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Hoover has been on a wait list for Kinderballet since March of this year. I didn't really think that she would get in to this extremely popular ballet school and gave up hoping months ago. Hoover on the other hand, never gave up hope as she believes in her heart of hearts that she is a fairy-princess-ballerina.

Two weeks ago she finally got the phone call she had been waiting for. An unexpected vacancy had occured and there was now a spot for Hoover in Mr Nate's class. If truth be told I think Hoover was a little perplexed about the good news as she was not expecting a 'man teacher'. I think she was secrectly hoping for Miss Lilly to materialise.

I didn't envy Mr Nate's position as I think every little girl in that room had a similar expectation. Yet, by the end of the class and to his credit, he had eight budding ballerina's swanning around him promising to return the following week.

I love how my girl runs to go get her apron when she sees me in the kitchen.

'What can I do Mama' she asks

'How about you wash the dirt off some potatoes'? I reply

'That sounds like a good idea' she replies

Some days my fridge is heaving with all manner of possibilities. And then other days it's just a barren wasteland. Today is one of those wasteland kind of days. But thankfully there was a bunch of flat leaf parsley and a good sized chunk of grana padano. Not exactly pesto, but with a handful of almonds and a glug of extra virgin olive oil we have a simple dinner in a matter of moments (well that is if I can find some spaghetti).

As a family we have had our fair share of trials and hardships over the years. We've had to struggle through a redundancy (thank-you tech-wreck), having a child, becoming parents, post-natal depression, having another child, another redundancy, running our own consultancy, falling out of love, a premature mid-life crisis (not me) and falling in love again.

When I reflect back on the last couple of years and see how far we have come I am grateful that 'we' are still here and that we're a family. But above all I am grateful that there is honesty, truth and love.

Today Hoover received her last round of jabs in accordance with the current immunisation schedule. It's at times like this that you realise that the older your children get the more astute, discerning and argumentative they have become. Hoover is far more perceptive than she was two years ago when she had her last jabs and that is probably why I have let it slip.
 
Earlier this week I received a stern letter reminding me that my child couldn't start school until she had been fully immunised. Well that was all the impetus I needed to call our family doctor and make an appointment. I then sat Hoover down and told her that we were going to see Dr Jeremy on thursday morning. Well that went down like a lead balloon and she flatly refused to go! I then explained that every child in Australia needs to be fully immunised or else they would not be allowed to go to school.

Hoover was clearly perturbed about her impending fate and at 10pm last night she was still unable to get to sleep. So, late last night Hoover and I sat on her bed chatting about her 'im-bu-zi-zation'. The trade off was simple - she would willingly have her jabs if I got her a pair of golden ballet slippers.

Yesterday we shared lunch with Gillian and Brendan and their gorgeous family as we are in the process of planning our trip to Malta and Spain later this year. As per usual there was way too much food, and we all needed a little Campari induced siesta after our long lunch.

Brendan made a hearty French onion soup  for entree and Gillian made a wonderful spicy fish tagine with Maltese potatoes for main. I managed to redeem myself after my marscapone & berry tart disaster and made a baked lemon cheesecake for dessert.

Probably the most gorgeous gesture of the day was Isabella's chocolate cookies that she prepared earlier for afternoon tea. Isabella is Gillian and Brendan's eldest daughter and she is proving to be a rather impressive baker at the tender age of fourteen.

After years of little or no rain, long periods of drought and subsequent water restrictions Melbourne is finally experiencing rain! Hoover could not be happier - ecstatic actually as her pink spotted Wellies now go with her everywhere.

This is generally what happens when you leave a couple of four year olds alone for five minutes with a bowl of chocolate frosting and some chocolate flakes while you attempt to have a quiet cup of tea...

Often it's the simple things in life that are incredibly memorable!

Hoover has been unwell this past week with a nasty cough and runny nose, so I have kept her away from kinder. While she has been home she has helped me out in the kitchen, has played with play dough, painted, played dress ups, argued, debated and watched way too much television for a four year old. Despite the constant activity she declared that she is 'bored with my life'. Desperate for ideas I suggested that maybe we should go collect some autumn leaves and then bring them back home to make a collage - thankfully she went with the idea.

The other day I was having one of those days where nothing was going right and everything was going wrong and I just couldn't get it together. So rather than 'push through' and persevere I chose to do something far more sensible. I decided to duck into this gorgeous little cafe in Piper street and escape, albeit for a moment.