A kalaidoscope of fun ....

I've always thought Ipswich (the Queensland, Australia version), gets a bad rap.

There are gorgeous stately houses, just aching to be renovated; incredible unique homes, which have already been lovingly updated; plus parks and shopping to boot.

Queens Park, in particular, is a family favourite. It's a fairly quick drive from suburban Brisbane, you can usually park quite close (even during holidays), and the park itself is awesome. Plus, there's a free mini-zoo for the kids. (Okay and the adults as well).

But on this occasion, and with an extra child in tow, I thought we were due some culture, and we decided to check out the Ipswich Art Gallery instead.

Now, let's be honest: It's not as big as Brisbane's, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. We parked close by, and cheaply; and found our way there easily. There were a couple of girls on the front desk who were friendly and smiley, and who didn't seem to mind at all that we were focussed on getting to the exhibition for kids, rather than the high-brow stuff in-between.

And here's the thing: Ipswich Art Gallery is the first in Australia to have a gallery purely dedicated for kids. Where they can enjoy, play and discover art on their own, or with a little help from parents or staff.

Even better? It's free.

On this occasion, the exhibition was called The Real Thing: Interactive Kaleidoscope Fun For Kids.

The brainchild of new media artist Jordana Maisie, the gallery featured optical illusions, and other hands-on events. 

Did I mention it was free? And even better, if there was a high-priced gift shop or cafe on the way out, we didn't see it. 

The exhibition is on until July 11, by which time I'm sure it will be replaced by something equally as awesome. 

My kids-plus-one had a ball, and I highly recommend it.

If you look closely, this is actually Mr 9's face in the kalaidoscope

Miss 7 creates a masterpiece using the computer as a medium

The finished design...

A touch of Alice-through-the-looking-glass here

New media artists at work

It's shagadelic, baby!

Creating mini-kalaidoscopes

We made history!

Watching the news recently, Mr 9 was particularly taken with one particular story.

"Mum, I want to make history," he said. Don't we all?

In C's case, he was really keen to walk the Second Gateway Bridge on the only day it would be open to the public.

We live quite a long way from the bridge, so made an early start to get there before opening. Even so, the crowds were insane. (We found out later, some 175,000 had joined us on the walk across the river).

I would have loved to have linger at the fish and chips stalls, and to make the most of the views and entertainment, but our trip was cut short when Mr 9 had a dizzy spell. Turned out he had low blood pressure, and he needed some time out in the first aid before we could continue.

He'd eaten a huge meal, and had plenty of drink, so we don't really know what caused it - possibly the crowds, the long walk, and the excitement.

Anyway, even though we only made it partway across the bridge, the kids were still chuffed to have been part of Brisbane history.

Miss 7, aka Little Red Riding Hood, begins the trek across the bridge

Time for a snack ... the Great Aussie sausage in bread, with mustard and tomato sauce

Brisbane's longest seafood feast

Mmm ... what to choose?

$10 fish,chips, lemon and tartare sauce from one of the stalls.

Mr 9 puts his feet up at the first aid tent

From Brisbane, with love...

I love you too - seriously!

Anyone who knows me, knows I love a good Freebie.
I blame the Marquardt gene ... it's a quirk of nature where we are born unable to resist a bargain.
Like my parents, I religiously enter competitions, though my biggest win so far has been a Vegemite hamper (and I had to give half of that away, as it included peanut butter and Toblerone .... Mr 9 has a life-threatening allergy to nuts).
Still, I can do stuff for free with the kids, and to my relief, they love it.
Picnics in the park - any park will do; feeding the ducks/eels/fish at our local creek; spending time with family and friends; even pottering around in the garden.

Here we are doing the DIY Day spa at home. Miss 7 enjoys a bubble bath, complete with face and hair mask. We followed that up with a massage, hair-styling and manicure session.
We love Ipswich's Queens Park, and during our last visit, there was a jazz music festival too. The kids weren't that keen on the jazz (sorry performers, because you were truly awesome), but they did love the carnival atmosphere.)

