Drama in town

Drama in town

The twins were in a school play the last week, a few days off school and having fun with their peers in a play written out by the English teacher- not much older than my boys!

Their Year Nine reports al la NAPLAN came today, they are above their peers for the year they are in- looks like single dads can have some success. 

Three years to go before they leave school, time is speeding up on me... apron strings- two gone two left.

My boys are struggling on in the big circus of Out Of Home- government and big business are losing my confidence- I hope that the boys have dreams that can be fulfilled without help from them.

It is really weird how the governments are cutting help for the unemployed while big business are having to cut employees. Go Figure.

Schools's Back

A catchup on the month [February 2012!]

gone past- phst!

[a catchup on the drafts folder, whether it is worth it.. yep]

From a note to my sister who wanted some gossip from over here:

Not much news here either. Al’s back for maybe jury duty later this week.

Gels like school, gets lots of boring news about that- she said, she did, he did etc

Fraser has deb ball training, i was sposed to go to a meeting to form a committee or it will be cancelled and arrived as it was closing as I forgot,,,,,,

Got photos school pics this week.

Made a subwoofer and got aspecial amplifier for it, sounds good!

Her reply

I read your subwoofer adventure. You are Terry Ford's son that's for sure. Good on you!

I love you have to hear the who said what Stories. That's so funny. I bet you tune out and get glazed eyes. HA

Lucky bugger that Alexander. I have been called up twice in the past few years but didn't go any further than the letter and the voice mail saying I wasn't need this time. How is he going in his new place?

Awe Debs, what fun times. I went to 8. I stared in none. Our school didn't do debs so they were organised in by ballet schools, Starlight foundation etc. Plus I wouldn't have had anyone to ask being at an all girls college. No great loss really. Waste of money for the girls.

Stories from school, yep, who has been smokin etc

There's always That Month

Not that any month should be avoided

September for a lot of people is probably a Hard Month to handle for tragic anniversaries.

[posted nearly a year later. Because]
Here, we have a birthday and a mother's death to get through.

The other weegen, there was pizza Friday, and some beer Satdee with 'some' friends for #2Son annual birthday celebration, a bit of fun had by all. So that's the good side of September.

And then there is the the rest of the month.

Morning 20th, a call from Aunty D, "oh Tone,can't stop think...". Unfortunately, I had managed to avoid remembering that morning, so it was a little dig in the ribs for me- "Shit!".

Taking the kids to the grave site of their mum the last couple of years is getting more painful for them, especially my twin gels. We used to go with their grandfather, but I can see that is getting too much for him too. [This is de ja vu too]

Mid afternoon 20th September. One of the boys was home, from the Big Smoke, the other was missing calls on his cellphone "To Get Home Now, we are Going out" , and there was a visit from Aunty and Pop later in the afternoon. #2 missed the visit.

I would like to get through this visit quietly and, well, not quickly, but at least put the effort in to dust down the tombstone and place fresh garden flowers there. We took some Jasmine and Azaleas, the Jasmine Tarn's favourite thing about the house she chose for us to live in and raise our kids.

A nice remembrance from myself or #1Son might have cheered the gels up, but none came forth this time. Sorry gels.

On the other hand, as #1Son said- spooky because:

Twenty nine years ago this month's end, I had to part with Tarn to start an oilpatch career, which lasted to 1999, on the other side of the country. She did join me there though the next year, and we stayed together where ever I had to work, Perth to Adelaide to Scotland to Melbourne to Gippsland. 

Twelve years ago this month I started another new career path, paused with a Huge Hiccup, and continued with family support. 

Ten years this month ago I had to stop that job and stay at home with the kids, for their sakes and mine. 

By the end of this month, I may be starting down a new career path in the oilpatch, and having to leave teenage girls and a young man in their aunt's care while some money is made and separation anxiety is fought. Finger crossed, September could be a neutral month this year. But is it chicken and egg counting, argh.

Three Milestones This Year

getting three in one year

Alone almost, well, people do say I have managed it, so as usual, it's either water off the ducks back or breathe it in Princess- Anyway- my four prodigies have made it to an interesting time of our lives, where, if I may be self aggrandizing, we can celebrate three no four, milestones.

