Australia Day Weekend 2015

Well 10mths later and I'm back. I've been thinking about deleting this blog for the last 6mths as it reminds me of how slack and unmotivated I am these days. At Christmas, Robyn (sister) was asking me about my blog and why I didn't write it any more as she loved receiving the updates. So I've been pondering this for the last month and decided to give it another go. No pressure to do it regularly, just when I want to share something. I've given the blog a bit of an update with a new background, heading photo, new 2015 goals and updates to the book list. Hope you like it.
I thought I'd explain one of my goals - TAKING RISKS. Don't worry Mum, I'm not going to rob a bank, I'm just going to step out of my comfort zone a little more which I have found more and more difficult to do with age. I did this in December when I attended the Katy Perry concert. I've never been to a music concert but I loved it. I think more so because of my admiration for this stellar lady was confirmed rather than the bass that vibrated through my whole body!
January has gone quickly for us. After a most relaxing New Year week, we returned to work and the kids attended vacation care (only 3 days each week). They had fun doing science experiments, going ice skating and making candles.
Last weekend, the kids went to stay with Auntie Annette whilst we attended work drinks for Craig's management team at his boss' digs - Mantra Penthouse, South Bank overlooking the Brisbane River. It was a lovely evening with delicious food and icy cold drinks as it was stiflingly hot. After collecting N and P on Sunday I lay by the pool (cooling off regularly) for the afternoon reading a book as it was so hot.
This last week, Penny and Nicholas attended a tennis camp for 3 mornings and thank goodness it cooled down a little. The threat of rain was imminent but it didn't interrupt them. They both had a good time and have improved. Nic was put in the top group and much to Penny's delight she was moved from the 5th group to the 3rd group in the first hour. Nic even ended up with a new racquet as he has managed to crack his old one. I'm not surprised with the amount of tennis he has been playing.
I am on holidays at present (last and this week). I have sewed a dress, although I decided it needs altering so I'll pop a picture on once it's completed. I've also done some scrapbooking. It's lovely looking back at the photos from 2008. The kids have had many friends to play and sleep over which is fun and easy these days, especially with a pool to entertain them. I'm also enjoying the tennis too.
We had 150mm (6") of rain yesterday and it was a cool day (23) which was a welcome reprieve. We had to drain water from the pool three times!

Lastly, I wanted to tell you about this great Australian movie the kids and I saw this morning
                                             ***       PAPER PLANES      ***
Don't watch the trailer before you go, please just go and see it. It is very funny but also deeply moving. I was laughing out loud for much of it but also holding back tears in other parts. It isn't just a children's movie, it is a movie for 5yo -100yo and beyond. A lovely, uplifting and positive Aussie film. Let me know what you thought of it.
Have a great weekend
Be back soon with back to school photos, best book I read in 2014 and my updated guest room.
Love, Rach xx

New Book Review x 2

My recent reads include:

Elliane by Judy Nunn
I really enjoyed this book but I think that was in part due to the setting being in Bundaberg where I spent 16yrs post graduation. She has researched this area and it's history very well. It's a great story with a good twist. 

The Winter Sea by Di Morrissey
Again a very well researched book. I have read all 21 books Di has written and even had the chance to meet with her at a book launch and signing. Katie Cleland (Little) gave me the first book when I was in hospital 22yrs ago! Di always manages to make a place sound so special. Pretty good story too although I have to say I have enjoyed her earlier books more as far as fiction goes.

Have a good day.
Rach xx

March Already!

Sorry February, no posts. Lots has been happening. We've had the downstairs interior of our house transformed with a beautiful paint job and replacement of carpet in the bedrooms with floating timber floors. Just waiting on a few pieces of new furniture and it will be complete. Nic and Penny are thrilled with the transformation which also included some new curtains and bed coverings.
School is back in full swing. Both children are happy with their teachers and appear to be achieving well.
My brother, Richard who lives in Griffith, NSW came to stay with us on the weekend. It was so lovely to catch up and Nic and Penny idolise him. Our guest room is still getting a work out with more guests arriving this weekend and also again in a few weeks time. So lovely to have a house full of people.
Craig is very busy with work and away most weeks although we were lucky to have him home last week.
I did manage to finish a scrapbooking layout (Penny @2yo) on the weekend but unfortunately my time has been mostly spent cleaning down walls inside and out. There's always something to do when you own a Queenslander but I don't think I'd have it any other way.

