Families Eye Pod

What with all the minor disappointments I've had in the last couple of weeks concerning the move to Perth, it's good to be reminded of some of the positives, the little bonuses that make me realise that ultimately, regardless of absent chattels and lack of gainful employment, I've done the right thing.

Once the littlies had had time to recover from the exertions of the fun-fair, we tootled off to visit my in-laws, who live in an ocean-front house in Cottesloe. Part and parcel of thse visits is popping across the road to the beach, where the kids have got into the habit of messing about until they fall over. This time - to the delight of all - we also got to watch a pod of a dozen or so dolphins rounding up fish just a little way out to sea. It was all topped off with a spot of sandcastle construction, then a wander along the beach as the sun set, holding my son's hand as he collected shells in a bucket.

You don't get too much of that in Sydney's Northern Suburbs ...