Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Traveling the Public way

Since our car has been out of commission, we have had to rethink our way around the place. Last weekend was decked out with sunshine and we had super dad home so we all got on the bikes and rode places, to the park and to the baby markets. Ben had Timothy in a seat on his bike and Matthew was towed in the trailer (this weekend both boys will go in the trailer for the trip into Cambridge, about 8 miles). Come the weekdays, mummy is not so fit or strong so we turn to the buses. And guess what, it was fun and not to much bother. The first trip we went to the library, two villages over and while there went to see daddy at his work place and have all the ladies there coo over Matthew and got me some reading glasses (getting worn out i'm afraid). It was just the walk back to the bus stop Timothy objected too. So our next trip we took his dinky and it was great. As I have a rope that goes around the bars and I put him up the hills or just keep him on the right side of the road. When Timothy is playing at our friend's place, Maria, he hitched a ride with daddy.

This weekend was supper riding time. We did make it into Cambridge. It was 17 miles round trip. It was very good value as it took five hours as we hung around for three or so in town. It was a dream run, until the car. The children loved the trail and it was a beautiful day. We went to cafe's and walked around the markets. Sunday was a bit more work as I was tired but we rode to caldacote, only 2 miles or so though one of the few hills in Cambridge. We came home at lunch after the birthday party we were attending and rested for an hour or so and then went to a friends bbq. here are some pics. (Think we will just garden today instead of riding :P)

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Village Life

Thought I should do a general news up date as there are many I have not had a chance to chat too in a while. I hope everybody is well. We are doing very fine and dandy here, really getting into the spirit of village life. We have our allotment now and have already planted the potatoes. Plans for corn, pumpkin, carrots and beetroot are in the works. Ben and I are also trying to help out the community here as well. They need to raise funds for the upkeep of the church. It has some amazing paintings "During a general restoration of the church in 1929 – 30, inappropriate wax treatment damaged wall paintings, leading to recent major restoration of these works. In the chancel, paintings of foot soldiers with lances are probably thirteenth century, with fragments of foliage arabesque perhaps even earlier. Saints, the Virgin, and panels with black text, date from the fifteenth, sixteenth and early seventeeth centuries. A horned demon, symbolizing the seven deadly sins, and a wheel, symbolizing the seven acts of mercy on the west wall of the north aisle, are late fifteenth century." for more go to

So you can see its worth doing something to keep such art and history alive. Well now as you would expect, we raise money in our own style so we are putting on a beer festival. We have started with getting a social group or club together and all the blokes have picked a weekend to 'investigate' what beer should be at the event. Sounds like fun, well it will be. We are holding it in our village hall, along with toys and games for kids and adults alike. This will be held in June. For more use of the hall, I have hired it for each Friday morning, from 10 to 12 for a playgroup. Everybody has been very helpful and generous towards getting this up and going. We already have lots of toys and activities for the little critters, morning tea and kids snacks are provided and we will put on special events now and then as we already know art teachers, music leaders etc. So its going very well, I even had a trial run last week with just friends and it was so much fun. I am still waiting to hear about the insurance though. I may not have to get any if the current hall insurance is enough but I won't hold my breath.

The boys are growing in leaps and bounces, Matthew loves bouncing. Matthew is also very keen to follow Timothy everywhere and so is already trying to crawl. He can sit up and get onto all fours but so far progresses in reverse more than forward. Timothy is now really accelerating with his words, which is good as Ben was a bit worried. Alas Timothy mostly has girl friends (definitely a ladies man this one) instead of little blokes to hang out with so comparing them is not equal as most boys are a month or so behind their female counterparts. But he is having fun each day trying out new sounds and words. Yesterdays new ones were Lock, Pink and Leek (as in the veggie) Each morning we are greeted with 'Bic, Bic, want Bic' I think he considers it a right to have biscuits since he can say it, bless them, their so cute. Timothy has also moved into a big bed. Ben made it a while ago and it is working out well. Matthew has moved into Timothy's old cot and both of them have now moved out of our bedroom and into their own, (party, yippy) though Matthew usually ends up in our bed before the night is out as I run out of energy to get up and feed him. It is much nicer lying in the water bed to feed him and dozing off afterwards instead of sitting up.

