Why does God make it so hot?

This is one of the many questions that get thrown at me from the back of the car and as per usual I didn't have an adequate response - It was a perfectly reasonable question given that we were entering our fourth day of 42 plus degrees and I would dearly love to know the answer myself!
We have been more or less house bound this week as the indoor play centres and shopping centre's air con systems can't cope with the heat. We managed to cool off a bit before 9am by throwing ourselves down the slip n' slide in the garden but after that it hits the high 30s.

 The kids have been 'naked bummies' all week (a turn of phrase coined by cousin Sam aged 3!) and I've not been looking that presentable myself - I am soo not cut out for hot weather.

On Sunday after a couple of days of pure hell with Max, I decided to make a conscious effort to keep my cool (pardon the pun) with Max and for a few days I was seeing positive results but being holed up in a boiling house for 4 days has not exactly been conducive to good behaviour and by yesterday the screaming matches were worse than ever.

I really shouldn't complain as I know plenty of people who don't have air conditioning and I also have quite a few friends who've experienced power blackouts as the energy companies struggle to cope with the power surge but the cool change cannot come quick enough for me.
As for the poor people upstate, I cannot imagine what they are going through right now as bushfires sweep through their towns - as Celia rightly says, why does God make it so hot?....

 

Getting back to normality

The Thorns headed back to Glasgow last Friday after another fun-filled week that included Melbourne Zoo, a family photo shoot on beautiful Chelsea beach (Ruth's 40th birthday present) and a trip to the enchanted Maze on the Mornington peninsula. They also managed to cram in the penguins and fireworks on New Year's Eve down at St Kilda but the Kerrs missed all the New Years Eve celebrations as we were tucked up in bed by about 9pm (Andy and myself included as we were recovering from our previous night away which was heaven - thanks Ruth and Gary!)

  



Celia, Max, Mabel and Ellie at the Zoo

Sam 'fishing' in the sand pit!

Andy and Max tree surfing at the Enchanted Maze

Ellie, Talia, Celia and Max on their last day together

Working out how the timer on the camera works

Ellie and Talia - photo shoot stars!

 

Fortunately we had the offer of a house in the Yarra Valley while the owner (one of Andy's colleagues) was away on holiday. It was a great way to get over the post holiday blues which descended once the Thorns left. I must admit to feeling more than a little jealous waving them off for two reasons. Firstly, it made me question where exactly is home for us and secondly it highlighted the fact that we can't go 'home' for about another 2 years. Celia and Max have also been asking when they will see their cousins again and when can they visit their house which of course triggers pangs of guilt and homesickness because I truthfully don't know the answer.
 Anyway, Healsville was the perfect tonic and we had 2 very relaxing days doing very little. 

Sarah's beautiful house in Healsville

We managed one day trip to a local orchard that did tractor rides and fruit picking - Max enjoyed it but Princess Celia was very grumpy as it rained the whole time and apparently she doesn't like fruit anymore!  


Raynors Fruit orchard with farmer Ian (who is originally from NI !)

Picking plums, nectarines and peaches

To be fair, Celia has been struggling to shift a persistent cough so I took her up to the cancer centre this morning and they have given her some antibiotics for mycoplasma pneumonia. That was the first time in a while that I've taken all 3 children up to the hospital and boy, am I not looking forward to future visits as we no longer have the Wednesday nanny.  Mabel was into everything and constantly wandering off, while Max was throwing tantrums left, right and centre.
Doctor Eva confirmed that her treatment will end in October 2015 which feels like a long way away right now but I know the time will probably fly in.  

Celia rocking the pixie hair style