Burns on two wheels (mostly)

My kids are addicted to screens. The boys especially. I think, perhaps, they may not be the only ones in the world who are affected by this problem.

So I try to make sure they have some screen-free time every day. Not just while they're sleeping, and especially during the holidays. Every afternoon from 2 o'clock they have electronics-free time for two hours or so. And Sundays are No Computer Sundays in our house.

Yesterday I took it a step further and took the family out for a bike ride. Elora got her own bike (with training wheels) for Christmas - she's been super eager to use it (more than just around the back yard) - and it means that we can now utilise the fantastic bike paths around our suburb as a family. The most surprising part was that even Atticus was willing to come. He is usually reluctant to do ANYTHING that involves leaving the house (except going to school, and if he can bring his iPod).

The park wasn't far - would usually take me about twenty five minutes to walk there - but it was sunny and hot and it was the middle of the day. We got there eventually, after many rest stops. These guys needs more exercise! After a pleasant lunch, some sitting around in the shade and playing on the flying fox, we rode home, almost perishing from the heat. Funny how the trip home always seems so much faster.

Not an overly exciting excursion now that I look back at this post, but the start, I hope, of more adventures on two wheels (plus a couple).

FNQ

Sounds rude, but it's not. It's where we're headed for the next ten days. Sunny, tropical Far North Queensland. Specifically, Cairns and Thursday Island. The kids are ridiculously excited. I'm more trepidatious... I hope they are good flyers!

I've probably packed more knitting projects than I can possibly hope to complete but, hey, better to have too many than not enough. And the same with books, for that matter. At least I remembered to pack my reading glasses.

We will have limited internet access while we're away. Maybe none! I'll miss you all.

See you later!

P.S. Note the time on this post? Yep. Time to get some sleep... Taxi's coming in five hours.

Today's plan

Today we were hoping to get out to the Biennale since tomorrow's the last day. But looking at the weather radar this morning:


I think that plan is out the window (the blue/white/yellow bits are rain). I went during the school holidays with Atti and Elora. On an iffy sort of day, weather-wise. Iffy until we got there, that is. And the skies opened up and we were miserable and wet, no, soaked, and Atti said "I don't want to go to Cockatoo Island ever again" when we got home. Not doing that again!

So I've finally started to get cracking on the oliver+s Ice Cream Dress as part of Amy and Kate's Ice Cream Social.

I only decided to participate at the last minute. Of course by then patterns had sold out. I finally got mine yesterday so I'm starting one day after the finish. D'oh! But that's okay. I've had plenty of time to admire all the work of everyone else and boy are there some prolific sewers (sewists? people who sew?) out there!

I'm thinking of just making View C for now - less work involved (no pockets) meaning it will get done more quickly.

I'll keep you posted!

Winter: Day x

So I've lost count already with this winter days thing. Shrug.

I read somewhere that during the cold, dark days of Winter people tend to be less cheery and motivated and happy. I would have to agree with that - there's been a bit of talk of it on some of the blogs I read too.

The weekend proved to be a little bit drier than the few weeks preceeding it. I even managed to get some washing dry. Some, not all of the four loads I did!

Yesterday started out very promising, as Mel wrote, but turned a little by the afternoon. We spent it at the wonderful Sydney Park celebrating my niece's 3rd birthday (as Elora says, "My best friend Charlotte").

Plenty of food, good company and excellent music provided by the "Sunday Dub Club" (sorry, couldn't find a link)... Love me some ska. It stayed mostly dry, right up until the cake time, after which the skies opened up. As good as any signal that it was time to leave, I guess.

And just because, Dan made this silly comic using a new iPad app (called Strip Designer) which he bought yesterday.


Yes, that's me crocheting at a birthday party. Had to do something to keep my hands warm. Something that wasn't eating.

Winter: Day 2

It seemed a little milder today, or maybe I dressed warmer. I almost got a little sweaty at one stage (in my woollen long sleeve top with a cardigan and my thick woollen overcoat carrying three bags sitting in the tropical surrounds of the swimming pool...)

Anyway, tonight I went here.


To see this boy (and his friends).


In this crowd.


(Click on the picture go to the flickr page and see the note pointing out his position.)

