Five years ago.....

Hello, good evening and welcome.

Good Aussie Carpentry!

STOP PRESS : We had an earthquake here last night! 3.4 on the Richter Scale at 2.20am for about 8 seconds. I had just got up to Lucy and as I was getting back in to bed when Rachel asked how Lucy was and there was a really low rumble like a train type noise and the place started to shake. "I hate it when you've had Chili for dinner" says Rachel but I was not taking the blame for that one. Now I know I've said a few things about Australian building standards but I wasn't overly worried about collapse. I knew it was an earthquake. I have previously experienced a quake whilst living in Tirane in Albania in 1999 which was 4.2 and it was exactly the same sensation. And who says lightening doesn't strike twice! But don't worry, the Richter scale is Logarithmic so 3.4 is barely a tickle when you consider New Zealand was 6.3.
Anyway, I digress.
(that is not really our house in the picture)



The weather is warming up nicely. It was 31 degrees today for Tom's first proper day at school which was a little warm.
We all went as a family and Tom was a firework with the blue touch paper already lit. We took him into his classroom and Lucy immediately ensconced herself. We did consider sneaking out and seeing how long it took the teacher to notice her but thought better of it.
We think he had a wonderful day but he kept saying he couldn't remember anything but we did manage to finally get something out of him. He is not normally a boy of few words!

Mrs Carmichaels Class. Tom is front row middle. Note his feet are in the starting blocks, ready for the off!

Rachel had a week off last week which she needed and we had decided not to go away which was fortunate as it turned out that I had to attend an induction at the hospital for a couple of days at the beginning of the week for my new job. That went just as all other hospital inductions go, dull, mildly painful but necessary.

The Royal Adelaide Surgery Department was in dire straits.

During the week we took the kids to a place called Old Tailem Town which is a reconstructed old pioneer town. They have collected old buildings from all over Australia many from the early 1900s and faithfully reassembled them at this place. There are over 110 buildings in 11 streets including a fully functional 65 year old cinema, which the kids loved, hospital, post office, garages, shops and so on.

A phone with WIRES!!!

Tom found Uncle Rick a new boat. We'll sail it back for you.

 The kids loved having the run of the place and unlike so many places nowadays they were able to touch and feel many of the exhibits. We thought they might be a bit bored but they both had great fun.

A fixer-upper!

Mum, I've got room for another ice cream!

Rachel considers a career change, the kids are not so sure.

It was Tom's birthday last Sunday and we would like to say a huge thank you to everyone that sent their wishes either physically, verbally or even telepathically. He had a great day and a fantastic 'Pirate and Princess' party with all his Kindy friends. He has made some lovely friends here. As Tom is LEGO obsessed and currently wants to watch the LEGO 'Clutch Powers'  Movie all the time, 'Team Croughan' decided to make him a Clutch Powers Lego man birthday cake. The first time in five years our little man has been lost for words! 

Mr Clutch Powers

I think his face says it all!

We had hidden Tom's presents all around the house and gave him clues as to where he might find them. This enabled us to string things out for an hour and a half whilst we drank tea in bed and Tom brought each present into us in turn for opening.
Tom decided that Lucy might be sad as she wasn't going to get any presents so he let her open every other one in turn. I doubt very much if the reverse will happen come December 8th!!!!!




First job of the day LEGO!

The Space Shuttle lives on  ....5....4....3....2....1....BLAST OFF!

 

The day after his Birthday we went to Monarto Zoo which is about an hour from Adelaide where it it is actually more of a safari park than a zoo. Lots of Animals in 1000 hectares or about 2500 acres. They have Giraffes, Lions, Rhino, Bison, Cheetahs......not all in the same enclosure! Our lovely neighbours Graham and Joylene who adore the kids and in turn are adored right back, met us there for the afternoon which was great. It was really hot and being away from the coast it was devoid of any cooling breeze but we all had a great time.

Joylene and Graham join us at the Zoo.

We hope you are all well and preparing to batten down the hatches for winter. We have just bought an industrial size vat of Factor million sun block and I am genuinely not looking forward to the month of 40 degrees Celsius that all the natives keep going on about. I fear for my scalp! But hey you gotta try everything once, right?

Look after yourselves, and much love to you all.

Night Night xx

Vita non est vivere sed valere vita est