Christmas Preparation

Amy was very impressed with my table decoration this year - one because I normally never decorate the table, two - because we got this Christmas Runner in the Budapest Market in Hungary so it brought back some memories and three- I put some green christmas baubles in a vase and put it on top. She decided it was something her aunties might do but not her mum so I thought I better take a photo and record it for posterity!

My Bike Riding Buddies

Every Monday morning and Wednesday morning I ride with a bunch of cyclists, we have several routes and usually it it about 60 to 70km, the best part is at the end of the ride heading to the coffee shop where I have a hot chocolate and we sit and recover! It is such an important part of my day that I schedule my work around it. Instead of working 3 full days, I work 2 full days and 2 half days so I can ride in the morning and then go to work in the afternoon! It keeps me sane and means I can eat - my motto in life is " I ride so I can eat!" Sometimes I wonder about my productivity at work on a Monday or Wednesday afternoon, and sometimes I even take the lift up to work rather than face the stairs if I have done a hilly ride!

Lachlan's Graduation

Lachlan graduated from Lake Tuggeranong College - Year 12 this week. He got an ATAR score of 91.45 which is an excellent result and will mean he well and truly has the marks to get into Software Engineering at ANU next year.

Towards the end of the ceremony, before I knew his mark, they read out a list of 25 students out of about 400 who had got a score in the top 10%, I heard a number of familiar names, but then got a bit of a shock when I heard Lachlan Frost read out. To be honest the first thought that came into my head was " what a ratbag" I had nagged him on and off throughout the two years to try and do just a little bit of extra work, but he just went along doing his own thing, not getting stressed, just doing what he had to, obviously to a high standard, but not any more than he needed to, and he got there and got there easily, maybe he was secret studying in the library after all!

I have really enjoyed getting more glimpses into Lachlan's school life and friends over the last month. He is a quiet, self sufficient young man, doesn't have all the much to say, but as I have dropped him off or gone along with him to the end of year school events the last few weeks, I have had the chance to meet some of his friends, their parents, see him interacting with them and it has given me the chance to see him operate in his world. He has chosen good friends, with similar goals and aims, they seem like good mates that look out for each other. Many of them will be going of to ANU to study next year, so he will have that opportunity to continue that interaction with them. So well done to Lachlan!

Amy's 16th Birthday Party

Amy turns 16 on Monday but she had her party on Saturday night. She had about 8 friends over and had a wonderful time. They played the usual party games, like the chocolate game, eating the donut on a string game, musical statues and a couple of noisy messy games - including getting a chocolate coin from the bottom of a plate of custard using your teeth! Then it was who can fill the icecream cone fastest, with one partner lying on the ground with an icecream cone in their mouth, while the other person drops spoonfuls of icecream from shoulder height - a couple of games I had not seen before! I must admit the dogs liked cleaning up after the games!

Lachlan's Year 12 Formal

Lachlan had his Year 12 Formal this week at the National Museum. It was great to see him all dressed up! Silly me however thought it would be better if Amy took the photos as usually I managed to get them all blurry. All she managed to take was a couple of him out the front of the house and then some close ups of his face, his cuff links - need I say more - I didn't end up with as many photos as I had hoped! I should have learnt by now - if I want something done - do it myself.

Anyhow he had a great time, had a pre formal event where they arrived at someones house to set off in the cars they had hired - I actually got to see and meet some of his friends and their parents. I did manage to get a few more photos there. Then headed off to the National Museum to see the arrival which is quite an event, then raced off to Amy's Year 10 Graduation at Deakin.

Lachlan went to an after formal party, arrived home at 3:30am ( announced by Benji, it is a bit hard to sneak in at this house). Lachlan then proceeded to chat to me for about 15 minutes and tell me all about it and what a good time he had ( I am lucky to get him to talk to me for 15 minutes during the day, so obviously 3am is a good time to chat!) Needless to say I did not get up at 5am that morning for my usual Friday ride!

Amy Finishes Year 10

Amy has officially finished Year 10. She had her Formal this week, her last day at school on Friday and has her Presentation Night and Year 10 Graduation this week. She is enjoying the sleep ins and break from school. She can have a few days of lounging around before I start thinking up some things for her to do - like going to the gym every day and I am sure I can find her a few jobs to do. She had a lovely night at her formal and really enjoyed the occasion. Her dress certainly looked a lot better with nice shoes rather than the silver doc marten's she originally tried them on with. I think she actually enjoyed the dressing up and even though she would not admit it, it was much nicer going to the formal in a pretty dress rather than a suit and tie which was her original plan! Here are few more photo's, next week it will be Lachlan's turn as he has his Year 12 Formal.

Amy's Year 10 Formal

Amy had her Year 10 Formal last night at Old Parliament House. I didn't recognise her all dressed up - what a transformation. She looked fantastic and had a wonderful time. She hadn't organised how to get there, so at the last minute I came up with the idea of sitting in the back of the hilux, complete with table and chairs, sip sparkling apple juice from their goblets- it was a hit and went over well. The arrival is a grand affair with crowds of people and lots of fancy cars so it is not for the fainthearted! We checked with the policeman parked nearby if it was okay and we got the nod so off we went!