HAND SANITISER IS MY FRIEND

So further to the post below, we are back from the Ekka.

Miraculously there was no vomit although I have one very ordinary 9yo laying in our bed moaning (self-inflicted freddo overdose)

I in my wisdom, decided a day at the Ekka was simply not enough. We needed to take what can only be described as a micro-break and stay in the city that is Brisbane the night before.

Now what's a trip to Brisbane from the Gold Coast without a detour to Ikea? It's a travesty that's what it is.

We started our visit by making the obligatory toilet break and taking the 2 year old first in same cubicle with me. He being two, insists on doing EVERYTHING himself. Like getting onto the toilet seat like spiderman whilst peeing the entire time. Like pulling down his own undies. Like flushing the toilet. So when all of these things were going awry in the Ikea toilets I decided to lend a hand. This resulted in his best Big boy voice "DON'T TOUCH MY DOODLE"

Righteo, so off we went looking for a new laundry. We walked out with 3 dishbrushes, 4 baskets, 2 sets of mini utensils and a paper light.

Load up the car, manoeuvre our way through the nightmare that is Brisbane. Unload the car, up we go to the magnificent 27th floor of the Evolution Apartments.

Oh and it was at this point I realised we had left the stroller in MY car - AT HOME. No problem, Brisbane CBD is bound to sell cheapie strollers. - NOT FUCKING SO.

My idea was to get an old peoples grocery trolley and stand him up for the day. Funnily enough Mr Morley thought that idea sucked.

We stayed in the great street of Tank. Tank Street tickled my funnybone for no particular reason. Until we got there and the street was shut. Oh and it kinda looked like it was a mini ghetto. No going out at night for us then.

The day of the Ekka dawned v. early as it aways does with a 2yo who doesn't believe in sleeping past when the sparrow farts.

Lovely day, great weather. Still no stroller.

We drive, pay out of our arse for parking and go in the Ekka doors.

We head a) to the ATM and b) to the stroller hire centre.

ATM - Easy.

Stroller Hire Centre - Awkward.

Um really unsure how to approach the inappropriateness that happened here. So guy who gives us our 1950's style pram. He starts talking to me and it's clear he's a few stubbies short. Cool, no problem, until he starts telling me of his ex-wife and his kids who are in foster homes because they have been accused of doing the wrong thing. Hurry up Phil, Hurry Up Phil, Hurry up Phil.

That disturbing start was the last of the weirdness for the day.

It did however involve us paying up to $8 for a semi-scary ride. It involved us paying $5 to place balls down the clowns gullet for a very shite toy and it involved us cutting side show alley very short.

So we roamed the free stuff. Loving the science pavilion, the QLD government pavilion giving out free fruit, free showbags and free "Your day in Court" books for the kids. Thank Christ for that. Where else was I going to go for that sort of vital info?

Dagwood dogs were consumed and largely digested so it was time for the Showbag Pavilion. Knocked it over in 20 minutes. Pirates Ahoy, Transformers and Zoe 101 and we were GORNE.

All in all, the kids had a great day, we well, we will sleep well tonight and the duties of the big show are over for another 5 years.