Not in Canberra

We had been looking forward to a weekend in Canberra with the Seoul-based branch of the family so much!! .... but this is what the conditions were like in Canberra over the weekend....(view from our North facing windows - this is what the most polluted city in the world looks like - and a maximum temperature of 44oC on Saturday!!!!)

 So our Seoul-based family made the very wise decision to bypass Canberra - and head straight to Sydney, from Melbourne. Just another consequence of the horrendous fires destroying so much of our part of Australia - we know it is only a tiny consequence in the bigger picture but so disappointing for us!!

However, with a bit of juggling and a few phone calls, Rob and I were able to join them in Sydney for a few days - but still hard on the rest of our Canberra family members who didn't have the same flexibility as us.

So on Monday afternoon, in Coogee, Sydney, we were able to meet "Prince Vincent" (PV) for the first time - and what a heart breaker he is!!! Picture credit: Joel and Kay

 Our seriously overdue Christmas/birthday presents went over well ……... Picture credit: screenshot of video by Joel and Kay.

 And I was amazed at how well he handled all the new people and the beyond noisy bedlam at Barzura's that night for our welcome dinner together. Photo credit: Joel (ACS)

 There are good reasons why this little boy is such a happy traveler … he has his grandparents travelling with him too. They shower him with attention and affection - so no wonder he is such a happy chappy despite all the changes to routine and unfamiliarity!

 And Kay has come well prepared with organic, sugar free, familiar food from Seoul so he never has to wait for a meal when we're out and about. PV enjoys the wait staff paying him attention whenever he is eating out. It's hilarious to watch him flirting with them. 

 PV has been to the beach before but Tuesday morning on Coogee Beach was his first experience of eating the sand!

 Bubble blowing distracted him for a while ……..

 But those waves were crashing a bit too noisily for PV's taste this morning.

 He knows what's required when the camera comes out..

 PV had a playdate with baby Maddie on the beach. It was very cute to see them interacting (and they managed to stay very polite too despite the finger pointing in this pic!). Picture credit: Joel and Kay

Vincent enjoyed some time at the Grant Reserve Playground before lunch at the Coogee Bay Hotel - very brave stuff for a little one who is only 13 and a half months old (barely).

 The sun came out late on Tuesday afternoon providing some beautiful lighting for these pics at the rock pool at Dolphins Point.

 Joel and Kay took advantage of some (PV) free time in this beautiful setting .....

 while PV was in very good hands..

 We enjoyed a wonderful dinner together at KinJo (at The Spot, Randwick) on Tuesday night - delicious, fresh, beautifully prepared Japanese food. I was so glad my recommendation worked out well. Picture credit: Kay

 Vincent slept through most of dinner so it was very relaxed for Kay and Joel.

 But he woke up in a beautiful mood, ate some food, charmed all the wait staff then threw around a few water containers (plastic) just to liven things up!! Photo credit: Joel and Kay

After a month or so holidaying in Australia the smoke finally caught up with Joel and Kay and the family this morning in Sydney so we met up at the Clovelly Hotel (big, newly remodeled spaces - all air conditioned) for coffee, an early lunch and a last chance to talk and make  plans for our next catch up - London maybe??? 

We were so lucky to have this chance to be with this beautiful family in Coogee and get to meet truly adorable little Prince Vincent! He'll be almost 2 when we see him next if all the plans work out!