crappy xp

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Argghh! The pc is stuffed (full) with a really nasty virus - win32:vitro. Which merryily alters lots of files at random so that a) windows never works the same and b) it is nearly impossible to remove it.

So have finally bitten the bullet and done a clean install on another partition - but now the USB WIFI dongle refuses to install.

Oh I hate computers!

Borgnis Street lights, Davidson

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Well, it was wiggles this morning - I think Callum really enjoyed - not sure about Amelia though.

Wasn't impressed with the access to the car park at Acer Arena though - signage was pretty poor - lots of people over taking then pulling (pushing?) in at the last minute.

This even was a drive out to the Borgnis Street Christmas lights, in Davidson. A street that knows no shame :-)

Actually the lights were quite impressive. But feel sorry for the residents who don't want to get involved, but don't really have a choice....

wiggles!

Image by lyle58 via Flickr

Just over 2 hours to go - WIGGLE TIME

Pics of the Cake

the after party, party

Well that seemed to go quite well - the cake was finished before people got here (pics after the break), and there were very few tears. Everyone got their face painted, and found a goodie bag on the treasure hunt.

But two tired kids now, so into the pool for a little cool off instead of the Ku-ring-ai Christmas Carols at Bi-centenial Park - kids would be monsters by the time it finished...

Count down to the birthday party

Wednesday, and only 3 more sleeps till Amelia's 5th Bithday Party. It will be a princess and princes theme - with lots of frogs to kiss, and Louise will be making (although it is far past the point where it would have been cheaper to buy it ready made) a fairy castle Birthday Cake - hope Amelia appreciates the effort!

There will approx 10 girls, 2 boys, 1 brother (Callum), and two frazzled parents, running around the garden on Saturday afternoon, many having had their faces painted as they choose...

It's december - and summer

Horray - Christmas is just around the corner, along with massive queues in the shopping mall car parks, with irate people trying to find the last 3 spaces in a 1500 space car park, the aircon in the car runing overtime trying to keep the inside of the car cool....

Saturday at Chatswood.

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Eww - the Coles at the Westfield Chatswood is a hole! I don't understand why it is so bad - it isn't much smaller than other stores I've been in, but there was limited stock, the floors were dirty (although that's quite common :-( ) I was especially impressed with the fish counter - the prawns were "thawed for your convienience" - except they weren't even thawed!

Saturday arvo - back into the pool - was very warm again.

Sunday - gardening and then into the pool again. Callum and Amelia both have swiming bubbles now...

And video from the pool

Pics of A&C in the pool

Sunday was HOT

HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT.

My, it was hot in Sydney yesterday. The temperature hit about 41d by lunch time, and it felt like it!

Thanks to Claire, Steve, Liam and baby Ethan coming round (once we had managed to get to Bunnings at Belrose for some more chlorine for the pool) to enjoy the water. The solar heater has done its work - pool was 30degrees and lovely.

Suprise of the day was Callum, who I finally convinced to wear arm bands and after almost forcing him into the pool with them on, he discovered how cool it was to be able to paddle around on this own.

But shock of the day was when Callum decided he wanted to jump in - which he did - and loved it. To the point where he climbed out and jumped in again. After complaining earlier that he had a tiny speck of water on his face, he was now jumping in and being fully submersed in the water!

Sunday morning at the beach

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Sunday was warm (although not as sunny as Saturday), so up early and stuff the kids into the car and off to Dee Why. But once we go there, no parking - it is usually quite busy Sunday morning, but the good weather has really pulled everyone out for Sunday brunch!

So further north and off to Collaroy and the Deck. Park in the usual place, where it is 2 hours free, before pay and display kicks in.

However, once getting back, I notice a parking fine stuffed under the wiper - $84 as we didn't display a ticket - parking has been changed since we were last there, and now $5 per hour between 7am and 7pm - every day.

crap.

Wouldn't mind if they actually cleaned up the broken glass from the hotel next to the car park!

birthday party day

Image by infomatique via Flickr

Off to Wizzy World at Chatswood this morning for Callum's 3rd Birthday Party. Louise has made a fire engine shaped cake - with lots of red food colouring - can't wait :-)

first time into the pool this season

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Yesterday was

• Melbourne Cup Day
• Very hot (but not overly sunny)

so home a little earlier, and in the pool we go. I was a little disappointed that it was only 25degrees (and still a bit 'dusty' on the bottom - creepy-crawly is now in and running today). But Callum and Amelia both enjoyed it.

