third year of life down under, we have just about got into the swing of things. The driving still gets me, (the undertaking (Grrrr)), but we’re pretty much used to everything that Australia throws at us and we adore it! We feel very privileged to be here. There is however something that sits uncomfortably at the back of my mind.

It’s no secret that my daughter has struggled with anxiety, and that it got a whole lot worse before it got a whole lot better.  I thought it was maybe because we took a while to access the right help, or maybe it was just not really something people are used to dealing with here. I remember being heartbroken when I overheard her being told not to be a “baby”; and we wonder why kids try and hide it… At one stage I felt so out of my depth, I was sure that anxiety and depression just weren’t very common here. I was wrong. It’s very common here, but rarely talked about. I’ve since learned it’s worse when it comes to men and boys! Why? Why are males not getting the help they need? I investigated. The more I searched, the more I heard about suicide in children; young males (yes boys too) in particular.

An article from the Huffington Post last year, and the terrifying thing is, it’s got worse. 

I was horrified when I read article after article about male suicide in Australia. Every three hours someone takes their own life in ‘The Lucky Country’. Thousands of young, healthy males are ending their lives, because they feel like they have no other option.

More than 3,000 Australians took their lives last year; and 76% were men.

I have a son, who is growing up in a country where male depression and suicide is almost brushed under the carpet and not being talked about even nearly enough. Suicide is the number one way for young Aussie guys to die and no one was really talking about it, until now.

“Mateship is great, and I love my mates, but certain topics are off limits. They’re either too embarrassing or the bloke has learned through his interaction with the older blokes in his life, to be stoic and keep his problems to himself, suck it up and get on with it. Unfortunately we can only “get on with it” for so long before something breaks.” – Gus Worland

Thank the lord for Gus Worland!! This legend; together with a few more awesome humans including Hugh Jackman, has set up the charity Gotcha4life; a charity we all need to get behind and learn some lessons from. Gotcha4Life not only funds training for Lifeline Crisis Support, they strive to improve mens mental health by driving the message home to people in all sorts of ways. Most importantly, Gotcha4life go in to schools and talk face to face with boys about what it is to be a man in Australia today. ‘This program drives acceptance and understanding of the challenges facing males of all ages’. As a mum, this in particular pleases me no end!!! This charity is here to help put an end to our boys becoming yet another statistic.

So whether you’re an expat in Australia, or a true blue Aussie, man or a woman, it’s more important than ever before to get on board. Speak to your boys, listen to your boys, man or m’aam hug your mates, and we can all help turn the statistics on their heads. There really is no harm in telling your friends or your kids “I Gotcha 4 Life”.

Olivia xx

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 Click to get involved

Date for your diary: National Man Hug Day on the 16th March 2018.

You can read about each and every one of the five pillars of Gotcha4life here

 

 

‘Raising Men’s Mental Health – with the goal of saving lives and making a significant impact in raising the mental state of boys, men and their families’ 

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If you or anyone you know needs help or support contact: 

Lifeline on 131114

Beyond Blue on 1300224636.

Carers Australia on 1800 242 636 (Short-term counselling and emotional and psychological support services for carers and their families in each state and territory.)

Headspace  on 1800 650 890 (Free online and telephone service that supports young people aged between 12 and 25 and their families going through a tough time.)

Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (A free, private and confidential, telephone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged between 5 and 25.)

MensLine Australia on  1300 78 99 78 (A telephone and online support, information and referral service, helping men to deal with relationship problems in a practical and effective way.)

MindSpot Clinic on 1800 61 44 34 (An online and telephone clinic providing free assessment and treatment services for Australian adults with anxiety or depression.)

QLife on 1800 184 527 3pm-12am (QLife is Australia’s first nationally-oriented counselling and referral service for LGBTI people. The project provides nation-wide, early intervention, peer supported telephone and web based services to diverse people of all ages experiencing poor mental health, psychological distress, social isolation, discrimination, experiences of being misgendered and/or other social determinants that impact on their health and wellbeing.)

