As I write this, the twins and their parents are in the air returning to Warsaw and a flu epidemic: “I hope it's the flu we had when we left”, says my daughter. Their visit was all too brief, only five days at Potato Point.
But what rich days! Maja and Jaś are three and two months now, full of energy and play and a continual flow of words in two languages. This visit they love the sand and the sea, and the beach reciprocates by offering calm blueness, warm water and low tide for our morning jaunts. They are quite willing to hold our hands and walk down to the beach, past kangaroos, across a rattly bridge where they see fish, and along the edge of the creek. They dig holes down to the water; help dziadek and tata build droozle castles; mould perfect sand fish, crabs, ducks, aeroplanes and bucket-castles which they immediately and gleefully stomp on. One day dziadek finds them a big crab in a crevice and they are sure-footed on the rocks as they peer in at it peering out at them.
At home Maja runs her own bath and refuses hot water. They play games in a laundry hamper: they are lizards and emerge from the hamper saying “Pop”, with a handful of lizard eggs. They build with blocks their mother played with, off cuts of a dolls house built by her Tata. They listen to stories which all seem to feature farting. They go downstairs to the “cellar” where their uncle plays his guitar for them and finds the one his father bought as a 16 year old. One day, when mum and dad leave them, we extinguish anguish by letting them take turns with uncle's can-crusher. They've been at pre-school since October and they take turns beautifully.
On the first night dziadek says “You're as mad as a cut snake” and they relish this, running around and pointing at us and saying “You mad as a cut snake”. Then Jaś improvises and yells “You mad as a cut seafood”, and since abuse is sanctioned “You a conch shell”. They know two south coast Aboriginal words, thanks to a book called “Our Little Yuin”, illustrated by children at the Wallaga Lake Aboriginal preschool.
They already understand the need for the indefinite article in English (non-existent in Polish) but prefer “an” to “a”: “I want an banana”. They have a bit of Aussie in them: “I not gunna” is a common assertion. Often they preface statements with “Maybe …” When I call a seagull a pigeon, Maja says “Not a pigeon. Pigeons are colour.”
There are moments of drama. Over the breakfast cornflakes, “I want a pink plate” has me racking my brains until I remember my precious hand painted Wedgewood, mainly pale yellow but with very special pink centres to the flowers. The need for a yellow duck in the bath is harder. Tata draws one with a yellow texta, but that's not good enough. I produce a sparkler and peace reigns. Purchasing a whole watermelon poses unforseen problems: “Not a green one. Want a red one.” The dramas seem to be associated with fatigue and colour preferences.
Uncle is a great resource. Not only does he play guitar. He has a dog, and he lets them “hold the handle” when we go for a walk. Jaś takes his job seriously and doesn't let go when Cruz breaks into a gallop, resulting in a face plant on the grass. On the last afternoon uncle produces bubble mix and hyperventilates as he blows bubbles on the front deck.
Now they've gone. Fortunately, in four weeks we go too. If we didn't already have our tickets, I think we'd be buying them now.
Heyjude said:
A delightful age, no longer babies and learning fast every day. And you write so enchantingly about them that I almost felt I was there with you. I see photos of my little Lorenzo enjoying digging in the sand (with his enormous yellow digger alongside, which then reminds me of his father and HIS yellow Tonka digger which cost me a small fortune). Oh, they grow so quickly… I bet they are missing the warmth of the Aussie sunshine.
LikeLike
morselsandscraps said:
Interesting how the generations merge and confuse when we’re all together. They sent photos back in Warsaw: 5am, pallid street lights, and them, rugged up, riding trams to deal with jet lag. Not an inviting prospect, not that I plan to be out and about at 5am till summer!
What’ve you been up to? I was just beginning to miss you.
LikeLike
Heyjude said:
Getting the keys to the new house and spending a few days there measuring up and cleaning ready for the move! Quite daunting now it is actually happening. I wish I could just wave a magic wand and have everything done and sorted.
LikeLike
morselsandscraps said:
Congratulations! all those new places to photograph. Packing up would stop me moving: kids’ll have to do the next pack.
LikeLike
Heyjude said:
Yes. I am not enjoying the packing and actual moving at all… 😦
LikeLike
desleyjane said:
What a fabulous account of their week with you. Thank you for sharing it with us. I can imagine how much you miss them now. Good on you for letting her use your Wedgwood!
LikeLike
morselsandscraps said:
No choice. I just had to find pink – a pity you weren’t around! Missing them is muted because we head off to Warsaw to join them in early March.
LikeLiked by 1 person
desleyjane said:
Oh yes I have plenty of pink plates 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Paula said:
Precious!
LikeLiked by 1 person
pommepal said:
Such a delight Meg and you have captured their joy of life in your photos. So lucky that you are able to share those precious moments with them. Now count down to when you next see them.
LikeLike
morselsandscraps said:
Just got a photo of them tackling jet lag all rugged up against a Warsaw 5am, riding the trams! Much nicer here.
LikeLike
pommepal said:
I bet they wished they were still with you back here.
LikeLike
Sue said:
What a wonderful time you had, Meg – and soon you will be with them again 😀
LikeLike
morselsandscraps said:
All stops out now, preparing. So many things to think of. The possibility of seeing you and Viveka in Warsaw helps me cope with the idea of an ocean of Polish.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sue said:
Well, I hope it becomes more than a possibility, Meg!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lucid Gypsy said:
They are at the most wonderful age, still dependent – whether they think so or not, learning so quickly and finding everything fascinating. Such a precious time for you and it seems like your Wedgewood plate survived!
LikeLike
morselsandscraps said:
It’s not for everyone I get out my Wedgewood. The only casualty was a wine glass – and they weren’t responsible for that!
LikeLike
restlessjo said:
Such a paradise for the little ones, Meg! Gone so soon! I bet you can’t wait to follow 🙂
LikeLike
morselsandscraps said:
We’re all very sad: it was somehow a richer time than the last visit, even if Maja refused to pose for a cute photo with her cousin, whom you may remember as TRT. She is already a woman with a mind of her own.
LikeLike
restlessjo said:
They are at such an engrossing age, and you are doubly lucky at having the twins. I suspect you will find every age engrossing. 🙂 Hugs, Meg!
LikeLike