Today (Thursday) was the day the three of us journeyed to Ingle Farm which is quite a jaunt from where we live. Karen (the director of Ingle Farm) picked us up from HH and we were off at about 8:30am. We arrived at Ingle Farm and had a quick cuppa to get the day started off right. The three of us had the option of going to Move 'n' Groove or the Afghani support group. I choose to go to Move 'n' Groove as did El. Morgan went to the support group.
Move 'n' Groove is on Thursdays at 10am and consists of parents and their children singing songs together. It is run by a man named Laddie. We were told that he was "a bit of a Richard Simmons" and was very "in your face." All untrue! He was very welcoming and NOTHING at all like Richard Simmons. (If you're wondering how I know about Richard Simmons (since I am so young) - we used to have to watch videos of him when I was younger at school and senior year of high school we did Richard Simmons' Disco Sweat video every other day.) Laddie has hair, just not curly and not excessively big (it's really not big at all - quite flat).
After the Move ‘n’ Groove session Laddie approached Ellie and I and we got to know him a lot better. Laddie is from Czechoslovakia and he graduated college with a computer engineering degree. He doesn’t get paid to do the Move ‘n’ Groove sessions – he just volunteers as a parent. He's been doing it for 18 months now. Originally one lady was doing it, then she got a promotion in her job and had to move. Another parent picked it up, but since she was walking to Ingle Farm it was harder for her. So that's where Laddie comes in. He didn't want it to stop so he continued the program. Which I thought was really cool. Parents helping other parents. Laddie's family was there during the session and they are so cute!
Move ‘n’ Groove consisted of singing songs such as the Hokey Pokey, Little Green Frog, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, the Wheels on the Bus and other little kids songs that I didn't grow up with. It was a lot of fun to see the parents singing along with their kids. You want to know the most amazing thing? In one room we had 58 people (this includes the kids) and EVERYONE was doing the actions and singing. There was a girl next to me who was probably about 7 or 8 months and she was the cutest little thing! She kept staring at Ellie and I, then she would be off to try and find some toys. I would say that the class was for children 3 or younger.
Move ‘n’ Groove consisted of singing songs such as the Hokey Pokey, Little Green Frog, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, the Wheels on the Bus and other little kids songs that I didn't grow up with. It was a lot of fun to see the parents singing along with their kids. You want to know the most amazing thing? In one room we had 58 people (this includes the kids) and EVERYONE was doing the actions and singing. There was a girl next to me who was probably about 7 or 8 months and she was the cutest little thing! She kept staring at Ellie and I, then she would be off to try and find some toys. I would say that the class was for children 3 or younger.
It was a really neat experience because of the fact that I don’t think that there is a lot of this that goes on in the United States. A lot of the time, parents just drop off their child at daycare or a child center and head to work. There isn’t as much interaction as there could be between the parents and children. We’ve been to a playgroup also since we’ve been here and it was where the parents stayed and played with their children too. It seems that things are focused more on parenting too.
After this I just kind of mulled around the office as there wasn't anything else to do. There was supposed to be a support group (Mummy and Me), but we were told they weren't coming in. And then some of them did come in. But they just liked interacting with each other and that was the extent of that. I did some sudoku and then Ellie and I played on the equipment since the kids were gone. It was fun! Dianne took us home after that. I arrived home and rested up a bit before getting ready to go hear some 40s swing music. We decided to eat at HH tonight and I was pleasantly surprised to have some egg drop/corn soup. I really miss corn, it isn't eatten much here. And coming from the corn state, I just am used to eating a lot of it. (I am actually eating corn cakes with peanut butter as I write this.)
Me inside one of the tunnel cubes at Ingle Farm.
Me with the wombat in the outside playground area.
Did someone say trampoline
(The top photo and bottom photo are from Ellie Rogaczewski's camera)
After this we caught the bus, and met up with Simon (actually he just caught the bus at a different stop.) and we were off to the casino! We got off and then hoofed it to the casino which was only a few blocks from our stop. We got ID'd - and the Americans had to use our passports to get in - driver's licenses don't make the cut to get in. The guard was quizzing me on who was in the passport and other random stuff that I was just like "come on and just let me in - I was never good at history anyway." That's kind of a lie - since I did like history and was somewhat good at it. I just didn't want to get quizzed on George Washington. So after getting through that obstacle course, we journeyed on to try and find the Balcony Bar in the Casino. After a bit we discovered the location and were a bit early. I met Matt (Simon's friend who befriended me on Facebook - so techincally he is my friend?) and he's the alto sax player in the band.
Thus Morgan and I headed for the bar. We've frequented pubs and other locations that don't serve cocktails. So this was our chance! I asked the man if he knew how to make a strawberry stripper (my favorite drink) and he said no. Then he asked what was in it - and I whipped off the list of ingredients. And he made it for me and it tasted pretty good - for my standards anyway (which are set ridiculously high for those who don't know). So I had my first strawberry stripper in Australia tonight!
Me and my 1st Strawberry Stripper drink in Aussie!The four of us found some seats and chatted for a while. Did you know that chat in French means cat? (You will probably begin to see my thought process throughout all the blogs - and this is one of those times.) Then the band, Lucky Seven, took the stage and I forgot how much I love jazz/swing music! It was a great show! They even played some songs I knew so that was an added bonus! And then people took to the dance floor and let me just tell you: people in Australia (or Adelaide, at least) know how to dance! My goodness gracious, I just sat on the sidelines and enjoyed everyone else's dancing. They don't need my skill-less bum out there on the dancefloor trying to have a go at it.
Lucky Seven in action!
Morgan and Ellie having a go at swing dancing - only not in public!
When Lucky Seven would take a break, Matt would come and talk to us. That was a lot of fun because I got to know him a little better and see him and Simon interact together. They are best mates, but are completely polar opposites. I was informed by Matt that Adelaide is just like Iowa and that's why people come here. I didn't quite agree with that since I haven't seen any corn or pigs (except the gold statues at Rundle Mall) around lately. But they say the city is set up like a country town, which once again I don't feel this - or yet anyway.
On the flipside, while we were getting to know Matt - this annoying couple was teaching swing dancing lessons to the masses. They were just too chirpy for 9 o'clock at night if I say so myself. Next time I go I think I will attempt to learn because... you get a free drink for trying. Why not when drinks cost $15?!
The four of us debated on whether or not we should catch the bus and leave the show. Or stay for the show and catch a cab. We opted for the cab, but were soon disgruntled when the band quit playing at 11:30pm. The bus left at 11:20pm. Grrrr. We were invited to go to the opening of The Fringe with Matt and his bandmembers, but we declined since we do have jobs and have to go to work the next morning.
Then the four of us (Ellie, Morgan, Simon and I) hailed a cab and got ready for the time of our lives! Not really actually. The cab driver didn't go the way Simon told him to go and thus causing Simon to have to pay more. Then when we dropped Simon off at his house, the driver asked if we wanted to continue on with Simon's fare or erase it. I said "NO! Start over." Simon already paid and I was not going to pay again for his ride. Stupid cab driver. Then when we told him where we wanted dropped off and he had no idea how to get there. Then Morgan gave him the beginning of the directions and he didn't follow them either. Needless to say, we were sure as hell happy to pay our $13.30 taxi fare and get the hell out of dodge. He asked if we were Americans - and I said yes. He said that he knew that from when we started talking, therefore, he was being dodgy as all get out and trying to rip us off. Asshole. So I don't think I'll be hailing a cab ride anytime soon. After that it was hitting the hay time for me.
Here is a video that I took of Lucky Seven performing the song 'Last Dance'
No comments:
Post a Comment