Happy New Year 2019!
Phew, finally got a few minutes to sit down and write up my diary. It's stinking hot outside at the moment, probably 30-32c or so? I feel bad having the kids out there in such heat and beating sun, so they're inside watching TV and munching biscuits. We have just been out in the pool for an hour or so though. The swimming lessons have really finally paid off, they're both just happy to leap in from the side of the pool and swim to me. Then I give them (mostly Theo) a push on the butt and send them over to the ladder and out the climb. Rinse and repeat 50-60 times, each time preceeded by "Daddy look at THIS" and then some sort of twist/flip/silly jump is performed. The biggest problem is they both have to talk over each other and they both demand attention at the same time which is hard sometimes if Theo is struggling to swim to me or the ladder etc. But they're both so good, I can stand there and just watch them jump in and swim to the ladder over and over. But that's not heaps of fun for them.
Dad left on Monday morning bright and early, I dropped him off at the airport and waved goodbye. I can't remember much of what we did for the rest of the day, no doubt probably all we've done the last 4-5 days, stuffed around outside, played with biscuit, got in the pool etc. Oh yes I remember I especially tried to get Theo to have a sleep (and myself too, but alas) so that we could go to the pool party for NYE! We went to Sarah's swimming friend's house, Nicola. They had a new pool and a lovely back yard where we spent the evening talking, chatting, helping the kids run around, getting in the pool etc. We left about 9:30 after everyone had eaten their dessert and children were starting to break down left, right and centre. Got home and had a few more beers by myself (Sad!) and then went to bed about 11:30, couldn't be bothered waiting up until midnight. Had a really good night anyway, Steve (Nicola's husband) has a Williams Warn brewery thing and it makes pretty good beer.
What else has been happening? I forget which day it was, but we went out to Birdwoods with Dad. Had a great time out there, their food has improved quite a lot since I was there last time. I mean it wasn't bad before, but now it's a bigger menu with more substantial food. We had a nice meal, some tasty coffee with cream in it and then walked around the garden with the kids for a while. Oh and of course we went to the sweet shop to have some sweets.
I took the kids up to the library oneday and we read some books, did some puzzles and got some books out. Then we went for a play on the playground and grabbed an icecream on the way home.
One night Dad stayed home and looked after the kids while Sarah and I went into town, had some drinks at Monica Loves and then had dinner at Meximama's, the new one in town. Mexi was great, but man it's so busy and they really try to get everyone in and out in the minimum amount of time possible. Still it was a good night, but after dinner there really isn't anything else to do. We thought about going to the movies but this time of year there isn't really very much exiting on unless you love kids Christmas movies.
The next night Dad and I went out to Pika @ Red Barrel for a lovely meal. I think Dad was a bit aprehensive because it's Japanese food and I think maybe he feared it was going to be raw fish and all that stuff. But it was just Piku, it was great. I made him have a Sake Bomb with me to start with, but I don't think he thought too much of it. I do admit they're not exactly known for their delicious flavour. We had a good meal though and a nice chat, lots of little dishes to munch on. Had a great night.
Sunday morning we all went to the Farmers Market and holy hell it was SO busy and so stinking hot. We took our rug but after some excellent stalking by myself, I managed to score us a table and chairs for us all to sit on. Peter and Mary came out to join us too. It was a bit of a crazy day though, because it was so busy someone was always off waiting in a 25+ minute queue to get food, coffee etc. We let Dad have a wander around the place and we took the kids on a pony ride. Beth loved it, I wasn't sure if Theo was going to enjoy it but he had a real blast of a time, huge laughing smile on his face the whole way around.
Other things I can remember: I took my new running belt Sarah got me for a test run and it's amazing. It just feels natural after the first 500m, you don't really notice it. But it's very handy after 5km in the hot sun and you're hanging out for a drink, then you just grab a bottle and off you go! Though it's hard to slurp and run at the same time, I guess that'll take a bit of practise.
The watermelon plants we planted this year are going great guns, one of them especially has already taken over a quarter of the garden. I hope we get a bunch of super juicy watermelons off it this year. Went out to Brave to fill up a couple of bottles with Harrie, one of my favourite brews of theirs. Wen to Peter and Mary's one night with Dad for a lovely meal. Kids had a great time, got some presents from Peter and Mary too and loved them.
Biscuit is going well, he can sit and he can shake hands now. We took him for his first walk last night and he did a great job.
Oh one day we took the kids into town and played Putt Putt with Dad, had a great time there. The kids (esp Beth) got a bit bored half way around but it was still a good time. After that we scooted down to Lick This and got ourselves a lovely Icecream each, before heading back via the water fountains and seeing a Fire Engine extinguish a beach fire!
I think that's pretty much everything that's happened the last week or so. It's been fun, it's been hot, it's been busy!
Tim