The gels have made it to the TEEN years. With phones and keys and purses...
The second boy will be VOTING on his EIGHTEENTH birthday. And driving that week too.
The eldest is TWENTY ONE- I just gave him the usual birthday present- a watch.
I am a full deck of spider solitaire cards old. And Tarn would be too.

[So then- Five years to go, to sell the mansion, and move to a warm windy lake place... Unless grandchildren start falling from the sky! Need a yard to corral them little ankle biters I suppose!]

So much more could be said- I have not written up much lately, think I am still coming down from the high of working for a good coin and recovering from the stress of it all- not- haha- not quite.

We do seem to have attracted a few new people to the family home- #2Son has friends living in the shed with him a few days a week- Mr C needs to be closer to work- a 15 minute commute interferes with the apprenticeship wage threshold of fuel or food or drink- something like that- and the same with the other blow-in that has landed like a drowned kitten at the door, Mr Z, although I think he makes more coin for socialising purposes only mind you, than Mr C! I should also note that the final year of high school also includes a fair bit of weekend boozing- not like when I was a kid [hmm?]- think I may have lost parental control there- but I can stop his phone use... Just wish he would jump in to do the usual kiddie chore without been repeatedly asked. I am hoping he knuckles down the rest of the school year so as to pass high-school and get into a paramedical course! Life...

What to tell the gels when their friends start to behave like... girls? As above- "live with it", it is only one phase you have put up with- at a time- should be okay within a week or so- like the common cold- and Who Knows...

About #1Son and the milestone- he made it down from the Big Smoke for a NIGHT to celebrate with us and cousins and grandad and the carers that are lifelong friends. Was a good night out- everybody well behaved. The cousins, my brothers twin girls, who also be 21 next year, brought along a hard-drive chockers with their overseas trip to Europe- we saw about ten percent... another time BunnieTwins!

[PS #4 achieved another milestone 20 July, congratulations!]

Star Gazing

Really? Another Galaxy?

I don't know. I do know when I was my gels age, I had consumed my Dad's Time Life Library before I left elementary/primary school. The next volume in the series was eagerly awaited. When I got into secondary and tertiary schools, I thought I was well rounded thanks to my Dad and Mum and the shelves full of reference books. . There was no politics / religious fervours in the hoose- what I knew or believed, I found out by myself.

I don't know. We have my Dad's books here on a shelf, with all my college books too. I have not pushed science or logic on the kids- but maybe I have- Gel#1 has worn a tee-shirt with a dinosaur face and back plates to a christian fellowship youth meeting- but maybe it was nothing to do with the other- just another shirt to slip on?

I do know the other night after a dinner out with friends, that the gels need some extra-curricular education, and a same with #2 child- he really needs to just page through all the stuff on these loaded, bending, groaning shelves before the trash man is asked to carry away the hoarded knowledge of the ages.

We know now. Or do we? We came back late, one of the hottest nights here for awhile. One of the group at the dinner displayed a small grasp of the antivaccers or antiGMOers "knowledge" disturbed me a little. I like the odd conspiracy theories myself, as a story, but being as cynical as I am, like I said, the lack of any depth of knowing things other than the 'one liner'/'ten second air grab' was a little off putting. Maybe the drinks we were on and the heat allowed a relaxation of sorts.

I feel or hope that maybe an element of doubt into that "knowledge" may have crept in to some ones views, and that is a good thing. I think, cos I don't like taking sides without hearing out the story at least.

Stars A-Plenty!

Now the kids know. We got home, 'twas dark, no moon or clouds. Another beer in the garden and coolness that was slightly better than inside the old hoose. I pointed out to the gels- there is another little galaxy next to the Milky Way- they could see at midnight the Magellanic Cloud. They did not know about it! #1Son said he surprised his classmates a few years ago with that little gem.  No sign of the Lesser I think, the street lights did not help out in the backyard. I did not really look for it either.

They tracked down A Belt and A Cross, a planet and watched the Moon rise. Jupiter was bright that night. My Google Sky worked out fine too, but I think the MicroSoft sky atlas would have been 'funner', more info I mean.

Eldest Son spotted a few streaking meteors, the gels kept missing them as they were not looking that way. For a little while at least, streaking light from the NNE and then I saw one streaking to the NE.

Even a few satellites lit up by the waning Moon orbited through our sights. Then the twins caught some shooting stars, and they wanted to know if Son#1 had at least made a wish!!

