a change is as good as a holiday

This week's trend spotting, is probably an old concept revamped with blankets provided at a coffee shop. Makes sense in these times of global warming.

Made very aware of this by a visit to Brisbane where dam levels are at 17% and the influx of population is around 1500 per week. Couldn't believe the banks of the river were like Singapore with the mega high rises. So what is the point of living in Brisbane if it is like any other big city? I actually thought its charm was the relaxed pace.

I spent the week at the Australian International Music Market. Great fun, lots of performances, lots of networking, meeting new people, catching up with others.

How very nice to spend time on my own, what bliss to have a large bed to myself and no one to worry about except myself.

How equally nice to come back and spend the day hanging out with my daughter, but what devastation that I bought back a skirt that was too small! Won't be doing that again.

Joanne Kee
http://www.ceressolutions.com.au/

Head Lice

Well the last day of the school holidays and horror, as my daugher off to the hair dressers for a cut was found to have head lice. This was a bit annoying as we had taken her to the chemist and the Doctor as she had been scratching her head, but she had been given the all clear. So obviously the hair dresser knows best.

Strangely no-one else in the family had the eggs, but we have now all had the treatment.

Of course, you can't go to school with head lice, so we had an extended school holiday in our house.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Animal adventures and Harry Potter

Two totally different activities.

One a day at the Zoo on the Animal Adventures program, a behind the scenes opportunity to look at what a vet does. This was obviously a fantastic day spent at Taronga Zoo by my 7 year old, judging by her enthusiasm and recounting of animal behaviour stories. Sadly I didn't get to see myself, but there were birds involved and lots to see and do.

The other extreme was Harry Potter's new movie. Seeing it at IMAX was a bit of a con, as only the last 20 minutes were in 3D. So we had to put up with the ridiculous queues, smelly venue, super large pixels and sitting too close that made stuff look out of focus.

Not an experience to be recommended. A good quality big screen would have been preferable. The film was light on character development, but a good romp through with lots of action.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Gondwana

Gondwana puppet show

So there were only 12 performances for the July school holidays and guess what? they sold out. Children's theatre is alive and kicking.

This show was beautifully staged and executed, featuring Australia's amazing prehistoric creatures and land brought to life with full body puppets and large-scale inflatable plants.

The journey was a bit scarey for some of the younger children, you need darkness for puppets, which can be frightening. However it was a lovely journey seeing giant dinosaurs, insects, indigenous plants, life-size rocks and mammals.

The land masses changed shape, there was a bit of death and murder with flesh-eating dinosaurs nesting, feeding and fighting for survival.

Plus for my daughter the best part was the interactive session at the end, where Basil, featured as a performing animal. He was given eye drops, and fed leaves by various audience members. Plus we now know that his wife and kids live in New Zealand.

Performed by Erth Theatre Company, it was educational and great entertainment.

If you were one of the lucky ones to have seen the show, it was also great value.

Joanne Kee
http://www.ceressolutions.com.au/

Arran has also been off to Animal Adventures at Targona Zoo. You can spend a day with the Zoo education people and it was interesting that my daughter's takeaway was that she saw water rats behind the scenes!

The theme of the day was Australian mammals, which I am trying to figure out - are the seal's in the seal show Australian? There were also the pigs, where they went into the pen

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au
Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Bollywood at the Powerhosue

School holidays and the juggle between working and taking time off for activities.

We headed off to the Powerhouse for the Bollywood activities and found that our girls were less interested than us Mum's. Hey, that's life, Nicola and I had great fun, the kids were more intersted in the dress ups and the playground outside.

First off, the Mango dance choreographer's did a great job for a "dance along" scenario. Simple moves, fun, with lots of encouragement. Were they taken aback by the popularity of the dancing by the adults!

Yes the adults crowded out the kids, my daughter tells me she was kind of embarrassed, but what the hell I had fun, and it is certainly a great work out.

There are also dress ups, a winner for all ages. Two Bollywood poster images form a backdrop which makes for some fun images showing on the wall. Definitely take your camera.

The sand/coloured powder artwork was beautiful.

Unfortunately we missed the dance performance, which is on at 12.15

However, the playground near the cafe was a winner with the kids. Cafe was good, the Powerhouse seem to have lifted its game, as it was looking very weary last time I visited.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Bollywood activities - winter program at the Powerhouse Museum from2-13 July, 500 Harris Street, Ultimo. www.powerhousemuseum.com

Total tip

It has been a long, slow process having our back balcony enclosed.

I cannot believe the amount of paperwork involved with Council approval needing to be obtained, it has taken the better part of 18 months and the cost with Council approvals, architect's plans, building inspections and the list goes on, is huge.

We are getting closer to completion as we had a new floor laid yesterday and the house is in absolute turmoil with boxes everywhere. As we decided to do three rooms at once.

Amazing how much junk one can accumulate in 10 years!

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au