Here's a cute photo of Pip. She's so patient and compliant. She has been a little unwell with skin problems but well mended now as the weather is cooling and starting to change.

During February we also did a half day trip up to Bribie Island. It looks like a great place for a relaxing holiday with beautiful beaches. The inside of the island borders a body of water named the Pumicestone Passage and all of the beaches have pumice stone on them - great for feet!
So that's February done and dusted for 2014.
Have a good week.
Rach xx

The Beginning of a New School Year

What lovely holidays we had but it all had to come to an end so that some routine could return to our lives.

We enjoyed having my SIL, Trudie and kids, Alex and Lachlan from Griffith to stay in the beginning of January. The cousins really enjoy each others company and just enjoy hanging out together. We then had some Bundaberg friends to stay for a weekend. The boys went to the 20/20 cricket which Nic really enjoyed. Great close game even if Brisbane didn't win and a great spectacle. Penny and I went to see Frozen at the movies which was a lovely movie with beautiful music - out iTunes favourite at present. In the last week the kids and I went to visit my family in Adelaide. Thank goodness we timed it in between heatwaves. We visited the SA museum, local pool, had dinner and lunch with my sister, Robyn and her new husband Ian, went to the National Motor Museum. The highlight was visiting the Gorge Wildlife Park at Cudlee Creek just out of Adelaide where we all got to cuddle a koala (a first for all of us).

On the school front, Nic and Penny are very pleased with their teachers. Nic has a male teacher who he says is "cool" and Penny's female teacher is just lovely. I think the things I least enjoy about the kid's school days are homework because they don't enjoy it and making school lunches. This week hasn't been too bad as Penny hasn't had any homework and Nic has been quite willing to complete the tasks set as they have been quite relevant and not too laborious. On the school lunches front, I made a big batch of sausage rolls and biscuits and a chocolate slice. The biscuits didn't last until the start of school but the rest have been enjoyed. I think I'll make a batch of mini quiches this weekend as they always go down a treat. I usually freeze the savoury (and sometimes sweet) food and it is nicely thawed by lunch time.
Our house is in disarray at present, rather like packing as we are having the downstairs interior painted. The kids are upstairs in the guest bedroom at present making bed time interesting with the constant chatter and giggles. The guest bedroom is getting quite a bit of use. I might have to put a Vacancy/No Vacancy sign out the front. The painting should be all finished by the middle of next week. Hope my colour selections look good.
Have a great weekend.
Rach xx

GOMA

Yesterday we visited the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) at South Bank, Brisbane. They always have a kids program for the school holidays and it's a great place to beat the Summer heat. The children's program was about an Australian artist and his book and paintings about different roos. There were masks to make, computer games to play and a computer generated poster to make. We also visited many other free displays. Nic is very interested in the Aboriginal art and there is always a lot of alternative art which is great for the imagination. We particularly enjoyed the maze of fluffy white trees. Very serene and relaxing.

Today was another hot day which we spent in and out of the pool. Hopefully we'll get a storm tonight to cool us down as we are sweltering at present. We also went out to pick up some colour swatches in readiness for painting the downstairs interior of our house later in the month. It is soooo hard to choose. I'm sure I'll be back and forth a few more times to get more swatches. The kids were very good under the proviso they could go to the vet to cuddle the kittens up for adoption. There were really cute kittens running amok there today. Up and down the Christmas tree and playing with the baubles. Penny is determined to bring one home over her Daddy's dead body!!
Have a great weekend.
Love, Rach xx

