Another year over

It has been quite a year.

Jack has made a big impact.  We had 8 weeks in the USA.  There has been lots of sport and the kids have attended more after school band, dance, tennis, swimming than you'd ever believe.

We've had a great Christmas break and are ready for 2012.

2012 looks like being another hectic year - camping twice in January,  Amy arrives for a month (or two?) in a few weeks,  we are skiing in Vail and relaxing in Hawai in April....and more to be organised soon.

Christmas passed in a flash.  The kids got everything they wanted (James - Scooter, Surfboard;  Olivia - Flute, dolls;  Jack - a garage and a mobile phone).  We had a great day on the 25th - 6am start, stockings, breakfast, beach (great surf), dinner with the Hoffmans....way too much food as ever.

The last week has seen lots of beach trips and Emma playing golf TWICE...and playing rather well for a complete beginner - I sense that 2012 could be Emma's year for golf.

We are now preparing for New Years Eve - heading down to Forty Baskets Beach to see the Manly firework display and chat to friends.  I suspect we'll all be in bed by midnight.

James is loving the waves just now.  This was Christmas Eve - with Stuart Hoffman.

On Christmas Eve the McPherson's joined us for our traditional smoked trout dinner.  It was a perfect evening and the food was excellent.

 Olivia and Tess dressed as Angels and treated us to a play.  The highlight of which was Jack sneaking into the scene and stealing their props.

Despite being super-excited the kids were very well behaved.

James and Olivia struggled to go to bed.  James thought it was best to go to sleep quickly so Santa would come quicker.  Olivia decided that 10pm on Christmas Eve was a good time to quiz me about whether Santa existed or not....

He seems to exist OK - the stockings were overflowing with presents.

Christmas Day on Manly Beach...another glorious day, big waves and blue sky.

One week until the guy in the red suit arrives

The kids are getting excited.  Their excitement leads to tiredness and lots of tantrums - and that's just from me!

I keep trying to convince James and Olivia that they need to be good or no presents from Santa next Sunday.  They listen carefully, are good for about 5 minutes and then....back to normal.  Not sure they believe anymore!

On Friday I had the Christmas Party for the group I run.  The day started at 7:30am with a golf match that included drinking Schnapps on every hole.  At 12:30 the main event kicked off with 240 people at a beach party.  As the 'leader' I had to set a good example, which seemed to involve drinking as much as the 21 year olds.......the night ended at 10:30pm in Manly.  I think that may be the last time I drink for 15 hours....this year at least.

To get over the Xmas party hangover and get the kids out the house we did a lovely walk yesterday with the Underhills - starting at Taronga Zoo, we walked back to Balmoral.  A pleasant few hours in the sunshine finished off with lunch and a swim at the beach.

An early dinner at Bench with the Peaches and Cutlers and then Emma & I headed off to a grown up Christmas Party.  No kids, good chat, lots of nibbles - it was a really nice evening.

Today (Sunday) was fairly relaxing.  Emma sailed in the Manly Yacht Club Christmas Race (came 3rd I think), I've done most of my Christmas shopping and we went to get Jame's new scooter custom built - he got to choose all the components and colours - now it gets built and IF he is good he gets it next week.

Janet is with us just now and is loving spending time with Jack. He is SOOOOOO close to walking.  He will walk all day holding on to one finger of an adult.  He also loves standing in the middle of the room and teasing us - he keeps looking like he is about to take a step (or break into a run), but he just sways then sits back down.  I do reckon he will be walking by Christmas Day.

Our next post may well be Christmas Day - so to all of you, have a very merry Christmas.

Ken

Radio silence will be sorted shortly.

I've just returned from 12 days in the UK.

Will get back into blogging next week.....with Christmas build up.

Ken

Grafiti and skateboarding

We headed to Cockatoo Island today for the Street Art Festival.

Lots of grafiti, skateboarding, interactive exhibits amongst the industrial wasteland of Cockatoo Island (well worth a visit if you've not been there before).

While Emma and Olivia focused on the art, James was there to skateboard - he had an hour lesson and had a great time.....and he claims learned lots of new tricks.

It was hot and busy.  We missed the ferry going and the ferry coming back was canceled.  Apart from that it was a good day out....honest....

 

In this exhibit everyone had to "add"to the cardboard city that was being created.  James made a derelict house.  Olivia made a house with a Christmas tree.

