Sydney North Athletics Carnival 2013 plus

Tristan in the white & red race shirt walks to starting line

Tristan's time for the 100 metre race qualified him to run at the District level, Sydney North.  It was held at the Sydney Olympic park.  Tristan ran well.  But it's all about the Hoodie.  The line for the "jumper" snaked from the entrance gate and up the stairs.

Neo (center) in Red Vest, dancing

Neo was in the K-2 school musical "Giraffe's can't Dance" which is a book they put music and dances to. Well done, as usual.  Neo had a great time performing.

Tristan's birthday was over the school holidays.  He took his friend Ziggy along for go carting.  Clara, Neo and I raced as well.  We had a great time.  Then sushi for lunch.

Ziggy & Tristan

   
At the end of October, we moved back to MacMaster's Beach.  This house has 5 bedrooms.  Each of the kids' rooms is larger then the house in Copa.  We are tucked back in the trees.  Large yard.  Views of the lagoon and of course walking distance to the beach and school - if the kids are so inclined.  So far I've been driving them to/from school each day.  We did have a rare Long Billed Corrella visit at our new house.  And King Parrots, Dave's favorite are a common sight.

Rare Long Billed Corrella

Clara & I following her Induction Ceremony

Clara was inducted into Student Representative Council last Friday.  This is for 2014 and her Year 11.  She will be attending functions as a representative of the school.  She was chosen out of a field of applicants.  Really proud of her hard work on the Year 10 exams.  It used to be common for Year 10 students to receive a certificate from high school after year 10.  That's mostly been phased out, but a Record of School Achievement (RoSA) is offered for those who complete year 10 and have full time employment or full time training course (apprentiship).

Special dessert Sushi

Athletics Zone Competition, Soccer Awards & 100 Word Challenge

On Friday, Tristan received an award for "Outstanding piece of writing on the 100 Word Challenge" for his creative writing piece.  Tristan's work was showcased world wide.  In this particular challenge, the participants were to use a prompt and create a story.  His class has been participating in the 100 Word Challenge all year.  Great creative writing opportunity.  http://kidblog.org/MrFrew/0150de57-b3d8-427e-8e77-12a74c7294cf/100-wc-39/

On Thursday Tristan represented his school at the Brisbane Waters Zone Athletics Competition.  Tristan did very well. He will likely move up to the next level of competition - Sydney North - in discus and 100 meters race.

Tristan about to throw discus

Tristan made the semi-finals (4 participants)

Tristan ran the 100 meter 13 year old race

There's the starter gun
Tristan went on to Sydney North Carnival

Neo completed his first year of soccer. Gala day was on Saturday - where they played 3 fun games, had a sausage sizzle, and received their trophies.

Neo with his team and coach Dave

Neo receiving his soccer trophy and certificate

Photostream 2013

I'm relieved to see that my last post was in 2013....I was afraid it had been longer.   As you can imagine, a lot has happened since Feb 2013.  Short list - my job ended in April.  I started my own business in May.

Dave continues on in his work.  It seems to be more stressful every week.  We went to Taronga Zoo together - no kids - during a short break from work.  We continue to enjoy morning walks on the beach at the weekends.

Tristan as Creepy Scarecrow for Camp Creepytime Party

Sweet 16

Ice Skating @ Hunter Valley Gardens

Zoe on skates

Zoe in Snow play area

Neo in Snowball throwing area

Tristan waiting for a snowball

Most of these pictures are from July school holidays.  Clara turned 16 in June.  The kids had their US passports renewed in July.  Clara ran cross country at Brisbane Water Zone -in  May.  Clara started a job - then lost it.  Clara earned her driver's license and drove for the first time in August.

Clara's choice of shoes for walking on a very muddy path to Little Beach

Clara's Sweet 16 Birthday Party with Friends @ San Churros

Clara and her boyfriend, Jesse

Tristan was successful in getting into Gosford Selective High School.  He begins there in 2014.

Neo is almost an independent reader.  Zoe has redecorated her room.

Zoe's Zebra Themed Room

Zoe Painted these...

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.


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