Category: Katoomba and Weather

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3 years and beyond Katoomba and Weather

Winter Magic

Dragon on the Carrington
Dragon on the Carrington

Today was Winter Magic, if you are in Katoomba you will know that this is a parade to celebrate the winter solstice. The weather was great a real surprise from yesterday, today was blue sky with no clouds in the sky and yesterday it was black clouds, rain and threatening snow.  It was even warmer than I expected the day to be, check out some pictures of the day from The Blue Mountains Gazette.

I was asked to march with two groups for winter magic and we decided to march with the North Katoomba Community Hub, these guys do such great work and it is a great community of parents, kids, and local people who contribute their skills and time to this community organisation.

The theme as I could tell were dragons, I thought that it was something that the guys at the hub had decided upon, but after seeing that there were dragons everywhere, it must have been a theme that was for the whole parade not just for one.

Daddy and Lilly
Daddy and Lilly

The girls were very good and marched with me all the way without any complaint. I was so proud of them, Lillian looked like she was getting very tired and near the end kept on rubbing her eyes, slowing down and looking at things other than where she was walking. I am very pleased that the kids finished the march without the need for me to carry anyone. Carrying someone would have been impossible as I was tasked with holding a banner also.

After we left the parade we went off to have fish and chips, not in a park as it is cold, but at home. Let’s hope that this lovely weather keeps up… I need to do some washing and would like to not use the dryer. How has your weekend been so far? Did you go and have adventures with the family? Send in your comments.

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Katoomba and Weather

Want to be somewhere warm

It is freezing here. We are facing about 3 days of severe wind with possible wind speed to get to 115km or more per hour. Last night I just laid awake and listened to the scary wind and hoped that the house did not end up like the one in the wizard of oz.  I am from Queensland and miss the beach and the warm weather. Why is it that we have to have a freezing cold winter, why can’t it be unusually warm? I know I live in the Blue Mountains and it is cold so what do I expect. A girl can dream of warm days at the beach, the current day dream is for the whole family to hope on a plane and go to Fiji or Queensland to a resort and to be pampered and be warm at least.

It has been windy all day and raining all day, from a drizzle to heavy rain. Just being out for a couple of minutes I feel the cold wind go straight through me… maybe I need to invest in warmer jackets and pants?

This afternoon when I picked the girls up from school it was raining, just getting a bit wet, I could not feel my hands. Not feeling hands did not help putting kids seat-belts on.

Current temperature is:

  • 4.5°C
  • Recorded min: 2°C
  • Recorded max: 3°C
  • Feels like: 0.6°C
  • Humidity: 98%
  • Rainfall since 9am: 11.2mm
  • Wind: S 18km/h
  • Wind gusts: 32km/h

However for most of the day it was about 2 or 3 degrees but felt like minus 4 degrees.

I hope you are all keeping safe, warm and that you are o.k from the strong winds.

If you have any recommendations for warm gloves send them in. My hands get so cold that I cannot feel them, not good as I fear that it will get worse. It is only day 5 in winter and it is so cold.

Categories
Katoomba and Weather University Study

A Chilly Update

Fallen Branch
Fallen Branch

Hi everyone, long time no post. It is very cold here today and was freezing yesterday. This morning the current temperature care of Sydney Morning Herald Weather was:

  • Current temp: 3.6°C
  • Recorded min: 2°C
  • Recorded max: n/a
  • Feels like: -3.0°C
  • Humidity: 77%
  • Wind: WSW 46km/h
  • Wind gusts: 72km/h

Last night wind gusts got up to 106km/h and as you can imagine it was scary to listen to. I am glad we are o.k, and all well. A branch off a tree in the front yard fell over the fence, and it was lucky to not hit next door’s house and also the power lines.  I heard the big bang when it happened, but it was too dark to see anything. I did try and look but it was no good.

I am still ill with a cold, it is getting better. Today all of us are off to a good friends engagement party. We are looking forward to that but not braving the cold.  So think dressing in layers is the key today.

University group assignment was submitted but not without dramas. I lost Internet connection and things were not done that I thought might have been. Oh well, at least it is done and I don’t have to worry about it any more. Just keen now to see what mark I get for it.  Only outstanding items for uni is tutorial questions and study for exam.

