The Strands

Flufflepot

2010-10-11T20:03:00.001-07:00

As you've probably guessed, I'm no longer going to be posting in this blog...apart from this last time.

Catch me over here at Flufflepot.

Birthdays and stuff

2010-05-19T17:09:00.001-07:00

Well, the big news is...I quit my job. It may seem like a crazy thing to do considering the high cost of living, but I believe it's the right decision. We'll just have to watch our pennies a bit more.

The great news is I'm collaborating on a children's book with my very talented sister and couldn't be more excited about it. I am determined to make this dream into a reality and am spending almost all of my time on it.

Currently I am learning to use Illustrator. Thanks to the many talented artists who post online tutorials I have been able to come a long way in just a few days.

I was able to complete this last night in under two hours.

If you wish to view the original and the tutorial to see the process, visit here http://www.blog.spoongraphics.co.uk/tutorials/illustrator-tutorial-create-a-blissful-vector-scene

*****
In other news Michael turned 40, Daniel has lost his two front teeth (and now has an adorable lisp), and Kayla has been getting into photography and has produced some lovely images. (I must get her to start her own Website and start putting her photographs up.)

Tomorrow Kayla turns 14 and I couldn't be more proud of the way she's turning out. She's intelligent, beautiful, extremely funny, a dedicated student (even though she does really hate that one science teacher), and overall a caring and responsible person with more insight than I had at the age of 25! I love you, Kayla!

Aside from teaching myself how to use Adobe Illustrator I have been throwing myself back into cooking. In fact I just finished baking a big batch of chocolate chip biscuits and loaded them up with Kit Kat chunks for good measure.

Banana cake

Lasagne

Chicken meatballs

Red currant and rosemary shanks

Milo slice (Daniel was very unimpressed with these but everyone else absolutely loved them!)

Rice paper rolls (We had so much fun making these together)

*****
Photos from Michael's 40th birthday bash

Kayla and I decided that the cake should have a layer of Smarties mixed with chocolate icing. Kayla cooked the three cakes and I iced it. I trust Kayla with cake baking more than I do myself!

Nothing like a good fire to stand around.

Pinata fun.

This was a bloody close call!

*****

Mother's Day at Nan's. We all had a lovely time playing pool, soaking up the sunlight and enjoying the quiches that Pa cooked. My lovely family spoiled me by buying me comic books, doing all of the housework and cooking me breakfast and dinner. A really nice day all around.

Aunty Janet arrived just before Michael's birthday to live in Canberra permanently.

*****

Random stuff

The outdoor kitty from next door visited my indoor kitty this morning. It was love at first sight.

"Leaf me alown. Carnt u see ahm on mah compooter?"

Take care, all

Kim xox

April already?

2010-03-17T01:06:00.001-07:00

So much has happened since January. How on Earth did we get to April so bloody quickly?!

Anyhoo, to sum up the last few months... Mum and Dad came to visit in February and we celebrated Mum's birthday while they were here. Michael rolled over on his ankle and tore a tendon. I'm seeing a physio for my bad knee and was told to stop jogging (but I haven't). Kayla is getting really stuck into her school work and recently enjoyed doing a big project on Obama. Daniel finally learned to ride a bike in. Grandma and Pa gave us a bit a scare with poor health, but are both doing much better now. I've just sent out invitations to Michael's 40th birthday party in April. The weather is getting cooler and Easter is knocking on the door!

*****

We went to the Australia Day concert at Parliament House.
We really just went to see Bertie Blackman, Michael's favourite singer of the moment.

"Blah blah blah"

Daniel was so good that the lady behind us commented and gave him lollipops!

We thought this was funny, until Daniel tried to run up and get a free hug!!!

I could not WAIT for the air show to be over. Terrifying.

Bertie...

*****

We dropped in on Ally, Joe, Dante and new bub. Had a lovely meal with them as the boys played happily together.

*****

Michael and Nan took Daniel to see the hot air balloons. They were cancelled due to bad weather unfortunately. I was still in bed as they left at some ungodly hour!!

*****

Mum and Dad came to stay in February which was lovely. We had a nice time with them and caught up with Alison and Joe again.

This was a particularly fun night. All three of us were sore for days from hard-core living room dancing!

*****

RANDOM!

Kayla bought me this gorgeous kitschy old painting from a junk shop. I love it!

I painted a scene from the rare book that I spent months trying to find for a reasonable price.

The original.

We finally got a decent vacuum cleaner! The amount of pet hair we sucked up on the first vacuum was horrifying.

We scored Nan and Pa's beautiful old table. Thankfully it fit in our small dining room quite nicely.

So now I'm just getting ready for the Easter break. Things are great at work, we're about to get busy again for Mother's Day. It's almost 12 months since we moved here and since I started working at Prouds. Hard to believe we ever went to Hindmarsh Island at all!

Miss all of you. Take care and stay in touch!

Kim xoxox

Daniel's birthday, Christmas and New Year's.

2010-01-05T22:51:00.000-08:00

*Please don't forget to click on the photos for a much better look at them*

Ack! I am sooo far behind in my blogging!! Daniel turned 6 on November 26th and we celebrated with dinosaur cake and Lego (naturally).

*****
Christmas was an absolute blur! The week before Christmas I worked 8 till 5 and Christmas Eve I worked from 8 till 8. Christmas Day went way too fast and then I was back at work on Boxing Day. I got an early mark as the Boxing Day sales were a bit slower than expected. I have to say that even though work was really busy over the Christmas period, it was a lot of fun, especially as we have some new casuals working there who provide lots of laughs.

I did, however, really miss luxuriating in Christmas like I usually do, but I'm enjoying some lovely time off with the kids now which is fabulous.

I made my own bon bons this year.

Christmas morning - I woke up at 5am and woke the kids up at 6:30am!

Off to Lorraine and Colin's for Christmas Lunch.

I got some awesome Lego from Michael; Daniel has already lost the skull that sits on the gate entrance!! This is why I maintain that Lego is not for children!

We had a special visitor over Christmas too, a Blue Tongue!

*****
New Year's Eve

The Strands and Meaghers went to the Hellenic Club for NYE and we had the best time. There were different bands, a lot of music from around the world and several dance performances that were riveting to watch! I was especially happy that the kids had so much fun. It's truly a night they'll never forget and seeing their enjoyment really made my night.

Taken just before we left.

Random baby watched us all night in utter fascination.

*****

Michael bought a second-hand Jeep Wrangler and has been having a blast in it. Daniel is rapt as well as he was extremely unimpressed when we had to get rid of the Nissan.

Mount Coree, in the clouds.

These were also taken by Michael atop Mount Coree on a separate trip.

Absolutely stunning scenery and excellent photography by Michael!

I just adore this one!

*****

I am thoroughly enjoying the school holidays. Kayla is spending a lot of time with her cousins, so it's mostly just Daniel and me. We've been playing computer games and building Lego (and taking it apart again) every day. I've been cooking and working out like crazy too. I got a bit slack over the Christmas period, not food-wise, but I did very little exercise.

I put on about two kilos which I have since lost. I've re-evaluated my body and fitness and I now estimate that I have at least another ten kilos of fat to come off. In order to achieve the body I want (I want zero fat and lots of muscle - not much to desire) I will seriously have to step up the cardio. So I've resumed jogging, even though it kills my bunions and, well I just hate jogging so bloody much!!! The fat just melts off when I do it though, so it's going to be soooo worth it. This year I am finally going to have the body I've always dreamed of.

Michael is trying really hard to get into shape before his 40th this year. I think that number is freaking him out a bit. :) If it gets him into shape then it's a good thing as far as I'm concerned.

There's not a lot else to tell. It's almost time for me to hit the treadmill so I'll leave it here and just say Happy New Year!

Kim xx

October/November

2009-11-08T16:54:00.000-08:00

Halloween fun!

The girls really enjoyed getting dressed up. No, really!

Rowr!

Goodies!

I sat on the porch waiting to hand out lollies to vampires and witches...only one group showed up! But this lovely rainbow showed up which made everything okay.

Check out our stash, mum!

*****

We hit the Oktoberfest (on the 1st of November).

We went with Aimee and Tim, friends from Katherine.

I just couldn't bring myself to eat the fatty German sausages, so I paid an exorbitant amount for a bun with lettuce and tomato!! It did have sauerkraut (wow, I actually spelled that correctly the first time) on it though.

*****
I had my work Christmas party a couple of weekends ago. We went to the city for a Turkish banquet and then went clubbing.

Me in my gorgeous new dress!

Out the front, about to hit the town.

*****

We did an embassy drive last Saturday.

China.

New Zealand.

Papua New Guinea.

Then we hit the National Dinosaur Museum. We were originally going to go to Cockington Green, but when we saw dinosaurs we didn't get any further.

I like to think I am fairly evolved.

Michael and I spent over half an hour trying to figure this puzzle out only to find a crucial piece was missing!

After that we went to a lovely little pub called The George Harcourt Inn and had lunch. The kids were very entertaining and the food was fantastic.

Cheeky!

I had vegetarian quiche.

We went to Questacon on the way home too but didn't take any photos because we have a gazillion of us at Questacon already. I finally got in the roller-coaster simulator and faced my fear of confined spaces. It was actually quite fun!

*****

Sunday we had a bbq for my birthday. It was a lovely day with the family, the weather was perfect and we even had a water balloon fight!

The cheap sausages were so fatty they practically burst into flames on impact.

I made mudslides, but couldn't even finish one! I used cream and it was just too rich!

*****

We've started working on a vegetable garden. Very exciting!

This was metre-high dead grass last week.

It's soooo good to have a compost bin again too.

Taking a break.

*****

Random Stuff

I FINALLY found my book! I actually thought I bought it last week, but had accidentally ordered Tubby and the Lantern (which I already had). I was utterly shattered as I had been searching and bidding and searching some more for months! I cried when I realised what I'd done!

So anyway, I gave it to Kayla and now the kids both have a copy of Tubby and the Lantern. It's not as sought after as Tubby and the Poo-Bah, but still a classic.

I told Michael not to get me a birthday present because I was bidding on this book. I won the auction, it sold for $54. On some sites it was selling for up to $200! It hasn't arrived yet so I won't really relax until it's safely in my hands!

You will be mine!! Oh yes!

Birthday present from Nan.

Trying to change the linen around Kitty.

We made play dough!

Daniel approached me asking "Guess who?" (For the .002 percent of people who don't know, it's Homer Simpson.)

Bought myself a little present!

Tikka Masala!

