Sciencentre

"Look Mom, no body!"



Wow, it’s already Monday! This last week went really fast. Erik was at school for 1/2 days and we had a holiday. Also, as I wrote earlier, I got a new road bike and have been riding it every day. Friday, I even went on two rides, one longer (30k) ride, which involved three bridges and one ferry crossing, and another in the early evening with Mark. After our ride we were able to go out to dinner as we have been fortunate enough to find a sitter who lives just down the street. She is the thirteen-year-old sister of one of Erik’s friends and charges just $5 Australian an hour. I think we’ll be going out more often!

Saturday, we went to the Queensland Museum and Sciencentre (that’s not a typo). At the Sciencentre, there were lots of interactive exhibits for all ages much like the Pacific Science Center in Seattle. One of Erik’s favorite exhibits featured optical illusions. It included a tunnel painted with a checkerboard pattern the tunnel that rotated while visitors walked through. Like a fun house attraction it created the sensation of spinning. The one in the picture showed how mirrors could create illusions.

We spent so much time at the Sciencentre we had to go through the museum rather quickly but were able to make it to the third floor, which has an extensive collection of native wildlife specimens stuffed, mounted or preserved in 1950’s fashion for close examination. Erik could have spent hours just looking at the bugs. We will definitely return when the Bakers come to visit in a few weeks.

Saturday evening, one of the other Seattle Boeing families hosted a party at the community club and pool by their house. It was nice to see everyone again even though we had gotten together the previous weekend at our house. It’s a supportive group with everyone sharing information and adventures with the newer arrivals (one family who will be here for 2-3 years and several guys who are here on short term assignments). Conveniently, among the Boeing families there are 5 boys ranging from 11 to 6 years old, so they have as much fun as the adults when we get together.