CHAR: Well, I am, anyway. Anna's genetic bias to brown defines her as more of a Bratz doll... By name, by nature, I suppose...
Here we are pictured on Magnetic Island, shamelessly posing (we've learnt to accept our vanity for what it is... Why change a habit of a life time, eh? Pretty sure I came out of the womb pouting...) with one of the island's iconic 'Barbie cars', christened as such for obvious reasons. What this photo doesn't reveal, however, is that seated on a bench a rough 10 yards in front of us, was a blissfully ignorant businessman, wholly unaware of the cheeky nudity being displayed behind him. If he had turned his head just a fraction of a degree either way, he would have been greeted with a glorious (/terrifying... Take your pick) sight; 3 topless tourists, arms up in the air, chests bared for all to see, not dissimilar in appearance to gorillas on heat. Although hopefully less hairy. Potentially not.
Here we are pictured on Magnetic Island, shamelessly posing (we've learnt to accept our vanity for what it is... Why change a habit of a life time, eh? Pretty sure I came out of the womb pouting...) with one of the island's iconic 'Barbie cars', christened as such for obvious reasons. What this photo doesn't reveal, however, is that seated on a bench a rough 10 yards in front of us, was a blissfully ignorant businessman, wholly unaware of the cheeky nudity being displayed behind him. If he had turned his head just a fraction of a degree either way, he would have been greeted with a glorious (/terrifying... Take your pick) sight; 3 topless tourists, arms up in the air, chests bared for all to see, not dissimilar in appearance to gorillas on heat. Although hopefully less hairy. Potentially not.
ANNA: Ok. Confession time. This car wasn't actually ours. We just had a small photo shoot with this car and yes - embarrassingly - with another car as well whose owner, an elderly but clearly sassy woman (she was driving a bright pink car... duh), volunteered herself as photographer with helpful encouragements of "strike a pose ladies" "yes that's amazing" "head to me a little bit more... perfect"! Our actual car was probably feeling very left out at this point, but don't worry Suzi we loved you just as much. Suzi was our beloved Suzuki jeep who carried us safely over the rough terrains of magnetic and - unlike most of the Barbie cars we'd heard of - didn't break down! Not gonna lie I was pretty scared for my life based on my passed experiences with Char driving. The first time she drove me she didn't put the hand-break on when we parked on a hill....just ask my sister - quote, Laura Russell, "How in a million years did Char pass... she's such a bad driver!"
CHAR: In the words of my examiner.. "By the skin of your teeth, young lady". Thirteen minors and proud! Also pass a message on to darling Laura; she can wave goodbye to any hope of future lifts. If she's gonna insult me, she can jolly well walk. (I'm joking Lulu, I'll just make sure I install a toddler's car seat to ensure your optimum safety! You'll also be forced to wear a nappy and suck on a dummy but hey, not my fault you chose to act like such a baby. Life lesson: don't get on the wrong side of me, little miss.) That being said, I freaked out when it came to bay parking and forced Becca to perform the extremely straightforward manoeuvre for me... I feel like a failure to womankind, living up to the misogynistic attitudes of all who believe girls can't drive. Even if said opinions are 100% justified.
ANNA: I've never seen so much glee and excitement on someone's face as when Char and Becca, the girl we explored the island with, saw an advertisement for horse riding in the bush which also provided the opportunity to swim in the sea with the horses. This was a truly magical experience as we cantered through forests full of hundreds and thousands of butterflies, their wings looked like stain glass windows with an iridescent electric blue shining though the black. Having explored the bush with our horses: Freckles (mine), Crickey (Char's) -
CHAR: Although for some reason I kept on mentally referring to him as 'Cor Blimey'... Too many quintessentially British idiosyncrasies for my brain to handle, I suppose... One step away from calling the fella 'Guv'nor'.
ANNA: - and Little Man (Becca's), we arrived on the beach. Having untacking the horses and putting on our rather unattractive stinger suits, not quite up to our usual standard of fuchsia pink stinger suits, we entered the sea with our horses and swam bare back with them along the beach. This was by far one of the most incredible experiences we have had in Australia, and one we are sure never to forget.
CHAR: Although for some reason I kept on mentally referring to him as 'Cor Blimey'... Too many quintessentially British idiosyncrasies for my brain to handle, I suppose... One step away from calling the fella 'Guv'nor'.
ANNA: - and Little Man (Becca's), we arrived on the beach. Having untacking the horses and putting on our rather unattractive stinger suits, not quite up to our usual standard of fuchsia pink stinger suits, we entered the sea with our horses and swam bare back with them along the beach. This was by far one of the most incredible experiences we have had in Australia, and one we are sure never to forget.
CHAR: Of course, the opportunity we had to snuggle up with Harry was arguably equally incredible...
ANNA: Prince?
CHAR: ....In my eyes.
ANNA: Potter?
CHAR: Getting warmer... Similarly poor eyesight. Think bouncy-hairy-grumpy-30kg-baby-monstrosity..?
ANNA: WOMBAT!!
CHAR: Harry the wombat. The cutest, most hideous oxymoron in the world.
Look at him!
CHAR: We met this glorious creature - royalty in his own right, but perhaps not quite as handsome in appearance as our favourite ginger Highness - at the koala sanctuary situated on Magnetic. Which means, oh yes. We got to cuddle a koala - an activity branded illegal in New South Wales, but perfectly acceptable in Queensland. Don't ask us why. We were told but we forgot.
And lastly, the infamous 'Sluggus Annas', native to Australia and known primarily for its cheeky smile/ sassy attitude (a trait I like to refer to as Annas 'sassitude', a quality which drips from her every word.)