Relationships Australia on 1300 364 277 (A provider of relationship support services for individuals, families and communities.)

Support after Suicide

Information, resources, counselling and group support to those bereaved by suicide. Education and professional development to health, welfare and education professionals.

Support groups and online forums

Talking about what’s going on with others who understand – or may be going through something similar – can really make a difference.  Black Dog Institute have a list of support groups in every state and territory that can help you connect with groups of people who meet regularly to discuss their experiences, their problems and their strategies for coping.

The beyondblue online forums are also a great way to connect with people online, in a safe and anonymous environment, to discuss anxiety, depression, suicide and a range of life issues. Anyone in Australia can participate in discussions, connect with others and share their experiences with our community.

Have you grown tired of the same old beach holiday?

Rest assured, there are plenty of destinations worldwide that are unexpectedly perfect for a different kind of family adventure. Here are six suggestions that may spur you on to pack the cases and get away.

 

A tropical getaway in Bali

 

It may not seem like the kind of destination you’d consider for a family holiday, being renowned for the gap year students that flock in their masses to the island in the summer. But Bali has so much more to offer than tropical beaches and a warm climate – take the Treetop Adventure Park, for example, where you and the little ones can run loose and climb trees, ride zip lines and swing on ropes. As an insider tip, remember to wear comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes.

Of course, Kuta is the hotspot of the island and it’s where you’ll likely find the most activity. Everything from malls to bars and restaurants can be found here in Bali’s most popular beach town. If you’re wanting a mix of excitement as well as a laid back atmosphere, it’s the place to go. 

Exploring Thailand’s beaches

 

Again, Thailand is not the first destination on many families’ lists due to its immense popularity with young, solo travellers. But don’t be deceived – there are plenty of spots to be discovered within the Asian paradise that you’d be silly to miss out on. The beaches are some of the best in the world, and the kids will never forget the time they rode an elephant in one of the many Thai retreats available.

There’s so much to do beyond the surface in Thailand, too – take Ayutthaya, for example. Once the biggest town in the entire world, a Burmese invasion in the 18^th century left it burnt to the ground. Now, the site is a collection of still-majestic ruins and buildings left for the kids to explore to their heart’s content.

 

A laid back escape to Ibiza

 

Ibiza isn’t just a destination for the rowdy party animals looking for a summer getaway. Stray away from the strip to discover a beautiful island with a strikingly calm atmosphere compared to what you may be expecting. Delectable restaurants line the sun-tinged shores, where turquoise waters lap at white sands.

It’s a perfect destination for those who want a quieter kind of beach holiday. Where places such as Spain and Portugal have become hugely popular with families, Ibiza largely remains a hidden treasure. Consider staying in a traditional farmhouse for an authentic and laid back stay on the blissful island – after all, this family called it “stylish but relaxed.”

 

Traversing the land of Patagonia

 

For a true sense of adventure, Patagonia is the hotspot. Massive mountain ranges and gorgeous wildlife aren’t the only reasons to come here, but they’re good enough – it’s here that you’ll find the Andes, the largest continental mountain range in the world. The challenge of climbing a mountain may just be one your kids embrace, and it would certainly make for a cool story when they’re home.

Three quarters of Patagonia lies in Argentina, so feel free to stray into the country and explore all it has to offer. Chile is on the other side, with Calama perhaps being the closest city to the mountains. Tourists rarely come here, meaning you’ll be free to explore an authentically Chilean destination that boasts the largest open-pit mine in the world.

A Disney-filled trip to Hong Kong

 

Although Hong Kong itself is a gorgeous and exciting region, laying at the very southeastern tip of China, there’s going to be one thing that stands out to the kids – Disneyland. The resort is hugely popular with visitors all over the world, offering some of the most well-known attractions such as It’s A Small World.