Mr 9 loved the jumping castle

Wheeeee! A fearless Miss 7

Hmm ... I wonder when I should put the balls in (Note to Miss 7: It doesn't really matter, the prizes are always crap!)

Can I get one of these signs for the kids?

A swan at the free mini-zoo. There were babies this time, but we didn't see any.

The flying fox

Miss 7's turn

IF YOU GO:

Ipswich's Queens Park is usually free, though on this occasion we did have to pay for rides. Queens Park is one of Queensland's oldest, and boast 22 hectares or so of huge trees, grassy areas, a fab playground, and a miniature zoo and nature park.

MEANWHILE, I recently won a double pass to see Aussie comedian/writer Peter Helliar's new movie I Love You Too at Indooroopilly's BCC for TONIGHT. I can't go, because I am on Mummy Duty tonight, so if you'd like to go, leave me a comment with your favourite Brisbane freebie. Make sure you include your email addy so I can send you the pass!

Marvellous Maleny

One of the Sunshine Coast's worst-kept secret is the hinterland. Towns like Maleny, Montville, and their nearby lookouts and national parks are just gorgeous, and all within an hours' drive of Brisbane (give or take, depending on where you live).
We used to spend loads of time there many years ago, when my lovely brother S. and his family lived there.
So when they visited recently, we couldn't resist the chance to meet up at Maleny for old times' sake.

A delicious Mochacino

Miss 7 chose a meat pie with a cow pastry on top!

Mr 9 opted for a 'second-breakfast' three-egg ham and cheese omelette. He's a growing boy.

Ah, so true. A sign in the main street.

Now these are mice I wouldn't mind finding in my kitchen!

Assorted deliciousness!

Old-fashioned sweet shop

We ended the day with a swim in our cousins' pool ...they are lucky enough to live on the coast!

I'd go to the opening of a ... motorway?

I'd go to the opening of a motorway.
There. I said it.
I'm a single Mum, money is tight, and in fact, I learnt a long time ago that when kids are concerned, the simple things in life are often the best.
So when a flyer came through our letterbox proclaiming a new motorway was about to be opened, I resisted the urge to put it in the bin.
Instead, I asked the kids if they'd like to go.
Would they?
Would they what!
And so we found ourselves at a celebration marking a new part of the motorway between Ipswich and Brisbane.
And to my surprise, not only was the entry free, but there was a bus to save little (and elderly) legs, from walking too far.
Once there, the fun was on for young and old.
Kiddies could have their faces and bodies painted; oldies could climb the stairs and overlook the motorway for the first and only time; and a great time was had by all.
There was a wonderful atmosphere, with many workers and their families attending the day not to mention local residents. And the kids loved the freebies - shopping bags, caps, yoyos, and even coffee travel mugs (hot chocolate for them!)

Poster child for the cause

Pot your own tomato plant ...

Pussycat child with a balloon sausage dog

Lunch time - gold coin donation for a sausage in bread

Free jumping castle was a little boring since Miss 7 was the only child on it!

The press pack. Once, a million years ago, I would have been part of it!

It's The Climb (sung in my best Miley Cyrus voice)

Too cool for face-painting, Mr 9 opted for a 'tattoo' - Spongebob Squarepants

The reason for the fuss...masses of roads!

The Climb, part two
You have to start at the bottom to reach the top!

C. loved the balloon artists

You make it, how?
Fairy floss and face-paint - a kiddy delight!

Missy turned pussycat

Fairy floss plus Mr 9 = a very excitable boy

The Elderado Cinemas

It wouldn’t be school holidays without a trip to the movies, and when in Brisbane, I like to take the kids to the Eldorado8 Cinemas at Indooroopilly.

A trip to the Eldorado is not only cheaper than the huge BCC and Hoyts multiplexes, but it’s like stepping back in time.

I always tell the kids the Eldorado experience is a bit like going to the movies when I was a girl.

Brisbane’s largest independently-owned cinema stands on a site that was once a blacksmith shop (apparently the odd horseshoe still turns up occasionally), and is an icon for generations of Brisbane movie-lovers.