Then, there was-"what about taking a picture"?

Really? Why not.

The not so cheap but not a DSLR was set up by midnight on the Xmas pressie tripod.

Myself and Son#1 tried a few ways, but a few beers and having specs on tired me out, and so #1 showed the gels what could be done with all the setups on the camera.

After an hour or so (less?!), there were images. Orion's belt, and the Southern cross have been captured once again by humans to look at and think about. I was so proud of the three of them and was sorry #2 Son was partying at a friends.

Zackandander's Moon Shots

Chazza's Orion. Take your time, it's there.

Emm's Southern Cross and Pointers, the Corss has its head lying down to the left a bit, th ePointers pointing up between the shed and the tree top

Changes

Eras ending- Achanges come to town

This week, two significant changes in the DaggyDad household

I have just pulled apart a swing set that has been in the family since the mid seventies- a handme-down set from my folk's friends- the Lawlers in Mornington. And then handed down to me for my kids in the Nineties

My Mum and gels

nana kay and the gels

Salt and water and Eisteddfod Winner

Salt and water and
Eisteddfod Winner

The last few weeks have been a little slow...
The kids have been up to different things, and getting sick in turns.
I have enjoyed playing CivIV and keeping out of the way at home, and getting annoyed at the weather reports where I am missing a good sailing session again...

The other day I followed one of the twins down the hall.
And? They are young ladies now... nearly as tall as me...
Last week after I dropped one child somewhere, I pondered, wow, will I get to be a grandparent in the not too distant future? I mean, I welcomed fatherhood.

Ach vell, the veeks dat vas:

Last fortnight, Son#2 came down with a head cold, as you do when out with friends partying. Oh dear. Against my better judgement, but at least I know what is going on. Or Do I? And he has had to sleep in, well past lunchtime the last two weegens. And he's reducing my hangover cure pills by a smallish but noticeable margin... I hope the crap on the telly about fining and or actually jailing parents for letting kids drink at home is not true. But, avid risk avoider as I am, I am not letting the partying go on around here if it ever it comes up, I mean, the nanny state is going too far! And then I find out he said NO to a small job coming up, I do not think he has any other commitments except PAYING HIS MOBILE PHONE BILL ON TIME.

Speaking of bloody mobile phones- we tried to sort out the gels pre-paid accounts, what a rort! Cheaper this way or the same that way, but far too many plans... At least we can call each other for free. Oh wow, 21st century has arrived, pack the string and cans away. I really hope they appreciate they get to talk or message while I miss out on going speedsailing! Then I tried to get a new broadband plan... See my other posts... maybe I should get rid of ALL the phones and rely on the land line. HAHAHAHAhahaha, nope. Don't fink so...

The Eldest twin, Gel#1a, by a minute or so... was in a few Eisteddfod items locally last week, with the school band and the sale city band. Cos I wanted her to do something (a test) at a school rehearsal time without knowing How Important It Was to Attend the Final Rehearsal, she missed one performance out of three on the Thursday. Some teachers really piss me off. Anyway. At least they all did really well. And then the city band won its section, and they won another section the following Sunday, so all in all, she has fitted in really well with two great groups. And she accomplished it all with a cold she probably picked up from Son#2... Now all she should be keeping up is practise.

Now Gel#1b, the younger twin, has decided that the music scene as far as piano or brass is not up her street, is not doing any so maybe will miss out, at least she can read music! Also, she has not picked up a cold as such, but does have a funny eye, and a funny heel bone... So she missed out on a cross country run where her twin came fourth, ah well. Salt and warm water eye rinses and dry eye drops, all I can do, as so far, have not got a GOTTA TAKE ME TO THE DOCTOR NOW DAD.

nanny reads to the gels

Just an old pic on the wall board

But poppy liked it, Tarn's Mum and her gels

Get It? Her girls- Who's gels? Hers! Who? Well, Tarn's and Bev's gels then.

Nanny Bev and my twins- gel#1b &  gel#1a, eldest gel got pink for evermore....

I was asked a while ago to print off a pic of my gels by Tarns's dad when he was around for a meal, oh, about the time of  Mother's Day here in Oz.

"Yep, no worries" I said.

With trepidation. Several thousand pics to go through on the hard drive....

