Autumn is well and truly here. It goes dark at 5.30pm, there's dew on the grass in the morning and Ugg boots in the shops. Still, the temperature has been hovering around 25 degrees most days and Darren reckons it's still warm enough to go into the sea, which he describes as "bracing".
Yesterday we went to Manly and had brunch in a beachside cafe without having to find one that had a high chair or enough room for a stroller. If you don't have kids, you won't appreciate the freedom of wandering into whichever cafe or restaurant you fancy. Parents have to assess the facilites (and other diners) in each and every eatery before proceeding inside. The Zinc Cafe scores 5/10, (not enough hollandaise sauce on the Eggs Benedict). Darren read the paper while I read my new book, "Sydney for Under Fives". I'm amazed at the wealth of things to do with children in Sydney; the number of farms and wildlife parks, adventure playgrounds, splash pools and indoor swimming/adventure complexes. And that's before you even get started on the beaches, aquariums and playgroups. Even the opera house hosts quarterly "Babies' Proms".
There's a free magazine you can pick up in the chemist every month called "Sydney's Child" which has loads more ideas and some restaurants geared specifically at families with young kids (including the aptly-named Park Royal Hotel, which has a sunday buffet called "Treat the Tribe" featuring children's entertainment, a children's buffet and a playground right next to the food. Oh yeah, and the kids eat for free).
I've been trying to think what we have at home.
1. Municipal gardens/NT properties with hefty parking fees
2. Soft play cafes
3. Pools open to children at specific times
4. Rubbish pub chains that tolerate kids and feed them turkey dinosaurs
5. Pizza Express which gives out free crayons
I think Britain has some way to go.
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