We are now back from the party and caught up with some friends we have not seen in a long time. It was nice. Now waiting for takeaway to be delivered and then maybe an early night. Still cold and current temperature is:

  • Current temp: 14.3°C
  • Recorded min: 10°C
  • Recorded max: 17°C
  • Feels like: 13.1°C
  • Humidity: 50%
  • Rainfall since 9am: 0.2mm
  • Wind: W 17km/h
  • Wind gusts: 22km/h

So even though we are in double digits for the temperature it is very cold here and we have put on nearly every heater. Looking forward to a nice sleep and relaxing after dinner.

 

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3 years and beyond Katoomba and Weather

Appliances fail and horse races

Today was freezing as was last night. It is only April and we are so cold I think this winter this year will be a very cold one. If winter is a terrible one, does that mean that we might finally get a summer that is warm?  You never know, so I am putting my order in now for a decent summer, if I have to live through a terrible winter, I am owed a summer, this summer must also not be one that has non-stop rain.

Before we ventured out of the house, we have now realised that 2 pieces of technology have failed us, and we are not happy at all. We now have a toaster that only toasts 2 pieces of bread, it is a 4 bread toaster, and one side is now not working. The second piece of technology that has failed is the biggest problem, the washing machine. I had only put the girl’s big blankets in to wash when I smelt an electrical burning smell. Not good, alerted James and we have now realised that the washing machine has died. This information is not good and as we are strapped for cash, could not have happened at a worse time. With this annoying and frustrating news, we decided we should go somewhere and exhaust kids and spend a day out as a family.

So off to the Bathurst races we went.  I was not keen on the idea as it is freezing, I had a terrible headache and it is a little better but still not 100%, what I wanted to do was go back to bed. Alas that is not what happened.

So after arriving at the races, I looked around and realised nearly everyone was very dressed up. All of us were in many layers just trying to keep warm, and these layers consisted of jeans, t-shirts, jumpers, jackets and the like. Nothing fancy, like a suit, tie, jacket, dresses or high heels.  The girls were barley dressed in anything and if they were wearing something it was a dress that just grazed their bum, no stockings, no jacket to keep warm and high heels that did not match the dress and were too high for most of these girls to walk in. Many of the girls had taken off their shoes and were bare foot, not something I would encourage on a chilly, windy day like today.  Not sure if I am being a fuddy duddy, but I think there is a way to look sexy, stylish and dress warmly. Maybe I am just getting old.

Since we were dealing with kids, anytime a new race was on we never got the chance to place a bet, It was the only time I have been to the races and never put a bet on a horse. Pity it was not the cheapest, today was still expensive.  Although, I did find $10, thank god for the windy day.

Just to give you an idea of the current temperature in Katoomba, see below. Sourced from Sydney Morning Herald’s Weather page.

  • Current temp: 6.3°C
  • Recorded min: 2°C
  • Recorded max: 9°C
  • Feels like: 1.3°C
  • Humidity: 81%
  • Wind: WSW 35km/h
  • Wind gusts: 61km/h

Now we are home, kids are fed (both ate very little of their food), kids are now in bed, and I am about to start working away on the group university assignment. Tomorrow I need to address the issue of washing the clothes and will be off to the Laundromat. I am hoping to get them washed so I can then hang them on the line at home.

Hopefully after the issue of the clothes is dealt with, I am off to see my nana and my mother for the day. Not looking forward to braving the laundromat with kids, but it needs to be done. What appliances have failed at your place? How did you cope? Send in your comments. Remember to vote for us for Best Australian Blog.

 

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3 years and beyond Katoomba and Weather Pre-School

Wet weather options

It was a big day for us girls on Wednesday. Off to an indoor play centre and then in the evening to a board meeting, at the girls past child care centre. The decision to go to an indoor play centre was made easy by torrential rain that would not ease, and of course kids that wanted to run wild. However mummy just wanted to go back to bed. This relaxing in bed was never going to happen, so why not take them somewhere to exhaust the little monkeys.

Before we even got out the door, the girls had already done many pages of collage; drawing and I had painted their faces with face paint, a gift from grandma. I must say that face painters are safe as my skills are terrible in this area, but the girls were happy with the results, so glad that they did not know any better.

Isn’t it always the way, when you want to leave the house, or get out of the car, it rains heavier than before and seems to get worse and worse. We stayed in the car for a bit to see if it would get better, but no luck. Then I realised we could not stay in the car for a long, due to the girls eventually saying, “I need to go to the toilet mummy.” With this thought, I decided we just needed to run for it.  All three of us made it, although soaked and now a bit colder than we were before.