At least I had roughly a time in their growth

1. they were on Nanny's knee.
2. there was no lamp table next to the chair.
3. Nanny did not have a wig on.
4. they were walking.
5. it was well before we lost Nanny to cancer.
6. they loved being read to.
7. pics were not labelled, but all pics were foldered year, month and day.

Today, before lunch, I sat down here and did that calculation above.

Easy peasy. Five minutes or so.
Next was to process the pic, cropping and so on.
Then print off. First print on matt paper trying out the bottom one
Nah, the print was too grey to me, so fancied it up and printed the next one off on Kodak glossy. Shit, nearly late for work! Not really five minutes at all, haha.

Later. "Noice".

original

no tick?

tick?

Next installment tbalance the books, their paternal nanny!

Sadder Each Time Now

Mother's Day for My Gels

Is getting to me

Each year, the girls seem to appreciate more the loss of a mum they never knew.

Adelaide, I think.

The last few years has been a bit gut wretching for me, to keep a stiff upper lip, to not let my tears show too much as we visit their mum's grave site, as I hold the twin's hands on her special days of the year- birthday, Mother's day, the accident anniversary.

Their grandfather seems to be affected by their moods too, at those times out there, so I do not like to invite him along at those times anymore either- I do not know whether that is selfish, but as the oldest child of eldest childs [make sense?], I try to control or have order and try to ensure everybody is not unsatisfied with a situation.

This year, the weather on Tarn's birthday was atrocious. No Visit 'Out There'. Just a little pizza night later that week with the kids and Ken and Brenda.

This week, Mother's Day, another anniversary, weather again unco-operative. However, stiff upper lip and surprise visit, whether they really wanted to or not, to the grave site with some flowers. By the time we got out of the car, the gels were teary. Another short rainy visit. Like the day of the burial. To me, Just Great. Not. Then home via the hospital to see Ken's partner Brenda, who is recovering [well?] from surgery, to give her flowers and cheer her up. Funny thing was, we followed Ken into the car park!

The night before, Son#2 came into my office, and said a little tippsily, that he really like that picture above, and where was it taken. So this blog is for him and his aunt.

For my Mum, I sent flowers, she had visits from at least two of my siblings, so I think Mum had a good weegen.

I appreciate the little things when they come around. Tarnia's little sister has lifted me a bit today, always so nice to read her blog which includes us too.

Anzac Parade

Eldest Girl Marches with the Band

Out of town 

and home town

Moving on up...cell phones

So I succumbed

The gels get a phone

For their birthday last month. Thus keeping up with all the other little Jones'. Hard to believe the little tomboys are now on the verge of actual teen-hood. Mind you, they better grow a waist, the new school pants are the right colour and length. Only. Alterations were more than the original cost!

Phones

Severe restrictions of course. Fatherhood allows that. Does it not?

one- do not use them...

two- I do not want to subsidise over-use thank you very much

three- do not drop them

four- I cannot remember

five- use facetime?

six- use the landline?

Anyway, so far, no recharge yet until the next few weeks...

Maybe they are being sensible? 

[But one cent texts... #2Son can fill five sheets of his phone bill with itemised sms calls...]

They did lose the privledge of use because they could not keep a tidy room. In one case, nearly a fortnight. 

"Have you finished your room?" 

"Almost" 

"Well, do you want your phone AND iPod back or what?"

"Yeah..?"

"WELL?"

I dunno how the human race arrived at this point.

Did Julius Caesar give his folks grief like that?

The Boys

Eldest son was suitably Outraged that the gels got a phone in the first year of high school, whereas he had to wait until I had a spare when he was in his second  or third year, long after friends had them. Even so, he was good with it.

The second son managed to scrounge a second hand one off a richer friend when he was in his first or second year at high school. And managed to sell "his bmx bike spares" to maintain the SIM card and plan that had to be gotten under my name anyway.

I think they are outraged as I really did go out and buy the twins a phone each, even though I probably will bleed financially as soon as they get the hang of them.

But... As the gels already have Apple Touches with wifi video- do they really need a cell phone? I thought no. With the Facetime, it was fine really, the broadband plan was upgraded enough to cover the five technophiles that lived under my roof anyway. 

Tarn

Tarn would have been mortified, being the sort of technophobe that had to be gently persuaded over many months that a new bra would be better than the one with the loose under wire[s?] prodding her conciousness over whether I would be unamused at such an extravagance: 

"A new bra? What!" which I never said by the way because I could not understand it. But maybe I with some affluence and consumeristic ideas I had devolved into a toddler- 

"GIMME IT. NOW!" 

