Yesterday

a hot dry day

a cool swishy skirt

the smell  of smoke, a dirty sky, bushfire somewhere

ice blocks to cool us down

the promise of a storm

Gunnedah revisited

Today Ethan is giving his talk on "An interesting place I have visited".  He presented his talk to the class last Monday and was chosen for the finals today.  Three children from each class are chosen one from each house to present their talk in assembly today.  Ethan has such a beautiful, gentle voice that is very calming to listen to, he projects such an air of ease as he presents his talks, I just love listening to him.

Ethan has chosen to talk about our trip to Gunnedah that we did in July, this is his version:

Good Morning everyone. An interesting place I have visited is Gunnedah. My family & I went on a trip to Gunnedah, it took half a day to get there by car. We went to visit my Grandad and Uncles who were working on an irrigation system or pivot. It is a big sprinkler system for a field and it’s very long and it moves on lots of wheels across the field. We think that the pivot was to sprinkle the cotton plants.

While we were there we rode on Grandads orange tractor and I got to try on a welding mask. If you look at the sun with the dark visor down the sun will have no effect on your eyes. We got to put on ear muffs to protect our ears from the loud noise of the impact wrenches. The wrenches screwed on bolts to hold the irrigation system together. Putting one of these pivots together with tools is like putting together a giant lego set.

When we were driving back to the motel from the field, something went wrong. There was smoke coming out of the steering column and we wondered why. We stopped the car and it finished smoking, so we called the NRMA. It took a couple of days to get it fixed and while we waited we found most of the playgrounds and parks in Gunnedah. We kicked the football and climbed on equipment.  I liked visiting Gunnedah because I liked to see my Grandad and Uncles working on the pivot which was the most interesting part.

For a little light entertainment and laughs my versions on our trip can be found here (part 1) and here (part 2) and here (part 3).

Blog withdrawals

I've got the shakes, I've broken out in a sweat, every time I pass the computer I just want to start typing, uploading photos, checking out all of the latest blog posts from my blog land friends.  It's because of this new piece of equipment that my computer time has decreased immensely.

Of course Donald has been working, working and working but has been using his new wacom tablet with a touch screen to hopefully make his clean up of drawings a whole lot more efficient.  It is however a rather bulky screen that makes it difficult to reach the keyboard when it's my turn for a few quick minutes on the computer (for those of you who don't know, Donald works from home as a freelance animator/story boarder). One day I'll finish my Melbourne posts, plus all of the little things that I love to write about and the photo's that I have taken.  That might have to wait until next week......things to do, sharing time to prepare for primary at church,  birthday invites to make, house to clean, school stuff to organise, clothes to wash and fold....blah...blah...blah!

Family and the Theatre

Melbourne cup day saw a relaxing day at home, for John this was very unusual, seeing as he lives for this day every year.  However he decided that it was going to be too cold to actually go and watch the race, so the races were on the tv all day.  

John's daughter Jennie and her daughter Katie, as well as John's youngest daughter Jessica and her little baby Harry came to visit and catch up.  

Jessica is such a lovely happy mum and Harry is just delicious.

So I had my girly fix and my baby fix.  For once there were more girls in the house than boys.

The following day....more walks, more roses and houses, still no smiles or greetings.....well actually I got two this time and the weather was getting a little warmer.  Then an afternoon at the Regent Theatre with Desley, seven rows from the front underneath the big dragon with red eyes and smoke steaming nostrils to see "Wicked" the untold story of the witches of Oz. 

Desley and I off to the theatre.

A wonderful colourful production, magnificent voices, dancing and Australian talent.  Millsy and Anthony Callea  (both from Australian Idol) were some of the cast, they received the most cheers at the end, but Desley and I gave our standing ovation to the two lead females who were absolutely magical.  It was full of fun and wit and I even cried in the end.  I wish I could do this more often, not necessarily the crying bit.  The day was finished off with dinner at the Kooyong tennis club with a friend of Desley and John's.

Five days of Freedom

Parting was such sweet sorrow.  I walked the boys to school Monday morning and held back the tears all the way to school, my lips trembling as I bid them goodbye.  As I went to the shops to buy food for Donald and the boys for the week, I stifled a few tears.  We pulled up to the airport, I burst into tears and they flowed while I hugged Donald and kissed and smothered Toby in his car seat.  I walked to the baggage drop off, the tears dried and while I waited to board my plane I got excited at my new found freedom...4 nights and 5 days in Melbourne with my Aunty Desley.