The girls were very pleased to be at the play area, and I packed a lunch so it makes it easy (and cheaper). While we are there, they can eat and then have a rest when we get home. Julia and Lillian spotted a friend from pre-school and all of them were excited. Great, they have a friend to play with. So from then on they were running and playing with their girlfriend. This means mummy can just have a cuppa tea without having to entertain kids; yippee!

The only problem arises at this place is when you have to leave. When you announce to your child/children that you have to go/to pack up/put shoes on, they run away and cannot be found. You end up giving extra time, and then eventually resorting to evil mummy tactics. Grabbing one child and then getting them organised and holding them until you get the other, if it fails. I let them know that if they behave badly, we will never come back. This usually results in, “Oh, oaky mummy” and “oaky” and mean looks at me.

Upon exiting the indoor play area, the rain was still as heavy as when we came in. If anything it seems like it had gotten heavier and worse. A kind lady on the counter minded the girls, while I went to get the car. This helped as it would have been difficult with two kids in the rain.

We went home to rest before our next outing, which was to the girls ex child care centre. They used to go there for two years, but now they go to pre-school. I am still on the board at the centre and went for the regular meeting. The girls get minded by some ladies who work at the centre, and the kids love it, as they get to see their old teachers/carers/friends that go to the centre. They get fed so all I have to do is give them some milk and it is off to bed. Upon leaving it was still pouring with rain, we finally made it home tired and wet.

What do you do when it is pouring with rain, and it does not stop? Do your kids run amok, or do they like being inside doing puzzles, drawing or other tasks? Mine love to go outside and seem to feel couped up if the rain lasts for too long. Not a good thing in a small house with bad weather. Send in your comments.

Remember to vote for us for Best Australian Blog.

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3 years and beyond Family Katoomba and Weather Pre-School

A bit grumpy

Lunches are made and are in the fridge. Week 2 of pre-school starts tomorrow, yippee another 3 days off (not full days, just a school day) for me to get some things done and for my time out. I am really looking forward to it.

This weekend was busy for me. I was tasked with looking after the girls (Not like this is different from the status quo anyway) as James had to work on a presentation for his work.  It was very disappointing for me, as I like the fact that daddy is available on weekends to be with the girls and to help out.  I know it was work and it does not happen all the time so that is something to be grateful for.  However it got me thinking.  Why is it o.k. for the husband to lock himself away at the computer all weekend just due to a presentation for work? I mentioned that when I have urgent projects or things I need to do for university, I don’t get that amount of time to do any of my work. I have to do it all at night, not during the day when you are at your best.  I did mention this to James and it was met with I could always get an extension on an assignment if I need to. He cannot get an extension for a work presentation.

To top it off, Lillian was so unsettled Saturday night that she was screaming and crying and was a mess. I ended up taking her to bed with me, the girls call mummy and daddies bed the “big bed”. She snuggled up to me and wanted to hold my hand and cuddle me. She was so upset. James went in at first to calm her down. He thought that worked, but when he left she was hysterical. When I first came into her room she said there was a thing coming in the window for her. I told her that she was safe and all was o.k. probably did not help that there was a house down the road having a party and playing doof doof music. The beat was vibrating on the girl’s floor. I was just thankful that Julia slept and I only had to deal with one upset child at a time.

So Saturday night I did not sleep the best, as I had a little girl trying to snuggle into me, which was very nice and wonderful, however it makes you get in all sorts of different positions that cannot be good for your neck or back. Hoping that tonight I will have the bed to myself aside from James.   I was so tired after dealing with Lillian in the bed and getting up early for Julia. I organised breakfast for the kids and me, and after we were all fed, I told James that I was going back to bed. It was nice that was o.k, as I knew he was still doing his presentation. The girls played nicely with each other. They played in the backyard due to sunshine at the time, and watched Tangled, the new film about Rapunzel. The girls are so invloved in the story that Lillian was calling herself “Tangled” and Julia was calling herself “Gene”. I suppose this is a nice change from Fiona and Shrek. So I should not complain to loudly as it was nice to have that nap this morning as it was much needed.

James’ presentation is complete and I hope it will be a success on Monday.  The weather here has been crazy all weekend as per during the week. I took the girls swimming at Springwood on Saturday; it started out as a nice sunny day.  When we got in the car to drive to get lunch for everyone there were black clouds, and it poured down.  Today it did the same thing, however it was not blue skies, there was sun and clouds and it did the same thing. Thunderstorm this afternoon and now another one while I write this, thunder getting very loud and the lightening is like flash photography.

