So we had some adventures on Kangaroo Island

This time four years ago JJ, myself and Monty went to Kangaroo Island. It was hard work being totally responsible for organising and getting us there and doing everything for a seven month old baby by myself. All the while everyone else there was childless and therefore stayed up late and got up late. By the time they were getting up, JJ was getting ready for his first sleep for the day. Consequently I didn’t have a great time.

Four years later I was ready to do it again. My friends that organise do this holiday every year now have a three year old son so at least there would be someone to play with JJ. They got on fairly well most of the time but their son is going through I’m going to hit everything in my path and pull their hair while I’m at it stage so there were some tears from JJ and telling off from parents during this time.

There were some good times too and overall we had a damn good holiday. The place where we stay is just superb. There are two shacks. They are pretty basic in that the beds could do with some updating and the shower at our place didn’t drain its water very well, but all other facilities are there minus a tv and phone but that’s a good thing – or so I hoped as I sometimes rely on the tv as a babysitter.

The shacks are very near a river which you walk along for a short way and you’re on the beach. The beach is on the south coast of Kangaroo Island so it’s a bit cold and windy but it’s not busy at all so when we did see an occasional person or two we weren’t happy to see them on ‘our’ beach.

It turned into Monty’s beach too and it was as much a holiday for her I think as it was for the rest of us. She had a great time popping into the river or sea for a quick swim.

The week we were there turned into one big long adventure, mainly for JJ. There were a few things he did as a first. He caught his first fish. My mate took his fishing rod and I bought JJ a very inexpensive fishing rod that he could use. Unfortunately the fish that JJ caught were too small and had to be thrown back but JJ had told me that’s what he wanted to do if he did catch a fish. My friend eventually did catch two bream that we ate – and that was it for freshly caught food.

The highlight of the week was going to a wildlife park called Paul’s Place. It’s only open four times a week and you can only do a tour once a day but it was worth it. Paul who took us on the tour is a bit of a character and you’re launched straight into the experience when he passes around a kangaroo like a baby and you feed it it’s bottle of milk. We did note that he only passed around the kangaroo to all the women. The men had their own fate in store later on when they were pecked on the head by an emu getting seed from the tops of their heads.

Paul did hold on long enough at each animal for people to get photos though.

Here’s a photo of Louis the koala who was very patient as he was handed around to everyone to have a hold. I loved the look on JJ’s face as he held the koala. He wasn’t quite sure about the whole thing but he knew it was something pretty special.

The echidnas eating their termites was great. I wish I had an echidna around here to keep an eye on the potential termites at my place.

I knew there was a snake at this park too and when Paul brought it out I walked as far away as possible while he was passing it around. A baby possum was brought out at the same time and while I was holding it the snake (a python) was put on the back of my neck. I’m totally phobic about snakes and while I know a python won’t hurt me I still don’t like the thought of it. I stood there totally still and with my eyes closed while I felt its weight on the back of my neck. It eventually got taken off and JJ had a go. He was fine with it and seemed to enjoy it.

The first few days of the week went slowly and then all of a sudden our week was up and we were back on the ferry coming home.

There’s more photos of our adventures.