Head away from the park after a magical day to explore the vibrancy of the inner city. Find some of the best street food in between the marvellous skyscrapers that tower into the clouds, and if you want that Instagram-worthy shot of your trip, you’ll get it at Victoria Peak. It rises nearly 2,000 feet above sea level, giving you a panoramic view as far as the mountains of Kowloon.

 

Seeing the bright lights of Las Vegas

 

You may be understandably baffled when someone suggests Las Vegas for a family holiday. The gambling capital of the world may seem like the complete antithesis of an ideal getaway with the kids, but look beyond the casinos and big spending and you’ll find unique attractions and sights that deliver endless fun.

A simple walk down the dazzling four-mile long strip is enough for some, but it’s when you explore the many hotels that you discover Las Vegas’ true potential. Consider the Venetian, where you’ll be able to sail through an artificial Venice in a gondola – check out some great photos of what to expect. And make sure you catch the Bellagio’s water show that takes place every evening. It’s a breathtaking spectacle that has become the unofficial main event in the city.

 

 

The Australian National Surfing Museum– Torquay

Torquay is Australia’s surfing capital, and tucked away in the back of the Tourist Information centre in Surf City, there is more surfing memorabilia than you can shake a surfboard at. The museum truly celebrates surfing and pays tribute to Australia’s surfing heritage and famous beach culture.

Breathtaking historical films show times gone by where people surf iconic beaches. The films show the incredible way that beachwear, surf boards and surfing itself has changed over the years, it was fascinating to see. The old footage was magical to watch.

The museum not only houses an extrodinary collection of surfcraft, it is also home to the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame.  There is plenty to see, and lots of activities to keep the children happy! Phew! Playing in the sand pit and decorating a blackboard surfboard seemed to be the favourite! The museum is a must see for everyone; we all had a great time, the children included.

Cost: Adult $12  Student/Pensioner Concession $8  Child (aged 16 and under) $8  Family $25

Location: 77 Beach Road Torquay Victoria 3228
Tel: 03 5261 4606 |
Email: ansm@surfcoast.vic.gov.au
Opening hours: 9am – 5pm 7 days a week 364 days a year

We’ve been at it again! It was the first Sunday of the month last weekend, so we headed to ACMI to enjoy the Free Family Sunday activities.

August’s theme was Winter Fantasy and Fables, so the children were excited to be getting the chance to dress up like knights and princesses! We were ready to go and rescue some damsels in distress!!

First stop for us was The Cube, where the craft and Karaoke were set up. I honestly didn’t think we were going to get chance to see anything else! Poppy loves a sing song, and was blatantly hogging the mic! Thankfully, there was plenty to colour in, so Monty had lots to do whilst his sister belted out songs from Moana, The Jungle Book, Aladdin and Frozen. Parents watched on as groups of children got up to show off their singing prowess, hollering along to hits like “Let It Go” full blast! It was fab, if not a little painful at times! Bless! We pulled the microphone from Poppy’s grip, collected up the colouring in and made our way to the Stop Motion animation stations.

‘Stop Motion is created by moving and photographing inanimate objects, such as plasticine figures, one frame at a time, to produce the illusion of life and movement.’

We all had a go at the Stop Animation last time we came to ACMI, although this week there was a different app being used and we were making a GIF. This app allowed the children to see an “onion skin” of each movement. It made it a little easier for Monty to see where his snowman had been and where best to place it for the next shot. It was fascinating to see just how easily the children could turn their little picture into a moving GIF! We were all suitably impressed. (Although Mum didn’t email the GIFs to herself correctly so we came home without the masterpieces! OOPS).

After lunch, we made our way to the green screen. The kids chose their costumes from the huge selection, and got stuck in! It was hilarious. This is an activity they love! Maybe it’s the dressing up, maybe it’s the magic of being able to see themselves on the big screen slaying a dragon.  It’s so wonderful to see them so enthralled.

