Sometimes I Do Question My Own Sanity!

On Friday mornings the alarm goes at 5:05am, Bill and I get up and get dressed in our cycling gear and head out the door by 5:30am. We ride to Woden - arriving at 6am averaging about 25kph, we then ride with a bunch that leave from the Bike Shed, we ride for about 15 to 20 minutes with them probably averaging about 35kph and peel of at Manuaka where we meet with about 4 or 5 other riders at one of the bakeries. About 6:50am Bill and I head for home, about a 50 minute ride arriving home having ridden about 45km> Then it is time to let the chooks out, have breakfast, make lunches, make sure the kids are up and organised, walk the dogs, head off to work or whatever is happening. I don't work Fridays, so normally have a short nap in the afternoon. Some of my friends think I am mad - and I must admit now that it is colder and darker, I sometimes think along the same line, especially in those first few minutes when the alarm goes off, and when I first get on the bike when it is below zero! But once I arrive home and have the whole day ahead of me, I am glad I have done it and think I am not so mad after all - just till the next Friday when the alarm goes off!

Lachlan the Book Worm

Lachlan has discovered on line book buying from Book Depository.Com in the UK. He ordered himself about $250 worth of books- about 20 books in total with free shipping about 3 weeks ago. They have just started arriving and it has been like Christmas time, they each came individually, so everyday last week, I think, there was a couple of parcels for him to open!

I have suggested that perhaps he should buy some more books, my logic is that if he uses up all his savings on books it will delay that motorbike he is planning on buying. He didn't seem to interested in that suggestion!

The Phantom Mirror Smudger

One certain member of our family who will remain nameless - but her name begins with A and ends with Y is for ever managing to smudge the mirror in the kids bathroom when applying makeup or plucking her eyebrows. Bill has had enough - so decided to leave her some not so subtle messages in the bathroom last night! Hopefully she will get the message!

Dog Wash Time

Clancy is a Kerry Blue Terrier and has hair that grows and grows! We normally get him clipped over summer and the Hydro Dog Wash lady arrives to do it. Clancy is not all that keen on the procedure but is very good, Benji had a bath last time and just loved it. Benji knows the lady brings treats so is very happy to hang around and watch just in case he gets a treat as well, which he normally does. We didn't take off Clancy's winter coat this time, he just had a tidy up around his rear, chest and around his paws and a wash. We must admit he looks very funny with his little sock type legs at the moment, but at least he will not get his feet so wet when we take him for his walk! Anyway for the dogs it was the highlight of their week - well for Benji anyway - someone extra to pat him and tell him how gorgeous he is!

My Little Nephew

I stayed two nights in Melbourne with my mum and then headed over to Point Cook and stayed with my brother Gary, his wife Arlene and their little boy Matthew who is 2 1/2 years old, shares the same birthday with me so he has to be a good kid! Had a lovely time staying with them and catching up with Matthew - who kept calling me mummy- but that was different to Arlene who he calls ummy! They had another friend staying with them, he called us both mummy - but his really mummy was ummy!

Mum's Big Day at Government House

In the Australia Day Honours this year my mum was awarded an Order of Australia Medal and it was presented to her at Government House on Thursday 13th May and I was lucky enough to go down for the presentation, to be there at Government House and to see mum along with 115 others receive their awards.

The ceremony began at 11am but we were seated by 10am, the time passed quickly, we were seated in the ballroom with a band playing, we had seats really close to the front and got to catch up with 3 of my 4 brothers.

Mum received the award for her contribution to the community, especially for her work with the Dandenong and the Casey Multi Faith Network, which aim to promote tolerance and acceptance of different religions.

Afterwards we were able to wander around part of Government House, enjoyed refreshments - it was a lovely occasion and I was glad to be a part of it.

This Is Not Supposed to Happen

The rule is supposed to be "no dogs on our bed except for Clancy when there is a thunderstorm". However our dogs have learnt that they can get away with it when I am not around. Bill - supposedly the "iron disciplinarian" ( self called) lets them get away with it and they know it. I sprung them today!

Rocky Road for Netball

I like pictures of food on blogs, mine never quite come out as well as others you see, but I made rocky road on Friday for the netball cake stall on Saturday. They turned out pretty well and was pleased with my efforts. They all sold pretty quickly at the cake stall!

Be Careful What You Wish For

You just can never win as a parent! We nagged Lachlan about getting a part time job once he had finished Year 12. He took ages to get one, enjoyed the break after finishing Year 12 and starting university and then he finally did what we told him to do - get a job! He has a job on the weekend cleaning hotel rooms. It pays good money, so now that he has money what does he decide to do - save it! Well that is a good habit - saving, another thing you teach them to do. Why am I complaining you ask! Well he is saving to buy a motor bike - most parent's nightmare!

We have tried to talk him out of it, pointed out every newspaper article on motor bike accidents, done all the things you would try but to no avail. He has saved his money, done his Stay Upright course and got his L Plates. Now he has saved up and got the safety gear which arrived this week - he was happy to try it on and model it. Amy found out how good the gloves are when he demonstrated their punching power! Now he is just saving for the bike.

I was telling him he should keep up to date with his uncle and aunt's blog of their travel in Europe, and how he should save up and visit them before their posting was up. It wasn't really an attempt to delay the purchase of his motor bike I was just thinking of a missed opportunity that he might regret, honest!

Amy's First Week Back Term 2

First week back at school this week - Amy got 96% on her biology test, she got a new phone and a new hair cut - all pretty exciting!

She is now the proud possesor of a learners driving licence which means we get to go out driving together- oh what fun! So we went for a drive today - in Bill's car - isn't he the lucky one. 10 bins, 2 dogs, 3 cats, one rabbit and an old granny later we made it safely home. Only joking- it was only 5 bins and not 10!