*****
Well, it's racing into Christmas as it always does. I will be working a lot over the next month as naturally this time of year is extremely hectic in retail.

I have two weeks off in January so I will probably use that time to post Christmas photos and catch up on what happened in December.

Life is, for the most part, good. We've had a few ups and downs, as we all do, but things are back on track.

I really miss my friends back in the NT and SA, so please stay in touch. I'd love to know what you're all up to. I'm not much for talking on the phone, I know - I am so slack, but please drop me a line sometime. I certainly haven't forgotten you (Lara, Cris, Catherine to mention but a few).

Kim xx

School holiday fun

2009-10-08T19:20:00.000-07:00

I've had two weeks off work and it's been wonderful! I'm so sad it's coming to an end as I have really enjoyed being at home hanging out with the kids.

To be honest, we didn't do very much and it couldn't have been more perfect. Daniel and I spent a week sorting through, and finding all the missing pieces to, his substantial Lego collection. We rebuilt almost all of his Lego, everything from trucks to castles, but had a lot of trouble finding all the pieces for the sets.

Apparently I'm a bit of a killjoy with Lego because I like it to be super organised. I labelled about twelve ice-cream containers and put the correct parts in them for future building ease. I also filed all of his instructions away into a special folder for future reference. Michael thinks I just don't get the whole concept of Lego, but I disagree. I do Lego the right way!!! Organised fun is fun too! I mean, what's the point if you can't rebuild your Indiana Jones temple because you don't know where all the pieces are?

Yes, that is a Uno card-covered cat.

The kids had loads of fun with their cousins during the holidays. We had Jade stay over for three nights in a row and I think Daniel liked the idea of having an older brother!

*****
Yesterday (Sunday) we went to a birthday party for one of Daniel's school friends out at Fadden Pines Park. It was a top spot with loads of awesome play equipment, very different to the usual kind. We're definitely going back there again soon.

It was fancy dress, Daniel went as a pirate.

He had such a good time!

Where there is cake to be had you'll find Daniel.

*****

We finally had a (mostly) rain free weekend, so Michael got stuck in and built two of the three shelves he designed for the shed. This means we'll be able to get all the junk (aka really important things that cannot be thrown away) off the floor and have access to our gym equipment again.

*****

Random stuff.

Michael thinks I'm a linen junkie, but in my defence it was half-price and just look how pretty it is!

When I was younger I had several Al Perkins books. Something jogged my memory the other day and I remembered this delightful story.

I've desperately been trying to find a book called Tubby and the Poobah. Well, I actually did find it, but not for under $100. It's so rare now that its value has sky-rocketed. I lucked out of winning it through an online auction on Sunday and am kicking myself for not bidding higher!!

I don't want it as a collector, I truly loved the story and really want Daniel to have it. I already have Tubby and the Lantern, another favourite of mine, so if anybody happens to have, or come across, this book, I would be more than happy to pay a generous amount for it. Who knows, it might be sitting on your book shelf right now!

It looks like this.

Daniel and I have been playing a game called Farm Town online. We both have our own farms and can hire each other to harvest our crops. It's so surreal to have his little avatar show up on my farm and be typing back and forth to each other.

Here is a screen capture of Daniel retyping everything I say to him while he harvests my wheat crops!

Awww!

*****

Michael is finding the pace of his new job a bit slow going at times. It's a bit of a holiday after his old one. He's also adjusting to government bureaucracy and procedures.

He's back on board with getting fit and has starting jogging and eating right again, much to my relief! He's turning 40 next year (OMG) and at our age we need to be serious about our health.

Kayla and Daniel went back to school today. They seemed happy enough to be going back. They are both doing really well at school and for the first time neither of them seem to be having any problems. *breathes out*

Kim xxx

Spring has sprung.

2009-08-30T22:43:00.000-07:00

The weather here is so weird. Yesterday was beautiful and sunny and today we've had non-stop rain! This seems to happen a lot here; you just cannot predict tomorrow's weather by today's.

I'm so glad we're finally into September. We have had some really lovely days so far and it's only going to get better from now on!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We had a big night out last month. The first one in a very long time! We had a ball playing air hockey (I'd love a table for Christmas!) and dancing all night.

From left to right: Deniska (workmate), CJ, me, Michael and Karen.

The next day called for some serious hangover food (Berocca and bacon, tomatoes, eggs and baked beans on toast).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michael and I celebrated our second anniversary on the 18th August. I was working all day so we went for lunch at a lovely Turkish restaurant nearby and then had Wendy's ice-cream afterwards.

These are the flowers I told Michael to buy me. :)

I also celebrated by getting my wedding rings re-Rhodium plated. They look brand new again!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We took the kids to Plaka in Mawson a couple of weekends ago. It was quite expensive but very nice. The food and atmosphere were fantastic. Daniel discovered he really, really, likes sticky date pudding.

I love going out to dinner. I wish we could afford it more often.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We all spent a bit of time in the garden over the weekend. I got a bit of a shock to walk outside and find THIS though!! I mean, I love snails as much as the next person, but seriously, kids!

They really are kinda sweet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yesterday was Father's Day and we went out to Karen and Phil's to celebrate. Phil cooked a BBQ and the weather couldn't have been better. The only sad part was that Michael was in Tennant Creek. :(

Karen's Cherry Blossoms are in flower and are just stunning! (I can't take credit for these photos either, Kayla took these)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I bought Kitty some Cat Grass from Bunnings. She really loved it.

I mean REALLY loved it!

I planted a whole bunch of pansies and petunias as well, but the minute I went inside Chili decided that she had to dig out the ferrets that were quite obviously hiding at the bottom of the pots! She can't help it, it's her nature...but jeeeeez!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kitty knows she's cute.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kayla is doing extremely well at school. Last week she earned the "Hardest worker of the week" award and she was given a huge block of Rocky Road chocolate. She really puts 100% effort into her school work and I'm really proud of her.

I had to return my sexy glasses. I had them adjusted about twelve times and they just got worse. I had the original nose pads removed and replaced with softer ones, but it made no real difference. I had huge indentations on the sides of my nose and it was driving me crazy.

OPSM agreed to let me choose different frames and didn't even charge me for the new lenses (in fact, they refunded me a few hundred dollars because I chose less expensive frames). So I'm giving them a plug here because I was extremely happy with their service.

My new glasses are okay (they hurt my nose a little too), they are just plastic and nowhere near as attractive as the metal ones. But the pain just wasn't worth it. I never would have chosen metal frames if I'd known how god-awful nose pads were!

Michael has been in Tennant Creek for the last week. He arrives back here on Wednesday night, so we'll celebrate Father's Day then. It's his last big job with his current employer as he finishes up this Thursday.

Michael starts his new job at the Bureau of Meteorology on the 14th of this month. He's extremely excited about it and really looking forward to new challenges and a new environment. Working from home all day long has been driving him a little bit nuts!

I've cut back my hours a bit. I won't be doing full days anymore as I'll be doing the morning and afternoon school runs.

So, things are falling into place. We're plodding along nicely. We're in a much better place (geographically, financially etc.) than we were six months ago and it feels great.

Kim xox

A few days off.

2009-08-10T19:23:00.000-07:00

Well, I've just had the last 3 days off work (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday). I have thoroughly enjoyed it too! It's a little different to a weekend as the kids are at school so I have much more time to myself.

I used my free time to paint. I found this delightful painting online and had a go at doing it myself. I really hope the original artist would be flattered and not try to sue me, as I'm definitely not claiming this as my own work!!

The original, by Laura Milnor Iverson.

My version.

I am quite pleased with the cat. Mainly because it doesn't look much like a cat.

I recently banned Kayla from the computer during the week and was pleased to find that she and Daniel both joined me in painting and drawing on Monday and Tuesday afternoon. The computer was using up all her spare time and producing nothing of any use to anybody!

Here's Kayla with some drawings from the last couple of days.

Arty farty time!

I also cooked my heart out. I really miss those days where you can just cook all day long if you want to.

On Monday I made a spicy chicken and tomato curry...

and the most delicious salad ever.

Yesterday morning I made an orange and poppy seed cake (with no butter or oil, so I could also enjoy it in moderation).

And for dinner last night I made lamb stoba and let it slow cook all day long. (Aunty Gemma, those are cinnamon sticks...not sausages!)

We went to Taekwondo again last night. We currently have to learn a quite complex pattern of moves in order to be graded at the end of term. There are quite a few ways in which the class pushes me outside my comfort zone.

For example, when we make certain moves we must loudly yell "Kia", we must bow as we enter and exit the hall, and at the end of each lesson we must shake hands and bow to each student and say "Kum-sum-ee-da". Last week I was paired up with several strangers and told I had to try to tap them on the top of their heads (sparring)! None of these are things I find easy to do. Not only that, but at the end of the term our grading will be in front of all the other students, something I am honestly dreading.

Comfort zones are boring as hell anyway.

Kim xox

Another sick kid.

2009-08-04T01:38:00.000-07:00

Well, Kayla finally recovered but now Daniel is having his turn. Three days of listlessness, anorexia and frequent napping. Today he finally vomited and is now eating again. His request just now for a chocolate ice cream smoothie was unfortunately denied.

Do our pets know when we're sick? Kitty never snuggles up to Daniel normally.

The chicken soup that made Kayla better.

Blueberries skyrocketed to $12.99 a punnet! I am so relieved they've come back down again. Even so, $4 a punnet still seems steep to me. I must Google how they're grown and picked. There must be a reason why they cost so much.

As promised...photos of us in our Taekwondo gear. Thanks to my regular yoga practice (I believe) my instructor thought I'd done it before and said I had amazing balance.

I love it when light does things like this.

I have spent the last week doing my tax return and application for the family tax benefit lump sum payment. I lodged both online which was no easy task I can assure you! But all is now calm in my household. Things are lodged and I can relax...until the audit.

Love to all.

Kim xox

A Quick Update

2009-07-25T21:45:00.001-07:00

Just a quick update today.

First of all, congratulations to Christie and Mat on the birth of their fourth child, Roman Mathew. We are all looking forward to visiting soon and meeting him.

It's still freezing. I am so glad that July is almost over because then it's only one more month until September. I've been told that Spring arrives on schedule so I am really hanging out!!

This was the state of the car the other morning.

Kayla has been sick for almost a week now (I'm taking her to the doctor tomorrow). It looks like she has the flu as she has constant headaches, lethargy, no appetite and a bad cough. At least she has Chili to keep her company.

