Last Tuesday we had an outback adventure. Miss Gabby and I packed up the kids, a load of swags and jammed it all into the car and headed cross country to Mrs Gumnut Designz house for a School of the Air group day. Well days actually. We drove for one day, had 2 whole days there and then drove all day to get home.
Mrs Gumnut lives north of Tennant Creek. We drove across the dusty stock routes and in through the paddocks to get to her. So the trip (one way) involved about 6 hours in the car, about 500km, all of that was on dirt roads, apart from 70km of bitumen. We only saw about 5 vehicles the whole way and 2 of them were road trains.
If there is one tip I can give for travelling long distances with children it would be: AUDIOBOOKS! Heading over we all listened to Paper Planes. Lately we have listened to a few Roald Dahl audio books, and this time I wanted one that wasn’t so “kiddie like”, one that Miss Gabby and I would enjoy too. Now don’t get me wrong, I love Roald Dahl but just needed a little break. Paper Planes was fantastic. The kids stayed quiet, didn’t fight amongst each other and were generally pretty well behaved. So you can imagine the disappointment on my face on our return trip when I discovered that my phone needed an update and hence it wouldn’t play the other Audio Book I had downloaded. To say it was a LONG TRIP HOME was an understatement. The kids were tired and feral, I didn’t have that many songs, and they basically whinged and moaned for the whole 6.5 hours. I was the crankiest mother ever, I am pretty sure there was steam coming out of my ears.
So back to my story…. the group days… the kids had a ball. They just love these school days. There were about 13 children and 3 teachers. They got to have 3 nights together – one massive sleep over. What is a Group Day I hear you ask? Well these are days that are held on a Station. 2 teachers from in at School of the Air are a dedicated “Field Team” – they spend their time travelling around the countryside holding these days. People who live in the area come over. They are usually only one day, you travel over in the morning, stay the day, take some lunch and smoko to share and then head home. But because we live so far from each other here in the NT we make 2 days of it. The children learnt how to play the ukulele, played AFL and Golf and of course did some art. At the end of day 2 they held a little concert for the Mums. Here are some visuals….
Isn’t the station gorgeous, it is like the Royal Botanical Gardens. Like a huge park. Perfect for all of those children.
No one went hungry. No one ever does at these sort of days. Everyone brings a few dishes and some smoko’s and we pool it all together. Makes life much easier for the host.
Clancy and I got down and dirty with Mrs Gumnut – here she is in her natural environment. We were fortunate enough to be taken on a dump run and Clancy got to feed the chooks too.
Upon arriving home it was straight back to reality and back into the kitchen to whip up an impromptu dinner, so I grabbed some frozen prawns out of the cold room and knocked up a quick prawn curry.
This week I need to get on top of everything, try and get ahead with some baking because I am off again on Thursday. I am so excited it isn’t funny. I am heading to Melbourne for the Kidspot Voices 2015 Masterclass. This is a bloggy thing, so most of you could care less, but to those bloggers out there you will understand my excitement. I can’t wait to catch up with my blogging friends.
Mrs Savvy B is looking after Clancy for me for 3 nights. Isn’t she such a good friend. So we will head over to her house on Thursday afternoon and I will then head into Mt Isa very early on Friday morning to fly out at lunch time. Bring it on!
Is it a long weekend where you are? I hope you have had a great weekend if it is, did you do anything special? Here’s to a great week.
Where do you buy your audiobooks Chards? I think I might need to give them a try!
Bring on Friday!
I have been buying them from iTunes, but I used to buy them through audible.com and I think I might go back to Audible as it is much cheaper if you are buying lots of audiobooks.
For audio books some libraries also have them available, check if library in Mt Isa or other large centres have an e library option
Thanks Annie, someone else has told me this also, I just never seem to find time when I am in Mt Isa… but it sounds like a great idea. I suppose I could just phone them too.
Yay!! Big week for you!! Can’t wait to see the Melbourne pics 🙂
No long weekend for me, that’s abattoir life!! I did get yesterday off, one day is better than none!
My nephew stayed over Saturday night, we went to the circus (I still have hopes to run away with them, I have been practicing my juggling act!!) and we went out to Mum and Dad’s yesterday to ride the horses (cause the nephew wanted a pony ride at the circus and I refused to pay for something we can do at home – though given the whinging that occurred I should have just given them my money).
Sounds like a fabulous experience for the children.
They just love it Sandra. Something they will always remember.
Loving the action over your way as usual. Have to agree with you about the audio books Miss Chardy. They are such a great thing! Only thing now is affording my audio book habit. So I augment my ‘Audio’ purchases with free ones from a couple of libraries I belong too, that could work for you too maybe?
Hey have an excellent time in Melbourne. I went to a Kidspot workshop a few years ago and it was so much fun…I looked at flights just now and I will just have to enjoy it vicariously through you. I know you will do an ace job!!
Thanks Romana, I can’t wait to board the plane. You can live vicariously through me, happy to have you…shall keep you posted on FB and Insta.
Love your group day blog Chards, we all had so much fun!! Love Mrs Gumnut xxxx
Oh look at you commenting – so tech savvy!!! Thanks for having us, can’t believe it was a week ago that I was getting ready to head over…wow.
Gosh I have to say I had a nice taste of freedom last night and I can not wait for this weekend – see you soon gorgeous! x
You are so lucky to be able to just pop away for a night with your husband, Mr Chardy and I could really do with a night away right about now. I can’t wait to see you guys…. only 3 more sleeps!!!
What a great experience for all! Your life is so amazing and interesting to me. Hope you had had a great time this past weekend. I just cleaned, shopped, cooked, gardened and watched tv. Napped also. Work has been nuts, and now it’s early Monday AM and I have to return!
Your posts help me see beyond my life here. Thanks so much for giving me a peek.
Amie
Hi Amie…. where do you live? Love hearing where everyone lives…because I am totally nosey. Thanks so much for reading and saying hello. Glad you enjoy my posts. 🙂
Sounds like a great life Chards, incl for the kiddos out there – i have been reading your blogs lately but have been flat chat and not had time to reply i apologise, but have been enjoying them all! How wonderful the kids get all that socialising, they dont lack for anything out there, it sounds great! Have a great bloggy trip away, i imagine it will be perhaps better than a boggy trip on a muddy outback track away…bloggers trip sounds better! I hope you make lots of new pals, oops i mean learn a lot about blogging Sounds like u are being super organised lately…nice pics btw – Love seeing the photos!!
Oh Miss Twinings… so lovely to hear from you… things are just so crazy at the moment aren’t they, not a second to spare. I don’t feel very organised at the moment, feel like I have 10 thousand things to do and no time to do them. I can’t wait to catch up with some bloggy friends this weekend and meet new ones….it will be so fantastic. 🙂
This looked like so much fun! I agree, that station is beautiful! Cannot wait to hear about your adventures in Melbourne…I am sure you are going to have a fabulous time.
Hi Heidi… I can’t wait for Melbourne…. hope to keep you all posted via Facebook and Instagram. 🙂
Miss Chardy, I loved reading your blog! It was such a fun week and what a perfect location! Have a wonderful time away.
Hello there, so great to hear from you! Thanks so much for saying Hi.