After 36 degrees yesterday (and 27degrees at 10pm), it is down to 22 top today!

late nights

2 'late' nights in a row for the rugrats. Saturday night out at fellow ex-pats (congratulations on getting Permanent Visa btw) for Halloween - A&C both enjoyed knocking on doors and trick or treating...

Then Sunday arvo off for another (kiddy) birthday party, followed by an attempt at an early bath and bed.

solar pool heater

Here is the problem - we have a solar pool heater. Whilst the 'heat' is solar and thus free, the pump uses electricity and thus isn't. We also don't have a pool cover. So over the last couple of weeks the pool has been slowly heating up during the day, but cooling over night. Most nights are about 15 degrees. Thus the pool hasn't actually got warm enough to make it worth while getting in.

So here is the question - when does it become viable to run the heater?

Finally got my Aussie passport

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No more (or at least less) queuing to get back into the country! And - oo - it an 'ePassport' - with a RFID chip that can probably be cloned in about 15 seconds... but will get me though the SmartGate at the aussie side.

how very British

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It's labour day long weeekend - and it is raining - heavily. How very British.

I mean - two days ago it was 33 degrees - now it is only 17 degrees!

And did I mention the rain???

martian dust in sydney

Image by Christopher Chan via Flickr

Woke up this morning (or rather, was woken up this morning) to the interesting experience of 'red sky in the morning'. Sydney has been engulfed in fine red dust/soil from western NSW, which was hanging in the air as if we were in the atmospheric pollution of Beijing!

The volume of dust, and the sun rising made the sky a uniform red/pink colour (which was quite sureal when looking at the trees). The nearest I have seen before is in the UK when it has snowed/is snowing at night, and the sodium street lamp light is bouncing off both the ground and the cloud (except in this case we couldn't see the clouds!).

It has mostly cleared now, leaving a film of red dust everywhere - over the car (in looks like it has been offroad!), on the roof, and in the bottom of the pool!

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Up and out early, to get down to the zoo for opening time (or very nearly). Taronga Zoo is still undergoing major renovations - all of which look better. Amelia wanted to see the elephants, chimpanzees, and Luk Chai, the new baby elephant (again).

Just time for a paddle in the artificial beach at the Southern oceans exhibit and run around the penguin tanks (for Callum), then off home (to the rain!).

A brief burst of summer

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The sun is out, it is 30 degrees (the pool is still far too cold to get into - even with the solar heater), so off to the beach for an hour or two. This week it is the south end of Mona Vale beach. Water was a little rough, but A&C both stripped off most of their clothes and ran in and out of the surf.

Afterwards (and recognising that both of the kids could do with rashies and sunglasses), it was off to Warringah Mall for a look. Alas we didn't get what we went for, but finally picked up a lasagna dish from David Jones. As you do.

Father's Day (aus)

Today is Father's Day. We got a lie-in, then I got some more lie-in, whilst Louise and the children made special breakfast. Freshly made luxury toasted muesli with strawberries and yoghurt followed by 'toasted eggs'.

Bushfire season is here again

Bushfire season in NSW has been started early - Spring is here and expectations are for a bad one...

half a day out in Narrabeen

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Yesterday I took the day off to spend some time with Louise (Callum was at Occasional Care and Amelia at Preschool).

Off to Narrabeen for lunch, with a stop off at the Bahá'í Temple at Ingleside on the way.

Ultimately we didn't get lunch at the beach (but had a nice walk) - Callum wasn't well, and we got called to pick him up early. C'est la vie

a day out with work, then into the city

Image by sachman75 via Flickr

Today we went down to North Sydney oval for a 'family fun day' with work. Then as the weather was so good, and we had Sunday Funday Family tickets ($2.50 per person aged over 4 in a family group, for unlimited usage of the rail, bus and ferries in Sydney on a sunday), we carried on into the CBD for treats at the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place and a walk around the financial district.

past the city-2-surf, warm weather on the way

Image by Lachlan Hunt via Flickr

Unseasonably warm weather meant it was 28 in the city today!

