Sunday, 18 July 2010
Wine, Waves & Happy Birthday to Maddie
It's been awhile, and we apologise for our long absence. I could blame it on moving and adjusting to Perth, and this would be partially the truth. The rest of the truth is that Ally and I have been in a blogging face-off that, as is now apparent from this post, Ally won.
As such, it falls to me to write our first post from Oz (please note the Dorothy costume and the 'Over the Rainbow' photo included in the slideshow above).
There are many things about Perth we love...the city is big enough and has most anything we could want or need, the beaches and other scenery is beautiful (as you'll also note above) and the people are friendly...but I think we're still adjusting from life in London (the center of just about everything) to life in a place that is (perhaps a bit eerily) both remote and cosmopolitan. Please don't think we're complaining (we do like it here), it's just that Perth feels a long way from everything.
Anyway, Maddie turned seven this week, and Rick and Vanalee have been here to help us celebrate. The following pictures cover the period from Bammy's arrival (Papa Ricky arrived a few days later) through yesterday, and include Maddie's birthday (presents, cake, dorothy costume and lunch at the beach), our long weekend in Margaret River (the Napa Valley of WA; but, don't worry, we stuck to the non-alcoholic stuff) and Mandurah (where Nana served her mission) and a few other miscellaneous photos.
Enjoy! We'll try to be better about posting more regularly, and (if I can get Ally to help me) we also need to find time to post our recent trip to Rome and a few other odds and ends.
As such, it falls to me to write our first post from Oz (please note the Dorothy costume and the 'Over the Rainbow' photo included in the slideshow above).
There are many things about Perth we love...the city is big enough and has most anything we could want or need, the beaches and other scenery is beautiful (as you'll also note above) and the people are friendly...but I think we're still adjusting from life in London (the center of just about everything) to life in a place that is (perhaps a bit eerily) both remote and cosmopolitan. Please don't think we're complaining (we do like it here), it's just that Perth feels a long way from everything.
Anyway, Maddie turned seven this week, and Rick and Vanalee have been here to help us celebrate. The following pictures cover the period from Bammy's arrival (Papa Ricky arrived a few days later) through yesterday, and include Maddie's birthday (presents, cake, dorothy costume and lunch at the beach), our long weekend in Margaret River (the Napa Valley of WA; but, don't worry, we stuck to the non-alcoholic stuff) and Mandurah (where Nana served her mission) and a few other miscellaneous photos.
Enjoy! We'll try to be better about posting more regularly, and (if I can get Ally to help me) we also need to find time to post our recent trip to Rome and a few other odds and ends.
Saturday, 30 January 2010
Eternal London Haunts Us Still
'Go where we may - rest where we will, Eternal London haunts us still' (Thomas Moore).
I think if you've really experienced London, you'll understand Moore's word choice. I'm sure the locals would say I haven't lived here long enough to really understand, and they're probably right - but I understand a little.
'America is my country and Paris is my hometown' (Gertrude Stein). This I understand, as I've felt similarly about London ... I think part of me always will.
We're moving again (and it feels like it will really happen this time) ... to Perth, Australia. What I've already experienced of Australia (and Australians) makes me excited to start our new adventure, even though I'm not fully resigned to ending our current one.
Please come visit - I think we'll have plenty of space, and the scenery is beautiful.
I found a few quotes about Australia, Australians or by Australians, which I like:
'The true Aussie battler and his wife thrust doggedly onwards: starting again, failing again, implacably thrusting towards success. For success, even if it is only the success of knowing that one has tried to the utmost and never surrendered, is the target of every battler' (Michael Page & Robert Inapen).
'Those who lose dreaming are lost' (Australian Aboriginal proverb).
'If you go out for a big night and by some misadventure you end up in a prison cell, you can count on your best friend to bail you out, but your best mate will be in there besides you' (Australian observation)
'The cricket bat is mightier than the pen and the sword combined' (anon).
'A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour' (anon).
'Before you criticise someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticise them, you're a mile away and have their shoes' (anon).
'They who came here in chains, who were lashed while they worked in convict gangs at Port Arthur. They who like many others were driven through starvation or oppression from their home-lands to the shores of this new country, Australia. They, who for a multitude of reasons that hopefully, I or my children will never witness or experience, decided not to harbour grudges or discontent but rather to look to the future. They who embraced this country as their own and said; let's get on with it, this is a new land, this is our home' (Dennis O'Keeffe - Musician).
'It is a mistake to think you can't be hurt if you don't care' (Errol Flynn).
'Australians are, I have found, ready to laugh at themselves if they think that the joke is funny and the humour not ill-directed. And the ability to be self-deprecating is the mark of confidence; it is, as much as anything else, the yardstick by which a society measures how tolerant and self-assured it is' (Soumya Bhattacharya).
'Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia' (Charles M Schultz).
I think if you've really experienced London, you'll understand Moore's word choice. I'm sure the locals would say I haven't lived here long enough to really understand, and they're probably right - but I understand a little.
'America is my country and Paris is my hometown' (Gertrude Stein). This I understand, as I've felt similarly about London ... I think part of me always will.
We're moving again (and it feels like it will really happen this time) ... to Perth, Australia. What I've already experienced of Australia (and Australians) makes me excited to start our new adventure, even though I'm not fully resigned to ending our current one.
Please come visit - I think we'll have plenty of space, and the scenery is beautiful.
I found a few quotes about Australia, Australians or by Australians, which I like:
'The true Aussie battler and his wife thrust doggedly onwards: starting again, failing again, implacably thrusting towards success. For success, even if it is only the success of knowing that one has tried to the utmost and never surrendered, is the target of every battler' (Michael Page & Robert Inapen).
'Those who lose dreaming are lost' (Australian Aboriginal proverb).
