#146
When I make a fuss about my swollen fingers (because while I’m trying to take a pic of some ducks Kings was feeding from the car as we left Thredbo Rockstar winds the automatic window back up (because the few raindrops getting into the car were bothering him), trapping my already hurting fingers and eliciting my scream at him)
Rockstar: I fall down too, Mum.
Me: <get even madder at him – my eyes were tearing up, it hurt that much>
Rockstar: <looking quite upset> Okok… Next time, we won’t feed ducks anymore.
(In case you were wondering – yes he knows it’s not the ducks. I call this “typical crime denial that males are known to perform” – by which I mean males like his father :D… I only just got an acknowledgement and apology, like, 2 days after – also like the father haha)
We spend our last day feeding gulls, visiting the Aquatic museum, riding the boat taxi, just chilling – and aware Rockstar will be missing the first day or two of school. Flight booking complications because we planned this trip so late.
We pass a little girl, about 6, with a boy who looks a couple years younger. The girl is on her hands and knees next to one of the fountains along Darling Harbor, trying to fish a purple flower out of the water when her dad yells “Get outta that filthy water!!” in a thick Aussie accent.
Rockstar observes, “In Sydney, there are birds in the fountains.” He means the water isn’t treated, unlike in the Cyberport fountains back home – there are signs repeatedly telling you to keep out of the water as it’s treated. That doesn’t stop quite a few kids from wading in it (tho another mum once told me she’s keeping her baby clear because she actually saw the stuff they put in the water), but I once made the observation to Rockstar that we’d never seen birds in the Cyberport water and that’s how we’d know it probably really is treated.
As we go by in the harbor “train”, Kings puts his arm around me (Rockstar insists on sitting separately from us – and so it begins 🙁 sigh)
“Hey, where’s my hug?”
I turn to see 3 boys on scooters hanging on to the back. “You’ve got a smart mouth.”
“Yeah,” he smiles and shrugs.
“How old are you?”
“14.”
They’re Southasian, smaller than I expected (I thought they were about 12 or 13), speaking with heavy Aussie accents. They hang on, still mouthing off (I don’t find them rude, just gutsy – and Rockstar looks on with interest, which is part of the reason I continue to engage them), til the driver waves them away.
#147
At the Four Points Sheraton buffet on our last night (btw it’s seriously good – would you believe people actually queue outside the restaurant area waiting for it to open at 6pm a la Hong Kong?)
Me (to both men): How is it possible that the whole time I was in the buffet line and now I’m back (Rockstar) has not eaten a single bite?? <trying to feed him>
Rockstar: Here we go again.
We needed to get up early for our flight home the next day, Rockstar didn’t comply – he KOed right after our Sydney Aquarium visit that afternoon and then was still bouncing off the walls at midnight so instead I switched back to HK time (then he’s only still awake at 10pm instead of midnight! See how well this works? :P) And changed him into his travel clothes before he slept – then peeled layers off in the plane as it got warmer… It’s still boiling HK summer now…)
#148
At the airport cafe in the morning before we board
Rockstar: Mum. Is that fish and chips? <peering at menu>
Me: (Trying to discourage him, we already ordered him poached eggs on toast) Umm.. Maybe it’s just an advertisement for another restaurant…
Rockstar: I’m not going to order it Mum, I was just asking.
And we’re home…!