I'm on the Slowy-slow-slow-computer today - it's just taken me about 35 minutes to get this thing fired up and logged on (no kidding) so I don't know how long I'll be on here. Every 10 seconds or so it freezes up, it seems. For about 20 seconds. Sigh.
So sorry that the Pie has got a cold too (and the kiddies), seems everyone has come down with the sniffles. We're OK but I'm at least showing willing by coming down with an impressive cold sore - poor show I know. Hope you're all feeling a little better, on both continents.
Another quiet day today, the Mr was busily typing away for his grant (as he is at the moment, which is why I'm on the Slowy), and we did work and so on as per usual until he came home just before 3 and then we buggered off to the beach with the car. That came out wrong - took the car to drive to the beach. Ocean Baths closed today (it being Friday) so we went along to her Sea-squirt pool at Bar Beach - my she had a good time. At one point she was rolling herself around in the sand until she was like a perfectly breaded chicken drumstick (hair and everything), and then after washing herself off in the sea started over, and over, and over again. Then she started going in further and further ( I was just watching from the shore - it's a safe space there in the pool, enclosed so should couldn't be dragged off anywhere - and it was chilly), until she was 'wave jumping' properly by herself, lifting off the floor nicely and staying on top of the wave when it came along, standing probably almost chest high in the water (it's difficult to tell because of the swell). She got rolled right over at one point, picked herself up and wasn't phased any more than to look back at me and exclaim 'did you see that?!' and went back to it. I guess it has been pretty much two months solid on the beach, but even so she's progressed hugely in confidence regarding the water since we came here, and is definitely moving much more freely altogether. Still a hell of a long way to go regarding swimming style but in a way water confidence and general knowledge is much more important. She definitely knew she was doing well and said as much, and she was absolutely glowing with pride but I had to make sure she got out at this point because she was getting tired and going deeper and deeper in (flushed with success), I could just see myself having to get cold and wet to go and fish her out. So far, this has never happened - though I did have to go in and rescue the goggles she dropped to the bottom of the pool once. Mostly, I just stand on the shore and nod encouragement. If it's very hot (and I mean bloody tropical hell-hole steaming baking hot with no remittance from the heat) I might go in for a while. Not too long. I think it's inevitably been well above 32 degrees for this to happen - 30's just not enough.
Anyway, where was I. Yup, it's the last day she had to sit out a school day at home, from Monday it's back into school life. And not a moment too soon, last day she was in school was mid-December - been out for two and a half months. As far as academic stuff goes she's of course way over the top, and even for the physical I think she's much better equipped now than she was before we came here, and she simply can't wait. Made her library book bag today, and her new name labels arrived so we put them on her new stuff (much to her delight), her new uniform is washed and ready, still got to go and get another rucksack for school but apart from that she's set. Says she wants sandwiches for lunch with no variation - she wants chicken, pork, lamb, beef and sausage all in the same sandwich, no other filling. Not entirely sure she'll get quite this order but I'm sure we can manage it partially.
Not entirely sure what I'm on about at the moment. I wonder where Gonzo will end up tomorrow morning, we found him by the kitchen window this morning and he hasn't moved all day, but I'm sure he'll get going as soon as we bugger off to bed. Places to be, insects to catch. Legs to wave and morsels to munch. Lots of love to you all and hope you can all use many fewer snot-rags and aspirin, V xxxx
So sorry that the Pie has got a cold too (and the kiddies), seems everyone has come down with the sniffles. We're OK but I'm at least showing willing by coming down with an impressive cold sore - poor show I know. Hope you're all feeling a little better, on both continents.
Another quiet day today, the Mr was busily typing away for his grant (as he is at the moment, which is why I'm on the Slowy), and we did work and so on as per usual until he came home just before 3 and then we buggered off to the beach with the car. That came out wrong - took the car to drive to the beach. Ocean Baths closed today (it being Friday) so we went along to her Sea-squirt pool at Bar Beach - my she had a good time. At one point she was rolling herself around in the sand until she was like a perfectly breaded chicken drumstick (hair and everything), and then after washing herself off in the sea started over, and over, and over again. Then she started going in further and further ( I was just watching from the shore - it's a safe space there in the pool, enclosed so should couldn't be dragged off anywhere - and it was chilly), until she was 'wave jumping' properly by herself, lifting off the floor nicely and staying on top of the wave when it came along, standing probably almost chest high in the water (it's difficult to tell because of the swell). She got rolled right over at one point, picked herself up and wasn't phased any more than to look back at me and exclaim 'did you see that?!' and went back to it. I guess it has been pretty much two months solid on the beach, but even so she's progressed hugely in confidence regarding the water since we came here, and is definitely moving much more freely altogether. Still a hell of a long way to go regarding swimming style but in a way water confidence and general knowledge is much more important. She definitely knew she was doing well and said as much, and she was absolutely glowing with pride but I had to make sure she got out at this point because she was getting tired and going deeper and deeper in (flushed with success), I could just see myself having to get cold and wet to go and fish her out. So far, this has never happened - though I did have to go in and rescue the goggles she dropped to the bottom of the pool once. Mostly, I just stand on the shore and nod encouragement. If it's very hot (and I mean bloody tropical hell-hole steaming baking hot with no remittance from the heat) I might go in for a while. Not too long. I think it's inevitably been well above 32 degrees for this to happen - 30's just not enough.
