Heat

Choc-tops and some guy called Tom

"Can I have a choc-top too?" Ben asks as we drive down through the Tweed Valley.

He's strapped into the back of the Rav, sitting between his sisters who are both looking out the window watching the cane fields and the Tweed River drift by.

Tom looks at me quizzically looking for a translator. It's one of those rare moments when the cultural differences have raised their head – like me introducing Tom to vegemite and avocado on toast this morning. Sure he'd eaten vegemite before. He has enough Australian friends and fans that vegemite and Tim Tams aren't anything new but vegemite and avocado is distinctly a Far North Coast, almost a Tweed, delicacy and if he was going to hang with the Thompson's he was going to have to adapt to vegemite and avocado. And now he had a new food to get use to – because you can't go to a movie without a choc-top, it just isn't done.

"It's an icecream in cone covered in chocolate – it's an Aussie movie staple," I explain and Tom nods, turning back towards my eager nephew.

"Well in that case, yes and popcorn and a big drink if you like!" Tom answers him enthusiastically.

"Di said not too much sugar!"  I say shaking my head at him.

"But Meeeegan you can't go to a movie without a choc-top and popcorn and a drink!" he says pouting at me.

Ben is giggling. "Yeah Aunty Meggy you just can't! You said a choc-top was a stable, please Aunty Meggy please!!!"

"Please, Please Aunty Meggy Please?"  Tom joins in.

I roll my eyes at him "Child!!" His eyebrows lift in a way that let's me know he may be child-like but he's all man and I quickly dart my eyes back to the road and shake my head.

I now have two pouting boys in my car and from the looks in the rear vision –mirror  Brooke is joining in just to join in.

The only one not taking part in pout-a-poloosa  is Rhia who has her ipod on and is staring out the window ignoring all of us. The Disney movie we're seeing was not her first choice – I don't think it entered the top 10. And since we're not going to a multiplex but to the small independent cinema in Murwillumbah, 20 kilometres or so south west of my place, we can't split up. Mind you I'm not sure that splitting up was part of her plan anyway – I'm not sure what her plans are but whatever they are they'd probably scare me if I knew. I'm happy to be in the dark!

It's just Tom and I and the youngest three, Mark has opted out to "go surfing" mind you as Tom pointed out as the 17-year-old  left the house - you usually need a board to go surfing.

I lived here at 17 and I know what he's up to – he's headed to the creek with the girl we met the other night at the carols. Apparently she lives two streets over according to Rhiannon who sees and knows all. It was too much to ask for him to want to spend some quality time with his aunt and cousins at that age but he has promised that he'll be up for dinner and Pirates- which is just as well because he's needed to pump up the air beds Di has left us!

We still haven't either sighted or heard from Nathan. He wasn't awake when Mark left the house and to be honest as it's only 10am and he's 20, I doubt we'll hear from him for quite some time.

And let's face it two pretty much grown men were never going to really want to hang out with their aunt and three young cousins at a Disney movie. I mean what grown man would get excited over a Disney film? Mmm wait, okay my passenger was pretty much the first person in the car but hey – professional courtesy right? Yeah I don't buy it either he's a big kid and he's pretty excited about the trip as we head down the "Tweed Valley Way".

I always love the drive down the ridge and then down The Way (or the old highway) to Murwillumbah. It's steamy outside and we haven't had our usual summer rains yet but it's green and lush on the valley floor.