Free Family Sundays at ACMI just wouldn’t be as awesome as they are without the staff! A day out with the kids can be super stressful, however, every single staff member at ACMI goes above and beyond to make the day as enjoyable, interactive, educational and stress free as possible for everyone. They joined in with the singing, they showed us exactly what we were supposed to be doing with the animation, they even hopped in front of the green screen to give the kids some tips. They are friendly, kind, super with the little ones, and they really know what they’re talking about! Poppy and Monty have a new love of all things ‘animation’, they’re creating morning, noon and night, and this is all down to the magic that happens at ACMI, and the staff putting fire in their bellies!

 

 

Family time is precious, and us parents need to fill it wisely. I highly recommend you get down to ACMI and check it out!! 

 

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Free Family Sunday

ACMI Family Sundays are free monthly activity days, each with a different theme. A reliable source of family entertainment and learning, ACMI Family Sundays combines hands on activities, performance and interactive displays with celebration and learning around the moving image.

Location: ACMI, Federation Square, Flinders St, Melbourne
Date: First Sunday of every month
Cost: FREE
Web: acmi.net.au

SCHOOL HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS 24 SEPT-08 OCT
A range of animation, film making, and coding workshops for your little darlings! You have to check it out!

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NEXT FREE FAMILY SUNDAY- 3rd SEPTEMBER: SMART STORIES 

Let the power of your imagination take you on a journey to a world of wonder through storytelling!

Everyone has a story to tell, and ACMI’s Smart Stories Family Sunday is the chance to tell yours. Families can hear from the experts with chances to meet and greet award-winning children’s authors and illustrators on the ACMI Lightwell stage.

Audiences can learn to generate their own choose-your-own adventure narrative with Twine, and write and animate their own simple storybook adventure with hand-drawn images and iPads. The kids can discover their inner monster with ACMI’s fun and interactive storytelling sessions.

ACMI will have a craft your own comic book or graphic novel creation corner, and families can also expect to play a range of narrative based video games in ACMI’s Games Lab.

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Also on at ACMI

Wallace & Gromit and Friends -The Magic of Aardman

Journey into the magical world of Aardman, the acclaimed studio behind Wallace & Gromit.

Date: 29 Jun – 29 Oct Time:10.00am Cost: Full-$24 Family of 4-$65 Conc-$20 Child-$15 Member-$19

I have finally found time to sit at my desk!! Yayyy! I am literally every single dancer in this music video!

I look forward to the holidays, but bloody hell, school is just the best!!! Two weeks of jam packed activities last school holidays left me crawling back to school on the Monday, with acne, bags under my eyes, and the urge to not go back at pick up time.

I’d packed so much in to the break that day one of the hols started like this…

“Every body get up, quick!  Quicker…. or we’ll be late”

Sleepy child #1 “Mum, hold on I have to make my bed like you said”

“Oh sod the bed, we’re going to be late, GET MOVING”

…and the rest of the holidays followed in the same way. Unmade beds, laundry everywhere, apple cores strategically placed on window sills, and the car became a health hazard.

So now a few weeks on, it’s absolutely freezing in Melbourne, I’m still finding rotting apple cores, and I have a hangover that’s lasted two weeks. So unfair.

We have been super busy exploring more of Melbourne and more of phenomenal Victoria! Once we were over the holidays, we headed out to the Dandenong Ranges. It’s not far from here and Mr W and I are experts at eye spy even if the kids aren’t.

 

Our first stop was Grants Picnic Ground where you can hand feed the Cockatoos, Rosellas and parrots. After living in Sydney, where the Cockatoos are blatantly out to kill you, and the Parrots just loved to pee on me, I thought this would a) be dangerous and b) worth the risk. Well, the children have been particularly annoying recently. Come on birds, it’s payback time!

