End of School Year 2012

The new school year 2013 has begun, yet I haven't shared all the excitement from the end of the last school year.

Southern Leaf-tail Gecko 

Tristan ran for Prefect at his school.  To be a candidate, he had to complete an application.  Then he had to write and present a speech to the entire student body.  Finally, he had to create a campaign poster.  There were a large number of candidates.  Even though Tristan was not elected, we are very proud of his willingness to run for Office at the highest level.

Tristan was 1 of 2 representatives chosen to attend Gosford Selective school's Science day in December.  He really enjoyed the day with several different science projects.

Tristan received an award for completing the Junior Division Math Olympiads.  He also received a special achievement award for his "Outstanding Effort and Improvement in Mathematical Problem Solving" from the Mathematical Olympiads.  Tristan received this award because his teachers submitted his name to the international organization Australasian Problem Solving Mathematical Olympiads Inc

Clara came in First Place of all Year 9 students in both Visual Arts and in Photography.  In addition, she won the competition in her year to create the best promotional brochure.

Clara spent the last weeks of this school year completing a painting for entry into the VISION art competition to be held at the Gosford Regional Art Gallery in March.  Only 80 students are chosen from all Central Coast High Schools to have their art displayed.

At her school assembly, Clara earned an End of Year Merit Certificate for: "First Place Year 9 Photography, First Place Year 9 Visual Arts, Consistent Effort in Year 9 Mathematics; Consistent Effort in Year 9 History; Consistent Effort in Year 9 History; Consistent Effort in Year 9 Marine Studies; Attitude and Industry in Year 9 Personal Development, Health and Physical Education.

At the beginning of this year, we are invited to "Evening of Excellence" on 20 February where Clara will be awarded for her high achievement.

We are very proud of all of our children's achievements, but especially Tristan and Clara in these recent months.  To another successful school year for all. 

US Visitors

My cousin Tamara and her husband Don came to Sydney in September 2012.  I had the opportunity to meet them for lunch and we walked from Circular Quay through The Rocks to Darling Harbour and back.  It was a lovely, but short visit.

Grandma and Grandpa Smith arrived in November.  They were on a 75 day cruise which docked in Sydney for a couple of days.  We had the opportunity to host them for Thanksgiving dinner at home.  The children and I enjoyed touring their cruise ship.  Here's Sally's account of their visit:

We had 2 days in Sydney. What a beautiful city it is. I wish we could have spent another couple of days there. We spent our 2 days visiting with Richard’s son David, his wife Catherine, and the 4 grandchildren, Neo, Zoe, Tristan and Clara. Upon our arrival in Sydney, David met us at the cruise terminal and we took the train out to where they live in Copacabana. The train took about 1-1/2 hours, then we drove another 20 minutes to their home. Catherine prepared a lovely Thanksgiving dinner and baked the most delicious cake which was madefrom baked merange (Pavlova) with fresh fruit on top. After dinner we all walked down to the beach and took some pictures. The kids had a little time to play in the sand before making the trek up a very steep hill back to the house. After recuperating for a while, Catherine drove us back to the train station where we boarded the train back to Darling Harbor to get on the ship.

With Grandpa Smith on Copa Beach
(Grandma Sally, Photographer)

The next day we took the shuttle into town and met Catherine and the kids by Circular Quay. While we waited for their arrival, we were able to walk down to the harbor and get a look at the Sydney Opera House. What a magnificent building it is. When they arrived, we all took the shuttle back to the ship so they could have a look at our living arrangements. I think everyone was impressed with the luxury of the ship. We had lunch on the ship at the Lido Buffet where there were lots to choose from, including everything a kid could want: sushi, hamburgers, pizza, hot dogs, fruit and lots of desserts. (We even managed to pack up a few cookies for their train trip back home.)The kids got to check out the life-size chess set and play a little ping pong on the Lido deck, and shoot some hoops and play a little shuffle board up on the Sports deck. The time flew by much too quickly, and we said our goodbyes and put them back on the shuttle to town to catch their train back home.

Cape Barren Goose

Zoe & Neo at Remarkable Rocks

Willoughby Lighthouse

First Echidna I've seen in the wild

Kangaroo Island is amazing!  The number and variety of animals was one aspect we enjoyed.  The beauty and diversity of the landscape/seascape another.

Dave enjoying the view from our Holiday House

We stayed at the best holiday house - Dolphins Encounter in Penneshaw.  The views of the ocean were wonderful.  A pod of dolphins swam past everyday.  We enjoyed watching them play and feed in the crystal clear blue waters.