I do not think that a new vacuum cleaner would be allowed either- I love my dyson...

So the boys were a little nose out of joint- was it favouritism?

Me

No.

I need the gels to feel safe in these times, for example that they do not have to scramble for a coin AND a public telephone if they need help. Being the single parent/single dad, I need to be re-assured that they can be safe, all the time. Do you know that the number of public telephone in our town can be counted on one hand...? Well, google earth won't let me find them, but I am sure there is a lot less around these days than when I was a kid. But I can find a video store...

The Birthday celebrations

Another week down..

Am I over the parenting.
This week? Or Overparenting?

After nearly twelve years, my twins are pretty much on their way to a brave new world... I gave them the responsibilities of looking after a prepaid mobile phone contract. On their own phones... Each... But I still won't let them have a FazeBuk or Hortmael accounts as yet- unlike the boys where they just did it without authorisation from me- I still have some sway over the twins. So far. And I find myself lecturing and hectoring them all more than ever too. After all, it does cost too much when they have the face-time thingo on ipods as well! The phones are for me and them to be in touch, not for socialising. I hope.

The second son is still doing the ballroom dancing lessons for the debutante ball, coming up soon. His partner is working, at critical lesson stages, so there is tension in the air... The poor bugger not only has to learn to cope with that, but also to live and phone on a reduced budget- his restaurant job has come to an end due to the economy... I think he really does want to work in that line too, maybe he will be out and about from school at the end of the year, against my better judgement. But he will be driving and voting within only two years.

This week was a primary school garden party, one that I thought I would not have to go to anymore after being to it each year since 1998, but... As Gel#1A is staying on in the town brass band, they wanted her to play for the annual Maypole Dance at the school they left last year. Oh well. Gel#1B was dragooned into doing face painting too.

My ability to live on the smell of an old oily rag is being sorely tested. I was going over some budget stuff from a few years ago, and it looks like we will have to tighten the belts more, unless a new job just pops up out of nowhere. This month being birthdays, water bills, regos*, holidays and deb balls and all, it's frightening. Spending more on communications than insurances! Time on the job is up, but the rates are the same... Productivity can only go up if there is more work available, and the contacts say, nah, sorry. Argh.

The plus side is shampoo. It looks like using Head & Shoulders® brand has done more than fix the family scalps. I really think that other brands tend to put something like a fertilizer in the air for the moulds on the wall and weed and tree roots in the drains! Since Xmas, the bathroom walls are definitely better than they were. And, indeed, I have not had to do the plumbing- touch wood- the cleaning of the drains for a while either- or... What is in that brand of shampoo that mould and roots do not like....? Whatever! Hope it is bad for that and good for us! Have to add on that using 1/4 teaspoon of Oil Of Cloves/liter sprayed on the walls is also helping. Now I will have to get a paint suitable for the littlest room in the house. Actually, it really ain't that small! Onto the bottom of the list, I realise, as I still have some other renovations to do first- soft wood on the weather side...



*vehicle registration, etc

Year in Review-2011

All growed up
Changes

Hitting the half century this year and getting a balloon flight from the Family, rather than a weekend at a famous [within the Family] campground grog fest, has had me try to be profound about flying not drinking. Did not work. Which reminds me- I have to organise That Weekend away soonish before the ticket runs out... I try not to read the part of the paper with the "HatchesMatchesDespatches"- some people write too well for me to complete their memorials to their passed on relatives- makes me wince that I could not get it together to honour Tarnia that way- but the circumstances at the time were hard to handle. It may have been nearly eleven and half years ago now, still hurts to be reminded, but maybe I am so full of myself I was/am insulated from the grief now. The kids are nearly all grown up now or half way, but still they need some finishing touches, like acting on hints "dishes", "lawns" "room!".

But they are the nicest people I know.

Also this year-

My eldest boy hit university running rather than take a daggy trip around the world or buy a car. Successfully completed the first year away in the Big Smoke with his mates and only a few musical festivals, bar cruising and the associated hangovers... Cannot believe he will be twenty this year.