It was the Festival of Instrumental Music organised by the Department of Education. Over 1,000 kids from State schools performing for us. Three quarters of them on recorder in the NSW Combined Schools Recorder Ensemble but also about 200 in the Combined Schools Wind Ensemble too. 200 kids crammed on stage playing violin, viola and cello at one stage! As well as a bunch of smaller groups and some soloists.

When the note first came home about this concert, we were warned that tickets sell out fast so be quick. I didn't buy a ticket though. I'm cynical... See it just as a money-grabbing exercise by the Department and wasn't willing to fork out $40 to see my kid play for five minutes. But as the day came closer Dante kept asking if I was coming to see him and, well, I figured I'd better do the right thing and at least try.

I met up with the kids while they were having dinner at Circular Quay and was told by the teachers that if I hurry I might have luck at the Opera House Box Office. So after giving Dante a big hug and smoochy kiss in front of his friends (which surprisingly he didn't repel!) I set off in search of a ticket. The nice lady behind the counter said they were sold out but pointed me to a queue and said I could wait there in case anything comes up. Apparently some people hand their tickets in at the last minute if they can't make it. I was fourth in line. What I affectionately called the Bad Parents Line.

I waited for about twenty minutes before deciding that was enough. I tried, but I wasn't going to waste half my night lining up for a ticket. I hadn't had dinner yet or anything. So I went outside and took pictures of the incredible beauty of the Opera House lit up at night with the spiffy new camera. I managed to see the kids coming back to go inside and walked with them for a bit, until I couldn't go any further.

Eventually, after most people were seated but before the concert began, I wandered down to the info counter and asked if there was anywhere I could sit to maybe listen? I must have looked pathetic or something because the lady reached under the counter and instead handed me a ticket. "You might as well just take this," she said. "One of our VIPs didn't show up. It's a good seat."

I couldn't believe it! In fact she had to tell me twice to take it. I hurried upstairs and had an incredible seat. First row of the dress circle. Awesome!

And despite all my cynicism about these concerts, I've come to realise that I do actually enjoy them. What a big dag, huh? There's just something about seeing all these incredibly talented kids that fills me with delight. Knowing how much work the kids and the teachers put into it. What an opportunity for them! I certainly never was given a chance like this when I grew up. Plus it was FREE! The Chinese in me was happy about that. Dante was so happy when I met up with him afterwards. Glad that I saw him in action, that I was there to support him.


It felt like a great parenting moment. We celebrated with ice creams before catching the train home, tired but happy.

Wedding goodness

It was the most wonderful of days. Everyone was happy and excited and of course the bride looked incredible. We had a fantastic time. The kids were great - over excited (and then way over tired), boisterous but above all else, happy and friendly.

Some pictures, mostly taken by a family friend with a much nicer camera (a couple taken by me). Click on the photo for an enlargement. More of my photos can be seen in my flickr set.

Gorgeous boy in his suit and green tie (self-chosen).

Atticus and I. Gosh I love my boys in suits and ties.

Shy flower girl. She eventually got there, grabbing onto her grandmother's hand as she walked the bride down the aisle. So sweet! (That's me hiding behind the tree.)

Looking older than his years (in my opinion). Photo taken by me, links to Flickr.

Happy couple at the "altar" with bridesmaids and flowergirl looking on.

My beautiful little girl!

Mr and Mrs M.

Proud brother of the bride. Photo taken by me, links to Flickr.

Later in the evening... boys gettin' rowdy on the dance floor. There was much running and wrestling (here). Atti on the left, Ollie, the ring bearer and groom's nephew, on the right. They got on so very well!

The little miss had to copy. This is more like what she looked like for most of the evening (not lying down, but dishevelled and shoeless).

Two suits, one flowergirl dress

Today's the day. Dan's sister is getting married this afternoon!! Stressed much? I can't imagine how she must be feeling right now. Well, actually I guess I can, having gone through it 6½ years ago!

It's going to be a late night for us. More pics tomorrow.

Doolittle goodness

Me, the Pixies stage (before they came on)...
Look closely and you can see the trademark "P" on the drum kit.
Last night Dan and I went to see the Pixies at the Hordern Pavilion. We bought the tickets last September or thereabouts and I have been looking forward to it all this time. Booked my mother in for baby-sitting way back then and had to keep reminding her, even up to yesterday afternoon! (That's the thing when you see them every day...)