*UPDATE 27/07/09*
Kayla has a bad sinus infection and is now on antibiotics. She is having a few days off school and getting lots of TLC. :)

I've been trying to get everyone healthy by giving them vitamins and feeding them smoothies every day.

I'm not really sure what to say about this, but I think it'll be a great 21st photo!

Michael's just left for a course in Sydney. He's staying there until Thursday, at the Sydney Harbour Marriott don't you know? It's alright for some!!

We've joined up Taekwondo and all go as a family one night a week. We're all really enjoying it and just got our uniforms last week. Daniel looks so cute in his so I'll take a photo next week.

Michael's waiting to hear back about a job he had an interview for last week. I've decided to stay at Prouds as I am really enjoying the job now and would really miss it if I left.

Not a lot else to tell really; we're plodding along nicely. The kids are both doing well at school. I haven't had a report card for Daniel yet, but Kayla received all As and Bs on hers so I am very pleased.

Take care all.

Kim xox

June

2009-06-26T21:21:00.000-07:00

*Please note: if you click on the photos, you can view them in their true resolution; they're not really that small. Right click on the photo and open in a new page, that way you won't have to return to the blog each time.*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A couple of weekends ago the whole family went to the Bonsai display and the National Archives. What was the most fun? The leaf fight out the front of the National Archives, of course!

The Bonsai trees were spectacular.

How awesome is this forest? I wanted to be miniature and live in it!

I swear this tree had a face.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kayla did an amazing job at her school concert the other night. Not only did she give a wonderful intro (and spoke clearly and loudly - mum was proud), but she absolutely rocked the drums!

Here is a short snippet of her excellent beats! Kayla is second to the left of the guy standing in the white. (Our left, not his.)

Unfortunately the photos were taken from a long way away so everyone looks a bit like red-eyed zombies.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As Phil (Karen's husband and my brother-in-law) was about to leave for the Solomon Islands for four months we all decided to spend his last Sunday at Questacon. It was a fantastic day and the time absolutely flew by!

I faced my fear, again...last time it was the guillotine, this time I did the free fall. It was terrifying, I didn't remember it being so bloody high up! It doesn't seem like much when you look at it, but when it comes your turn and you're hanging up there preparing to drop to what feels like your doom it is another story! Next time I'll face my fear of confined spaces and go on the roller-coaster simulator.

Here's the proof!!

Man, I love that place! We bought an annual membership because if we go even three times it will have more than paid for itself.

The animatronic dinosaurs were so AWESOME!

Kayla made a deal with me that if I went on the freefall she'd do the guillotine. She totally reneged! It is pretty scary though.

This was so much fun.

Daniel reckoned we needed Indy for this one!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Random!

Kitty loves when the dryer finishes drying the towels.

Since this photo was taken, Kitty managed to jump up and smash the glass on top so that it has fallen into the fish tank.

Breakfast!

I got a craving for something with pasta, bacon and cream in it last week. The result...

Things that make me happy...

I just couldn't resist this stunningly illustrated book. It's one of my favourite stories too. Did you know that Lewis Carroll was a mathematician and logician? Curiouser and curiouser!

I want to live here.

We went to the markets out at Hall yesterday. I snagged this bargain for $65. We just have to stain it now.

While I was at the markets with Nan and Karen, Michael took the kids up Mount Franklin for more snow fun. They all had an absolute blast and even managed to get burnt!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

June has been a busy month. I am still really enjoying working at Prouds and am starting to think leaving might be harder than I thought. I work with such great people that I don't want to risk leaving in case I end up working with horrible people (and there are just so many of those). Karen (my boss and sister-in-law) has done a great job of hiring people who are genuine, funny and likeable. So, I'll have to think more on this one.

I've really been getting into my yoga. The latest one I'm doing is this one... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLZ2WHodLqQ

I just can't recommend yoga enough. Each time I do it I learn something about my body. I become stronger and more in tune with it. It's more than just a workout and it's the only exercise I do where I literally enjoy every single moment, no matter how strenuous it can be at times.

I think it takes practising yoga for several weeks (or months) before you can really understand its benefits, but I can assure you it is so worth it. I'm getting to a point now where I really trust my body, like I did back when I was a kid. I knew I could scale that fence or do that somersault. I lost that trust for many years and am so rapt to be slowly gaining it back again.

That's about all I have for now. Things are good.

As always, I must end on a cute note.

Kim xox

Snow and fire

2009-06-13T21:27:00.001-07:00

*Please note: if you click on the photos, you can view them in their true resolution; they're not really that small. Right click on the photo and open in a new page, that way you won't have to return to the blog each time.*

We went to the top of Mount Franklin last Monday (as it was a public holiday) and I finally got to see snow. It was truly beautiful and at times I felt as though I was in another world, or at least in another country.

As someone who has only ever lived in either the desert or the tropics it was a real experience for me. I have to confess that I spent most of the time in the car with the heater on, but I did make sure to make and throw at least one snowball.

We had a few near misses with kangaroos.

It was amazing how quickly the landscape changed.

So.freaking.cold.

The inevitable.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We had a little get together last night, it was mostly just the people I work with; they're a great bunch. The fire bin made it possible for us to be outside and not die of cold. The police turned up at 11:30 to tell us to turn down our music. We offered them beer and they told us not to tempt them. Nice lads, they were.

It was the first time I've ever worn a mini skirt!

The cool kids.

There is just nothing better than a fire bin on a cold night.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Random stuff:

Daniel and I are reading...

I've been painting...

Kayla, chilling out...

Chicken cacciatore. Meat is sooo much better cooked on the bone. This was so delicious!

This is what I take to work for lunch most days.

Cuteness.

Life is still good. We had the coldest maximum temperature in 43 years last week, and I survived it! At least it wasn't the coldest minimum.

Daniel has a little cold and a bit of an earache. He's just woken up from a lovely afternoon nap and is having tomato soup and toast for dinner. I'm about to tear up a barbecued chicken and cook it in cream and garlic or something and serve it with fettuccine. Mmmmmm.

I hope everyone is well,

Kim xox

I have a teenager.

2009-06-04T03:59:00.001-07:00

*Please note: if you click on the photos, you can view them in their true resolution; they're not really that small. Right click on the photo and open in a new page, that way you won't have to return to the blog each time.*

The biggest news since my last update is Kayla's 13th birthday. We celebrated it with family and had a ball playing on the Wii. Here are some photos taken on the night.

I still can't believe I'm the mother of a teenager!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michael has been taking the kids up into the mountains hoping to find snow the last two weekends.

Last weekend they went with Phil and Jade. No snow, but they spotted some wildlife!

Can you see me?

On their way home they found some guys who'd taken a corner a little fast.

These photos are from yesterday morning. Michael and the kids got up at the crack of dawn. As most of you know, I don't do the crack of dawn.

I almost wish I had though, it would have been worth it just to have seen this gorgeous view in person.

They found ice, but no snow.

Kayla took this lovely photo of a mushroom for me because she knows how much I adore them.

These photos are from this morning; they finally found some snow! Daniel absolutely loved it and threw the first snowball! It was the kids' first time seeing snow (I'm still a snow virgin).

I just can't get over how beautiful the landscape looks in these photos. I'm definitely going with them next time!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Random Stuff...

This was taken about three weekends ago, we were on our way out to a bbq.

Beef Stroganoff!

Daniel built this very complicated bulldozer entirely on his own. Amazing!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Apart from a lingering cold things have been going pretty well. I'm still not finding it as cold as Hindmarsh Island even though it's been grey and raining for days now. Work is going well, but I've started applying for other jobs as well. I'd like something in administration if possible. I doubt it would be as much fun as retail, but it definitely pays better.

I'm still exercising several times a week. It's a lot harder to find the time these days, but I think if you really want something you will find the time. I'm currently recovering from a 45 minute cardiosculpt workout that I did yesterday. Every single muscle in my body is aching but it feels great in that weird way.

When I hopped on the scales this morning I was 68.2 kilos. I think I will probably land somewhere around 65 when I finally reach my goal. My goal isn't necessarily to lose weight, but to build more muscle and burn the excess fat from my body.

I think when people get hung up on their weight they lose sight of what they're really trying to achieve. I want to be really fit and healthy and look the best that I possibly can. Those are my real goals. I've also been toying with the idea of becoming a personal trainer or possibly even a nutritionist. I'm still thinking on it for now though.

That's about all the news I have for the moment. We're just plodding along slowly...working, enjoying life and thinking about how we're going to buy our own home again one day.

Kim xox

Adjustment.

2009-05-10T00:34:00.000-07:00

I loooove Canberra! I feel right at home here and the new job is going great. The only hard part is driving. I'm still finding it quite frightening and the road works throw me off constantly. Just when I'll finally get used to the road and know which lane I need to be in they'll block off that lane and throw in a detour! It's so scary to me because I pretty much only know how to get to the school, the shopping centre and Nan's house! If Michael's in the car it's fine, but when I'm alone I just freak out!

I know I'll probably eventually look back and laugh, but I had quite a traumatic week my first week of work. I took several wrong turns, got lost, always found myself in the wrong lane, couldn't change lanes when I needed to, but, worst of all, one afternoon I couldn't leave the car park because I forgot to pay for parking at the parking bay and then the machine ate my ticket!

I spent many moments sitting (totally panicked) in my car crying, feeling terrified and hopelessly out of my element. A panic attack at work on my second day didn't help either. But a week or two later and time and perspective are allowing me to see things more clearly.

I realise now that I've pushed myself way outside my comfort zone and was simply adjusting to it all. So many things have changed for me; we moved to a new state and a new house, I started a new job (in an environment I am totally unfamiliar with), my kids started new schools, and for the first time I'm living in a city. Yeah, yeah, I know all you Melbourne/Sydney/Brisbane people are laughing loudly, but for me this is a big place.

Even though it's been a massively stressful month I couldn't be happier. I'm so glad we made this move and things finally feel as they should. I absolutely love the house we're in, it's so cosy and homey and I really appreciate simple things about my new life. I love that both the kids' schools are so close by, I love that the local shopping centre is two minutes away and has fantastic fresh fruit and veg, and I love that I have such strong family support around me. For the first time in a really long time (if ever) each night when I hop into bed I have this awesome feeling of contentment.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's Kayla's 13th birthday on the 21st of this month; it's all very exciting that she's finally going to be a teenager! Although it feels like she's been one for about three years now to be honest.

Kayla seems to be fitting in quite well at school but she was shocked to find that a lot of the kids smoke on the school grounds. I did have thoughts of sending her to the Catholic school nearby but then I decided that Kayla is smart enough to make her own decisions and choose the right friends. So for now she'll stay at the public school and I'll re-evaluate after this term has finished (and her report card arrives).