Second or Middle child started his eleventh year of schooling and two jobs after school. These jobs are to only be up with the Joneses- ie skateboard, "skatebike", clothes and shoes, girlfriend and an iPhone... A few hangovers, too early for my liking, and ignoring the 7:30pm curfew has me a little annoyed lately. We saw the Foo Fighters together so I suppose we have spent quality time together, at least once? As I have to let him drive my car or van for a mandatory 120 hours behind the wheel before you can take a car licence test... that must count too? We are still awaiting an invitation from the MCC for his junior membership- waiting for 16 years! A trip to Tassie and some surfing weegens were had during the year. Who says the government run schools are shite? Ejits would. He has been less of a handfull this year at home and school, so I think he is going to be a gentleman after all, indeed, his mum would be proud too, like me. I suppose he might miss his mum, but there is a GF and her mum, and his aunts of course. He is spoken highly of when his name comes up, I expect it was hand rearing and the denial of services goodies bike the phone works, and if no lawns are done, then no driving around on his delivery job!

The Twins have done their seven years of primary school now, and expect to get mobiles [or cell] phones and Facebook and Hotmail accounts this year as they approach the Teen Age. [Expect...] I think I will hold it off as long as possible- what can they do? They cannot leave home. Teen peer group pressure may crumble my resolution though. A mistake may have been made granting their siblings those privileges or RIGHTS[?] too early, ie in the first or second year of high school... Their teachers loved having them all year, and they had a good musical year too- brass band, choir and Taiko drumming. With little or no practice too. Means a quiet house... [Other growing stages are yet to hit them, praying to myself- just another year please.] My mum wanted to pay for piano lessons, but apparently the teacher was hard to get on with... All their friends keep them very busy, sleepovers and all that jazz. Putting up with six screaming preteens in the house is a little trying. Yelling out of my cave "ITS NOT THE SCHOOL YARD!" does not seem to work either. Youtube has a lot to answer to as well! It may be a hard start to the new school year as many of their friends are going off to different schools, but I hope that the friendships made this year will last for life.

The folks are still holidaying at the ocean, well, maybe the wrong word, Living by then, but, they are doing as best they can. The fishing, the river, the dog, the cat, the golf club, the shed, the boat, the kayak, the grandchildrens' visits, all close to their hearts. My little worry is that I am too far away to care for them more if needed- has it been worthwhile staying on in Tarn's house, and not moving closer? My visits are not often enough- which also goes for my visiting my siblings- they are all a long drive to go see from here. Or, I am finally living within my budget! But they are all well, and it looks like most of the grandchildren that have finished secondary school are moving on through to the universities. Six of them so far. And one to start primary school soon!

My sister-in-law has moved into their new house, the one I was looking after. They have had a successful year too, their girl growing up on two continents and appears to be taking it all in her stride. Her dad and partner are still going, popping in for a cuppa or dinner now and then.

In passing

As I followed I saw
A grownup waiting

Recently or... only yesterday?

As gel#1a went to her mirror in her own room, I saw,  to brush her hair- I thought- "OMG she is nearly grownup!" Not apparent to all maybe, but she is at my eye level to me now or more, and her sister not that different either. Mozzy bites too... Not looking forward to the miseries of the monthly cycle DOUBLED coming along soon- or am I being too anxious? Their mum was a little fragile once in a while, but I don't think she ever bit my head off. I was grumpier usually anyway. For both of us. Or sillier.

Want, Do not Want


Son#2 had a bit of a hangover over the weegen. A knock on the frontdoor at 3am by his friend from two doors down from us to say, "he has made a mess, is pretty smashed, but okay and we will look after him". Hmm. He tried to explain "wot 'appenned", but I really did not want to know. "I do not want you to do this sort of thing. I cannot stop you or keep you at home, but I will restrict privileges like the phone etc". Took me another year... He wants to leave school to make money and enjoy himself. I want him to enjoy another few years of relative freedom and pass some exams, which is pretty different to the outside circus we have to work in.

Duty Calls


Son#1 has made it to the Jury roster this week... He is coping with uni. Just. With his first year away nearly complete, he wants his own place, without 'friends' partying outside his room or next door. That is pretty serious for a first year, is it not?

Working away


I had on offer on a completely different type of professional job in a faraway town that I regretfully had to pass on. A geologist cannot be a metallurgist. Or why not? Travel time and time away may have been difficult unless we uproot. They did not ask for a resume... Comment please- should I shove my resume to them anyway?