We purchased our bird seed tokens at the kiosk ($4 each), and headed to the fenced area where a sweet little bird loving lady (who claimed one of the cockatoos was her treasured pet (They all look the same??)) handed us our silver trays filled with bird seed. Poppy reversed out and stood well back. Monty followed. Tim and I entered the circle of doom alone! My plan to have the kids eaten alive had backfired tremendously. Tim was gracefully attending to the birds, meanwhile, I had about 64 Cockatoos swoop upon me like something out of  Hitchcock’s ‘The Birds‘…. I couldn’t move; I was being closely stared at by hundreds of little black, beady eyes. I had four on my shoulders, three on each arm, one literally clawing at my skull, perched on my head, and the dish was full of greedy peckers.

Each cockatoo weighs a ton, (not literally, that would be awful) so you need to be holding your dish with two hands. (That’s a good tip!!) One cockatoo decided he liked the look of my shoe laces and clung on to my ankle for dear life. I wished I’d worn a Tena!!

The children thought this was hilarious of course, and realised that as nearly all the birds were attached to me, it was probably safe to come in and have a go themselves.

Once the bird seed was gone and the cockatoos had given up fighting whilst perched across my body, we headed into the forest. There are a few different paths you can take depending on how far you want to walk. We did the shortest walk, with the obligatory detour after taking a wrong turn. The scenery is stunning. Huge mountain ash towering above us, thick moss growing amongst fallen trees which have become home to all sorts of little critters. Ancient ferns, and huge sloppy puddles perfect for sliding through. Along the paths are small boards filled with information on the fauna and wildlife surrounding you. You couldn’t be anywhere else in the world.

Typically, we hadn’t banked on needing boots, so like the ‘City Kids’ that we have become, we managed to hike through the mud in a selection of stylish runners… When will we learn?

Once we’d scraped the mud off our shoes, and had our picnic eaten by a few pesky but splendid Kookaburras we headed to explore a couple of the many wonderful villages that the Dandenong’s hold. There are so many places to choose from.

We bumbled through the winding forest, and quaint little villages, whilst Monty hollered things out of the car window like, “I will destroyyyy you” and “watch out baaaaad maaaaan”….  I think he even shouted “The eeeend is neaaaar”….

Suprisingly we managed to arrive in Sassafras without too much attention, and got out to explore. We poked our heads into the lovely little shops, we looked through a fab antique centre, then Monty managed to cut his hand in the toy shop so we had to make an emergency dash for some bandaids… Never a dull moment! By the time we had got ourselves to the much talked about Miss Marple’s Tea Room it was full… We couldn’t risk another hour of trying to keep the kids safe on empty stomachs so we walked a little further and found the delightful Fat Badger Cafe. Phew!!

Our day trip to the Dandenong’s ended with all four of us snuggled up on the sofa, in front of the log fire, drinking steaming hot chocolates and eating freshly baked cakes.

Yes folks, it was another awesome adventure in Oz…..

Olivia xx

‘I’d rather look back at my life and think “I can’t believe I did that!” – Instead of saying “I wish I had done that” – Unknown

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Dandenong Ranges

The Dandenong Ranges are a set of low mountain ranges, rising to 633 metres at Mount Dandenong, approximately 35 km east of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The ranges consist mostly of rolling hills, steeply weathered valleys and gullies covered in thick temperate rainforest, predominantly of tall Mountain Ash trees and dense ferny undergrowth. (Wikipedia)

Visitor Information Email: info@visitdandenongranges.com.au

Accomodation: Click here for some ideas

Activities and things to do: Click here for a whole heap of things to keep you out of trouble.

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Next time on The Wilson’s of Oz…….

Our trip from Melbourne all the way to the Twelve Apostles…. 

Yes that’s 227.4km in the car with the gang… I felt it, I can assure you!!

 

Another massive weekend for the Wilson gang! Definitely a cracker though!!

On Sunday we headed into town to have a peek at what ACMI had in store for this month’s ‘Free Family Sunday’. The Wallace & Gromit and Friends Exhibition has just opened so we knew we were in for some fun Aardman attractions.

My two nippers love all things Aardman so it was best behaviour all morning in anticipation. (That’s unheard of BTW).