As a single Mum, I love that there is free parking right underneath the complex, and that the munchies from the candy bar are reasonably priced. That means I don’t mind splashing out on a treat for the kids rather than smuggling in our own supplies, which everyone knows, is nowhere near as much fun!

(Oh come on, loads of people do it – don’t they?) In any case, customers are allowed to take in snacks and drinks at this cinema, as long as they are the same as the goodies sold inside.

The Eldorado kids’ combo deal includes popcorn, frozen slushie, and a bag of mixed lollies for $6, and since movie tickets are already cheaper than the bigger complexes, it’s really good value for money.

The dinky old-fashioned seats are a bit small – I nearly sat on Mr 9’s slushie, much to his horror – but are perfectly sized for young humans, and a reminder to parents to abstain from the candy bar.

This time around, the kids chose The Spy Next Door. Starring the always-likeable Jackie Chan, the flick is pretty crap by adult standards – the acting is wooden, Chan is an international-spy-turned-hopeless-babysitter, and ‘the Russians’ are the bad guys – but the slapstick comedy got huge laughs from all the kids in the audience. It’s a pleasant enough way to spend a couple of hours in air-conditioned comfort – Autumn weather has yet to hit Brisbane!

If you go:

The Eldorado 8 Multiplex Cinema

141 Coonan Street

Indooroopilly

www.eldoradocinema.com.au

Ph: 07 3378 1566

Alma Park Zoo

My kids are a marketer’s dream.

They see the ads, they want the product. And they’re not just keen on theme parks and toys; Oh dear me, no. They are also convinced we need loads of the ubiquitous handy household stuff that are regularly spruiked on daytime TV.

“Mum, we need one of those,” says Mr 9, of miraculous inventions called ShamWows and Steam Mops. And also, those Zumba weightloss DVDs. Hmm ...

Anyway, for years now, the ankle-biters have been taken with television ads for Brisbane’s Alma Park Zoo.

Located on the other side of Brisbane, I’ve always whipped out that useful Mummy staple answer of ‘one day’, whenever they’ve asked to visit.

Eventually, One Day actually came, and the kids couldn’t quite believe it when we pulled up at the entrance.

It’s a weird set-up, where you pay at the entrance to the car park ... which means much fiddling with credit cards and cash, and I imagine, some delays on weekends and holidays.

Luckily, this wasn’t the case for our visit, but I couldn’t help but wonder why they do it that way. Perhaps it’s because, compared to other zoos and tourist attractions we’ve been lucky enough to visit, the entrance isn’t actually that inviting. Perhaps some would-be visitors might scarper after clocking the comparatively steep entry fee! (It cost $A72 for the three of us.)

It was pleasing to see free picnic and barbecue facilities under shady trees, and I wish we’d thought of bringing a hamper of goodies and drinks instead of having to make do with snacks from the cafe.

Perhaps we’re spoiled but the zoo wasn’t a patch on similar attractions we’ve visited. The enclosures seemed small and run-down, and in some cases, it was hard to get a good look at the animals via the cages.

“It wasn’t as good as they make it look on TV,” Mr 9 said glumly. And I had that sad feeling in the pit of my stomach that you get sometimes when you see wild animals in cages ... a feeling which doesn't come as frequently in these enlightened times.

To be fair, Alma Park Zoo is some 40 years old, and like many 40-somethings (myself included) could probably do with a makeover. There were loads of animals though, including red pandas, lemurs, and even a sun bear; and the kids got to feed a host of furry and feathered friends.

It was an enjoyable afternoon, though I wouldn’t rush back. And at least the ‘can we go there?” requests have ended – for now!

"Mumma, this aminal (sic) is dead!" said Miss 7 dramatically. Er no, it was just sleeping.

A sleepy koala

Mr 9 feeds the donkeys ... he was game!

Poo ... I don't think this dude has heard of breath freshener

Feeding the farm animals

It can't be helped, but it's always disappointing when exhibits are closed
There were some really cute two-legged animals there too!