Anyway, where was I. Yup, it's the last day she had to sit out a school day at home, from Monday it's back into school life. And not a moment too soon, last day she was in school was mid-December - been out for two and a half months. As far as academic stuff goes she's of course way over the top, and even for the physical I think she's much better equipped now than she was before we came here, and she simply can't wait. Made her library book bag today, and her new name labels arrived so we put them on her new stuff (much to her delight), her new uniform is washed and ready, still got to go and get another rucksack for school but apart from that she's set. Says she wants sandwiches for lunch with no variation - she wants chicken, pork, lamb, beef and sausage all in the same sandwich, no other filling. Not entirely sure she'll get quite this order but I'm sure we can manage it partially.
Not entirely sure what I'm on about at the moment. I wonder where Gonzo will end up tomorrow morning, we found him by the kitchen window this morning and he hasn't moved all day, but I'm sure he'll get going as soon as we bugger off to bed. Places to be, insects to catch. Legs to wave and morsels to munch. Lots of love to you all and hope you can all use many fewer snot-rags and aspirin, V xxxx
That Non really enjoys herself at the beach, wave jumping ibdeed, and has no fear in water, which is very good news. So Monday it's off to school - I hope she has not set her hopes too high.
ReplyDeleteHere I am much better and the Woofie is slowly getting better now. I have just come back from Castelfranco, having paid up for our Venice tours for this spring. Our first lesson is next Monday, in a small village near Castelfranco.
About houses I suppose you have tried the street view that comes with the details from Robinson's on 212 Scenic Drive. As it covers all of Merewether Heights I have driven up and down the length of Flowerdale Avenue too. We didn't remember seeing this one before: http://www.realestate.com.au/cgi-bin/rsearch?a=o&id=106328470&f=0&p=10&t=res&ty=&fmt=&header=&cc=&c=14273157&s=nsw&tm=1267208885
but you must have seen it I think.
I hope that poor Pflea finishes his grant application this weekend: I suppose the usual 80/20 rule applies here too - namely that you can get 80% done in 20% of the time, and then all the extra details that you ideally want to include take 80% of the time to track down.
Hope you 2 at least are having a good weekend,
Love to you all,
Whale
Hey thanks for the commiserations- no worries, lot better thank you- and good luck on the first day of school on Monday! Leo could also hardly wait for his first day of school before- and we didn't have nearly as many workbooks, mostly out-door learning it was- the Mr is out to work again so we went out in the nearly pouring sky to fly 1 dollar kites (lord that 99cents store is great- trust to find all the school stuff, out door play stuff and everything under the sun for a buck and not be sorry to throw them away afterwards) - it was really windy so the kite flew up "as high as an airplane mummy!"- and came home to finish off some industrial cheesecake that had been languishing in the freezer ever since we got here- it's Louisiana style ribs for dinner. The fish spaghetti sounded lovely- have to try, though have to say that we don't have nearly as many interesting sounding fish over here- generally the kids prefer the one-day smoked Japanese kind like mackerels of one sort or another, in the fish market you'll generally find things like red snapper and sea bass, which are fine- but not quite what you describe- sounds absolutely yummy. We've been a bit busy with some school projects for Leo, not to mention he's been in a bit of a spell for the past week so I7ve grown tired of the American way of explain-reason-figure it out in a calm way and opted to the old time-outs again, ever a favorite. Was just toying with an idea to start a non-carb food stand; I know I'm never going to do it but still would love to and know it'd go like hotcakes, especially here in old CA. I have so many recipes since I hardly ever touch carbs myself, have a million ideas- but then as it always is, one thinks one would go through the whole hassle of actually starting it up and then having to move just when it gets going. I really don't know, you always seem to be so great in finding the time to write, you're unbelievable- the only time I finally flump into a chair is about 9 in the evening and by that time my poor brain is so out of it that actually writing a sentence is out of the question, grab for a glass of booze and heave a sigh. Excellent going with the swimming Non- well done! Anyway, have to rush soon since I have some turkey that I have to slow roast as well since it's going to go off otherwise- not to mention the kids have already had half an hour of rest after 4 hours of running in the park and are already ready for more. I had no idea that outdoor bugs were such a problem- which would be, I know we never could enjoy summers out in the garden with all the mosquitoes (what did they call them in Aussie land? it was funny I remember in Bill's book)- and didn't care the slightest whether one had kill everything in sight repellent or not- but at least not so many poisonous spiders to worry about. So how long does summer go on for? Does it get cooler around May or something? just can't imagine it all in all.
ReplyDeleteStill, better than the freezing and rainy downpour, obviously- one gets tired of heat too though- and ... ohmy gosh have to go just now write later, kid emergency. XOXOXOXOXOS