Desley is my dad's sister and we have been buddies for a long time.  In the year that I was married I lived with Desley and John in their lovely house.  Donald and I got engaged in their house.  So I was looking forward to some family fun time.  Desley braved her fears and picked me up at Tullamarine airport and we made the mad drive past Melbourne city to the beautiful suburb of Malvern. 

I went for a walk the morning of Melbourne cup day, it was a public holiday for cup day so the neighbourhood was very quiet.  It was very chilly and clouds hung menacingly giving an air of dullness, although I felt elated to be rediscovering the streets I knew 13 years ago.  As I walked myself to a run, not a smile was to be shared from any passers by.  Those who I did pass and smile a greeting to were either taken aback or weren't sure how to respond.  If the sun were shining I'm sure it might have been a different story, maybe the tension of cup day prevented them from smiling.  I felt like I could've walked forever, I was excited to see the houses of Malvern once again.  

The houses with their carefully colour schemed paintwork, the terracotta gargoyles and roof decorations.  

Their beautifully groomed and tended gardens...and the roses...oh the roses in every garden, with their perfect blooms and luscious smells.

Unfortunately my body couldn't walk or run forever and I returned home rejuvenated and joyful.

Someone say party??

It's my big sisters birthday today. She doesn't seem to wear party frocks like she used to, although her wedding was an exception.

I guess it's hard to climb in a party frock,

or go walking in the Scottish Highlands (you could wear a kilt),

or surf in a dress (could get a little soggy and caught up in your leg rope),

and skiing I just wouldn't want to imagine how cold you would get in a dress in the snow...

...plus it gets a little blowy in Ireland and you wouldn't want to end up with your party frock around your ears now would you?

So I guess we can see why we don't see you in a party dress often. We hope you have a fun birthday with or without a party frock (preferably with the frock on) but would love to see you home even more.

Happy Birthday

Gabby

Lots of Love

Lisha, Donald, Sam,

Ethan & Toby

xxxxx

Up up and away

I'm off to Melbourne today to stay with my Aunty Desley for a few days rest and relaxation.  If I've got time I might write a post or two, that is if Desley lets me on the computer.  I have been excited about going back to Melbourne, it's been nearly 9 years since we were last there just after Sam was born.  Donald and I lived there for 2 and a bit years when we got married, before moving to Canada.  I'm actually going without children and husband for 4 nights, and have been a little apprehensive and liable to burst into tears at the thought of being away from my boys.  When I booked my flight I burst into tears thinking, what am I going to do without my children around me, my heart feels like it's breaking, I can't leave my babies.  I've only ever been away from them for 2 nights before, I know they'll survive, so I think of Desley and I know I'm going to have fun. 

 

If it starts raining over Sydney around 1 pm you know that's me blubbering on my flight out of here.  Catch you later.  

Introducing...

Anakin SkyWalker

Lief, the King of Deltora and true heir of the belt of Deltora

Sammy the Skeleton

The Pumpkin King

Pirate Cat

..and the jack-o-lantern

Trunk or treat smell my feet....

After a really hot 37 degrees day, the wind picked up as the southerly buster made it's way to Sydney to relieve us of the stinking hot day.  It was spooky and windy, and oh so much cooler, I love the southerly buster.  We headed to the chapel  where we had our church primary trunk and treat activity.  We played some games.... toss the ball through the jack-o-lantern, 

pin the wart on the witch, 

a cake walk 

face painting and some cookie decorating.

It was a fantastic evening with the sun still shining, the wind blowing, clouds building and then the most magnificent sunset.

And of course we did some trunk or treating (trick or treat from car to car).  I lost track of how many cars turned up to the activity.  There were lots of children I didn't even recognize, their costumes were amazing and I think they had lots of fun.  There was Stacy..

One of my favourite treats was Pam's bubbling home made root beer, oh I love root beer... thank you Pam you're my hero :+)

...and Mari with her "lady fingers" and I don't mean lady finger bananas

...Jeanelle and Regina and a spooky ghost

...the Rigby's car

and the Walkers in their bat cave with frogs and snakes.

By the way this is my 200th post, so it had to be a big one.