Daniel is also enjoying school and is making friends this time. He didn't make any friends at his last school and I don't think he liked his teacher very much at all. He's doing really well academically and loves being at the same school as Kayla (even if they are on different campuses).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On Mother's Day we went to Glebe Park with most of the family (all but Grandma and Karen, who was working). We had a nice vegetarian curry, petted a crocodile and hung out with a drag queen.

Real nice, Michael! Although I'm pretty sure that the bent-over lady's husband is onto you! See how he's stroking his chin in that "Hmm, is that dude taking a picture of my wife's arse?" kind of way?

I absolutely LOVE my Mother's Day present from Michael and the kids. It's made with copper and clay and the colours are just spectacular!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Animals!

Kitty decided that she also needed to do some yoga.

She's showing off here, look how far she can stretch her back leg!

Chili is fitting in well, although I could do without the little parcels she likes to leave around the house. She's spending more time outside and we bought her a lovely kennel to sleep in. Daniel has spent the most time in it thus far!

We also got a new fish. A friend gave us their old aquarium, complete with everything we needed to set up immediately (pump, plants, pebbles etc.), so all we needed to buy was the fish.

Animal love! These two are either grooming each other or fighting, and on the rare occasion they snuggle up to keep warm.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Food!

We had Tim and Aimee (and Kaiser) over for lunch a couple of Sundays ago. I made Harira for the first time. It was a very fragrant and comforting meal.

On Mother's Day Kayla and Michael made homemade pizzas for dinner.

Kayla's (pumpkin, cheese, chicken with BBQ sauce)

Michael's (pumpkin, spinach leaf and Feta)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michael's been away all week, back in Tennant Creek. I've managed fine without him here and have had no problems driving to and from work this week. The kids and I have settled into a lovely routine but are really looking forward to having him home safe again.

Hope you all are well and happy.

Kim xox

We're here!

2009-04-25T16:02:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

We made it! I have to say a big thanks to Renee and Kerri (but especially Renee for being so bossy) for helping me clean up the house before we left. I'm so grateful for your help because I know how busy you both are with your own stuff.

I cannot tell you how good it feels to be in Canberra. I bounce out of bed early each morning (and anyone who knows me well will tell you this is not the norm for me) because I can't wait to start the day. Seriously, I love this place!

Yes, it's cold. But it's so different here; it's not bleak with howling winds like over on Hindmarsh Island. We have excellent heating and a trip to the Salvos for second hand winter clothes last week has been a lifesaver. I did have to buy some extra blankets but, I have to admit, I kind of like snuggling up with the pets and kids on cold nights. The best thing about the cold weather is cooking; I get to use my slow cooker as often as I like and I get to cook all my favourite casseroles and curries.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The trip over was difficult. For anyone who doesn't know, I am a fairly inexperienced driver and have never driven by myself on long trips or in city traffic. I also managed to catch an awful cold the day before the drive from Swan Hill to Canberra. Michael drove the Nissan (with Daniel) and I drove the Magna with Kayla as my passenger. She was an amazing help and saw me through some tough spots.

There was one moment, after being overtaken by a huge truck on a dirt track (I'd pulled over to wait for the dust to settle so we could see again), when she turned to me and said "Mum, I am so proud of you."

She was so supportive. Especially when we arrived at the outskirts of Canberra at dusk (my night vision is terrible as I can only see out of one eye - and not very well at that) after nine straight hours of driving and with a terrible head cold. I had to strain to see in the dark as well as try to negotiate the freeways and busy traffic (neither of which I ever normally have to deal with) for almost an hour. I won't lie and tell you that I handled it with grace and poise, but I did manage somehow not to die. That in itself was a feat.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We stopped at Swan Hill with my sister and her family for a couple of days to break up the long drive. I didn't realise how much driving for long periods can hurt! After the seven hour drive to Swan Hill all I could think about was sretching. I did an hour of yoga on arrival and felt right again.

Staying at Mat and Christie's was great. I'm so proud of my sister. She's made such a great life for herself and is an awesome mother. Her three kids are polite, helpful and just so adorable.

Christie's a real Earth mother; she keeps chooks, grows her own fruit and vegetables, makes her own jams and spreads, and never wastes anything. She rarely has to raise her voice because her kids know who's running the show. She's due to have another baby in a couple of months and at one point I might have thought she was crazy (four children under the age of five is no picnic) but now I understand why she's doing it. If anybody can pull it off, she can.

Kayla's future vocation...teacher?

A flower from Christie's garden.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I love the new house. It instantly felt like home; unlike the last house which, although spacious and pretty, was extremely sterile and uninteresting. I'm lucky that the suburb I live in is very central to everything and very close to work too. The weirdest thing, our new home phone number has the exact same last four numbers that my home phone had my entire childhood and adolescence.

I had my mother staying with us the last few days (she was here for my cousin's funeral and left today) and I've been cooking up a storm for her. She didn't appreciate the raw chillis I added to a green curry (just before serving) on the first night though. I cooled things down after that!! We don't always see eye to eye but I really enjoyed having her here. It was under very tragic circumstances, but it was one of the nicest times I've ever spent with my mum.

I've been driving around a bit, trying to get used to the speed and traffic lights etc. I actually almost got wiped out yesterday when mum was in the car with me (sorry mum). Seriously, it was a close call but I learnt a huge lesson.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had my first day at Prouds on Friday, a five hour shift, and really enjoyed it. There was a lot of information to take in because I knew less than nothing about jewellery. I found it all quite interesting and keeping up with the customers was very challenging (as we get closer to Mother's Day). I have a lot of shifts coming up so I'm sure I'll know my way around the store in no time. Michael has been cleaning up the kitchen and helping out around the house more now that I'm officially working. I'm still in charge of cooking apparently. :) I don't mind, I really enjoy it (as long as I have the time).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We got a puppy. Having to give up our other puppy to move to SA was so heartbreaking for all of us. Daniel especially was affected by the loss. Our new addition is an eight week old Jack Russell female and she's the cutest little thing ever.

Meet Chili.

Even my mum (not the world's biggest animal enthusiast) was impervious to her charms.

It's so great to be near family at last (all of Michael's family live in Canberra). You feel as though you have an instant support system and the security that gives you is just amazing. For the first time, Kayla has cousins her own age to hang out with.

Totally innocent, right? Not!

It's not always peaceful, but they love each other deep down.

It's a long weekend here and I'm going to spend it recharging. It's been a tough couple of weeks, what with being sick, packing up the old place, cleaning it, living out of suitcases, travelling for two days, unpacking and moving into the new place and starting a new job. Even though I know I should feel stressed out I actually feel happier than ever. At last I feel we've made the right move.

Take care, all. Stay in touch.

Kim xx

Sports Day and Goodbyes

2009-04-12T21:58:00.000-07:00

Well, the house is almost entirely packed into boxes (apart from the computers and bedding). I just wanted to put up some photos and give everyone an update before we leave for Canberra.

Daniel had his sports day last week and went in two races. He absolutely loved being a part of it all and really enjoyed having Kayla and me there to cheer him on in the afternoon.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I've been packing for weeks now, but most of it was done in the last few days. I've even managed to make myself sick with stress - yay me! Even if I don't actually feel stressed my body lets me know that I am - I currently have a pinched nerve in my lower back, an earache, a hideous cold sore, constant tension headaches, a sore throat, fatigue and muscle aches!! I didn't realise I was that stressed!!

Really though, there's so much to think about.

The real estate agent hasn't found anybody to take over our current lease and we start paying for the new house in two days (I'd say that is the biggest source of my stress actually).
After the removalists leave tomorrow we have to clean this place ready for inspection.
I still have to organise someone to clean the carpets and mow the lawns.
I have to redirect all the mail again and ring every company and organisation (banks, ATO, electoral office etc.) we're involved with and update our address details again!
I will have to transfer my licence over (after driving out to Christie's Beach only two weeks ago to transfer it to SA) due to moving interstate again.
I have to learn how to drive in city traffic (I've never lived nor driven in a city).
I have to find new schools for the kids, enrol them and organise uniforms etc.
I start a new job as soon as I arrive in Canberra (although that is something I'm looking forward to it is definitely adding to the pile).

In fact, I'm just going to stop myself here or my head might explode.

I really am completely hopeless when it comes to dealing with too many things at once. I plan to get back into meditation after the move because I know that my stress is mostly internal and it's making me ill.

Breathe, Kim. Just breathe.

It will be our last night on Hindmarsh Island tonight. We're staying in a two bedroom cabin in Victor Harbor Tuesday and Wednesday night (while we clean the house during the day) and on Thursday morning we are outta here! Look out Christie, here we come!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Phil (Michael's sister's husband) was here for the weekend as he was in Adelaide for work. It was great having him here, he helped Michael pack up the garage and Daniel followed him around like a shadow the whole time. He offered comic relief during an otherwise stressful time. Thanks Phil!

We had an absolute ball on Saturday night. My good friends, Alex and Trewin came down for the evening and we all danced and carried on until late. It was a much needed stress reliever! We were all rapt that they brought their new pet with them, a chocolate brown Chihuahua...sooooooo cute!!!

Photos from Saturday night.

Video footage of our awesome dance skillz. *cough cough*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In other news my cousin Andrew died of a drug overdose and my Great Aunt Edna died (peacefully in her sleep) at the age of 95. I didn't know either of them very well and hadn't seen them for several years but they've been on my mind the last few days since hearing the news. I'm especially saddened by the death of my cousin. I'm so sorry that so many people will be hurt by the way he died and can only hope that he has at last found some peace.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On a lighter note, Daniel invented an awesome spider catcher! We set it up in the hallway because that's where most of the spiders appear at night. Look what we found in his trap in the morning!

Well, that's it for me. Next post will be in a few weeks I would imagine. I'm so excited, I love new beginnings. See ya soon Strand/Meagher mob!

Kim xox

Kayla's home at last!

2009-03-29T18:12:00.000-07:00

*Please note: if you click on the photos, you can view them in their true resolution; they're not really that small. Right click on the photo and open in a new page, that way you won't have to return to the blog each time.*

We finally found a house! We'll be living in the suburb of Wanniassa, in Canberra. We won't be able to move in until the 21st of April, but we'll leave here on the 15th. Fingers crossed that our current house rents out quickly!! A huge thanks to Nan and Pa for all the driving around and open inspections they went to in order to help us find something!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am soooo happy to have Kayla home again. Daniel is following her around like a little shadow and hasn't stopped smiling. Because she only got back yesterday afternoon I decided to let Daniel stay home from school and spend the day with her.