Everyone sound asleep after an arvo in the city - train, lunch in Hyde Park, Australian Museum (including watching a street rat run about!!), then back on the train.

some updates

Well winter is here - and it has been quite cold (down to 6/7 degrees), so the electric blankets and heaters are out!

On the 2nd July we gained our citizenship, joining Callum and becoming really dinkydi aussies.

Over the last 2 months we have all had bad colds/chest infections of one sort or another - not swine flu (thats viral, this is bacterial) - and some of us still have it.

Amelia has been to lots of birthday parties and has moved on from tell us about her 5th birthday party (not until December), and has moved onto her 6th!

I've finally got round to upgrading both the tv computer (new CPU/memory/case/hard disk - I kept the tv cards though) and main computer - it is great to be able to view more than one web page with flash adverts at a time without the whole pc grinding to a halt!

some pics - as usual - at some point.

Still Alive

Yes - still alive - just not got round to putting anything on here. Although some would argue that is probably a good thing...think of wasted electrons after all!

flights booked - off to Ireland in a week...

(for work)

problems with blog

If you were getting "internet explorer can not open this internet web site" or "operation aborted", it was due to Blogger/Google changing the code in one of the 'addon's I had (friend tracker - not that I had any friends).

all fixed - I deleted it.

and they're off

My parents, back to the UK.  It was good to see you.

a day in the city today, on the $2.50 Family Funday Sunday special

a visit to The Rocks, ferry round to the Yacht Club, then train back to the harbour for a walk around the Opera House. Not bad, given the travel cost on $2.50 each, all day

off to the aquarium today

cool - dugongs

http://www.sydneyaquarium.com.au/dugong/

/My/ Parents are now here

We picked them up from Sydney International Airport at 10am today.

(and had to pay for the privilege - there is no arrivals 'pickup' zone like there is in domestic)

life is good

After doing the food shoping this morning, and cutting the back lawn after lunch, the afternoon was complete with a dip in the pool, beer on the deck, and prawns for dinner.

lovely.

Australia Day

Happy wet Australia Day...

HOT!

Apparently today is the hottest day of the year (so far - not that difficult given it is still January, and there is still a month of Summer to go!)

Alas it is HOT - so hot that the metal stair rail outside the back door - which doesn't get ANY sun, feels a little too hot to touch.

So hot that I offered to do the shopping - so I could be in an air conditioned mall

So hot that I've taken the side of this PC before it shuts down.

So hot that we can line dry clothes in the play/sun room!

Its hot!

(ok - so it's nice when it is warm, but today is just taking the micky!)

And their off

Bye to the first set of rellies...

(next set due 6th Feb)

mmm -toasty

it is /very/ warm - just waiting for the thunderstorm to break...

Demolition of Number 3 has finally started

Joy - the (partial) demolition of Number 3 (next door) has finally started, at 7am this morning. Power tools at 7.30am, and a JCB arrived (with a large lorry) at about 8am.

Acutally, I say 'finally started' - they actually started taking the roof down on Saturday, continuing to work past the midday cutoff....

happy new year etc

This year we spent the evening at Bradfield Park, underneath the north side of the harbour bridge to wait for and watch the 9pm Family Fireworks.

Happy new year etc to all.

Photo day with the rellies

Off to Lindfield today for photos. Will have to wait a couple of weeks for the CD-Rom though.

Boxing Day - Aussie Style

Did think it was going to be poor weather, but ended up in the pool today - 2 hours with Amelia and Louise whilst Callum had a sleep. (No rellies in the pool)

Thanks to Claire and co

For Xmas pudding on Christmas eve.

(no thanks to the mozzies!)

Merry Christmas!

rain, rain and more rain

Anyone would think it was Summer.

(and that we have just put the tree up)

Back from a trip north

Just back from 6 days at a farmstay at Kookaburra Cottage in Bobs Farm - a hamlet in Port Stephens near to Nelsons Bay. As part of the stay we ventured out to Stockton Beach, home of the largest mobile sand mass in the southern Hemisphere* - AND WE MEAN LARGE!

* or NSW - the web is fickle, and undecided

More xmas lights

Back from a second set of lights being turned on - this time in Darling Harbour; unfortunately due to rain, far to late, and a bit boring. We left a little after the 'tree' was lit, only to see the second (and more impressive) set of fireworks as we walked back into the main CBD.

