Little did I know that ExeLoo automated toilets were equipped with piped in music, male voice prompts, and – who thought of this? – a wall that opens up to dispense a toilet seat.

Nikki and I were completely unprepared, and we both just stared in horror when the wall yawned open. My brave girl did not cry, and she used the toilet without complaint. But for weeks afterward she made comments and asked questions about the experience. We talked at length about how loud and frightening the toilet was, but that it was ok, and how we were glad there was a toilet right there for us to use when we needed it.

Once she has made a request to go to the loo, Nikki has never refused to use any toilet. However, following her ExeLoo experience, she likes to ask some relevant questions such as, “Mama, will there be a man talking?” and “Will the toilet be loud?” She also covers her ears or grabs my leg when she hears piano music in a public restroom.

I vowed that I would video the inner workings of an ExeLoo to inform others – you have to see it to believe it.

My preschooler is not the only one who has had a negative experience with an ExeLoo toilet. A friend’s husband was horrified when the loo doors opened after 10 minutes, with him still seated. Thankfully he had taken a newspaper to read which enabled him to retain his dignity until the doors mercifully closed again.

Thanks to Dad for taking this photo in front of our cabin on the last day of our weekend away.

Our three-bedroom cabin featured a large backyard.

Free range chickens wandered all around.

Nikki and Michael hand-fed greens to a happy caged bunny in front of our cabin.

We can see why farmhouse breaks are so popular. The kids loved the animals and wide open spaces, and our location was peaceful and relaxing for the adults as well.

The best view was from a suspension bridge at the base of the falls.

Michael said, “splash!”

Our tram driver talked about Karri and Marri trees, the Snotty Gobble, wildflowers, and the local history of the mill and surrounding houses.

Meanwhile…

… Grandma and Grandpa held hands,

… Nikki peered outside from the vantage point of Grandma’s lap,

… Michael ate sultanas, and

… Vi slept during a peaceful and informative ride through the forest.

The next morning we headed straight to the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk near Walpole.

Thirty eight meters off the ground at the highest point, and running for 420 meters, the suspended steel truss walkway is an engineering marvel, and an excellent way to gently sway through the tingle treetops. This short video clip gives a glimpse of Baba with Nikki on his back and Michael walking alongside.

We walked the loop twice, with Michael riding on Baba’s back the first time, and Nikki riding around the second time. Riding or walking, it was amazing to experience the top of the forest whilst suspended above a deep gully.

Coming back to the ground, Nikki led us to a boardwalk through the Ancient Empire forest.

On the boardwalk, we meandered around and sometimes through tree trunks measuring up to 16 meters in circumference and over 400 years old.

Majestic and peaceful, we very much enjoyed our visit to the tingle forest.

We drove down Australia’s beautiful southwest coast to our destination: an amazing seaside mansion near Bunbury. As we basked in our surroundings, I began to contemplate the luxury of living in a home that is not attached to someone else’s house. This would be a first in our ten years of marriage and could be a possibility for us if we stay in Australia.

During our three-night stay, we explored the surrounding region which includes a cheese factory, award-winning winery with an excellent restaurant, an old-growth forest, and places to run and play near Busselton Jetty.

 

 

 

We enjoyed a sunset walk just outside our house and Ben took our favourite tenth anniversary photo with the sun setting over the Indian Ocean as the backdrop.

A beautiful finale to the first ten years of our marriage, brimming with promise for the decades to come!

Our exploration began at the Bath of Aphrodite and extended to an approximately two mile hike along cliffs rising above the Mediterranean Sea .

On our second full day we visited a chapel and the nearby ruins of a sixth-century church . Michael topped the day off with a board book in which Fred asks Ted, “where should we go?” “To the mountains,” said Ted.

And so next day we drove up up up , and hiked even further up to see some mountain sheep . We ate a picnic lunch and played in the playground .

Driving onward and upward we came to Kykkos, a wealthy monastery with some amazing mosaics . On our way back down into our village, we shared the road with goats and once there I took a picture of a hand-embroidered linen tablecloth I had been admiring in our cottage.

We spent the following day storming a castle , enjoying views from the top , and eating al fresco next to the harbor, with water so clear we felt like we had front row seats to a giant fish tank .

On our last day we drove back across the island , starting out at 9am in order to catch a 7pm flight. Plenty of time for a photo in front of Aphrodite’s Rock and a two-hour Sunday lunch at  ΙΑΣΩΝ “Jason” Tavern.

Cyprus in a word? Scrumptious.