Superb Children's Theatre

Who can't love time in London? Ross and I have always loved short breaks here ever since we lived in Kuala Lumpur and found the beauty of a direct flight that wasn't the epic trip that it usually is from "down under". Sadly for us, this part of our Christmas holiday is far too short and has merely been jammed in between a trip from Belgium to the Netherlands (yes, a roundabout way, but fun nevertheless).

Following arriving into London via the Chunnel directly into a full underground strike (thank goodness we had prepared for it), we have enjoyed some full on time! The little madam has finally had her eyesight tested and confirmed that she has a moderate eyesight problem (I hadn't believed it!) so we scored a good optometrist in Oxford St but sadly due to her small head size she only had four frames to choose from! There was no way she was wearing the baby/preschooler frames. Thankfully all was sorted out so that she had optimal vision for the afternoon stage play: The Prince and the Pauper at the Unicorn Theatre.

What an absolute joy it is to be able to go to these productions as an adult. It is not easy to pop off to a specialist kids theatre without a kid in tow (hence I took the child!) and WOW! This production was superb. It was an accurate adaptation of Mark Twain's story of young Edward VI. Yes, madam Tudor specialist could identify all the key characters and it took some convincing her that it was not a true story!







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Location:Lillie Rd,London,United Kingdom

Christmas with a Fijit

Just before Santa was due to fly into Brussels we walked into the main square and were transfixed with the light concert. The sounds and lights were incredible; our last experience of this for the next 24 hours thanks to Teagan's copious letters to Santa.

Over the past few months, Teagan has been focused on a Mattel toy called a Fijit Friend - she found it via Amazon.com advertising and has frequently explored the Fijitfriends.com site and any YouTube video she could find. Naturally, this became her wish.

As I understand, Santa willingly provided one such creature for her, however, he did struggle to get it soundlessly into her Santa sock...you see, I saw Santa trying to muffle the sounds in a towel in the echoing bathroom. I also believe that this was the point in which Santa learned that a Fijit does not come with a volume control!

During the wee small hours, some feet pattered over to the door and found an overloaded sock (yes,Grandma it does travel every year) and in it was a Fijit: and wow what choice Santa has. I shall forever thank him for giving Teagan such joy and pleasure, it was delightful as a parent watching this. But I will caution Santa for the future that Ibis Hotel rooms and volume-control-less FIJITs are an interesting choice!













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Xmas Eve in Brussels

Gidday from wet Brussels where we have been strolling and wrapping the day away. The little madam has had a great day; starting with wrapping the gifts she bought alone and using her recently acquired (trained) skill for gift wrapping, then the bulk of the day has been spent in the Fish Market zone enjoying the more classic rides on offer.

Many discussions (as usual) have been had over a range of topics. The first one has involved the banning of the viewing of the movie called Drop Dead Fred. Teagan has watched it hundreds of times just as her Uncle Grant had, however, unlike her uncle she has started using quotes from the movie in her casual discussions with us: "the mega b***ch" was the final straw especially as our wee "treasure" did not know what the second word even meant! The second key topic has been the technicalities of fake versus real Santas and whether she is supported by the NZ Santa or the Qatar one - it is definitely not the Europe one as I have been led to understand. Finally, pick-pockets are of great interest. Brussels has an "epidemic" of the blighters so madam has been keeping us "safe"; needless to say, moving around with the child has become rather challenging.

Now we are off to enjoy the lights of the city whilst we wait for the big red man!

Happy Christmas and celebrations to you and yours, Kara please eat some raspberrries for me and then FB me with a photo so I can pretend I have had some also!















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Location:Rue du Marché aux Herbes,City of Brussels,Belgium

Last night in Bruges

Bruges...where else can you enjoy time in a downpour, ride buses for free in the weekend, find a museum dedicated to the history of the french fry, proudly display their "best bus of the year award, 2003", buy a return ticket to Brussels that is cheaper than a one-way ticket and finally discover your husband beyond choice in a "juice" bar! Yes, we have loved Bruges!

To add to the passion of our severn year old; we visited an incredible movie, come interactive, five senses display and have discovered that the madam has now fallen in love with Jan Van Eykes in 15th century Bruges Unfortunately for her, is historical topic that neither Ross or I are well schooled on - how to come up with stories and facts covering his paintings and era!

Tomorrow we plan to buy a return ticket to Brussels (traveling one-way only) and prepare for our Christmas celebration: to date I think we have seen about six advent displays - Grandma, they have all had a baby Jesus so we sure hope you have one at your St Clair church!







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Location:Collaert Mansionstraat,Brugge,Belgium

In Bruges

How I did it, I do not know but I managed to train across Germany and into Belgium with a super over excited seven year old! Thank goodness for the no-fuss German Deutch Bahn system. As I booked the trip early, our carrriage was 1st class with only a combined extra EUR30 for the trip which was well worth it. A Friends LEGO set kept her busy also. That said, once we arrived at Koln, she was super hyper again!
Anyway, now we are in Bruges and have availed ourselves of plenty of "juice" and chocolate. Teagan's highlight seems to have been the ICE MAGIC display and her copious rides down the ice slide leaving us waiting for ever in the -6 deg temperature (chilled tents).
















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Location:Collaert Mansionstraat,Brugge,Belgium

Finishing our main time in Berlin....

A full week has nearly finished which means that I have spent about six days in museums! If there are any museum freaks out there...I will swap husbands with you. That said, most were fabulous...my personal highlight was the DDR museum which covered the day to day life in the eastern side of Germany. It was so good that we let Teagan roam it herself, she peered into all of the nooks and played with the displays and also had great joy in finding some of the rather explicit posters hiding behind some doors - she was horrified!

Overall, we are full of chocolate bananas, sausage, gluwhein, beer (well Ross only!) and nasty fair ground rides that you can only enjoy if you are significantly younger than me or have little understanding in the value of EUR3.50. I think I am ready to spend several hours on an ICE traveling at speed to the home of good european chocolates: Belgium!











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Location:Paula-Thiede-Ufer,Berlin,Germany

Another Christmas market or five?

Clearly one of the features of parts of Europe are the Christmas markets. Over the years, Ross and I have visited a few; many are highly commercial (well, of course they all are) but some have a special something about them. Last year, one in Regensburg was fabulous, so far this year, none have yet matched it but we have not been disappointed with what Berlin has had to offer. Spandau, had a great market where we passed a few hours last night, thoroughly enjoying a wide mix of music and a special step-back in life to the 1500s, Teagan has been enjoying a "ride" per night and has tumbled unhappily into bed nightly in tears of the exhaustion that only an enthusiastic seven year old can produce) we assume this "stage" will see itself through!), Ahh, she still weeps through lack of attention behind me in her comfortable child-bed!













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