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Wednesday, 29 December 1999

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Heat Wave
Wednesday, 29 December 1999

The last few days have been quite hot - six days with the maximum over 35 degrees C, and minimums all above 20 degrees. I guess thats summer here - but it would be nice to have a break from the continuous heat.

Christmas Day was nice with most of Leonies family - even if we don't have "lunch" until 3pm - and the poor kids had to wait until 4pm for the presents under the tree! We spent the morning visiting Nanna - Leonies frail Grandmother. She decided to come over for Christmas lunch - a mighty effort on her part because of her condition. She is a lovely old lady - if a bit hard of hearing - it was nice for her to get out from her unit for a while.

The highlight of each Christmas Day, at least in this family, is the $5 mystery present draw. Each person buys a small gift to the value of $5, anf then these are all numbered, and each person then draws a number to obtain a gift. What makes this different is one of those gifts might be the "Family Trophy" - a rather obscene looking ashtray that someone found quite a few years ago. If you are *lucky* enough to draw this one, the new owner has to display it prominently in their home for the entire year, when it may be resubmitted in that years draw (hopefully not to be received again). Fortuneately, neither Leonie, nor I drew it this year. The luck recipient was Ken, Denises partner.

"Santa" was good to me this year - I got a CD burner! Mind you, I knew it was coming, Leonie had asked about whether it would be compatable with my PC at home - so I kinda knew *wink*. Well, now I'll have to upgrdes the RAM to allow it to work efficiently - *grin*.

Pictures from Christmas.

The days since have been pretty lazy - mainly because of the heat - and its been a good opportunity just to get some sleep and not feel guilty. There has been the Test Cricket to watch on telly, and the kids to play with on the slide and swings (complete with water hose, of course). We had a picnic tea down at Crawley on the Swan River on Boxing Day - which was fine until it got dark and the mosquitos came out.

Today we did a bit of shopping (as if we hadn't had enough pre-Christmas!), even though the sales started yesterday. Its unusual for Leonie to miss the post-Christmas sales. But as she said - there just didn't seem to be anything this year worth rushing out and fighting the crowds for!

Thomas has started walking these past few days! He'd been sort of doing it for a while - but always with the aid of furniture, or someones hand. He finally got the balance right, and the courage, to strike out on his own, and now walks, or rather staggers, all over the place now. I'll have to get some pictures - maybe even a video.

Thomas' birthday and Christmas Greetings
Friday, 24 December 1999

Yesterday I was out shopping doing the last minute things and found the yellow Pokemon Pinball game for Kathryn - just a few left at one of the Target stores in the southern suburbs. Also picked up a couple of new bedside lamps - in a beatutiful Art Nuveau style - they weren'tr exactly cheap, but they will look nice with our brass bed (which we plan on moving up to Kalgoorlie for when we move house at the end of next month.

Today is Thomas' first birthday. Its so amazing to think what we were going through this time last year. We had some presents for him this morning, including a plastic climbing frame and slide, which I have temporarily set up in the family room. He loved it, of course. It was such an obvious choice as he is such a climber. Mind you that means, at this age particularly, we have to keep a close eye on him, as he is still unsure of his limitations, and has sometimes got himself into tight situations, with more than the odd fall. We will have a small party for him this afternoon, and then there is the last shopping to be done for perishable foods.

And on that note, I'd like to wish everyone a happy and safe Christmas and a properous New Year - such that it will surely be.

Storms and Sunshine
Tuesday, 21 December 1999

Atlast most of the shopping is done - just have to get a few items for Leonie. And we also have Thomas' birthday on Friday. This afternoon we got his combined gift - a plastic climbing frame and slide.

The weather here has been decidely summery and sort of tropical. Hot and wet - spectacular thunder storms. Well, there have been a couple of tropical cyclones blow over the north of the State, not that we really felt them this far down. The forecast says hot for the rest of the week through to Christmas Day. Sometimes I like the heat - sometimes I just want it to be cool again though.

Shop, shop, till you drop
Friday, 17 December 1999

Shopping is an endurance event I'm sure - especially at this time of year. Seems thats all we have done since we arrived down in Perth last week.

The drive down was relatively un-eventful - the kids slept as they were supposed to do, and we arrived at leonies mothers house about 10:30 Friday night. The reason to get down then was so we could be relaxed and take the kids to see the annual Christmas Pageant in Perth city last Saturday night. There parades are very colourful, and last for over an hour and a half as float after float passes by, with all the bans and street performers that go with them. And of course, there is Santa in his sleigh at the end.

For Kathryn, this night is a wonderous highlight - Thomas almost lasted the distance, but fell asleep just before Santa came by!

Other than that, it has been a succession of shopping malls and visits into the city. The *hot* item in Perth this year is the GameBoy Pokemon games - the yellow one is sold out right across Australia. We managed to get Kathryn a Pokemon GameBoy unit, but not the game.

It feels kinda weird admitting to being swept up in the latest consumeristic thing - not that I should be assamed or anything. I just never thought I'd ever be like that. We learn something about ourselves each and every day, eh?

The problem is what to get Leonie. It can be very difficult getting something for someone you are so close to, contrary to expectations. I think she would like a barometer for the house - she has been admiring her mothers on in the entry, but all the modern ones have these silly little roof things on them, and the real antique ones are so expensive. She knows this is what I am thinking of getting, so she may be able to help find one.

I'm Outta here
Friday, 10 December 1999

Just a quick note to explain whats up. It is early afternoon, and I am just preparing to leave Kalgoorlie for the Christmas holidays. As usual, this year we will spend Christmas/New Year with Leonie's family in Perth.

However, before I can leave, I have to ensure that all the assessments that I have set get marked, and grades submitted. Its one of those things thats gotta get done before I can go. So far I'm not doing to bad - working my butt off until all hours (I was here until 10:30pm the other night). I have most of my results in - but there are always a few stragglers that submit things at the last minute and expect them to get marked.

But I cannot talk on that score. One of my worst characteristics, especially when it comes to marking assignments, is my propesity to procrastinate something awful. I mean, there are modules that were at the beginning of the semester, all assignments that I am ever going to receive have long been sitting in my "assignments-in" tray waiting to be marked, but still I have not even looked at them. They WILL get done - or I don't go out the door early this afternoon.

Anyway, enough of that. There is one thing I want to mention before I go though, and that is how rewarding it can be sometimes, this teaching thing. This morning one of my students dropped me in a little thank you gift in thnaks for the years lessons. I must say, she was a delight to teach anyway - always enthusiastic in everything we did. So, it is even more satisfying when you I know they appreciate it and show it in that way - makes all the long hours worthwhile.

I may get to write more later, in the meantime, take it easy, and enjoy the holidays (whenever they happen for you).