'If you go out for a big night and by some misadventure you end up in a prison cell, you can count on your best friend to bail you out, but your best mate will be in there besides you' (Australian observation)
'The cricket bat is mightier than the pen and the sword combined' (anon).
'A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour' (anon).
'Before you criticise someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticise them, you're a mile away and have their shoes' (anon).
'They who came here in chains, who were lashed while they worked in convict gangs at Port Arthur. They who like many others were driven through starvation or oppression from their home-lands to the shores of this new country, Australia. They, who for a multitude of reasons that hopefully, I or my children will never witness or experience, decided not to harbour grudges or discontent but rather to look to the future. They who embraced this country as their own and said; let's get on with it, this is a new land, this is our home' (Dennis O'Keeffe - Musician).
'It is a mistake to think you can't be hurt if you don't care' (Errol Flynn).
'Australians are, I have found, ready to laugh at themselves if they think that the joke is funny and the humour not ill-directed. And the ability to be self-deprecating is the mark of confidence; it is, as much as anything else, the yardstick by which a society measures how tolerant and self-assured it is' (Soumya Bhattacharya).
'Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia' (Charles M Schultz).
Sunday, 8 November 2009
Chubby Ears
Just a photo so Dad can see Izzie enjoying her new chubby ears for the first time. They're a little big, but she'll grow into them!
Friday, 6 November 2009
Izzie is 22 months old.
It is hard to believe that they grow up so fast..JPG){kind=link}
Minnie Mouse and Happy Face Pumpkin
Unfortunately, we don't have very many great photos from Halloween. Instead of snapping photos, I found myself wrestling Isabelle, hosting a party, and trying to keep up with Madeleine. I'm having regrets that I don't have better photos. Better luck next year, and hopefully, a new camera!
Friday, Maddie had a party and parade at school. We got to the school just in time to help Maddie change into her costume. Then, Maddie marched and danced in the Lower School Halloween Parade - one of my favorite events at ASL.
As much as Izzie loves a happy face pumpkin, she was not thrilled about wearing her costume. Here she is, partially buckled in, on our way to the parade.
Maddie didn't have much time to pose for photos. She was too busy running around with her friends.
Maddie and Sally (Thumbelina)
While Maddie was getting ready, Izzie was keeping busy in the Lego corner.
Saturday, we had a small Halloween Party. Maddie decided to invite her church friends, Annabelle, Colette, and Madeleine along with their families. We also invited our neighbors, Eric, Shannon, and Camille. We ate, played games, and went trick or treating together.
I knew Izzie wasn't going to be excited about wearing her costume, so I thought I'd wait until we went trick or treating to put the pumpkin part on her. During the party, she insisted on wearing her favorite Tumble Tots t-shirt and tolerated the black, fleece part of her costume. When it was time to go trick or treating, Dad decided not to torture her and let her head out the door sans pumpkin. I never had a chance to try again. Needless to say, Izzie was a little under dressed for trick or treating. She didn't seem to mind considering what she had on underneath her costume. She kept undoing the fleece in the front and showing people her t-shirt. Classy, huh?
Izzie would occasionally get out of the stroller to trick or treat, but for most of the night, was perfectly content to ride around and eat lollies.
By the time we got home, Maddie was exhausted. She and her friends had raced from house to house collecting candy.
Maddie wasn't the only tired one. Our Dad travelled over 50 hours to spend 36 hours with us at home. We were glad he was here for Halloween, but we'll be even happier when he finishes his work in Australia.
Friday, Maddie had a party and parade at school. We got to the school just in time to help Maddie change into her costume. Then, Maddie marched and danced in the Lower School Halloween Parade - one of my favorite events at ASL.
As much as Izzie loves a happy face pumpkin, she was not thrilled about wearing her costume. Here she is, partially buckled in, on our way to the parade.
Maddie didn't have much time to pose for photos. She was too busy running around with her friends.
Maddie and Shir (Gabriella)
Maddie wanting to show off her Minnie Mouse hands.
Maddie and Sally (Thumbelina)
While Maddie was getting ready, Izzie was keeping busy in the Lego corner.
Saturday, we had a small Halloween Party. Maddie decided to invite her church friends, Annabelle, Colette, and Madeleine along with their families. We also invited our neighbors, Eric, Shannon, and Camille. We ate, played games, and went trick or treating together.
Camille, Shannon and Maddie
I knew Izzie wasn't going to be excited about wearing her costume, so I thought I'd wait until we went trick or treating to put the pumpkin part on her. During the party, she insisted on wearing her favorite Tumble Tots t-shirt and tolerated the black, fleece part of her costume. When it was time to go trick or treating, Dad decided not to torture her and let her head out the door sans pumpkin. I never had a chance to try again. Needless to say, Izzie was a little under dressed for trick or treating. She didn't seem to mind considering what she had on underneath her costume. She kept undoing the fleece in the front and showing people her t-shirt. Classy, huh?
Izzie would occasionally get out of the stroller to trick or treat, but for most of the night, was perfectly content to ride around and eat lollies.
By the time we got home, Maddie was exhausted. She and her friends had raced from house to house collecting candy.
Maddie wasn't the only tired one. Our Dad travelled over 50 hours to spend 36 hours with us at home. We were glad he was here for Halloween, but we'll be even happier when he finishes his work in Australia.
Thursday, 29 October 2009
Pumpkin Day
Maddie gets out of school early on Wednesdays, so we took advantage of the extra hour and carved pumpkins. Maddie and Izzie each had their own pumpkin and designed their own "happy face" as Izzie calls it. She gets really excited about pumpkins with "happy faces". Good thing since she'll look like one soon!
Maddie went a little crazy with the Sharpie and was drawing eyelashes, etc.
Izzie didn't want to pose for a picture with her pumpkin. I'll try again later.
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