 James showing off his derelict house.

 The girls on the ferry.

 James and the group he had a skateboard lesson with.

 Practising his jumps.

 Trying to perfect his "Olly" - a trick you use to jump up steps.  He almost nailed it.

 This was a trick that involves spinning the board around and landing back on it.

 James tried really hard - and had fun.  Not sure he landed on the board much though.

 His Olly got pretty good though.

 And he did not break anything.

 His drop ins improved and by the end of the hour he had them sorted - bravery seemed to be the key.

This olly did not quite work - the board got left behind.

 This is the type of grafiti we saw - pretty impressive stuff.

 Jack had a good tim
 We saw a baby seagull - not sure I'd ever seen one before.

 Olivia created this crayon drawing that thousands of people will now get to see.

James created this scary character for the same people to also enjoy...

November update

How on earth can it be 13 November already.  Wow.  Almost Christmas.

Well it's been a busy month since my last post.  Jack celebrated his 13th month yesterday by standing up all on his on and thinking about taking a step - but still did not.  I am guessing Christmas Day for the first steps.
After a week that involved me being out on work related social activities every night...I was ready for a quiet weekend but no, we've had a hectic weekend.

Saturday:  

James had to be at cricket at 7:30am, which Emma told me about at 7:32am.  She claims she told me earlier and that my hangover was so severe I just did not hear her....well maybe.  After cricket it was off to Bondi for the Sculptures By The Sea exhibition - great fun in the heat/humidity.

In the evening we wandered down to Manly for dinner in the Manly Wharf Hotel and then watched as lots of candles were lit and floated across the sea as part of a Thai full moon ceremony.

Sunday:


Bliss - no kid woke us up until about 8:30am...even Jack.  After breakfast I decided it was time to update my golf clubs - clearly they are the cause of my inconsistent swing. I had watched Tiger Woods play on Friday and reckon that he is not that good - I could give him a good game...if I had new clubs.

A quick trip to Drummond Gold, 1 hour on the computer thing they have and I now have a new set of Mizuno irons.  Have not told Emma yet.....don't think she reads the blog.....

A bit of painting (poolside bathrrom) then an hour or so on the beach...followed by golf for James and I (me still with old clubs - new ones getting made in the factory to my specifications - Emma they were cheap, a bargain).

On the 1st hole at Manly, James outdrove me.  In my defence I hit a four iron - badly.  James creamed his drive down the middle and got a cheer from the group behind us.  That kinda set the tone...James driving well, me a little eractic.  We only played 9 holes.  James won 3 - without any handicap or allowance!  My challenge is that he can now drive the Par 3's.  If I miss he is often on the green....

He is only 9.....God help me in a few years.  I hope the new clubs work!!


I've posted a few snaps to update you on everyone....you may not recognise James...he got a haircut.

 This is the sort of Art at the Sculpture by the Sea  - a 20 foot red nail in the rock.

Jack had his own mini ice cream - and LOVED it. Biggest smile and giggle.

James is looking very grown up with his new hair cut.

Olivia...serious as ever.  Olivia got the results of her Ballet Exam this week - passed with Honours.  She also had her blow test for band - and as a result will be playing the flute next year, which is what she wanted.

Today at Forty Baskets beach.

Jack's 1st Birthday Party

While it is not Jack's birthday until Wednesday, we decided to have his party yesterday and invited around 8 families to celebrate with us.  We had 16 adults and 20 kids - so it was pretty hectic in the house.

The Party was carefully scheduled to start at 1pm to ensure cake was eaten and party was wrapping up at 4pm - just in time for the Rugby Quarter Finals to start.

Jack had a great time.  I have never, ever, seen a kids eyes light up as much as when he realised that the 36 people standing around him singing happy birthday - were for HIM.  His smile, and laugh was simply wonderful.

The party was a great success - Jack ate lots of cake and got spoiled by all the girls who were there.  The adults ate great steak sandwiches and a few beers.

Best of all it ended just as the rugby started - which actually meant everyone stayed and enjoyed Wales beating Ireland....then enjoyed a little less France beating England (I tried not to cheer).

The cake was a Koala Bear - just in case that is not obvious - another Emma success.

 This is the moment Jack realised everyone was singing for him.  Simply wonderful.

