Childhood revisited

On Saturday, Tobes and I took our nephew, Cooper, out for a trip on Puffing Billy. It is something that I've been looking forward to doing since he was very small. Most Melbournites would have fond memories of visits to Puffing Billy as a child, and I am no different.

Some of my happiest childhood memories include hanging out of the windows of this old steam train, waving at the passers by as we crossed over old roads, wiping soot out of our eyes (OK maybe this wasn't a highlight) and enjoing special snacks along the way, packed by mum, Grandma or my Auntie. Going on the train always meant fun and special family time. I was eager to pass this experience on to Coops, but I wasn't sure about how he would go. Would he like it? Would he be excited?

I needn't have worried. After we passed by the first station he decided he was ready to try hanging out of the window, nad he clambored in and out for the duration of the trip. It was drizzly for pretty much to whole day and got chilly, but there were no complaints. Our legs got a little damp when we swung them out of the windows but we would then snuggle under the picnic rug to get warm again. We changed our plans, opting to eat our our packed lunch on the train and under shelter at Lakeside rather than a picnic around Emerald Lake. It was a great day. Coops spoke lots on the trip back, asking if there were many stops to go because he didn't want it to finish. When we got home and saw mum, dad, grandma and grandpa he asked if we could all go again another day. Success! :)

Today I'm at home feeling not so well. I've been snoozing and snuggling on the couch with the cat and enjoying the cooler weather that has come on this first day of Autumn.  We had the quilt over us last night and Tobes made me a lovely cuppa. It's heading back into snuggle weather! Yay! 

Do you have a special place saved in your memory from your childhood? Where is it? And have you revisited it lately?