Penneshaw is home to a Little Penguin colony.  We went 2 different nights to witness the little penguins returning to land after a day at sea to feed and care for the chicks on land.  The Little Penguin is in decline for many reasons - human and sea lion.  The sea lion population on Kangaroo Island is growing.  We saw Little Penguins dashing across the road.  We also saw chicks outside their nest awaiting the return of the parent.

Dave at the "Remarkable Rocks"

Dave, Tristan, Neo & Zoe at Admirals Arch

We drove 3 hours from Penneshaw to Flinders National Park where we saw the "Remarkable Rocks" and "Admirals Arch" where seals congregate.  Three different species of seals were present at Admirals Arch: Australian Sea Lion, New Zealand Fur Seals, Australian Fur Seal.  

The discovery of KI grabbed my imagination.  Matthew Flinders, who circumnavigated and mapped Australia for England, found it a welcome refuge.  His ship crossed paths with Baudin, on a expedition for France - while their countries were at war back home. A crew member on Baudin's ship carved a message on a rock while waiting for the water barrels to fill.  That message was written in 1802 and still exists today.

We took the ferry back to the mainland.  We enjoyed the 40 minute drive through vineyards to Adelaide.  

Giant Water Lily at Botanic Gardens

Gorilla finger statue outside Adelaide Zoo

Clara, Tristan & Neo at The Beach House

In Adelaide we stayed in the suburb Glenelg.  We took the tram to the CBD.  We walked through the Botanic Gardens.  We went to the Adelaide zoo.  The kids enjoyed Saturday morning at The Beach House.  Our week trip was over too soon and we were back on the plane for Sydney and work/school.  

Dave enjoyed another week stay cation in a quiet house.  

My New Job & School Holidays

Inflatable

With Dave on his trip to the outback, I had planned to do a trip to Sydney.  Unfortunately, I was sick with fever and chills for 2 days, so I didn't get to my trip.  Instead I networked for a job!  I phoned a friend who is a bookkeeper.  She suggested I contact another bookkeeper whom she knew was looking for help.  On Tuesday, I phoned but couldn't get through so I sent an email introducing myself and I told about the class I had just completed.  One hour later, I received a phone call inviting me in for an interview on Wednesday.  When Dave called Tuesday night, he was surprised but encouraging.  I was afraid I would have to cancel the interview due to illness, but my fever broke and I was fine for the interview.  I was hired on Wednesday and began working on Friday - all before Dave had returned from the Outback!

Neo loved the giant bucket that dumps water.

I love my job!  My work hours are the kids' school hours.  I drop the kids in the morning, go to work, and get back in time to bring them home again.  The work is very challenging.  There is a lot to do.  I try to work 20 hours per week.  During the 2 week school holidays, I took Neo into work with me on 2 mornings.  They are very flexible.

During school holidays - last week of September and first week of October - the kids and I went to the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.  Tristan stayed home with Dave, who enjoyed a 4 day public holiday weekend.

They had a fast moving waterway.  This was fun and Zoe, Neo and I went through it several times.  Neo and Clara also did the swim test to be permitted to climb the inflatable.  Neo scrambled over it easily.  Clara had more difficulty.

 

After swimming, Zoe enjoyed an ice cream with a Flake

The space is huge at the Sydney Olympic Aquatic Centre.  

During the school holidays, Zoe went to a full day horse riding program.  She loved riding and would like to go again during her summer holidays.

Zoe's first trail ride.

 Neo learned how to lawn bowl.  He has good form and is working on accuracy.  I've joined a bowling club where they allow kids to bowl - it's called "barefoot bowl"

Neo's Bowling form

Dave's Odyssey - Outback New South Wales

The car as camper

The last week of August, Dave drove to Outback New South Wales alone in our white station wagon.  The station wagon was set up to provide a place to sleep, in the event no accommodation was available or if Dave wanted to "camp" somewhere.  He left on Monday and returned on Friday before noon.  On the first day, he drove 12 hours from Copacabana to Cobar (point A to C on the map).  Monday night I called every hotel in Cobar, but everything was booked.  Cobar is near to the mines - present day miners sleep in the hotels during the week.

Dave drove down the road to a roadside rest area where a few other people were already camping.  He slept over night in the sleeping bag and on the air mattress in the back of the wagon.  On Tuesday morning, Dave drove another 8 hours from Cobar through White Cliffs (point D) on to Tibooburra, his destination.  It's 200 km of dirt road from White Plains to Tibooburra.  He spent 2 nights at the Tooles Family Hotel .