Free Family Sundays at ACMI (first Sunday of every month) let everyone and anyone dive into the museum free of charge. How awesome is that!! Due to the take-over by Aardman at the moment there was plenty of Stop! Motion Animation fun to be had.

First stop was Studio 1 where the children were able to immerse themselves in a world of ‘Claymation’, and have a heap of fun playing about with the green screen. The staff were really hands on and Tania made sure Poppy was in exactly the right position for the perfect shot. Monty was a little mystified by the whole thing and stood to one side, allowing his sister to go solo. She loved it!!!

Next we headed into ACMI’s cinema to watch Chicken Run. I’m ashamed to admit I had no idea there was a cinema here, and was pleasantly surprised at how brilliant it was. It felt really special to be in the Australian Centre for the Moving Image actually watching a film. I will be taking the children back for sure… in fact….. I may even go alone!! Shhhhh.

There was no holding the kids back once the movie was over; they had spotted the Stop! Motion Animation station and were desperate to have a go. Thank goodness Ryan was on hand to explain what they had to do. The children were carefully placing the jungle animals, taking a picture, moving them a little, taking another picture. Who knew they possessed such patience?!??! I’m not sure who got more out of this, the children or Mr.W. He was frantically downloading an app onto his phone so as they could do more of this over the holidays. The next big movie is currently being made…

There were craft activities, lots of Aardman classics to see, and in the museum (which is free entry all the time), a whole host of movie memorabilia and so much to learn about the history of moving image.   The children absolutely loved the old school video games, and Minecraft of course!!! They were flabbergasted at what the movies used to be like in the “olden days” and we even managed to spot “The Bg Dish” from our trip to The Parkes Observatory!!

Sadly time whizzed by and we missed out on a trip to the cafe! Shame as the food looked yum!!!

Safe to say we had a ball. ACMI is full to bursting with everything ‘motion picture’ you could possibly want. It’s wonderful for all ages, and a great chance to show the children just how far technology has come, and what really goes in to making the movies that we all enjoy!! A return visit is absolutely on the cards.

Oh, I know I say it all the time but…Melbourne, you never, ever let us down!! Another huge tick in the book for the “most liveable city in the world“.

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Free Family Sunday

Location: ACMI, Federation Square, Flinders St, Melbourne
Date: First Sunday of every month
Cost: FREE Age: 5-12
Web: acmi.net.au 

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School holiday workshops 3-15 Jul

A range of animation, film making and coding workshops for your little darlings!

Next free Family Sunday- 6th August: Winter Fantasy & Fables

Shake off the winter chill at the next fun filled family Sunday, exploring fantasy and fables through games, performance and song!

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What ACMI says:

“From wielding a lightsaber to perfecting YouTube videos, our Family Sundays program is a unique interactive experience you can’t get anywhere else.

Perfect for kids of all ages, we’ll take families on a journey through the moving image with themed days exploring everything from superheroes and Star Wars to fantasy, fables and gaming.

Get the frames focused, buttons mashing and clay animated as we get hands-on with filmmaking and animation, live video game competitions, crafty projects and more.”

 

This is my 6 months in Melbourne update…. At 7 months in. (It’s getting a bit like that… )

I have been trying to get back on the “blog” but I don’t seem to be able to get time. It all boils down to being knee deep in a gazillion things, tied in with being a terrible forward planner. Well, that and the fact that the more settled we get, the more ordinary the days become. Wake up, pack lunches, school drop off, clean the house, do the laundry, go for a walk, school pick up, argument, tantrum, dinner in the dog, sofa, chocolate, bed. Repeat! (No dad we haven’t bought a dog!)

7 months after leaving Sydney and I have more grey hair than ever! I have gained about 10kg in weight (damn the cheese and wine parties) and I have also completely lost the ounce of control I had over my children.  It’s been one hell of a ride!

What sort of nutter family, move to the other side of the world, settle, love their new life… then up sticks and move another 876km to a city they don’t know? Well, we did, and 7 months in, we’re just about re-settled. We have made friends, had some great nights out, we know where things are, we have a lovely family doctor, we have finally bought enough furniture to fill the house…  Must be time for another move surely?

