Nanna and Grandad Visit!

Nanna and Granddad arrived last wednesday on the train.  They had spent a few days relaxing on the Indian Pacific (the train that goes from Perth to Sydney across the Nullabor).  As essentially we had a babysitter (Nanna) and  foreman/labourer (Grandad) we had a busy long weekend.  Between going to swimming lessons, Floriade, walking the dog, going to the Hall markets, we had one main project - to make long decking stairs connecting the back and laundry doors and an ongoing smaller project of window frame painting.

Thursday was a sensation day in Canberra - blue skies and a warm 27C.  After Ella worked on her swimming, we ventured to the markets and then bunnings for supplies. In the afternoon it was off to Floriade.  The flowers looked beautiful putting on a stunning display. Unfortunately we arrived at the Patting Paddock to find it closing as the animals were hot and stressed.

Friday Andy and I headed off to work and Ella to childcare.  Nanna and Grandad had a morning to themselves before picking Ella up in the afternoon.  Grandad started on the frame of the stairs getting most of it done by the time we got home from work while Ella kept Nanna entertained.

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Saturday involved putting the decking onto the frame.  Lots of cutting and drilling.  The weather was mostly kind which enabled the majority of the job to be completed.

On Sunday we headed out to the Hall markets, which are held on the first Sunday of the month. It had a good turnout of stallholders although we didn't purchase much except for a delicious spinach, feta, mince pancake thing for lunch.  Again we worked on the stairs in the afternoon but was interrupted by rain.

Monday morning dawned. Grandad was a little under the weather with a cold so we sent him and Nanna off walking with Ella and Pippa to get the paper.  Meanwhile work continued. By extending the stair along the behind the sandpit we were able to hide all the ugly drain bits and make a seating area. Again the weather wasn't optimal for power tools so we weren't able to complete the project.  

Meanwhile, Nanna took Ella shopping and came back with a doll!!  Ella was  very excited to have a doll she could wrap up and push in the pram.  I think she'll be even more excited when she realises she can give it a bath too!

Monday night Nanna and Grandad were suppose to fly home. My brother is a staff member of qantas which means really cheap fares but you could get 'bumped off' as he puts it.  Unfortunately for Nanna and Grandad the direct flight to Perth on Monday night had a weight restriction (thus they couldn't take maximum capacity of people) and the flight was fully booked out.  So after sitting in the departure gate for nearly 2 hours we were told that they couldn't get on and would be booked on a flight in the morning.  Back home we went - luckily Andy had cooked risotto and there was enough for everyone.

Bright and early (actually dark and early now that daylight saving has kicked in), Andy took Nanna and Grandad to the airport.  Their 6.20am flight from Canberra to Sydney was cancelled and they were transferred to the 7.20am.  Still they made it on to the connecting flight to Perth and arrived safely by lunchtime.  Their bags though didn't....