Tony's Tiny Diggers

School Camp and the Gang
What they got up to
Bendigo
Ballarat
First night
quiz

to be continued as time goes on...

Quiz Night.
The kids in my group were called- Tony's Tiny Diggers. That was the decision after a  five minute Round Table discussion between themselves.

After all I am a geologist. They were my team. And we were after gold in Bendigo, or at least a gold medal in the quiz! Some of the other teams names were obvious suckups to their leader, or highly fun, or just plain.

The adults were sitting around the room, [wishing for various substances banned for a few days. I think. I was.]

Final junior school camp

The last time camping?
Bus trips...

While the two boys were at primary school, there were at least three opportunities to help out as a parent by staying overnight or two, to help supervise the attendees with the teachers.

The first overnight school camp was at school, junior middle school, either in a class room or the hall, and I have been told, Fun.

The second camp in senior middle junior school was at a adventure park cum farm out in the country, with a lake and flying foxes, things like that. late nights and all that, with the fear that one step out of line, Parents Would Be Called To Collect the Miscreants.

I did not make it to their camps or the gels camp those years. I had the gels to care for, and did not delegate that.

The next school trip was to either the nation's Capital City or to a Gold Ming town Or Two. Alternate years.
I missed the Canberra trips, all three. And the the two earlier Gold Tips.

This year, I was persuaded to attend as a supervising parent too... At this point I should say I disagree with the age mix, the camp being for the two senior grades. But it all turned out well this year... Again. I left #2 child at home- he was turning a magical age where upon he should be old enough to fend for himself for two nights or stay at his grandfathers place

And so it was time for me to go on the gels last camp in primary school.

We left town at 7am in two coaches, and got to the first destination after the pre-requisite many toilet stops... at about midday- a 371km trip. Not bad and on schedule.

Lunch was eaten, and we descended into a gold mine, 61meters deep, one of many levels. The Central Deborah Mine itself is 401 meters deep. Going through some drives we discovered what it was like to carve out the gold bearing quartz with drills (LOUD), see some other working machinery and saw where the miners had meals- the crib rooms. One room was big enough that parties and weddings have been held there! A good place for an 18th where there would be no complaints from the neighbors! The bedrock in the Bendigo area is supposed to be six times harder than concrete! From these types of mines- some up to a thousand or more meters deep, 700 tonnes of gold was retrieved since 1851. At 1800US$ an ounce, 100 oz to 3kg, that's a lot of  money... say about $300,000,000,000 now...  The quartz reefs stretch over an area 20 km north south and 13 km east west, and presently one new decline descends 10km so that super size trucks can take the rock out.

After that there was a talking tram tour of the main streets. For the kids that was a bit boring. Being a place I had studied and later lived, it was strange to see a place that #2 was born, without Tarn being there. The first electric trams started 1903.

After that we headed off to Sovereign Hill where we would be staying for two nights, another hour-plus on the buses, about 120km.

Army-like, the kids were drilled that no misbehavior would be tolerated, and everybody left for their rooms. A cheap but filling roast beef dinner was served up afterwards, I do not think there was much left on the plates!

The kids all settled down well in my area of supervision, and the two adults I shared a room with settled in to watch a Craig Ferguson (a repeat due to the US open- which Australian Sam Stouser won! see this). Of course, of my new friends, one snored. A little...

Breakfast the next day was at 8:30am! Great, a slight sleep-in, and after brekky it was off to explore Ballarat's famous Sovereign Hill, a recreation of the gold rush days of 1851 to 1861. A key-carded door let us in at precisely 10am, not before. My designated group of ten preteeners wanted to lit off for some exploring, eight girls and two boys, and the first port of call they wanted to descend on was the Lolly Shop or Candy Store,- Oh NO they were not- we had an itinerary, so we followed it!

We explored another shallow mine a self guided tour with a voice over trying to show how hard life was back in gold rush times, 1851. The tunnels were different from Central Deborah because here, the miners dug down through or in from the edge of basalt that had filled ancient valleys and covered gold bearing gravels and sands in the creeks. The danger then was water rushing in from old deep leads and drowning the miners. On the surface, the gold was easily panned from the creek, and after the mine tour, that is what we tried our hand at- gold-panning! Later they all tried the diggers style of Ten pin Bowling, probably imported from the States? Then there was a lecture on living back then, and some dress ups.