Does any mother/partner get annoyed when it seems like that when you ask for the same thing you don’t get it? I do not begrudge James getting his presentation done or letting him have the time to do it. I just feel that he could have come out with all of us for a little family time. He likes the job, and I like him having the job, plus he is good at it. However, I am not sure why you cannot spend some time with the family during the day and then get back to the presentation later in the day or work on it during the evening. It would tire out the kids and also then we could leave him alone to get his work finished.  I will use this to my advantage though, next time I have a major assignment, he can look after the girls all weekend.  I think that is fair, don’t you?

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3 years and beyond Feeling Frumpy Katoomba and Weather

A walk in sunshine and rain

Woke up to nice sunny, hot weather, about time I hear you say. It feels like the rain has set in and will never leave.  Very worried about autumn and of course winter. Living in Katoomba in the Blue Mountains, it gets very cold. If it continues this wet weather we will be in for a cold and wet winter. This is not something I enjoy. I love summer, but not when it is wet and gloomy. So as it was sunny and warm, I made the most of it.  I organised the girls to get in the pram, packed us up and I walked into town, well Katoomba that is.

As I have been meaning to do some exercise, it was nice that the weather was so nice.   So all 3 of us were out and about for a walk, well mummy was walking and huffing and puffing some of the way. It is hard to push the pram with it all stocked with 2 little people on board now. I suppose this helps with the exercise, so I shouldn’t complain.  We finally got to the shops, I dropped of daddies shirts at the cleaners, then we went off to check the post office for a parcel we are expecting went to the bakery and purchased cheese and bacon rolls for the girls, then off to Coles to get some shopping.

On the way back the pram was packed up well with all the shopping plus the girls. It was getting black and dark. There was a big black cloud getting darker and darker. We heard loud thunder and I thought I had to speed up to get us home. I had a bit of walking to do. The whole idea now of taking the pram seemed like a stupid idea. How will I ever get back in time.

I managed to get down Station Street and if you know that street it is all downhill. I jogged with the pram all the way down that street. I was trying to make up some time to get us home quickly. However that did not help a great deal, just around the corner from the house it started to rain, thunder and lightning seemed to be getting worse and felt very close. I was trying to keep up with the jogging but could not, ended up fast walking. This was met with sadness from the girls as they liked me going fast and really enjoyed the speed. Pity it was not something I could keep doing. Maybe after more sessions jogging or fast walking I could do that, only if the weather would permit.

We managed to get home, wet and I was so exhausted. I got the girls out of the pram, put the pram under cover, and opened the house. Made sure all windows were closed and then raced outside to get the clothes off the line.

Have you ever been caught by the weather? Has it made it difficult if you had kids with you? What did you do? I did think of getting a taxi or bus, however you would have to wait for that and the likelihood is that the rain would have been worse by this stage. After we were all indoors it bucketed down. I also learnt that there were weather warnings for hail and severe thunderstorms in the area. We were very lucky to get home when we did. If I had known that would have happened, I would have taken the car.  Although every time I do and it ends up a nice sunny day, I kick myself for not going out and exercising and enjoying the weather while we can.

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3 years and beyond Katoomba and Weather Potty Training Pre-School

Too Easy

The girls successfully have completed their first week at pre-school. They both had a great time, however Julia took a bit of work to get organised in the mornings to get out the door. Julia decided that she did not like her shirt, shoes, did not want her hair brushed and dealt with this by falling down in the hallway screaming and crying. Once out the door and at school she was fine. I am thinking it is due to the new schedule and the change from childcare to pre-school. I could be wrong, she was doing this before, and so it could just be a stage.

Today was the first day not at school this week so we all went to playgroup. It was a wonderful change in the weather to have blue skies and sunshine and currently still do. Crossing fingers it lasts more than a day. Due to the good weather, I have done about 3 loads of washing, clothes are on the line and we all walked to playgroup. Well, mummy walked the girls were in the pram. Although the girls are big enough to walk, it is easier to take the pram. The girls end up getting tired and I cannot carry everything with me. When we go, I bring their potties as there is only one toilet, what to do if someone is in it and one of the girls or both need to go? So I take our own. Better to be organised.

The other mums were asking me, and the girls how they went at pre-school this week. Anna asked Julia and Lillian, and then Lillian said, “It is too easy”.  I thought that was very funny coming from them as this is the first week at the new school, however on Wednesday the teachers were giving them tasks to learn about the colours or at least see if they know them. Both girls know all their colours so it was no big thing for them. They were also asked to put a pink block tower back together once the teacher took it apart.  They had water play, painting and collage. So at this stage it is possibly easy. Not sure what else is in store for them this term, but I am sure there will be other things that they have never done, that won’t be “too easy”. Or maybe it is for them, who knows, we will see.