The concert was, in a nutshell, awesome. I wasn't HUGELY into the Pixies when they first started but they are such an incredible band, still together (back together) after all these years, an influence on so many bands ever since, that I couldn't not go. Plus, this was the Doolittle tour. Their greatest album, played through from beginning to end (with a few b-sides added in before and after).

Even though the band members are all getting on a little (I mean, that's life, right?) they put on an amazing show. Some bands can be disappointing when you've listened to their album over and over and see them live years later (I'm looking at you, Violent Femmes) but the Pixies rocked. Their playing was flawless, Frank Black and Kim Deal's singing spot on.

And I don't know if it's because I'm getting older or if it's the crowd at a concert like this, but it seemed to me a much more pleasant and polite audience. Of course there were a few over-the-top folk who just wanted to jump and bash into people but most of the crowd was better than that. Enthusiastic, happy, and excited. And polite! A tall guy briefly stood in front of me early on and I said "I hope you're not going to stay there all night - there's a bevy of short people around you" and he was very nice about it. Another guy moved in later on but I noticed he did try to duck down and made sure I could get a view. And then another chick pushed her way in next to me near the end. But I didn't mind. There was room! She saw me look at her (actually, I was looking past her to our friends) and started apologising... "Kim Deal is my hero!" she exclaimed and also kept making sure that I had room and a view. All the time happy as punch. I loved looking around at all the people around me and seeing the joy on their faces and in their dancing.

It's such a different experience to the days when you'd go and be surrounded by 6'+ tall guys who couldn't care less and who'd squeeze you out or squash you if you tried to hold your ground. It would often nearly ruin my night. Last night was so much more pleasant, it amazes me. Also I have to say that the smoking ban in venues made things MUCH nicer. Gawd, I am turning into an old fogey aren't I?

I do wish I'd brought my camera (the above photo was taken with my friend's iphone) - heaps of people were taking photos, some of which looked pretty good from what I could see. But this morning I found this slide show - if you're interested!

I'm so glad I went. A night out, kid-free (although we did see a family group! Parents and their two teenage kids, obviously underage, sitting in the stands. How great! What cool parents!) It was well worth the wait and the money (tickets aren't cheap for big international acts, unfortunately). Yay!

A terrific success

Wow. The cake stall this morning was amazing. In all the years i've been doing this I have never seen it be so successful. I didn't really do much with this year's stall. It seemed that it was all organised well and I was glad to take a step back. I simply baked and ate and sold a few. The stall made nearly $900 in 3½ hours!

Afterwards I had a fairly pleasant day at work followed by a wonderful night meeting up with some crafty peeps. Does pulling apart some knitting that I'm unhappy with count as starting a new project??

Bingo night

Last night Dan and I attended our very first Bingo night. Organised by the mother of one of Dante's friends, we felt obliged to lend our support. My mother took the kids and away we went!

We sat at a table with some other parents from pre-school. It was in the school hall and was a very relaxed, informal affair. Dinner was served, the school principal called the numbers and fun was had all around.

I even won two games! The second was the most amusing. The game was "Four Corners"... get the four numbers in each corner of your grid. Except three of mine were blank. And the first number to be called was the one I needed. I was actually a little embarrassed that I won so easily... I needn't have been. It happened twice more later in the evening (not to me), and once before any numbers were called - all four squares were blank!

I'm not sure that we'll do it again... perhaps a trivia night or something different. But at least we had a night out kid-free. Yay!

Our trip to Hawks Nest, NSW

We spent a week out of town in January. Hawk's Nest is about a three hour drive north of Sydney. A small seaside town whose population triples during the summer. It is right on the beach - two beaches, actually. One an ocean beach with big waves and sand dunes and the other backing onto Port Stephen with no waves, shallower and great for kids.

We had a wonderful time. The kids loved it. Dan and I loved it. So relaxing. No internet. No phone. Just reading and knitting to be done.

On Jimmy's Beach, the gentler one. Part of every day was spent at the beach.



Elora loved her bucket and spade. Although sometimes she had trouble.
"Can you help me?"



My parents came up for one day. We went for a walk to the ocean beach, Bennett's Beach. We didn't have time to go swimming.


Dan found a tiny, tiny crab.