Between the lolly  hunting and gold panning there was a few other things to do. like watching a 100troy ounce bar of gold being poured...

The establishment has a modified creek running through it, and each week, they toss in some gold dust and let the public try to pan it out- about $1000 dollars worth- and collectively we, the school, would have found about a tenth of a teaspoon worth... It was not hard to see the specks once you found it, but some kids just did not get it, the panning technique, and ran back to the "store" and bought little glass tubes with some gold in it. Then they knew what to look for...

That night there was a Sound and Light Show: Blood Under the Southern Cross It was a story [?] of  the first insurrection in Oz over paying monthly gold panning fees to corrupt officials of the colony at the time- diggers versus the police and British Army troops. I think the kids enjoyed it, a special night out. And it was cool, but surprisingly, NOT RAINING!! Later, the kids were in their beds and quickly out of it.

Next day was home via a science museum in the Big Smoke, and it was not that exciting to me- interesting I suppose, and a lecture for 10 year olds- not a Planetarium show, we missed out.

The trip back was 330km, or 4 hrs worth, and we were home in time for dinner with the 16 year old.

Who had to go out to a job... I am a bit sad about that. The first time we have not sat down for a birthday  cake at home in 19 years- so I will have to make up for it this weekend.

greenday

So sad again tonight


Another green stucked frac


Another birthday party out of town outing for Gel#1b for her BF at a rollerskating rink.


There was a warning, tongue in cheek on the invite obviously, "no accident trips to ER" !!


But... Guess what. First one to fall and Schnick... Just not a lot of pain. Then. But...


Another greenstick fractured right wing chickidee!


Gel#1b was very brave until hometime! 


Tears and moans, and after 45 minutes... painkiller? 


Nah- car trip...


Tell Son#2 to get dinner for himself and sister, chicken and mashed spud, carrots, whatever, I  will be back. Later.


Book into emergency about 6:15pm with Gel#1b. 


Watch the rest of the news.


See the nurse- tears on my shoulder.


Looked at briefly- oh, only one of six with fractures this evening...


Waiting waiting waiting


Some neurofen shoved in, 'doctor not far away'.


Xray- see a bump above the wrist- positively bent, but not obviously broken. Thank you very much.


So. Only 3 hours in ER, and for just a half a cast...


Home to find, Son#2 had made them some mash and some carrot for dinner...


Slow cooked chicken breast been sitting in front of him....


What? You only said mash!


ARGHHARHGH ()%(*(*()_*%#$++   !!!!





BTW he wants a new mattress-  one now on laybuy- & he wants some jeans- ordering from the states for birfdee




Save me from tomorrow

Chaddy Cooks tour

Like my Irish Cooks Tour
Short but long

When I was pretty young, my mum took me, and my brother as well, to see Santa at the newish Myer store at Chadstone. The getup was up on the roof if memory serves right.  And a sunny day, being Summer Marv.

For the last couple of years, I have avoided the Myer Christmas windows in the Big Smoke and taking the gels shopping anywhere in town or the Big Smoke.

But now...

Uh oh, it's .....here

The Kid Doc Prog...
Looks Like "We are There"

Penultimate visit, climatic moment, the pre bit is over, now I am in for the Terrible Teen Twin Syndrome.
Fer Shure...

With luck, some nice female rels I know may bail me out, by taking them away? Or being on permanent Red Alert (hint) for the next two years. I am prepared, bathroom cupboard has essentials, and by last weegen phone calls, the bitchy part of nature is starting to reveal itself too I think. The recent sweet school photos are hiding something, or maybe I am paranoid. Since Easter..... things are changing.

Son#2 was or can be even now a sullen sob at times, and now that I have been through that shite/going thru I can see the "evilness" coming upon me. Woe is me. Why was Son#1 so easy at this stage. Or. Was. It. ? Hm.

I am in no position pike out of it either. It is somewhat amusing that I keep thinking now, "Tarn would be/do/not/hoping/glad/panic/...etc/etc"

I may even have to enlist some of the boy's female friends to find out whether I am on the right track or not.

The kid docs prognosis is [twilight zone music or gremlins?] that we, they, are officially not far off a visit to.....

Myers Bra Outfittery?