*** 2014 - HAPPY NEW YEAR! ****

I'm back and determined to document our year ahead through this blog. A new blog appearance and a beautiful sunset in Lombok adorns my header to celebrate the passing of one year and the anticipation of the next.
What a busy year we had in 2013. My Christmas letter was a little more difficult to write this year as I neglected my blog. In a nutshell this is what we did:
* holidays - Byron Bay in January
                 - Bonville and Gold Coast (Craig and I) in March to celebrate turning 40
                  - Lombok Indonesia in October
                  - Adelaide (me only) in November to celebrate turning 40 with school friends
*children- Nic - completed yr5, playing soccer and tennis and attending cubs
                  Penny - completed yr2, playing tennis and dancing (tap, jazz and ballet)
*Craig - promoted to general manager of sales and marketing at Lindsay Australia
            - hiked the Kokoda track (PNG) in August - very tough despite rigorous preparation
            - playing golf and has brought our Kevlar cat (boat) down from Bundaberg to Nambour so               that he can go fishing more often
*Me - not much has changed
        - loving our 80yr old Queenslander despite its flaws
        - have reverted to project life scrapbooking but still seem to be slow (will explain this in another 
           post)
The highlight of the year was the wedding of my sister Robyn to Ian Greening in Lombok. We had a great holiday and it was so lovely for our family to be together as this is such a rare occurrence these days with us all being spread around the country.

I have set new goals for the year. I often fail miserably at my goals but they serve as a reminder I guess. I would love to get my fitness back so will try hard with this.
I have also added the books I read last year. I am a very slow reader so was surprised at how many books I actually did get through. The book that was the highlight for me was The Rosie Project. Very entertaining. I also enjoyed Shane Jacobsen's biography and the Loretta Hill books are always a good, easy read.
We enjoyed our Christmas at home in Brisbane and were joined by Craig's mum (Bundaberg) and his sister Annette (Cairns). We went out to a restaurant for lunch and returned home for a refreshing swim in the pool. We had a BBQ at home with friends last night to celebrate New Year's Eve but were tucked up in bed well before midnight and only lifted my head for a minute when I heard the fireworks in the city
Well it's time to take the Christmas decorations down and start to cover books in anticipation of the new school year. I'll be back with a new post soon.
Love, Rach xx

Hello There

Another long absence but for good reason. Shortly after my last post we were robbed. Due to the invasion of privacy I shut myself down to all social media but have slowly returned. I find it's important to blog as it is my diary. So here is what we've been up to.

In March, Craig and I went away to Bonville (just out of Coffs Harbour) and stayed at the international golf course. We went down for a 2 day work function for Craig's company but it was the most superb location and food and was very relaxing. Our night at the Gold Coast at the Marriott on the way home paled in comparison. I also turned 40 in March - how horrid. Unfortunately, I can't change that but would if I could.We also went to Caloundra for a night to meet up with some old friends from Bundaberg which we all enjoyed.
We spent Easter at home relaxing. My brother, Richard and his family came to stay for a night just after Easter on their way through. It was a great to catch up. Nic wasn't very well over Easter and the first week of school holidays but after some antibiotics he was ready for tennis clinic the following week. Nic was runner up in his tennis group and received a medal. Penny received a certificate for her tennis prowess.

Nic is now sporting a new look with a set of glasses. We all agree he looks very brainy! Nic has begun soccer again and is also filling in at tennis fixtures during the week from time to time. He is loving his sport and is trying harder with his school work. Nic has celebrated his 10th birthday this week and is having friends over for a sleep over this weekend. Hopefully we'll get some sleep tomorrow night! On the cubs front, he has been on a camp to Kenilworth which he loved and he proudly marched in two marches on ANZAC day with his cub scout group. They marched at Graceville (local) early in the morning and then went on to march in the main city march late morning. He was one tired boy after soccer practice that evening!

Penny is busy with dancing. She has ballet and tap exams in a few weeks and will perform in the junior performance team at the Sherwood School fete. She is still swimming and playing tennis but her main love is dance.
Craig is madly training with a back pack filled with sand as he is walking the Kokoda trail later in the year. He is also playing golf again and having some success with his old form beginning to return. He has had 2 x hole in ones in the last 4mths too.
Our darling little Westie pup, Pip is fast approaching one. She loves to eat shoes and steal all manner of things and head out to the front garden with them. Nic and Penny are quite used to going to look for their missing school sneakers out in the yard. One day they may actually put them in a cupboard so she can't get to them. Pip goes to the groomer occasionally and came home sporting this little bow which she didn't really like. She's a bit of a scruffy tom boy so I don't think it really suited her.

Well, I think that is enough for one post. Hope you're still with me. Oh and I have started scrapbooking again and have had 2 layouts accepted for photographing for a magazine. Will post some photos of my LO's soon.
Have a great weekend.
Rach xx