Country kids-Melbourne days.
A few weeks ago I was reading a blog post, or an article, or something, about the city/country mix. About kids getting the best of both worlds. Bonfires and bush walks and mud stomping and vegie growing AND movies and shopping and cafes and culture.
It occurred to me that it would be great to mix our world up a bit. That it would be fun to have a few days in town seeing the sights, doing the Melbourne touristy things and showing our girls a bit of the world we grew up in.
One of the main reasons for choosing to move to Daylesford in the first place, was how close is it is to town. How accessible. So we packed up our city clothes, and drove an hour and a half down the road to Melbourne.
We crammed so much into our four days in the city. We had a ball.
We celebrated my grandad's 94th birthday.
We could not have felt prouder of Indi and her painting at the NGV.
We didn't do any farm chores.
We watched movies and I beat them all at bowling.
I didn't wear gumboots but clogs and city boots.
We ate every meal out and didn't cook at all.
We walked the dog at doggie parks.
We didn't light or feed any fires for warmth or for cooking.
We loved Brunswick street.
Indi tried and failed to convince me to wear tights with fire works on them.
We loved the strong water pressure and the bath that filled in a few minutes.
I didn't turn my computer on or look at my emails.
We camped on the floor of an unfurnished apartment.
We struggled with the traffic.
I was amazed that after 11 years I didn't have any Melbourne geography but Bren knew exactly where he was going at all times.
We didn't see any stars but we saw lots of twinkly night lights.
I couldn't drive in the city.
We only found a few op shop treasures; a few Meakin plates, a red cardi, a scarf.
We didn't have any other place to be but together.
We didn't find it easy to have a dog in the city.
There was a shopping centre just down stairs.
We couldn't get used to sharing walls with neighbours.
We didn't bump into anyone we know.
We bought them band hoodies at Victoria market.
We didn't have a TV, or a kettle, or a coffee machine.
I didn't feel so cold.
We spent too much money.
We carried keys with us always.
We didn't do nearly as many things as we had thought we would.
I cast off a beanie and started a Mara.
On the last night we didn't have any kids!!!!! (thanks D and M xx)
It was such a great thing to do.
But coming home was the best. We fell in love all over again with the trees and the space and our newly painted white house and our Esse.
We came home, lit the fires, went for a walk through the bush, cooked dinner from our passata, our apples and our greens and slept so well in our own beds.
There's certainly is no place like home, but it sure is fun to go away and visit.
So how about you?
Do you have a bit of a city/country life balance?
Do you like to swap your city boots for your country boots (or visa-versa)?
What's the best thing about where you live at the moment?
Are you enjoying your holidays?
Have fun out there.
xx