Why is it that various jam companies (predominantly IXL) have stopped putting jam in re-usable glasses instead of screw top jars? My collection of heavy based good sized drinking glasses is dwindling and I would like to top it up, but can I find jam in glasses? No. Why should I pay for perfectly good glasses when they come free with a jar of raspberry jam?

I’m sorry, but if you are too lazy (or too busy) to even make a PB & J sandwich and you have to buy them pre-made, frozen and packaged WITH THE CRUSTS CUT OFF from the supermarket. You have a problem.

Am I still trying to catch up on holiday blogs? Talk about slack…

We had scheduled Saturday as a semi rest day. A day to hang around the pool and not do too much. We had tickets to the Australian Outback Spectacular that night and didn’t want to wear the kidlets out too much.

The resort where we stayed had it’s own mini golf course, so we played a round starting off in hot sunshine, and by the time we had finished, it was raining. ACW was the winner as usual and after a shaky start, I soon came good (well good enough to come a distant 2nd). We headed indoors for a while to escape the rain and while the kidlets watched tv, I caught up on some laundry. The skies soon cleared, so the we all headed to the pool. ACW and I found ourselves some comfy deck chairs and a book while the kids had fun splashing around. It soon started showering again and everyone got out of the pool! I’ve never quite understood why people get out of the pool if it’s raining. It can’t be because they don’t want to get wet…. Anyway, the rain wasn’t good for our books, so we headed back indoors for lunch and a rest.

By mid afternoon, the skies had cleared and ACW and I decided that we should go searching for the geocache that appeared to be only about 3kms away. A 6k round trip – we figured we could do it in less than 2 hours. Turned out to be just over 4kms and the cache was hidden in a stand of pine trees that made getting a GPS lock very difficult. There was a large flock of rainbow lorrikeets there, but getting a good photo was very difficult.

   We had come this far, so we weren’t giving up. Relying on our memory for the clue, “at the base of a tree” we hunted around the trees, trying not to look suspicious. Eventually, we found it. Hoo-bloody-ray!

But we had lost a lot of time. If we wanted to shower and change (and boy did we need a shower and change) before the coach was going to pick us up to take us to the show, we were really going to have to leg it. We figured that since we were in what appeared to be a really big park, if we just went cross country it would be quicker. Eventually we managed to work our way around the various fences to come out in the car park of the Burleigh Bears Leagues Club. This AFL girl was never so happy to see a Leagues Club. We staggered inside and the lovely lady inside called us a priority taxi and we were soon on our way. I didn’t care how much it was going to cost. the drive took about 10 minutes. After seeing how far we had travelled, I’m glad we made the decision to grab a cab. We would never have made it. So much for a “restful” day.

While waiting for the coach, another family arrived out front of the resort – the mother looked very familiar. I had gone to high school with her for a year 28 years ago!! I last saw her about 12 years ago. She had married (and since divorced) another friend of mine.  We spent some time on the bus catching up on the last 12 years, and our kids quickly became friends.

The show was great (no photography allowed) and the food was delicious. Of all the things we did on our trip, this is the one that the kids wish they could do again.

So, last night I let the dog out for a run before locking him in the laundry for the night. While waiting for him, I spied a spider walking ever so casually towards our back door. It wasn’t a big spider – but it wasn’t small either. A juvenile wolf spider – about 1” across. So I did what any self respecting person would do when threatened. I dropped that sucker with size 9 ROC boot (that was still attached to my foot).

After defending myself so admirably, I looked down.  There was no. spider. guts. on. the. path. I couldn’t see any spider guts on the Size 9 either. That could only mean that the spider had jumped up and was now crawling up my leg. I ran inside, flicking my legs as I went like some sort of maniac afflicted with St Vitus’ Dance. Pants off and inspected – no spider. Bugger. Probably slunk off somewhere to avoid getting stomped on again.

But today I have another problem. Turns out I did squish the little bugger and on closer inspection, there is a considerable amount of spider bits stuck in the tread of my boots. I can see eyes and fangs (well, they are probably just palps – but they look very fangy). And now I have to wear them. To Work. With spider guts in them. I feel creepy. Shudder.

On Friday, we hopped on the bus and headed to Seaworld. Despite being closer to our resort, the bus ride was longer than the ride out to Movieworld. It just kept going round in circles! We still arrived before opening time and so we crossed the road to find a quick geocache.

Since we had already bought our tickets, we were able to avoid the huge queues and head right on through. We had already decided (but not told the kids) that we’d let them do the dolphin experience thing if there were still places available. We were fortunate enough to get them bookind in on the 2pm session. H10 is a dolphin fanatic so she was especially thrilled when she found out.

We spent the morning checking out the exhibits. C7 (still emotionally traumatised by the rides at movieworld) insisted that we go to the Sesame Street Beach rides. H10 was still really good and went with him on some of the rides - and was unable to hide her enthusiasm:

We managed to bribe the kids onto the viking log ride. C7 seemed to cope with this one, so we headed for the Bermuda Triangle ride. C7 suitably freaked out in the dark, and I got suitably soaked. When we went on this ride 15 years ago, you went through a wall of fire at the end – no fire this time.

A new exhibit since last time was Ray Reef. It was cool getting to feed and touch the different types of stingray.

A quick lunch and then back to the check in centre to get the kids swimmers. Even though they had their own, you need to wear the swimmers supplied so that the water isn’t contaminated. We headed down to the change rooms in the resort section of Seaworld by cable car. It was a great way to view the whole complex – which had grown considerably since our last visit.  While waiting for the dolphin handlers, we spotted what appeared to be a mermaid in the water – sure enough it was!! (Bet Cynicaldad is jealous). Then she got out of the water and two “handlers” helped her remove her tail. They were just filming some underwater scenes for the Disney TV series H20 – Just Add Water. H10 was suitable impressed though – it’s one of her favourite shows!

The dolphin experience was great for the kids. There was a slight misunderstanding when the handler asked C7 to throw the ball for the dolphin and he threw it AT the dolphin – but hey – he got a second go and got it right the second time.  (Not shown in photo – butt crack of a handler / surfer dude who really needs to know how to pull up his shorts – especially when you have a hairy bum)

We went back to the resort change rooms to get changed again and decided to stay there for the rest of the day. The kids had great fun in the pool while I schlepped all the bags around. Then they opened the giant water slide and the race was on. I sat at the bottom waiting for hours over 45 minutes waiting for them to come down, taking photos of complete strangers. Eventually they came down, H10 first , then c7 with all the screams of delight they could muster. C7 hadn’t even gotten out of the water before he was running around screaming “Awesome!!! I’m doing that again!!!”

ACW’s landing wasn’t quite so graceful:

Soon they were off to the top again – running this time. After their second run, the ride was closed so we headed over to the rubber raft ride thingy.

I hung around the bottom of the ride again taking more photos of complete strangers. This ride got a definite thumbs up with both kids declaring it Best. Ride. Ever. Despite the45 minute wait at the top. C7 might be a sook in the dark but he is fearless around water.

 ACW used his charm on the lady in the donut shop and we got free donuts at the end of the day. It was already getting dark (have I mentioned that Queensland doesn’t have daylight saving) so we headed for the bus and made our way home. Thank goodness tomorrow would be a “rest day”