W-Ms in Australia

February 2012 - training for Coastrek

The pictures below sum it all up. Training every Friday for 2-3 hours while the kids are all at school/kindy and training every Sunday from 5.30-6am onwards for the month of February - check out the AMAZING views/sunrises we got to enjoy every time.

February 2012 - Arthur moves to St Augustine's

On 9th February, so the very day after Arthur's 11th birthday, we got the phone call from St Augustine's College offering Arthur a last minute spot for this year's Year 5 intake. We were thrilled as we knew how much Arthur had wanted to make the move this year. When I arrived in the playground and told him to ring Dunc (who had important news) it was quite interesting. Dunc told him he'd been offered a spot and both of us expected him to jump for joy as he'd been badgering us to call them in the holidays. However, when it came to the crunch he passed the mobile back to me and ran off saying "I just have to check with my mates!" Now I look back on it I'm actually pleased that he cared what they might think/say as oppose to thinking 'stuff them'. Anyway, he came back shortly saying "Yes, yes please, my mates tell me I am so lucky and I should just 'go for it'!" So...lucky Arthur did decide to 'go for it' and his super friend, Hugh, also got the call and made the same decision a few days later.

So far so good. They both seem very settled and happy.

Just a quick snap to show HOW MUCH Lulu has grown since last June!!

8th February 2012 - Arthur's 11th birthday & short haircut

WOW - my first born has just hit '11 years old!' Seems totally unbelievable really.

Here is my gorgeous Arthur on his 'pink Penny' birthday skateboard.

Cake time...

Why the short haircut so suddenly??? The phone call the day after his birthday offering him a spot at St Augustine's perhaps???

February 2012 - Cole Classic Ocean Swim

Once again Dunc and I put our names down for the manic Cole Classic. Dunc's wave set off early around 8am. He did the 1km this year and felt he should have automatically done the 2km but I kept reminding him that not only had he had a shoulder reconstruction in August 2011 but a facial reconstruction in September. It is quite amazing that he was doing the race at all, I am bloody proud of him.

Laura and I also did the 1km race but set off over an hour after Dunc's wave. It was super choppy so I switched to 'breast stroke' as I knew how weak my finless freestyle could be. Managed to do it in about 7 minutes faster than last year when I did freestyle!

I could not walk past this wee fella without talking to his owner and of course asking for a photo. Poor thing had been in a 'doggy wheelchair' for the past 8 years since slipping a disc. It had worn nappies for that whole time as well!! Seemed very happy and bolted gaily along Manly beachfront - bless.

February 2012 - AHPS Swimming Carnival

Another fun swimming carnival but this time in the pouring rain. Barn swam well and although not going through to zone he came 2nd and 3rd in his heats. Arthur did well too and qualified for zone coming 3rd in freestyle. This was with no race training (yet again) - imagine how much better he could do if he made an effort before the event.

Mid January 2012 - London visiting Gummy & Gumpa

I flew to London mid January with Arthur and Iona. Much as I'd have loved to bring all the kids, this trip was about Gumpa and Gummy without overloading them. All the kids will be over in June 2012 so this was a special visit just to make sure that Gumpa was being looked after, staying strong, hanging in there etc.

Iona took to chilly London life very stylishly.

Gummy and Arthur (with his new gear from Camden Market after a shopping spree with me and Auntie Hanni!!)

Hanni and Gumpa.

Gumpa receiving Iona's magical 'healing' with Hanni in the background.

Deep in thought giving her healing touch with 'Pumpkin' ear muffs!

Godfather Will with Arthur and his lovely son Casper.

Godmother Moo with Iona and gorgeous Jonah.

Iona with Hanni's spare ukelele. Since this trip I have donated my orange ukelele to Iona and treated myself to a gorgeous tenor Fender ukelele.

31st January 2012 - Tenzin's 6th birthday/1st day at school

Tenzin and Charlie (pictured below) did not go to the same pre-school but knew each other through Barney and Oscar (Charlie's older brother who is in the same year as Barney).

My gorgeous friend Fi, (Charlie's mum) and I have had so much fun during 2011 getting them to know each other, going to Oceanworld, the Zoo and Little Manly every Thursday that we are quite gutted they are both starting school any day now!! This coconut moment was taken by Fi just days before 'life became serious' for our two small boys.