May is getting busier as we go through all the birthdays. We are having a joint party with friends for Timothys second birthday. We are holding it in the next village's hall. Quite a bit bigger than our Kingston's one. We are having a pirate theme and have just bought a jumping castle for little ones. Its so cool, we tried it out this weekend, naturally Timothy and his pals loved it. We are also going to have sand, water and other craft activities at the party while all the adults get to hang around a bbq. We had a super weekend this weekend just past as we have also bought, second hand a trailer for the bike. Both boys fit in it and it is a super design. We got it from our friends up the road who had it brought over from the dutch. They do a good trailer, this thing turns into a pram like device once you reach town. It also means ben can now do the shopping in two small loads with the trailer during his lunch twice a week instead of taking the car after the kids are asleep at night. We have found that if Timothy notices Ben is gone shopping, he tends to freak out so it will be good to avoid that. We also get fit on the weekends instead of the stress of parking in cambridge with the kids. Well Ben is already fit but I will catch up soon, I hope. It is also good this has come along as I car blew up. The cam belt went on Friday and we have yet to hear how much damage it did. They are saying it will be at least thousand pounds, bummer.

Anyway I think that is about all our news for the minute but I am sure more will come. TTFN

Monday, April 20, 2009

Clips from Oz

The collection below includes a day at the beach on the Gold Coast. Watering in Bundaberg, Uncle Dan meeting Timothy at the Hotel, Breakie at Dee Why with Uncle Jodie and Auntie Alex and Trying to sleep while big brother runs dinky through the kitchen....

Nonna's Big Night



Sorry about the film quality, it was quite dark and I am not very good at it. Here are some pics from the glamours night too...



Thank you to Kim for the amazing food on the night and to all those that organsied it and of course a big thank you to the birthday girl for sharing a special event. We loved being apart of it.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Hot Lap 'round Mount Panorama

This is me (Ben) beating Jamie Whincup's lap record at Mount Panorama, Bathurst. With other cars on the track no less (some going the wrong way!).

Our little Astra is a wee bit slow down the straights but I reckon I'm so much faster over the top of the mountain and through the dipper. Suck on that Jamie! Alas, as this was not under race conditions the record doesn't count.

The audio might sound a little strange, but we'd had tons of coffee to get the tip top alertness and reflexes required for this attempt. So that explains that completely.



For our british friends that may not have heard about Mount Panorama, Bathurst and the Great Race (and it is a great race) see here.

Monday, April 06, 2009

A Christened baby

It was such a lovely service, most moving and a big thank you to the wonderful and generous people of Bathurst. They were very welcoming and had some beautiful things to say when welcoming Matthew Scott, Chelsea Grace and Timothy James into the family of Christ. We would also like to thank all the great friends and family who came all the way for the service.

Sydney

After a super time with Nanny and Poppy in Bundaberg, we made our way via two flights to Sydney. We sent the first night in the intercontinental, five star hotel. This was followed with dinner at Rock Pool. The reason behind this decadent choices is, my lovely Ben and I have been together for ten years. Married for eight and known each other for twelve. It was the most magical night. Even better than the night we got married. We went with the tasting menu which was excellent and quite funny as it has nine course and of course nine glasses of wine. This meant of course that Ben was extremely merry by the end of the event. The hotel, five star, was wonder and so where the lovely grandparents that looked after the boys. The following two nights we got to stay with my lovely brother and his beautiful Alex. (we love her already) This was great as we got to have breakfast at the beach. Saturday morning we met up with our great friends from Glebe library. It was amazing to catch up with everybody and we also go to walk with all to the Glebe markets too. I got some really cute t-shirts for the kids. Saturday we had lunch with Dave and his lovely family in the excellent coffee district of Leichhart. We had great gelato and fun in the park. Saturday was a relax with Jodie and Alex. Sunday we saw the happy birthday girls, Chelsea and Jane.



Monday we caught up with Toshiba buddies and Mosman chums. That was excellent too, swaping gossip and news about who is where and how every ones family is going. We wish a super Congrad's to Tim and Jane and the big sister now, Welcome to Sam. He is so beautiful. We do apologies to Jane B and Jaqui, who I really did want to see and met to call Monday night but alas my irrational dislike for cockies (bugs) we ended up driving to Bathurst that same night and did not return to Sydney until Thursday. Thursday we made up for all the stuff we had to cancel, that were very nice though. Visiting friends with their great dogs and a super groovy dinner with work mates. Friday we got to go to the zoo with Jodie and Alex, it was so pretty.



The beach in these pics is Dee Why


This is the lovely Palm beach


Newport....


And the zoo...