Berrima

I had itchy feet today. I know I should have been studying, but the open road was a'calling me, so we packed the kids into the car and headed to the Southern Highlands, which is about an hours drive away. It is a pretty area, filled with little villages and antique shops, in winter it can get cold enough to snow, and it is close enough to Sydney that trendy people like to go there for weekends.

We decided to go to Berrima, which is off the beaten track a little. Brett and I have been there several times before, but this was the first time with all the kids (Simon was last there 10 years ago, in his stroller). We wanted to visit the National Trust property called "Harper's Mansion", which is an imposing, square Georgian house, set atop a hill looking down into the village. After paying the modest entry fee, we were given a private tour by a lovely older lady, who is a volunteer guide. I love looking through old houses- this one is from the 1840's. So cold! The name is misleading as it was not actually a mansion, it was just the biggest house in the viallge at the time. I always think of the poor mothers back then- how on earth did they keep their children warm and healthy? The kids enjoyed the tour through the house, and the lady was a very good guide and told them lots of interesting things that would appeal (like the chamber pot under each bed, which Declan found quite disturbing). But the main attraction was the maze in the grounds, made from hedges. The kids had a fabulous time rushing through, calling to eachother in the frosty air, shrieking in surprise when they came across one another unexpectedly. It instantly became the maze out of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and I have to say I made a pretty convincing Voldemort by chasing them all through the maze and having spells fired at me from all directions.

After a yummy lunch of pies, sausage rolls and milkshakes we went to the Lolly Shop, which was "like a dream come true!" according to Simon and Ruby. Dexie thought it was like the shop in Little House on the Prairie, where you could choose lollies out of jars. Ruby nearly wet her pants in the dreadful choice of which single item to choose.

To finish we went into the historic court house, which is now restored as a museum. Again, we were the only people there, so we got the tour (self guided) to ourselves. Part of it was a mock trial in the old court room, which was filled with mannequins dressed in period costume, with an audio visual show as well. It was extremely creepy as the lights were off, apart from spot lights on individual characters, and the mannequins became very lifelike. Poor Simon had to be taken out of the room, sobbing in terror! I don't blame him. But afterwards the kids were able to dress up in old fashioned clothes, so that quickly restored his nerves.

By now the sun was starting to go down, and we could smell woodsmoke from everyone's chimneys. It was getting very cold, and time to go home. A lovely day out, just what the doctor ordered!