She did really well at school in Alice and I hear she became a bit of a teacher's pet. I couldn't be more proud of her and I have to say another thank you, this time to Nanny and Grandad for looking after her so well for so long.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had my half sleeve worked on some more. The new additions are a very happy sun and some beautiful lotus flowers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In other news, I have finally dropped under 70 kilograms (69.6)! I haven't been this light since I was 16 years old!! I am ecstatic to say the least. The heaviest I've ever been was 97 kilos after Kayla was born, so I've come a long way.

When I began to exercise in earnest I weighed 77 kilos. I'd already lost a lot of weight, but I was neither toned nor fit and the weight was slowly creeping back on. I've been exercising five days a week since April last year.

I've been doing cross training to ensure that I'm working every part of my body and so that my body doesn't get used to any particular type of exercise. Some of what I've been doing includes weight training, pilates, aerobics, yoga, and jogging.

It hasn't been easy by any means and I had to endure through several injuries (bruised bunions, pulled muscles, strained lower back), but endure I did. I'm so glad I didn't give up when the going got tough.

I'm the strongest I've ever been and I have loads of energy now. The yoga and pilates have done wonders for my back problems too! I only wish I'd done this when I was younger and I'm sad that I spent the majority of my life overweight and unhappy when it didn't have to be that way.

Anyway, a major milestone has been reached and I just wanted to share it with all of you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We spent Saturday afternoon at Glenelg. We took Daniel to the Beachouse thinking it would be lots of fun for him. Apart from the fun castle it was just awful! We paid for a dozen games and rides and he bailed on all of them! Even the digger at the gold mine, the deer hunt and the Nascar race, Michael ended up taking over on all of them! It was like all the noise and flashing lights were just too much for him!

Most of the games were over in thirty seconds and a lot of them were those awful lolly/toy grab games (which I think is really just gambling for kids) where Daniel had zero chance of ever winning anything. He was upset and confused as to why he couldn't win anything and it broke my heart! At least he had a great time on the fun castle!

Afterwards we had gelati and sat on the lawn by the beach. We went for a walk on the beach and then on our way back to the car we saw some kids playing in a fountain. They were having so much fun that we let Daniel join in. He had far more fun there than at that stupid, rip-off Beachouse place!!!

After our big day we spent a relaxed night at Renee's and had delicious Indian takeaway and watched The Big Lebowski. Dude!!

I also managed to absolutely smash my bunion against a metal doorstop on Saturday night. Clever me! Anyone with a bunion will be cringing right now!

On Sunday we went to Kerri's birthday lunch at Concubine near Chinatown. By the time we arrived it was almost two and we had to pick Kayla up at 2:40. So at 2:10 we jumped up to leave (we'd ordered but our meals hadn't arrived yet). Michael raced off to get the car from the undercover parking lot and I limped across the road and waited for him to come past and pick me up. A few minutes later my mobile rang and it was Michael asking me if I had the ticket (the one you need in order to get out of the parking lot)!

So Renee and I started walking quickly back to the lot when Renee realised she could get there much quicker without me hobbling along behind her! So she ran off to find Michael and give him the ticket while I went across the road again and waited. Luckily there was no traffic and we arrived at the airport doors at exactly 2:40. Unfortunately Kayla had arrived at 2:30 and was waiting for us at the customer service desk! They rang me on my mobile to inform me of her whereabouts and I was sure I was going to find a tearful and panicked Kayla. She was as cool as a cucumber and not the least bit concerned.

We went back to the restaurant and had a delicious lunch. We left Adelaide around 4 and went to Kerri's at Victor Harbor for a few drinks to continue birthday celebrations. She very generously offered to cook us dinner but Kayla was desperate to get home and see her Kitty again so we called it a night.

It was a great weekend and I'm really going to miss my wonderful friends...Alex, Kerri and Renee...can't you all move to Canberra?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FOOD!!

Daniel and I made these delicious banana chocolate chip muffins while Daddy was away.

I totally spoiled my little guy when Daddy was away. Mac and cheese!

Kerri gave me a courgette from her garden so I made a lovely quiche for lunch last week.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I also have to brag about my gorgeous sister who is now a minor Internet celebrity!

That's all I've got for now. Take care everyone!

Kim xox

Canberra Trip

2009-03-08T17:41:00.000-07:00

It was a looooong drive to Canberra. The roads are really windy and it seemed to take forever! I much prefer the open straight roads of the Territory.

We had to catch the ferry at Wellington. That was a bit of a novelty!

We stayed at Christie (my sister) and Mat's for one night on the way there and one night on the way back. They live in Swan Hill and it was really nice to see their home for the first time.

Daniel loved playing with the kids and it was great to catch up. It was so busy at their house that I totally forgot to take photos! I snapped a few at the last moment but most of them didn't turn out. These two were all I got!

We'll definitely stay a bit longer next time!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We had a great time in Canberra, even though most of it was spent house hunting! We almost bought a house but decided to wait a bit longer and see what happens with the economy.

Michael's parents' house is always busy and full of life. Daniel had lots of fun with all the animals.

I seriously fell in love with this cat. She was very cool!

Grandma and faithful pet, Katie. Katie never leaves her side, she's so adorable!

Quality time with Nan.

I caught up with Aimee, Tim and the loveable Kaiser. He definitely remembered me and spent a long time on my lap. He looks better than ever and is obviously being well cared for.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back to the island and the water level has gone down so quickly over the last few weeks; it really is quite distressing to watch. The boats on the marina are now on the rocks. This one is across the canal from us.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michael took Friday off and we went into Adelaide to visit the South Australian Museum. The Hatching the Past dinosaur exhibition was due to finish soon so we made sure we caught it. A lot of it was interactive which was fun for Daniel.

We went for lunch in the city and were lucky enough to catch a live street show. Bendy Em her act is called and she was awesome! She kept singling Michael out and cheekily scolding him for checking out her bum (which he was fully guilty of).

Click on this one to see the faces of the audience. This chick was seriously hilarious and had the audience laughing the whole time.

The big finale.

This "statue" was so cheeky. Daniel was terrified of her! She looked amazing and I don't know how she stopped herself from smiling or scratching!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kitty escaped the other day and came back in covered in cobwebs.

"What? Do I have something on my face?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This morning I saw Kitty at the window staring intently at something outside. I looked out and saw a little mouse scampering about near the leftover guinea pig food. I thought "Oh, what the hell" and opened the door so she could go and catch it.

Here she is with the mouse.

This is after Daniel let her inside with the mouse (ARGH) and we then realised she had caught not one, but two mice!!!

Then I just felt bad. :(

I ended up catching them and letting them go out on the front lawn. Hours later and Kitty is still looking for them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michael is away again which, quite frankly, sucks! It's just Daniel and me at home as Kayla is still in Alice Springs. Daniel tells me often that he misses both Daddy and Kayla and we just can't wait until we're all back together again.

After Michael gets back from Katherine we're planning on moving to Canberra fairly quickly. The hard part is finding a house from here! We have to rely on other people to check places out for us and due to work it isn't always convenient for them. The agencies have set viewing times and if you can't make it, tough luck!

Visiting Canberra has really cemented our decision. It's such a relaxed place but it has everything going for it and is so central. We can't wait to get there!

That's all I have for now, take care everyone!

Kim xox

Canberra, here we come!

2009-02-17T18:19:00.000-08:00

After a month or so of worry, doubt, indecision, and outright what the hell are we doing kind of panic, we have finally decided to move to Canberra instead of Katherine.

I guess moving back seemed like the easy option at first, but as time went on it felt more and more like a very bad idea. I think it was also because we felt that being anywhere would be better than here!!! Our mistake wasn't leaving Katherine, it was moving here.

During our April holiday to this area it appeared to be a lively, active place. The reality is that there are no jobs, few people our age, and even less amenities/shops/schools than Katherine. We are so incredibly isolated on this island and the fact that the river recedes a little more each day is extremely depressing; it's like the whole area is dying.

We left Katherine for many good reasons, the main one being that we wanted our 12 year old daughter to grow up in a place that offered good education and other academic/recreational opportunities. Neither here nor Katherine offer those things and we feel we'd be doing her a disservice to go back. There's really nothing for teenagers to do in small towns like Katherine but get into strife, and as Michael and I are both from small towns, we know exactly what kind of strife! ;)

The opportunities in Canberra are many, especially for Michael in IT. It's a great place in regards to education and academia. I know I will really enjoy living somewhere that has a university again!!

The best news of all though is that I have a job already! (It's at a Prouds store.) My sister-in-law, Karen, gave me the good news today; she's going to train me in her store and then, when I'm ready, ship me off to one of the other stores. I'm really excited because I have wanted to work in retail for a while now and this is a fantastic opportunity.

When we moved here I thought there would be numerous things, like yoga and tai chi classes, to join - I couldn't have been more wrong!! I've already bookmarked the Tibetan Buddhist Society of Canberra Website and can't wait to do my first meditation course! The kids will have many more choices as well, I find the Canberra Youth Theatre quite interesting (and I am hoping it might interest Kayla too). The kids can learn everything from Karate to Bollywood dancing if they want to! It's all about choices.

We are heading off to Canberra tomorrow morning to visit with our Canberra rellies for a few days. We'll stay with Christie and Mat tomorrow night so Daniel will get to see all of his cousins in one hit! Other friends of ours, Tim and Aimee, moved to Canberra recently and we'll be catching up with them also. They're the couple who adopted our little dog, Kaiser, so it will be great to see him again. We'll be spending a good amount of our visit looking for a house to rent as well so wish us luck with that.

It feels so good to have finally made a decision. :)

Kim xox

Airport and other stuff

2009-02-02T19:08:00.000-08:00

*Please note: if you click on the photos, you can view them in their true resolution; they're not really that small. Right click on the photo and open in a new page, that way you won't have to return to the blog each time.*

These photos are from the Australia Day celebrations at our neighbour's house. They really went all out on the decorations and food. Thank goodness for the waterslide, it was such a hot day and Daniel had an absolute ball on it. Unfortunately he had so much fun that he refused (forgot) to eat, drink or pee for several hours and it resulted in a tantrum the likes of which I have never seen. Needless to say I took my screaming child home and wished I'd never left the house!! Anyway, at least there was some fun before the drama.