It’s not been plain sailing. Oh no! The children have really been pushing my buttons recently! They’re making the most of Tim being away during the week, ignoring the bedtime routines, throwing tantrums in public places, and eating more junk food than ever before. They are practically wild animals… They have no idea about give and take, which just results in them taking every last bit of my being, every single minute of every single day. This ensures Tim returns to a house of hell and three demented trolls on the sofa cringing when someone even dares so much as take a breath. There’s a marriage goal right there.

I have been home alone with the kids this week, so I have packed things in after school so as when we get home, I can rush dinner and we can all just go to bed. The sooner we’re all tucked up the better!

I took the little darlings to the local library on Wednesday as Poppy loves it there and I am desperately trying to get Monty reading.  He had other ideas. The trip to the story corner with Mummy turned into me chasing him up and down the Parenting and Self- Help aisles, smacking his bottom at every available opportunity. He was frantically pulling books off the shelves and I was trying to whisper/shout (which is really difficult BTW) but just growling “get awayyyy from the books….” like a drunk wicked witch. It ended abruptly when I stubbed my toe on the Harry Potter display table.  “Mum, you just said SHHH….. ITT… That’s shit!!” “Great sounding out buddy!!” Nailed parenting in a single moment! When we finally got home there was no wine in the house!!  I proceeded to ram chocolate down my throat quicker than a chubby kid with a hot dog, to calm my nerves… You see what the kids are doing to me!?

I then went on to have a sleepless night, worrying that it was all caught on CCTV and I would be hauled in front of the millions of “sunrise” viewers and hailed as some sort of psychotic wildebeest who has no right to be a mother. Yes, it was one of my finer moments.

So, apart from a few of those special moments, I think I am nailing ‘Motherhood in Melbourne’. Parenting far from home is not easy, in fact it’s pretty hellish at times. The most hellish being when you have had a gut full of it, and you need a break but you don’t know anyone well enough to a) see you in this state or b) hand your savage kids to.

Usually it’s the times when you’re nearly broken, you take the kids to the park for a bit of peace and quiet you see all the grandparents on duty! I sit there, almost demolished, sipping on my G&T disguised as a coffee in a keep cup, thinking about investing in some kind of teleporting device. That way I can get the old folk here at the click of a button, and then be able to send them back before they get too comfy! (Just kidding mum, really looking forward to your visit!!!)

Even though the kids are driving me round the bend, and Tim is working away every now and again, all is dandy really! We’ve been exploring Melbourne, visiting as many wonderful places as we can nail over the weekends, and planning some exciting trips in and around Australia for the not too distant future. If my nerves can cope! (Keep it here!!)

We’ve just hit day 795 of our Aussie experience, and have 669 left until our visa expires and we’re sent packing. Sounds like ages, but if the last two years are anything to go by, we need to get organised!  Even though it felt like we left the UK in a bit of a rush, these things take a lot of planning… And a lot of chatting about. My favourite bit about any move, I love a chat!! “Shall weeeeee?? Um… No! Shall weeeee? Um no maybe not!! Do weeee? Um… not sure… What about ….? Um… Yeah…. Maybe!!”

That’s sums up our conversations; in between 90 minute bulk saved episodes of Australian Masterchef. I’m not sure it’s healthy to be living precariously on the edge of the sofa, waiting for a decision to be made about our future, but there’s something to be said for the adventure. Not knowing what’s in store over the next few years is just as exciting as it is unnerving. So here’s to the next 669 days, and all we can cram into them…I think I will be spending the rest of the day Googling “life on the other side of the expat bubble”; just in case…  Life after Oz…. if indeed there is such a thing for The Wilson’s, and if the children survive the next 669 days of course!!!

Parenting is saying the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Oddly enough that’s the definition of insanity! Coincidence? I think not! – Unknown

Olivia xx