School is out!

Its been a hectic run but school is over for the year – I am exhausted!

First off …a few rows have been added. Not many but still….

 

 

The home improvement project has steamed ahead…

From getting the rimless glass….

 

 

To embarking on the bottom deck which involved extending the deck out towards the river…

 

Its looking really good! I am so glad we decided to just bite the bullet! And I scored some outdoor garden furniture on a sale- I am a sucker for a sale but 40% off was not to be sniffed at!

 

 

And here is the youngest and I lounging around…as you do!

 

 

The christmas spirit is being embraced and we have the nativity scene out and tree up…

 

 

 

In my part of the world the children who have finished school come to celebrate and its called SCHOOLIES. As a local, I dread it as it involves avoiding certain areas that get taken over by both well-behaved and not so well-behaved teenagers. This year saw a 17 year old fall to her death from the balcony of a high rise building. Its such a sad waste and an absolute tragedy.

I walked through Surfers last Monday and the beaches were just full of Schoolies who were enjoying the sun and the sea…

 

And this is my city from the top of the tallest building…

 

 

And the photography course continues, here are my submissions for the past two weeks…

 

My little Spud….using backlighting!

 

 

My oldest…note that I have not darkened the background or used a backdrop, it is black because of where I placed her and used the light perfectly- go me!

And this is for my family…the offspring excelled this year!

 

The eldest got Academic Honours and was elected to the SRC. The middle one won Sportsman of the Year and the youngest was chosen to speak at his Speech Day. Go us!

 

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Too early for Christmas?

Right I am back from Bundaberg. It was good, it was fun and it was bloody hot!

These precious boys from South Coast Branch came 3rd out of 12 and had great fun! My favourite thing about sport is watching new friendships being formed!

Bundy is a beautiful little country town with some beautiful buildings…and good on the ladies of Bundy who bought out their A-game for Melbourne Cup race Day!

 

In our household we have decided that it is NOT too early to break out the Christmas tree!

My children are at private schools that are not- for- nothing in terms of the termly school fees and one would think that this would mean that everyone was heads down and learning to the last day of school…..but no, alas, there is a definite air of  ‘we’re done’ for this year and I am feeling a little sour about the rather expensive babysitting BUT the children are feeling like its christmas time and I am going with it!

We broke out the tree…

I am not against a fake tree – they stand up straight!

Does this not look idyllic…my offspring happily putting the christmas tree up…in years gone past this activity has ended in tears, as the daughter takes things very seriously and the boys lose interest quickly and push her buttons! This is what they look like…

Luckily, the boys lost interest in irritating her early through proceedings and five minutes in…

…they had disappeared outside to throw a rugby ball, leaving her in peace to decorate the tree- win:win!!

I love getting out our decorations, apart from the usual glitz and schmaltz…

There’s the NewYork apple and the glass Santa from Venice- good memories. Theres also evidence of past craftiness…

Handmade -by- me smocked Xmas decorations! Yes, somewhere deep in the craft cupboard lurks a smocking machine! However, we are very lucky that my Mum has gifted a beautiful handmade tree skirt to add some ‘posh’ to our tree..

I have also been very, very busy trying to improve my photography ….studying hard and handing in assignments…

This is the middle child lighted ONLY by cell phone light…clever hey! But the piece de resistance (and I am proud of this shot)…

This is split lighting (see the shadow down the middle of his face) but BOTH eyes have a catchlight – go me!!

I have also done a few more rows of my Little Woolie blanket…

Not much more,I know, rather underwhelming…but these are the new rows…

 

 

And to show that the crafty genes are being shared around….the middle child has bought home his artwork…be still my beating heart….

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North Queensland

 

 

Firstly, the home improvement project has been steaming along!

 

Now we just need the rimless glass pool fencing …and that costs the same as sending a spacecraft to the moon! Above are 2 offspring and 5 minutes later…..

 

I have also been trying to sort out a photo wall inside. I have bought a whole lot of different sized frames from IKEA to ‘throw’ together a perfectly random wall of family photos – Yeah right! If you have managed to achieve this haphazard but perfect look, kudos to you! I on the other hand have gone from a blank wall….

 

….with a pile of frames….

 

…to this…

 

…..Yes. this ….

 

I simply could not plan this and hope to get a random but various sized wall! So I cut out frames in brown paper (and, yes, another trip to IKEA is necessary) and blu-tacked them to the wall. A day of my life gone!

I spent last weekend in Noosa. For those that are not in the know … the second largest triathlon in the world was held in Noosa last weekend. No, I was not an active athlete – my husband was. Let me just tell you, that if you are feeling a little self-concious about your weight, Noosa was NOT the place to be. So many beautiful, super-fit, lycra-clad people! This is where the beautiful people played…

 

 

I am currently in Bundaberg with the middle child who is playing for the South Coast District cricket side in the state trials for 12 year olds. We are here for 5 days of 50 overs a day. It always amazes me how I produced such athletic offspring. I was so hopeless and I lurch from one sporting event to the next!

Opening ceremony, I love a bit of pomp and ceremony!

 

It is very long, hot days here. The offspring is an opening bowler and he is putting his heart and soul in…

 

And yes he has outgrown these pants but I dare you to try get cricket whites white EVERYDAY for 5 days so we had to bring up an old pair….he’s bowling like an ace and he really doesn’t care that his pants are too short!

 

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