These were also taken early on Australia Day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We decided it would be best for Kayla to start year 8 in Alice Springs (we'll pick her up on our way through to Katherine in a few weeks). She really didn't want to go to school here and I can't blame her at all. I wanted her to feel happy and positive about going to school and that was never going to happen here. She's staying with Nanny and Granddad and I really think it will be very good for her. It might even be good for them too!

Daniel has been crying off and on because he really misses Kayla a lot. Even though he delights in annoying her whenever he can, he truly does idolise that girl!

It's so weird not having Kayla here; it's a lot quieter for sure! :-P I'm very happy with the decision we made about school though, I am sure it was the right one and I'm so grateful to Mum and Dad for helping out.

We are hoping to be back in Katherine in March some time, but there are still a few things that need to be worked out before we know anything for certain.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Renee came to visit on Thursday afternoon. I made a lamb curry and we stayed up chatting all night. Not too late as we had a very early start the next day. She bought these gorgeous flowers for me and the scent they produce is just incredible!

We left my house around 7am on Friday morning and headed into Adelaide. We went to Marion Shopping Centre and had a quick coffee and a muffin before Renee left to get her hair done.

I got the kids' hair cut at Just Cuts and then we went shopping. We were starving by 10:30 (having eaten breakfast at 6am) so we grabbed some delicious wraps and built Daniel's new Lego bulldozer while we ate.

Renee met us in the afternoon and helped me pick out some clothes (I have some kind of fashion/clothing disorder) and jewellery. She has such great taste and I feel like I've had a makeover or something!

We went back to Renee's and swam with the kids all afternoon. The kids really had fun playing with the dogs and the new cubby house.

I think Kayla wanted to trade in Daniel...

The next morning we were up bright and early again. Michael got in from Katherine at 6:20am and headed straight out to Renee's. She fixed us a breakfast feast of bacon, poached eggs, mushrooms and tomatoes.

By 8am it was time to start heading out to the airport. We put Kayla on the plane at 9:30; I started to cry and she just yelled at me to stop. So I composed myself and said goodbye sans tears.

We went back to Renee's and Michael slept all day while Renee and I had delicious cocktails and lolled about in the pool. In between running around madly after children all day of course!

Don't we look innocent?

Renee's house was so much fun that Daniel never wanted to leave. When I told him it was time to go home and feed Kitty he asked me why we couldn't just bring Kitty back to Renee's!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RANDOM STUFF

Daniel really enjoys building with these blocks. His buildings are usually incredibly symmetrical and often have interesting diagonal lines.

Kerri bought me this book. How well does she know me?? If you thought I was annoying before...

(Click to view the front cover properly)

I did some baking today for the first time in ages; I made chocolate cherry biscuits. Daniel approved wholeheartedly.

One of my favourite things to do is hook the laptop up to the TV and watch old and new songs on YouTube. It's like watching MTV, only better, because you get to choose what you watch!

One of our faves...

Kitty decided the laptop cover was an excellent choice for a nap. I caught her mid-yawn.

Now, I am just going to throw this out there...it would be so great if some of you were to start a blog so that I could keep up with all that's happening in your lives. I know blogs are time consuming and many of you are extremely busy, but it's just a thought!!

Hope you all are happy and well,

Kim xoxox

January

2009-01-24T22:02:00.000-08:00

*Please note: if you click on the photos, you can view them in their true resolution; they're not really that small. Right click on the photo and open in a new page, that way you won't have to return to the blog each time.*

The school holidays are finally at an end (excuse me while I quietly jump for joy) and Daniel begins school on Tuesday. He's so excited and very eager to get stuck in. His teacher seems really nice and even sent him a letter in the mail saying how excited she is to be teaching him and how she can't wait until Tuesday! How cute! I'm only sad that he'll have to leave and change schools again in a month or so. He is extremely excited at the thought of going back to Katherine though and asks me nearly every day when we're leaving!

Kayla is less enthusiastic about starting high school, mostly because she knows we're moving soon and she doesn't want to have to start high school at two different schools. I really feel for her, but hopefully it won't be as bad as she thinks. Things usually aren't.

I'm not sure how long it's going to take to get back to the Territory. I imagine it will be at least a month though. The more I think about it the more excited I get. It still feels like Katherine is my home and I'm really okay with that. I always felt that I was missing out on everything by living there, but I realise now that I wasn't missing out on a bloody thing! If it took moving here to realise that, then it's been worth it. I know now that when we go back I'm not going to feel restless like I used to. I know exactly what I'm going back to...and I can't wait!

Michael had a day off on Friday and we went into Victor for the morning. They had a mini show ground by the beach, so Daniel got to jump on the bouncy castle and I almost threw my neck out on the dodgems.

We've been invited to an Australia Day BBQ next door tomorrow. They're going to have a raising of the flag ceremony and everything, should be fun! Unfortunately Michael's in Darwin right now (so it will just be me and the kids going). He'll be in Katherine the rest of the week and back here on Saturday.

It looks like there might be a few people there as they're setting up marquees.

Alex came for a visit last night after Michael left for Adelaide and we took the kids out for dinner. We went to a local Irish restaurant that had a lovely atmosphere and a real Irishman running it. I had a delicious steak, Kayla had a chicken pie and Daniel had...chips. What else?

My old friend, Ken is coming to visit this week. He's always got something up his sleeve so I'm curious to find out what the latest is with him. Renee will be keeping me company on Thursday night too, so I shouldn't get too lonely while Michael's away.

We sold the quad and have my car advertised for sale as well. Haven't had any nibbles yet, but hopefully it will sell before we move.

The weather is slightly less awful than before. Although it's really just the wind that ruins everything. It's nice and sunny today, but there's still a chilly breeze. Some days the wind comes from the north and is hot like a wind sent straight from hell itself. Early last week the wind was so strong that I could barely even open my car door. I went grocery shopping with the kids and Daniel was screaming because of all the muck flying into his eyes. It just put us all in a filthy mood! I honestly cannot wait to leave and quite frankly, my whingeing about the weather is even starting to annoy me! Sometimes I wish I'd just shut up about it already!

The spiders here are kind of horrific, but ever fascinating! I never see any cute insects, it's always a huge centipede (like the one I found in our bedroom the other morning) or big, ugly spiders! I honestly don't mind the spiders too much, as long as they're not in my house. We've had so many spiders in the house lately that I've started having nightmares about them!

Michael also found this in the garden...yay?

Things never get boring with (almost) teenagers around. I found this note attached to a focaccia bun in the fridge.

Take care everyone!

Christmas with Cousins

2009-01-04T15:39:00.000-08:00

*Please note: if you click on the photos, you can view them in their true resolution; they're not really that small. Right click on the photo and open in a new page, that way you won't have to return to the blog each time.*

This time I've made the photos larger...just for you, Mat!!

Our Christmas holiday was very loud, very colourful and lots of fun. Unfortunately my sister, Christie, was suffering from morning sickness (which appeared every evening) and found it difficult to stay up with us party animals. ;)

It was fabulous to see all the cousins together and I still can't believe there's going to be another addition this year!

I loved it when they all just chilled together. (This didn't happen too often.)

Daniel and Oliver are great mates. A little bit of fighting, but mostly they got along great.

Watching Uncle Mat try to kill the carp that he and Kayla caught was probably the most traumatic, yet hilarious thing I've ever witnessed. Just when we finally thought it was dead it would start flailing about again! We named it "Zombie Carp from Hell".

The carp are an introduced fish and threaten the habitat of the native fish in the Murray River. Although they don't eat native fish, the native fish have to compete with them for food. It is actually illegal to put them back into the river if you catch one. You have to kill them.

Pretending to be dead, but not actually dead.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This year we decided to open presents one at a time. It was a much nicer way of doing it as we all got to see what everyone got from Santa. Present opening also lasted more than three minutes for a change!

The before shot.

The after shot

Oliver and I spent some of Christmas morning building this (with Daniel overseeing the project).

Noice!

It just wouldn't be my blog if I didn't have photos of delicious food!

Christmas lunch...

I love that the boys (all except Michael - yes, I'm naming names) washed up afterwards!

My favourite part of the day was just sitting on the jetty and watching the carp and the crabs go by; feeding the ducks and watching Michael drink his gigantic beer (whilst not doing dishes).

This is how kitty spent the day. She did get a little bit of turkey for lunch and was extremely happy about that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nothing is certain as yet, but we might be heading back to the Territory. I know, I know!! But I think sometimes you have to get away from a place to see it better...does that make sense? We can think of a million reasons to go back, but very few to stay.

We live in an extremely isolated area, there's no work, and even less amenities than Katherine. There aren't many families around; most people living here are over 50 and retired. If we'd moved to Adelaide or Victor Harbor initially we may not be feeling this way, who knows? But as it stands, moving back to Katherine seems like a pretty tasty idea to all of us right now.

I don't feel as though we've lost anything or failed in any way. We've had a really fun time the last few months. We've seen a lot of the area, enjoyed the beach, gone fishing, and caught up with old and new friends. We've been able to get a lot of things into perspective and see things much more clearly. We just have to do what feels right.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We caved in and bought a wii after playing with Kerri's on New Year's Day. The kids are loving it and Kayla has never done so much exercise in her life! She's all sore and sorry today, but as I write this she's playing the rhythm boxing game and getting an aerobic workout. What an ingenius toy! It really is one of the best investments for our family's health we've ever made. My friend, Alex, and her son came down for a visit yesterday and now they're buying a wii next week!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, that's about all that's going on at the moment. I hope you are all healthy and happy and have a fantastic 2009!

Absolutely the last blog before Christmas!

2008-12-13T19:45:00.000-08:00

*Please note: if you click on the photos, you can view them in their true resolution; they're not really that small. Right click on the photo and open in a new page, that way you won't have to return to the blog each time.*

I wasn't going to do another blog update before Christmas, but I've got lots of photos and news!

On Thursday night Kayla had her graduation ceremony. She'd already graduated from Primary School in the Northern Territory last year, but it was still exciting for her. After doing her hair and makeup I almost decided not to let her leave the house, ever! She looked stunning!

The rest of us scrubbed up alright too.

Receiving her certificate. Nan, that's Julie Kelly on the right!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My pet yabby hadn't eaten for a few days and I thought he must be near death's door. We came home from Noarlunga on Saturday afternoon and found him in a real state!!! I took one look and started to feel ill, "Oh god, he's dead and he's BROKEN INTO TWO PIECES!" I shouted as I tried not to vomit!

Kayla just rolled her eyes at me and said "Nooo, mum. He's just shed his shell!"