Proud builders, father and son. A wave came and knocked the top of this sand castle seconds before the photo was taken.


Dante and his unusual building style. I'm not sure what he was doing but he sure did like digging deep holes! I guess that's seven year old boys for you.


On the ferry ride across the bay to Nelson Bay. Just a morning trip to see some dolphins. We saw some, but didn't really get a good picture.


More photos in my Flickr set.

Home!

What a great week away we had. I will post some pictures and (probably) write more tomorrow.

I fulfilled all my holiday goals, that being to go to the beach and to do some knitting. I even did some knitting on the beach :) I think we managed a visit to the beach every day.

The weather was perfect, absolutely bloody perfect. Warm and sunny and clear. We ate a lot of food. Perhaps didn't have as much ice-cream as I'd like, but that's okay. The whiteness of the sand and the gorgeousness of the scenery more than made up for it.

I highly recommend Hawks Nest as a holiday destination. We will be going back there again!

Out of town for a week

We're going to "The Little Bird's House" as Atti calls it, leaving within half an hour if we can manage... I've been procrastinating all morning instead of packing and getting ready. Argh!

So, we're heading North to Hawk's Nest, an hour north of Newcastle, three hours away from Sydney. We've rented a holiday house to share with Dan's mother and sister. There will be no internet access. But there will be a lot of beach going and hanging around. I will do some knitting, methinks. And Guitar Hero-ing. :)

See you in a week!

First post for the New Year

I know, I'm 100% nerd, blogging at Midnight on New Year's Eve!! But what can I say... I'm trying to stick to that last resolution :)

Tonight we had an early dinner and drove in to watch the early 9pm fireworks. Managed to get an excellent park near by (sort of - still had to walk for 15 minutes). We went to the Glebe Island Bridge and had a fantastic view of the city, the Bridge and the various points around the harbour where the fireworks were let off.

The kids loved it - happy and excited. I was worried that Elora would be upset because she's been terrified of all the local ones all week! But I think the excitement of the boys (and me) kept her from feeling scared and she had a ball. Calling out the colours and shapes "flower!" "star!".

Someday we'll be able to stay out for the midnight ones, but until that time I must be happy with this.

I'm going away!

Yay! I've bought my tickets and organised my accomodation. I'm going up to T.I. in November. Yay, again!

I have previously written about that lovely place, Thursday Island in the Torres Strait at the very tip of Australia (between the mainland, Cape York, and Papua New Guinea) and in Nov. '06 I went there with my mother for a very sad occasion.

This time, though, will be nothing but joy. My cousins are getting their children baptised and in true huge family style, it will be a quintuple christening (and they're working on no. 6). That's right. Since February last year there have been 9 great-grandchildren born to the clan, three in Sydney and the rest up in Far North Queensland.

I'm so excited! Yesterday when the plan was initially considered I was completely shocked by how cheap the tickets were! Usually it costs well over $1,000 to fly up there but I managed to get one for $570. I couldn't believe it! (Actually, yesterday the price was $520 but I hesitated and missed out.)

I'll only be going for 5 days, two of which will be spent travelling... 6 hours up, 9 hours back (with a three hour wait in Cairns). To save Dan's sanity I'll take Elora with me since she's free anyway.

I can't wait! I love going up there and seeing all my family. I love seeing the racial mix of my cousins and the next generation. I love the smell of the sea air and the sound of the waves crashing on the shore. I love being on boats. I love the peace and quiet of a small town in the tropics.

But... I'd better get sewing. I've got presents to make for six babies!

Oh yeah, and I was playing around with the camera on my MacBook again. Here's me, grinning like a fool because I'm so excited. Believe me, it's the best of a lot of photos I just took. Plus, you get to see my cosy, cosy dressing gown which I've mentioned just a few times.

Food for the future

By the way, we're going to the Food For The Future fair at Chippendale today. Dante's school choir is performing at 10:35am and 12:00pm. Should be interesting!

Will tell you more about it later.

Popular pub

As I mentioned earlier, our dear friends Tancred and Evelyn have been home for three weeks and are going back to Edinburgh tomorrow. They asked everyone to come to the pub after work today as a "final farewell".

So, we went, of course. How could we not?