Xmas tree lights

Back from a trip into the city with A&C to see the main city xmas tree lights get turned on. Highlight of the evening for Amelia was seeing Big Ted, Little Ted and HumptyDumpty live on stage...

12 months in

We've now been in the house for a year!

And whilst it hasn't been knocked down (and the kitchen is still yellow and red, ala McDonalds), bit of it (ok - the garden) are coming on.

Amelia is now accepted for Preschool

We've had confirmation that Amelia is now accepted for 3 days a week at WestPymble PreSchool, starting in January 2009 (next school term). Originally she was accepted for the two day session (Mon-Tues) but we wanted her in the 3 day session so that she could go with her friends.

All pleased, and Amelia can't wait!

the rellies are gone (for a little trip to Noosa)

and come back next week...

Birthday Party for Callum

Yesterday we had a little party for Callum's 2nd birthday at the park - it was supposed to be last weekend, but Callum (and Amelia) were still infectious with Chickenpox).
Callum got a black sit on 'motor bike' trike, which he loves.

Happy Birthday Callum

Callum is 2 today (only 2?? feels longer!)

we had to keep him inside as he still has chickenpox (not that you can tell).

He really loved the birthday card from Grannie Waland - open it and it plays old macdonald in remarkable good quality (and loud!) audio...

We eventually got him into bed late.

the rellies are here

so we have moved in to the sewing room....

miniture sydney...

Beached from Keith Loutit on Vimeo.

more sickness

My ribs still hurt. Louise is still recovering from the pox.

and....


wait for it...


Callum and Amelia have chicken pox as well. So that's the birthday party on Sunday cancelled. And we have to find out if Louise's parent have had it.
(C&A have been vaccinated, but 1 in 10 receipients still get a milder dose....)

EUWWW!

Just found a (sealed thankfully) pack of 'Kraft French Crepes' down the back of the larder cupboard.

Best before - August 1987.

Labour Day (NSW)

And Louise has chicken pox.

Callum and Amelia have both been vacinated, and I've had it before.

Hopefully no one at Naomi's birthday has got it from us.

Happy Birthday to Louise

Took the day off today - park this morning/lunch time, and DFO this afternoon. Kids a quite wound up though so it wasn't particularly fun :-(

Broken Rib(s)

Went to the doctor this morning, and it looks like I've broken a rib or two from the coughing.


And of course there isn't anything that can be done about it - "take 2 paracetamol 3 times a day"

Joy.

nothing like a lung infection

Well, it sounds so much worse than a cough!

(on anitbiotics - as is Louise, and Amelia)

Another warm day

Nearly through the first month of spring - and two days so far where the temperature has crossed 30degrees.

Unfortunately, the pool isn't warmed up yet - 14 degrees is a little too bracing!

Still ill - and now everyone has it

It's now wednesday - I'm back at work after two days off. Everyone has the 'cough' - Ameila is suffering more than Callum, and isn't sleeping well (neither are we).

morning and lunch at Sydney Olympic Park - Bicentennial Park

We spent this morning and some of lunch time at Bicentennial Park today. And felt the wrath of the first hot day of Spring - 31 degrees, making it hotter than most of last Summer!

I'm suffering from a bad cold/cough, which isn't helping.

Pics as promised

Amelia with her new dress


Callum opens his gift


Reprobates overlooking the Capertee Valley


Fog in the Capertee valley as the sun comes up


The fantastic Pool fence

A fresh new look...

But using a standard template that everyone else uses...

car keys...

Saturday 30th August - I give Callum the car (and house) keys whilst we are shopping in Woolworths. Unfortunately, I don't notice that he has left them on a shelf somewhere, in Woolworths.

Friday 5th September - I pick them up at Woolworths; a kind hearted shelf stacker found them, noticed the video rental tag on them, called the rental store who called me with her details.

Phew.

(new blank key = $77
New centrol locking fob = $213
Fitting = $50 per hour ~ 2 hours
Plus key cutting ~ $50)

Spring has sprung...

Horray - today is the first day of Spring (depending on your definition of course - Spring equinox isn't until September 22nd).