Duh! Who knew they did that??

The old shell.

He was quite pink afterwards. They become very sensitive to the water conditions for a couple of days after they shed.

So, not only is he not dead or dying, but he's a picture of health! Shedding means they are growing bigger - it must be the two fish he ate from the pet shop. The other two fish that Kayla caught from the river and put in there mustn't have a flavour he likes because they're still alive and well.

I read up on the whole shedding thing and it said to leave the old shell in the tank for a few days as they like to eat it and get the nutrients from it. Sure enough, I found him devouring his old shell.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mum, does Kayla remind you of someone (someone who refused to smile for photos - yes, yes, it's biting me on the arse)?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I can't wait to cook for everyone over Christmas.

Rogan Josh...

...with minted yoghurt, saffron rice and papadums.

I also made the yummiest stir fry the other night!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Last night (Sunday) we went to the Christmas Pageant in Goolwa. It was FREEZING! The sun was out for about five minutes when we first got there, but then it went behind some clouds and the famous Arctic winds started blowing!

Even so, we really enjoyed the parade.

This is the float for Daniel's old school.

How cute is this?

I thought this was just so gorgeous. This little girl was crying her heart out for some reason, but kept on waving! What a trooper! You absolutely HAVE to right click on this photo and have a closer look!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aunty Daphne and Uncle Lindsay popped in for a visit this morning. They were on their way to visit Aunty Janet in Adelaide and would then be making a few more stops on the way to Balaclava. It was lovely to see them and the kids took to them straight away. Daniel especially seemed to like Aunty Daphne (even if he wouldn't cuddle her, we could tell).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kayla doing what she does best this morning. She can't wait for Grandad to get here so they can catch and eat a carp together!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don't forget to bring your winter woollies Mum and Christie! See you in a week!!

A bit of this and that.

2008-12-08T20:00:00.000-08:00

*Please note: if you click on the photos, you can view them in their true resolution; they're not really that blurry. Right click on the photo and open in a new page, that way you won't have to return to the blog each time.*

I don't really have a lot to blog about at the moment. So this is just a "bits and pieces" blog to tide me over until Christmas. Unless something really exciting happens between now and then that is!

Speaking of Christmas...I'm not sure how long these canes will last on the tree.

I love Christmas. I'm so happy that this year I get to spend it with my family. Last year was incredibly depressing. I was sad all day long. We spent the morning with friends, which was great, but I really missed having family around. It's just not the same.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michael has a cold at the moment. My immune system seems to be kicking arse lately, thank goodness. I think it's all the trips back to Katherine that are making him sick. I cooked a meal last night that should scare away any cold!

A T-bone steak, packed with red chillies and fresh garlic! It came with a large serving of onion as well. God, it was so good!!

Plus a serving of fried red capsicum (loaded with Vitamin C). Cooked in my new heavy duty frying pan, which I LOVE! Finally I can fry a steak instead of broiling it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I went for a walk around the garden today to see if I could find something interesting to photograph.

The flowers are starting to bloom.

This is my HUGE herb garden.

There aren't as many bugs around as I'd like, but I did manage to find this guy.

My first butterfly! Actually, I think it's really a moth. It's the first moth I've seen come to think of it. What's up with that? Where are the moths?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm currently reading...

I bought this with birthday money. So pretty!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Still not impressed about being inside all the time. Kitty has managed to escape several times now, but we've been able to catch her before she did any damage to the local wildlife. She almost gave herself concussion the other day when a friendly duck waddled near the back sliding door for an hour (waiting for bread).

Mr. Yabby is doing fine. Although we are down two fish...hmmmm.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our tree looks lovely. We turn the lights on each night and hope that the star won't eventually make our tree topple over.

Look what's under the tree, kids!

Dad, Christie...we are watching this one night when you're here! Zombiieeessss!

Mum, you will be pleased to know that Michael hooked our dishwasher up yesterday. Unfortunately I don't think the spa is going to be fixed in time.

I am starting to get really excited about Christmas now. I've been wrapping presents and getting into the spirit of it all. Can't wait!!

Kim xox

Daniel's fifth birthday

2008-11-29T14:49:00.000-08:00

*Please note: if you click on the photos, you can view them in their true resolution; they're not really that blurry. Right click on the photo and open in a new page, that way you won't have to return to the blog each time.*

Daniel celebrated his fifth birthday last week.

He awoke to a balloon-filled bedroom!

The best part is watching their faces when they open their presents, right? So this one's for you, Nan. He loves his new watch!

Playing with his new Thomas Big Loader.

We had a little party in the afternoon with Alex, Kerri, Gwyneth and Ben, and Renee (and all the kids). It was very loud and very fun!

All ready for the party to start.

I love this photo!! Can you see the top of someone's head?

This was such a funny moment. Daniel and Cohen wanted to pop balloons...by stabbing them with sharp objects! I suggested popping them with their bottoms as it was safer. Daniel was sitting on the balloon telling me it wouldn't pop that way when...

The cake was truly a team effort. Kayla made the two butter cakes, Michael trimmed them and shaped them into a five, and I decorated it. Daniel was very excited about the new cars on top!

With the money that all the rellies sent Daniel bought himself this crane. Which came in a set with 49 other pieces (Michael helped him choose it...you can tell who doesn't have to pick up Daniel's toys all day long)!

But Daniel is rapt with it, so thanks everyone!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kayla goes fishing almost every day. She's worked out how to catch carp now and can catch them anytime she feels like it. It's just a shame they aren't good eating!

Unfortunately she had some difficulties at school last week with some other girls. She held a meeting with the deputy principal and the girls and they sorted it all out. The deputy principal rang me and had nothing but praise for Kayla. She said she showed great maturity and was extremely intelligent. She told me she was a very clever operator and I just said "Don't I know it!".

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michael left for Katherine again today. It will be a very quiet Sunday night as Kayla is in Adelaide with Kerri and her kids. They went camping (in Kerri's new campervan) at West Beach on Friday night and are taking Kayla to a music festival today. Much more fun than hanging out with boring old mum!

Michael, Daniel and I went into Adelaide yesterday to buy a Christmas tree and have a look at Oasis Homes out at Smithfield. We're currently looking at building our own home in Victor Harbor next year. At least, that's the plan!

I bought myself a present.

We also bought a new tree. It was half price! Daniel helped me put it up today, but I can't find my Christmas decorations!

On the way home from Adelaide we dropped in to see Renee for her birthday. We were only going to stay for five minutes, but ended up staying for several hours! She was surrounded by friends and family and seemed to be enjoying herself a lot. I wished we could have stayed, but unfortunately Michael had to leave early this morning.

Renee bought me the most exquisite Buddha statue! I love it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mummy and Daniel had a special day together in late October, but I forgot to put the photos in my blog. We went to the park and then down to the wharf. We decided to take a look inside the Signal Point information centre (just before the bridge to the island) and were happy to find it was a free open day! They had a lot of really interesting stuff to look at and a really cool snakes and ladders type game that led us up a narrow spiralling staircase.

On the Hindmarsh Island bridge.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our dishwasher has broken down. A man came to fix it last week, but he has to order in a new part. Here's hoping it's fixed before everyone arrives at Christmas!!! Argh!!

At least I have a good helper. Daniel keeps begging me to do the dishes! Weird kid.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I took some lovely photos of the kids to send out with Christmas cards. Don't worry, I got better ones than these!

This was the reaction I got when I suggested Kayla kiss Daniel on the cheek!

Hope all are well and happy. I can't sign off without the gratuitous cute kitty photo!

Kim xox

Fishing!

2008-11-16T16:37:00.001-08:00

*Please note: if you click on the photos, you can view them in their true resolution; they're not really that blurry. Right click on the photo and open in a new page, that way you won't have to return to the blog each time.*

Last Saturday (also my 37th birthday) we picked up Benny and hit the Murray mouth. We drove along the beach at Goolwa to get there and I was amazed at how many other people had the same idea.

Driving along the beach.

The mouth.

A lot of people were cockling. Quite frankly I think they were bloody insane as it was truly freezing!! Some were up to their chests in the ocean while the freezing winds were howling!!!

We spent a couple of hours fishing, but unfortunately we caught nothing (except the one little fish that I caught).

Cheeky little crabs kept stealing our bait too!

Daniel really enjoyed making a sandcastle with Dad.

My bum got wet so I had to shove a towel down my pants! Even though I was wearing two jackets (Kayla gave me hers) I was still freezing!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I know I've been kinda missing Katherine a lot lately and it shows in my blogs. So I'm trying to just focus on appreciating my local area. It's really not hard to do, it is pretty fantastic!

These birds (I haven't yet identified them) often gather on the rocks out the back. Click for a better look!

Kayla and me at a beach near Middleton a couple of weekends ago.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The biggest news of the week is that Kayla finally caught her fish!! We were sitting on the jetty yesterday afternoon just chatting, absent-mindedly feeding the ducks and throwing crumbs into the water. When all of a sudden the most enormous carp swam right up to the rocks!!! Well, it was on!!

Kayla ran and got her fishing gear, whacked a chunk of bread on the hook and lowered it in the water. The great fish immediately took it and she managed to get it up out of the water...using a hand reel!! It was so hilarious!

You have to understand how much this girl has wanted to catch a fish ever since we first arrived. She's spent hours on that jetty to no avail and begs us at every opportunity to take her fishing. The fish let go as Kayla was screaming at it "Come here!!!" and it was just too much - Daniel and I were rolling around on the jetty in absolute hysterics! I've never seen anybody so obsessed with wanting to catch a fish!

After that Michael came out and we all threw a line in. About twenty minutes later I got a bite and handed it over to Kayla to bring in (this was her fish - she'd made it quite clear that my life wouldn't be worth living if I brought that fish in).

The result...

Of course, we threw it back. But Kayla was one very happy girl last night.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today I bought myself a birthday present with the money that Nan and Grandma Strand sent me. I found this huge fish bowl and was going to just put fish in it, but when I went to the pet shop I saw this cute yabby and I couldn't resist!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sometimes it's just all too much and you need a cuddle.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I love the simple pleasures. This was my favourite book as a child. Daniel is well and truly reading now and he hasn't even started school yet!! It came easily to him, as it did with his Dad and me. I'm so pleased about that as it's just one less thing to struggle with at school. He's started his orientation at Goolwa Primary School now and is quite excited about it I think! (If only Kayla was excited about going to high school!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michael and I left the kids with Kerri on Saturday night while we stayed in Victor to have a night out. We grabbed a bite to eat, but after that I just couldn't be bothered going out. So I bought the SATC movie and some Turkish Delight and went back to Kerri's. I'd much rather spend my birthday relaxing with friends than at the pub. Mum, what's happening to me??? ;)

We went into Adelaide again on Sunday. It's so great being so close to the city. We met up with Alex and Trewin, walked around Rundle Mall and did a little Christmas shopping. I could spend all day there, but Daniel ran out of steam and went on strike - he refused to walk anymore! He slept all the way home.

