Friday however was a day that the rain stayed away so we took the opportunity to visit the museum/planetarium but we rode into town by train - a couple of reasons, it's cheaper than driving and less stressful in some ways.
The trip there was uneventful and stress-free, the girls were so excited and loved seeing places that they knew through the window. After arriving in town we had a little walk up to the top of the Gardens to the museum, this took us quite a while as it was really busy and not only with people, Niave had a great time feeding the squirrels and we had to stop often!
Half way there we met the cutest family. A family of geese.
This protective mother has all but 1 of her 13 goslings huddled underneath her, dad is parading around in the background puffing out his chest in pride and 1 brave little guy is not fazed in the slightest by all the attention and is exploring merrily!
Just look at them all stuffed underneath there!!
We finally made it to the museum and had a look around, the whales are always a big hit and we found the Discovery Room open for the first time. Abigail found this extra tall chest of drawers very interesting with a different item in each drawer, 
Niave loved all the stuffed birds, I think we may have a taxidermist in the making!! She even kissed one! Eww!!
Niave loved all the stuffed birds, I think we may have a taxidermist in the making!! She even kissed one! Eww!! They both found this guy rather intriguing!
Especially his teeth. Apparently!!
After a little walk around we went to a show at the Planetarium called Davey Dragon goes to the Moon which was sweet. I nearly fell asleep! Not because it was boring, just because it was so peaceful and dark and those chairs recline so perfectly! But I didn't, I promise!
The trip back home was more eventful, we boarded our train without too much trouble and started on our journey, at about the 5th station, Rosebank, we stopped for about 20 minutes before people started to get up and enquire as to the problem, a train had broken down in front of us and we couldn't go any further. Now, this is not unusual for trains in South Africa, but for my children who have only ever been on a train recreationally it was all too much. Abigail was literally on the edge of her seat wanting to know what was happening, what was going to happen and what should we do. Niave was by now tired, hungry and b.o.r.e.d. Not a good combination in a 5 year old!
After a while we were told that we should cross the the other side as a train would be coming on that line. I'd already sent out an SOS to my mom but cancelled it after hearing we would be able to continue on the next train. However, the train arrived with it's occupants spilling out of the doors and the platform we were standing on was full, there was no way we would get on and being already around 5pm I wasn't keen to wait around for a train that was not bursting at the seams with people, so I sent out the SOS again and we made our way to the main road to meet my mom.
It was all fine in the end, we were tired, hungry and cold but we were safe and together.
It occurred to me that at Abigail's age I was catching the train on my own every day and in a situation where there was a problem or delay I just had to wait or make a plan to get myself where I wanted to be, and this in the age before cellphones! It made me realise again how different the world is now and how much our lives have changed in so many ways.
Maybe we'll just drive next time!!
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