It was great going to the pub - it's been ages since we were last there. And how popular did I feel?? :) Not only were there the twenty or so of us, but another two separate groups of people I knew - a few parents from child care and a group from work!

The pub (the Duck and Swan - isn't it a great name?) has a great beer garden and restaurant and kids are welcome. They have great kids' meals for $5 (anything on the menu in a smaller size!) and happy hour from 5:30 - 7pm each weekday.

We had a nice time. It was so cute watching Atti and Elora share their meal. Atti was so good at making sure that Elora had a constant supply of chips :) I even had a beer. We couldn't stay too long as the kids started turning into pumpkins but it was a great early evening out.

Dante, Wall-e and star charts

Just before the school holidays began last week, Dante had a massive tantrum at tennis class which involved the teacher coming to get me from Atti's swimming lessons... I was horrified, mortified and extremely cross. (We joke that he did a "John McEnroe").

I was so cross that I told him he WON'T be doing any fun things these holidays - he should have remembered that school was about to finish. He wasn't very happy with this outcome (that's putting it lightly!)

A few days later, when the holidays actually began, he started to pester to go and see some movies etc. "Aha!" we told him. "Remember what happened on Wednesday? When you screamed at your teacher at tennis? Remember what we said?" More crying, whinging and complaining ensued. Until we decided that he could earn the privilege of seeing the film instead.

So Dante sat down and created a star chart for himself:


25 stamps per movie. It was his idea to divide up the page and add the index for ease of use. I thought it was really nicely done. He has been incredibly well behaved since this came into action, with only the occasional lapse. It's quite amazing to see how good he can be when he wants to!

Yesterday we finally got to see Wall-E, the latest delightful offering from Pixar. (Trailer can be seen here).

What can I say? I'm glad Dante earned his stamps so quickly. This was the most entertaining film I have seen in a long time. I don't often laugh out loud but I found myself doing it several times during this movie! I loved Wall-E's collection of human "artifacts" (including the singing fish!) and the unstoppable pet cockroach. The titular character was incredibly charming and cute.

Of course, as is typical with kids' films, the "message" was jammed down our throats but I didn't mind as it's one I've always cared about... "Save the environment!"

Anyway, I highly recommend it to all, not just those with kids. Don't be late or you'll miss the short film beforehand. 4 and a half stars!

Good and busy

A tiring day today.

A working bee at child care (lots of people came - the work was done so quickly. Yay!) A visit to the shops afterwards to meet Dan and the kids. Bought a bunch of clothes for Elora. Home for naps (me included!). A quick dinner and then off to a party for our friends Tancred and Evelyn who are back home from Edinburgh for a few weeks.

Tiring, but fun.

And the best news - American TV has come back online. Grey's Anatomy for all!

Great singing, Dante! Apparently.

Tonight our school Junior Choir (of which Dante is a member) performed at a "Primary Proms" concert hosted by the Department of Education.

After a busy day at work (we are moving offices on Friday!) I had to pick up the other two kids, take them to Dan who was in a meeting from 5-6pm, get back to my parents' car which I drove in earlier with Dante, then drive out to woop woop for this concert in peak hour traffic. Ack. I didn't leave work until 6:30pm and it took a good hour or more to get to the venue (and the concert began at 7pm!).

I managed to get there without any dramas (due to intense map study and lots of advice from work colleagues) but when I went inside I found out that I had missed Dante's performance! (Sorry, kiddo - I'm guessing you'll read this one day and find out that I fibbed about it!) I was so annoyed. All that money and trouble so I could sit there and watch other people's kids.

Afterwards I got a quick run down from another parent and then gushed to Dante about how well he did. All was good until he started quizzing me in the car. "Where were you sitting? I couldn't see you. Did you think <insert part of performance> was funny? What about <insert another part of performance>? I was looking for you in the audience, Mama." I really thought I was going to get caught out but managed to divert the interrogation, pleading driving concentration.

The rest of the concert that I saw was all right. A few really talented kids doing solo acts. A teenage flautist, a 10 year old cellist and a 17 year old singer singing her own composition - very rock. She'll be one to keep an eye out for. Her name is Meriana Gyory. Very quirky and Australian. I loved the lyrics to her song.

I can't get you out of my head.
You're a telepathic stalker.

Anyway, that's me done for the day.