That's all the news for now. I hope you all are well, stay in touch!

Love Kim xox

Katherine Flood (2006)

2008-11-10T21:40:00.000-08:00

*Please note: if you click on the photos, you can view them in their true resolution; they're not really that blurry. Right click on the photo and open in a new page, that way you won't have to return to the blog each time.*

The 2006 flood was an exciting time. It's one of those events that makes people act differently. There's the fear of the unknown, the loss of control, the frustration, and the interruption to our normal lives. But there are also the good parts...strangers talk to each other, people donate their time, energy and money to help others, and people bond over their losses and find laughter in the chaos.

Of course, none of this happened to me. I was on high ground. :D

But you know what I mean! We drove around town a lot during the flood and the above was simply what I observed. There was this great atmosphere and although I know it was a pain in the arse for so many (again, not me...we didn't even lose power) I really enjoyed it. Obviously if I had been there for the flood of '98 I might have had a very different outlook!!

I know I can't be alone in this apparent weirdness of mine (Ugol's Law)! Anyway, enjoy my favourite photos of the flood.

Kim

This was the first house we lived in after moving to Katherine.

The Katherine River.

The main street

This isn't a real crocodile, it's the big fake one that sits outside Rod and Rifle.

Michael and Kayla couldn't resist riding into town to check out the damage.

The thermal springs.

This is the top of the steps you walk down to get to the springs. I just couldn't believe the water was this high!

King Brown!

He didn't last long.

The End.

Katherine: a beautiful place

2008-11-01T16:55:00.000-07:00

*Please note: if you click on the photos, you can view them in their true resolution; they're not really that blurry. Right click on the photo and open in a new page, that way you won't have to return to the blog each time.*

It's beautiful here, but lately I've really been missing my old garden. Renting means we can't have a vegetable garden, dig holes, or grow sunflowers if we feel like it. We never have outdoor projects to work on anymore (something we all did as a family). I really want to own my own home again and feel sad that this is probably not going to happen for a long time.

Anyway, please enjoy these photos as I reminisce.

I miss having a compost bin! It's great that we finally get to recycle paper and plastic, but I loved spreading our rich compost over the garden beds!

We had some delicious Roma tomatoes for a few months!

I really miss these guys!

The spiders are everywhere here, but they're not this pretty.

Incognito.

Although the wildlife here is pretty awesome, I really miss the insects of the Top End. They were prolific and so incredibly interesting to look at.

We all miss our pets and hope they're happy.

My pond. *sigh*

I know what you're thinking, I have a canal in my backyard. It's not the same. Michael made this pond for me and it was my little escape whenever I was feeling anxious or stressed. The sound of trickling water was like a panacea for my mental health!

I don't think I've seen a single butterfly here yet.

I miss the nooks,

the crannies,

the "Ta ta" lizards,

and my fishes.

Gah! Homesickness!!

It's hard to let go of a place that you loved so much. When it comes to the weather and flora and fauna I think the Top End will always be my absolute favourite place. I really loved the wet season as it brought the frogs and the insects out of hiding. I even loved the build up to the rain. The heat and the humidity were comforting to me for some reason. I miss the noise of the cicadas and the wild storms. I never begrudged the rain waking me up through the night, it always made me feel safe and as if all was right with the world.

I feel a bit like an alien here. Out of my element and struggling to adapt to the cool, dry weather.

Don't worry, I'm not really sad or anything. I just miss my friends, I miss the Indigenous people (especially the children), and I miss owning my own home.

I know we've done the right thing in leaving Katherine, but a part of my heart will always remain there.

School Holiday Fun

2008-10-11T22:27:00.000-07:00

Hi Folks,

well it's a blustery, windy Sunday today. Thankfully it's a warm wind, but it truly feels like a tornado is brewing!

Michael has taken the kids for a drive and I have a little time to myself. So I thought I'd use it to catch up on my blog.

We finally met up with Ben and Gwyneth (old buddies from Tennant Creek). I ran into Gwyneth at the markets last weekend. They have four gorgeous girls aged 2, 4, 6 and 8! We went out to dinner with them last night (and Alex and Trewin from Adelaide came too) and then took the kids down to the wharf to run around. We were promptly attacked by ravenous mozzies so we bailed out and came home!

Everyone came back to our place too and the girls got comfortable on the couch with the kitty (while we solved the problems of the world).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here are some photos from the markets last Sunday. They closed off the main street and it was a pretty big deal as there were hundreds of people. They had bands, jumping castles and lots of interesting stalls. Daniel had a horse ride and sat in a fire truck and Kayla got a caricature drawn of herself.

Don't be fooled, Kayla is really enjoying herself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I took the kids fishing while Michael was away. We didn't get so much as a nibble which caused Daniel to yell in despair "That's it, I give up!!"

We went to the boat ramp at Coorong National Park. It was fun watching all the boats come and go anyway. Although we were constantly wishing we were on them!

We didn't see a lot of wildlife, but we did find some dead stuff laying around.

Puffer fish.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yesterday we went to the Port Elliot show. It was much smaller than the Katherine show, but was still a great day out.

They had lots of animals to look at and interact with.

Again, Kayla was having a fabulous time!

Daniel went on the tea cup ride with me.

Then he got really brave and went on the Skydiver with Kayla and Michael.

Then he wanted to go on this!!! Obviously he wasn't allowed to! But what a thrill seeker!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I just had to include this photo of the yummiest breakfast I've ever had. Bacon, eggs, tomato, cheese on a toasted wholemeal muffin with Worcestershire sauce and Dijon mustard! OMG!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I love how much there is to do around here. There's just no excuse for ever being bored! The night life is lacking, but I'm not overly concerned about that (after all, Adelaide is just up the road). The lifestyle here is just perfect for raising kids and that makes me happy.

It was really great to catch up with Gwyneth and Ben. It made me feel so much less isolated and it was fun talking about the Territory with them. Daniel had an absolute ball playing with the girls too.

It's back to school next week. They both start on Tuesday and I think they are secretly looking forward to it. They've both been craving the company of kids their own age and rightly so.

That's all for now, I hope all are well. A special shout out to Nan, we're all thinking of you and hoping your health is on the improve real fast!! *hugs*

Kim xxx

The Cockle Train and more.

2008-10-01T20:18:00.000-07:00

It's school holidays for two weeks and there's so much to do! What a lovely change.

Today we rode an old steam engine (see below), tomorrow we're going fishing, Friday we're visiting Kerri in Victor Harbor, Saturday we'll hit the beach, and we'll go to the local markets in Goolwa on Sunday.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We've had a pretty busy week.

Last Saturday we had some special visitors.

Some of us were not so welcoming!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We bought a new (used) car. It's a 2001 Mistubishi Magna. I love it because it's automatic and so easy to drive!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Michael and I got our "bro tatts". We love them so much!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The weather is just perfect for curries. We've been eating rather well lately; just really enjoying our tucker!

Kayla helps too.

Mmmm, cream and honey added to the mix!

The finished result; Kenyan Chicken Curry. Yum!

We've eaten far too many creamy curries over the last few weeks and need to work them off!! So we bought a new treadmill and some gym equipment last week. We've started weight training and jogging again and it feels great!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I won a whole truckload of Incredible Hulk stuff last week. I put most of it away for Christmas, but I couldn't resist giving this to Daniel now.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I love our bedroom so much. It's huge!

I love the walk-in robe!

I will take pics of the kids' rooms the next time they are tidy. ;)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Last night I had Renee and Kerri over for butter chicken. They both brought me the most beautiful flowers as a housewarming gift.

I have such amazing friends.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We had the most wonderful experience today (Thursday, 2nd October). We caught the steam train this morning from Goolwa into Victor Harbor. It was really exciting, with all the steam and the very loud tooting.

The view was just spectacular the entire way.

Shetland ponies.

At Victor Harbor.

We only had time to run into the sweets shop and buy some goodies before the train left again.

It was such a beautiful morning out with the kids. We were only sad that Michael was in Katherine, working, and couldn't be with us. But it certainly won't be the last time we take the train, so next time, Daddy!

When we arrived home from the train ride we found an extra special guest waiting for us!

Kayla tells me it's a Shingleback lizard. She learned about them from a school excursion to the beach and has been dying to find one ever since. She couldn't wait to pick it up and hold it!

Kayla (Bindi Irwin) and lizard.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am still suffering from awful foot cramps. Go away cold weather!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Life is good. We're really looking forward to Daddy getting home safely though. We miss you, Michael (and the rest of you too).

A Day Out

2008-09-18T21:12:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

Last weekend we went to Goolwa beach. The surf was pretty good and we saw lots of surfers getting stuck into it.

The kids enjoyed playing in the sand and Daniel was funny running terrified from the waves that sneaked up on him a few times.

I just enjoyed the scenery.

After the beach we headed into Victor. They have the best playground ever! Even Michael and I had a ball on it!

The swans were there to greet us on our return home.

This cheeky seagull actually sat on the swan's back in order to get to the bread!

As most of you know, Kayla had a nasty fall onto Daniel's bike and cracked a rib. She's quite proud of the bruise though!

We went to Kerri's on Wednesday night for dinner. She cooked a beautiful Moroccan dinner that was a feast for the eyes as well as the palate! Next time I am taking my camera for sure! It's my turn to cook for you now, Kerri!

We have a quiet weekend ahead. We'll finally be getting rid of all the boxes and rubbish from when we moved in. There's a lot still to do! Saturday morning we'll head into Victor to look at used cars. We're surviving okay with the one car right now, but Michael is flying back to Katherine on October 1st and (as he has to drive to Adelaide) I'll be without a car. We'll need one for when I get a job anyway. We haven't decided what sort yet, but it will definitely be an automatic!

On Saturday night Alex and Jane are coming down from Adelaide for a visit. We're going to The Rankine restaurant at the marina on Hindmarsh Island. So really looking forward to that!

Tonight, Friday night, we'll be busy watching "Hell's Kitchen" as season 4 begins! Can't wait!!

That's all for now, folks! Hope you are all well and happy!

Love,

all of us. xox