Yesterday Julia wanted to put her seat belt on in the car all by herself, and gets annoyed when it does not happen. She ends up twisting the straps so it makes it impossible to get it clicked in place no matter who long she struggles with it. She gets in such a mood that I cannot show her how to sort the straps out. She does not want me to touch it as that is considered mummy fixing it and she wants to do it. She yells, screams and cries, “I want to do it, me, let me!!!”, however you cannot just stand there for hours waiting for a seat belt to be done up. Lillian the other day has figured it out.  It does not help that she says proudly “I did it”.

The new pre-school fosters independence which is good, but as Julia had this breakdown with the seat belt 3 times yesterday I was so over independence. Just let me do it, so that we can get going. It is a pity that the mood she gets in she will not listen to what I am saying, I am happy that she tries to do it, however I need to show her how and then I am happy to watch her do it, but not when it is all wrong and never going to work.

Both girls are now able to get in and out of the pram themselves. They can put their seat belts on and Lillian can take her’s off as well. Julia can put it on but has some trouble getting it off, this will change in time. It is nice that you can tell the girls to go into the pram and get their seat belts on and they do. Very relaxing indeed.

Let’s hope that school is “too easy” for the girls, and they do well. This might change when they move to big school in 2014, or at least to harder concepts at the pre-school.

Does your child want to do things by themselves? Is it easy for them or do they struggle? Are they doing some things better than others? How do you manage with the child/children trying to do things themselves when you need to be out the door for an appointment? I usually take over if I need to be somewhere and deal with the tantrums and screams.

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Katoomba and Weather

Rain, Rain go away!!!

Not only has it been raining for weeks on end, today it is cool and very windy. Not good at all. Was hoping to go out to a park with the girls at some point to have them run around, however with this weather this is not a good idea.

This is the worst summer and really more like winter. This makes me feel that winter will be more of the same but even colder. Oh the joys of living in a cold environment.  Currently the weather at 8:06am in the morning is:

  • Current temp: 17.5°C
  • Recorded min: n/a
  • Recorded max: n/a
  • Feels like: 17.5°C
  • Humidity: 95%
  • Rainfall since 9am: 2.4mm
  • Wind: NNW 20km/h
  • Wind gusts: 41km/h

The temperature does not reflect the cool of the wind. I would also like to mention that I have kept wearing my flannel pj’s and had all the blankets and doona on the bed. This is summer we are in and it is normally hot and balmy. This time of year we normally have 1 sheet on the bed and I am in a t-shirt at most with shorts. Well not this year.

I am sure it is not just Katoomba or the Blue Mountains that is having a bad summer. Is anyone else over the wet weather and would like some sunny pleasant days before Autumn and Winter happen. Not sure there is much anyone can do but try and figure out inside activities for yourself and the kids. Looks like we might have to go out and see if we can get some more paper to draw with as we are running out very fast. My little artists are going through so much paper it is hard to keep up. Glad that they are expressing themselves, however I need to find a roll of paper/butchers paper or similar that I can just cut off when needed.  I did go to K-Mart for this and they only sell printer paper, so no luck there.

Will let you all know what we got up to today. One of the tasks is that I want to tidy a bit and have the girls help out. Should be interesting.

Categories
Katoomba and Weather

First week of Autum

Currently we have had a cool spell in Katoomba, and probably the mountains area. I am fearing that this winter will be a very cold one. We have had so much rain and James, my husband is predicting that we will get snow this year. It would be good from the point of view that the girls will be more aware to have fun and realise what snow is, but not looking forward to it getting so cold.

Still trying to get the girls toliet trained and no luck as yet. Small steps still. Yesterday they both were telling me often that they want to go to school. I told them to go to school you need to go to the toliet on the potty. The answer I got back was, “Oh, mummy, I want to go to school”. I would love them to go to school now, but they are 2 years and 5 months, too young and still in nappies.

I am aiming to have them mostly toliet trained before 3 years of age so that they can go to pre-school. Crossing fingers. As they are 3 in September they might have to wait for the following year. I need the break during the day as they are not sleeping in the day any more so pre-school would be great to keep them occupied physically and mentally.

Heaters are on, warm blankets on this week and flannel pj’s are a must now. Not looking forward to winter if Autum is starting off this cool.  Also trying to convince little people to sit on a potty in the cold is not going to help the toliet training issue.

Stay tuned for updates on how cold it is to get.