Australia - Saturday May 7 - Flinders Mall

The kids woke up at 4:30 am; time zones mean nothing to them. Karren's little nothing cold had turned into a definite illness, so we called Dr. Bair and he told us what to get. It may or may not have been a prescription in the US, but in Australia it was over the counter, so we headed off to Flinders Mall.

Flinders Mall is a little shopping area that used to be a road with shops on either side, but the road was closed and made into a paved walkway, kind of like the one between Temple Square and the Joseph Smith Memorial building, only narrower and less elegant. It was pleasant and neighborly and filled with typical Australians: mothers with their hair tied back in sleeveless shapeless cotton shifts, scruffy men in singlets (tank shirts) and short shorts, and smudgy children dressed in similar styles. We wandered around and enjoyed the sights, and eventually stopped at Woolies for beach towels and sand pails.

We also went to the chemist for Karren's meds. They seemed to help over time, but she spent several very feverish days dealing with congestion and nasty putrid breath.

We finished the morning by piling in the car and driving around to find the local chapel so we could attend church on Sunday. At lunchtime we had Australian meatpies, which we all enjoyed. Then naptime for Karren, poor little sick thing, and me too. David took Gordon and Laura to the beach while we napped, and they had a great time. When they got back, tired and happy, it was bedtime--in the US. So they all went to sleep, awakening only briefly for ham sandwiches and milk.