While in Tibooburra, Dave went fossicking.  He said he found metal cans left by the miners a century ago.  The soil is red with iron.  The car still oozes the red soil from crevices.  Dave saw a mother emu and young just a few feet away, red and grey kangaroos, wild pigs, lizards, sheep.  He didn't take many pictures - and the ones he did take were corrupted.

Dave on his return

Dave chose to drive "The Cut Line" - 400 km of dirt road from Tibooburra to Bourke - for his return journey.  He said it was amazing.  He saw kangaroos boxing in the middle of the road.  They would stand there and watch as the car approached, before eventually moving off the road because there was no human around for miles.


View Larger Map

Olympics at Home

While the world is focused on the Olympic games in London, our little school in Copacabana hosted their own games on Friday.  "Countries" were represented by the students.  Metals were handed out.  Clara and some of her friends from the High School came to assist with the games for volunteer credit.  In the end, Denmark came away  with the most Gold Medals.

Neo and friend - Olympians for "France"

Zoe in the hurdles

Tristan participating in the Olympics

Clara was  honored at a Mayorial Reception for participating in the door knock campaign for the Red Cross.  Other schools also raised money and were invited.  Copacabana was the only primary school that raised money for the Red Cross via a cake sale.  The Copa representatives are up front with the Mayor.  Clara is just behind.  Her friend Matt is wearing red.  An article appeared in the local paper with a group picture as well.                                                

Mayorial Reception for student Red Cross Door knockers  

Clara's school had crazy hair and dress up day.

Clara started working on her hair at 3:30am

Tristan has been chosen to participate in the Mathematical Olympiads held at his school.  The problems he is asked to complete are not simple.  Here are samples from the website.  In the latest competition, Tristan had 3 out of 5 problems correct.  I didn't do as well.  Here's one problem:  Find the sum of the DIGITS of the first 25 odd natural numbers.

Copa school held their sports carnival on the Friday prior to the Mini Olympics.  All students ran the 100 meter.  Those who placed 1st, 2nd, or 3rd ran in the time finals.  Tristan and Zoe also ran in the 200 meter races.

Neo is proud of his 3rd place ribbon

Neo in the 100m race.

Winter School Holidays - 2012

School in Australia is 4 terms x 9 - 10 weeks with 2 weeks off between terms.  The children have just returned to school for Term 3.  Our Winter Holidays were close to home.

On Monday of the first week, Clara had her cast removed.  YAY!   She had her first Physical Therapy (called Physio here) appointment that afternoon.  On Friday, she had her first Hydro Therapy appointment, back at Gosford Private Hospital, where she had her surgery.

The cast is being cut away.  The saw only
rocks back and forth.  It's attached to
a shop vac to remove the dust.

Clara in Hydro Therapy

Zoe and Neo created new stuffed animals with Stufflers.

We went to Wyong Fun Festival.  The boys are eating Fairy Floss!

Dave at the Surf Club Cafe for our Saturday morning coffee
and Whale Watching.  We've enjoyed seeing several migrating
Whales this winter.  Some viewed from the house.

Blankets to snuggle in
at the outdoor cafes in winter.

In Winter, the outdoor cafes are still outdoor - with portable heaters and blankets.

The following Monday we went to Sydney to see Narnia Exhibition (Clara stayed home to rest her leg).  Neo made a shield.

Neo with his shield.

Narnia!

 We also went on the monorail for the treasure hunt.  It was a lot of fun.  We discovered more about Sydney by participating in the treasure hunt.  Dave told me that the monorail has been sold and will be dismantled soon.  Another good reason to have ridden the Monorail.


Because the monorail is elevated, it provides a different perspective for viewing Sydney.  It stops right outside of the 2nd floor of Queen Victoria Building (QVB) - a very posh address for shops in Sydney's CBD.  Dave had recommended we see it.  There's a statue of Queen Victoria out front - and her dog as well.  

Sushi restaurant we discovered (yummy) due to the treasure hunt!
Neo loved the conveyor that brought the dishes around.

Inside Queen Victoria Building
Tristan liked the havaianas vending machine :)

Promotion for The Dark Knight Rises
The car used in the movie

We took Clara to Powerhouse Museum and Paddy's Markets on Wednesday.  We enjoyed dumplings in China Town.

Friday, we saw BRAVE in the movie theatre....$56 for 1 adult and 4 children - which was a special rate.  The movie is great!  I highly recommend it.

Queen Victoria's little dog Islay
He was painted many times by her.
He now collects money for deaf children.