 Olivia almost managed to burn him with the candle....as 16 adults shouted at once "Nooooooo Olivia"

Jack got plenty of cake and really enjoyed his day.

POSSUM

About a week ago James saw a little possum running under a car.  The owner was about to drive off, but James made them stop.  The little possum was hiding in the wheel arch and was clearly injured.  Well Emma rescued him, brought him home and we called WIRES - the animal rescue charity in Australia.

We were told to put him in a box with an old jumper - somewhere dark.  Emma did as she was told and we left the little possum alone in the wine cellar.  A few later she went to check - and the box was empty....but we could hear him....eventually we discovered him clinging to a 2006 Dry River Pinot Noir...

Today Olivia had attended her good friend Tess birthday party - a horse ride in Centennial Park.  Olivia  had a great time and has now been horse riding 3 times in the last 3 months.....but no matter how much she asks we are not keeping a horse in the garden!

James had a tennis tournament today.  He moved up a level for this event - and the standard was clearly higher.  In every other tournament he has made quarter finals or semi finals.  Today he lost all five games - but some were very close (lost 6-7).  He tried hard and had fun.  This is him looking all serious waiting to return a serve.

Another hectic weekend comes to an end....

Ken

Rugby, rugby and more rugby

I have just returned from a 'liver-destroying' weekend in Auckland to watch the Rugby World Cup.

I had the pleasure of seeing a great match on Friday night - South Africa v Samoa, where the Samoan's almost caused an upset.  The 30,000 crowd loved their approach and it was a perfect Spring evening.

Saturday night was a different story.  It was wet and windy as 62,000 people waited in anticipation for the Scotland and England teams to take to the park for a critical match.  I reckon there were 45,000 Scots there - about half of them in kilts.  The teams arrived and it was time for the national anthems - which is where the Scots lost it.

I have never heard God Save The Queen sang so loud with so much passion.  Everyone agreed it was 'hair standing on the back of your neck' stuff.  Quite surprising.

Well, if the English can sing like that...what could the Scots do....well....Flower O Scotland did not really work on Saturday.  I think the English had actually shocked us with their anthem and the Scots were lost for words/voice.....

Despite the score (England won, eliminating Scotland) it WAS a great night, great atmosphere, helped by having half-way line seats and a continuous supply of beer.

Auckland was amazing and is enjoying a two month party.  The hangover will be intense - particularly if the All Blacks do not win.

This slightly bad photo is Me, Warwick (a client), Matt (fellow KPMG Partner), Dave (life long friend).

I got back to Sydney on Sunday afternoon - just in time to watch the Rugby Leage Grand Final with James - which Manly won, so all he was very happy.

To make up for all this rugby, we did a family bike ride today at Homebush (Olympic Stadium etc).  We did a great 15km ride, Olivia on her new bike, Jack in his chariot.  Great ride, great weather.

We were joined by the Underhills who are in the photos with us.

Next week Jack turns ONE.  We cannot believe it's been a year since he came into our life.  He is crawling everywhere, standing up and threatening to start to walk....in a few weeks...we hope.

Lots of birthdaty party pics next week!

Ken

Skiing weekend

A few weeks ago we decided to do a quick dash to Mount Perisher and teach the kids to ski.

What a GREAT WEEKEND.

We had four days.  Each day James & Olivia went to ski school and Jack went to creche.  Emma and I just skied, and skied and skied.  There were about 10 other families down at the same time and it was great to just ski around the mountain and keep bumping into people we knew - in fact I think Balgowlah Heights was empty that weekend.

At the end of the four days:

• James could ski parallel
• Olivia can ski any slope with a really good snowplough
• Jack had a bug and kept vomitting
• Emma and I were tired but happy

Olivia loved ski school.  Partly helped by having male instructors who always seem to bring out the best in Olivia..

After ski school (9am to 3:30pm) James and Olivia did a few runs with us to show off their new skills.

Olivia is already developing the "I will never bend my knees, ever" approach that has worked soooo well for Emma for many, many years.

This is James in the half pipe - heading up the slope and about to turn.

And exiting the half-pipe with a flourish.

On the last day James spent all afternoon with his good friend Luke and an instructor - Tim.  They had a great time, despite some terrible weather.

We had a great time.  We skied in sunshine, hail, rain, snow and high winds.  We are already planning the next trip!

Ken