Update on Melbourne Trip and our wet weather!

We had visitors over last night who told us that Easter is traditionally the time for flood warnings in this area. Looks like they were right. I'm sitting at my desk looking out at the effects of the continuous rain we are currently having. The level of water in the dog enclosure is at least 2 inches, and rising. While I am reasonably confident that it will drain away, I think I will continue to monitor the rise as we have rather a lot of computer equipment on the floor next to the window where the dog enclosure has turned into a backyard paddling pool.

James is revelling in the return to cool weather and rain - says it's the best he has felt since he got here. He has been out dancing in the rain, and walked to the school to get the kids just for the pleasure of becoming completely soaked. I'm just hoping we get a bit of warmth and sunshine in time for our visitors and for the farm to dry out for the first harvest run.

For all those who were concerned about my comment about hospitals, turns out it was not James I should have been worried about, but Josh, my godson, who claims to have caught the nasty cold from James, but has been much worse with it. He not only ended up in Lismore Base Hospital, but even got to enjoy (?!) a helicopter ride to Brisbane hospital to go into intensive care for respiratory distress! This all happened while we were in Melbourne, and was very concerning, but we were pleased to see that he is looking almost as good as new, and enjoyed the company of our kids over the weekend.

We had a very enjoyable, but hectic trip to Melbourne. Dealing with traffic and the long distances from one side of the city to the other meant we were both exhausted when we got back. It was great to see the family, and especially our nieces and nephews who have grown a lot in the intervening 3 months.

James got to go to Wonthaggi to join his schoolmates at the Human Powered Vehicle race over the weekend and then stayed on with friends to attend Caulfield Grammar School, even managing to be there for an excursion to Yarra Junction campus. Chris caught up with one of his friends over the weekend and then enjoyed catching up with the others at school.
Breanna and Liam were thrilled to be back at school - Liam received his school captain's badge, made a speech and handed out certificates at assembly. They also got to catch up with their respective friends after school.

Rob managed to fit in some work with an audit at one of the diver training establishments and got to catch up with his work colleagues by going to a birthday party which was very nicely timed. I played taxi for the most part, and fitted in cups of tea with friends in between picking up and dropping off other members of the family. I did manage to set up the online learning system for one of the classrooms at Highvale Primary, and also saw our tenants who are keeping the house in beautiful condition. Was amused that they had not had to cut the lawn once in the three months, as opposed to our lawn up here which provides work for some of the local lads every couple of weeks by growing at an amazing rate (like everything here).

The christening for Charlotte was a lovely event, followed by a very pleasant lunch back at Steve and Lisa's. We managed to make it last all afternoon and evening, and the time we spent there gave Abigail and Charlotte time to really get used to their cousins and Auntie and Uncle again. Charlotte is the most delightfully friendly and happy little baby.

Abigail has developed into a real personality and is even starting to talk. Initially a little hesitant with us, Abby was giving cuddles and kisses aplenty by the time we left. Her little magic show, complete with a bow to the audience at the end, was incredibly cute.

Back to Melbourne for a week

We're looking forward to a week back in Melbourne for Charlotte's christening.

We've added some time either side of the weekend, and the kids are booked in to go to their old schools for 2 days on Monday and Tuesday - testimony to how much they loved their schools to be going back voluntarily when they didn't need to! They are missing their friends, so it's a great way to catch up with them and also to let the teacher's know how they are going.

The focus is on visiting family and school friends, so sorry to all our other friends who we may not have time to catch up with! Luckily some are visiting us, as April heralds the start of our visitors. We're looking forward to it, and last week I went out and bought some extra sheets, pillows and covers and today I borrowed an extra doona (duvet) for when they come. I'm hoping we will get to go out and do a few "touristy" things, as we have spent most weekends catching up on schoolwork or work.

Last weekend was busy with helping out the Dunoon Public School with their annual stall at the Channon Craft Market. The kids played Marimba with the school Marimba Ensemble to a very appreciative crowd. (See Liam in yellow on the right)

It was a lovely day, marred slightly by a very nasty ant bite that Breanna sustained at the end of the day. It swelled up and was a very angry red colour for several days, with a red line extending up her vein. She's decided that bitey/venomous things clearly like her, since she was also the lucky recipient of a bluebottle jellyfish sting - VERY painful and quite concerning, but fortunately the lifeguards helped us with the appropriate treatment and reassurance that it would get better, with the caveat that if she had trouble breathing to get her to hospital!

Hospital is almost looking like an option for James at the moment who has worsening asthma and hayfever and more than three weeks with a persistent chest cough. So we'll see how he goes tonight and get him to the doctor first thing in the morning. Hope he is well enough for the Melbourne trip as he is the one who most needs to have a break and to catch up with his friends.

Till next time...

Bronwen

And then there were 5....chooks (not people!)

Yes, the inevitable happened and one of our chooks (middle one below) has not survived the attentions of a dog. Fortunately for our dogs, it was not one of them, so they are still in the good books.


Luckily the other chooks seem to still be okay in our backyard - the tragedy occurred because the chooks had been scared over into the neighbours yard and were then in view of the street and the puppy down the road just couldn't resist the temptation. Our neighbours who owned the puppy were of course very upset that it had happened and delivered a lovely cake which Breanna adopted immediately for her birthday cake.

She had a lovely birthday with Paul dropping in with a lovely Black Forest Cherry Cake on her actual birthday.

This was followed up with a party on the following Sunday with many little girls invited over, and of course we had the opportunity to get to know a few parents a little better. Breanna is showing her adaptability and her gregarious nature with a firm group of friends at her new school. She also regularly calls her friends in Melbourne using the Skype account and headset she got for her birthday.

Australia Day Celebrations at the Dunoon Sports Club

26th January 2009

Yes I know that it's been a while since Australia Day (26th January), but that's about as up to date as I am managing at the moment!
We had a really lovely day with Rob's cousin Mario visiting us, and despite some really heavy rain in the morning, it cleared up to a gorgeous afternoon just in time for the celebrations down at the local Sports and Recreation Club.
Take a look at the photos from that day at the website http://www.dunoongazette.org/australia-day-celebrations-dunoon-sports-club-0 and see if you recognise anyone (okay, I'll give you a clue - Breanna and Liam are in the three-legged race and Anitra is our friend who has made our many past visits and our current move to Dunoon so easy and enjoyable.)