The Plunge Down Under

One Excited Boy and His First Ever Athletics Day

Last year when I wrote about Cameron's first Athletics Day Carnival, I was worried that I had overstated the importance of sport in school life in Australia.  I have since discovered that far from overstating the case, I had only just begun my own education into the important role of all types of sporting activities in most schools where we live. There are all day swimming carnivals, track and field carnivals, weeks devoted to swimming lessons at an outisde location if schools do not have their own indoor pools, interschool sporting schedules (during the school day) throughout the winter months, hour long recesses in which all manner of sports are attempted on the playground, and at least two regularly scheduled physical education sessions per week.

I was in no way critical of this emphasis, but rather grateful for all the physical activity incorporated into the weekly schedule for Cameron as it certainly helped to improve his attitude toward attending school, and I found it very beneficial to him in many ways.  I did wonder, however, how his classroom teacher was left with enough time last year to cover the academic basics.  He seemed to manage, and I was duly impressed.

Following right along in his brother's footsteps, James is thriving this year with all of the sporting activity at school.  From the very first day, Cameron has helped organize basketball, footy and cricket games for the prep students, and in so doing, has won the admiration of many of James's young male classmates.  Thursdays and Fridays are sporting days for James, and he is always thrilled to wake up on those mornings and don his physical education uniform.  So far, when asked, James will tell you that his favorite things at school are: 1.  Free time (at the beginning of the day), 2. 1st play and 2nd play (i.e. recess), 3.  Sport (physical education class), and 4. art.  The last one he includes probably because I did so little of it with him at home.

We had one excited boy on our hands this morning as James prepared for his very first all day athletics carnival.  Track and field events are all included under the general title of athletics in Australia, and they are taken seriously enough that the very youngest of students learn to jump over hurdles, run races, participate in relays, and throw the shot put.  James and his classmates have been practicing for some of these events at school, and as they were told to bring extra food and water today, James began packing his lunch around 6:30am, explaining several times that he needed double of everything he normally eats.  We humored him, and Cameron, who normally packs James's lunch and gets him ready in the mornings while I drive the girls to school, dutifully helped him to prepare two sandwiches, two morning teas, extra fruit, and a large drink bottle.

As often happens, I had two places to be this morning, and had been rostered on to purchase, cut, butter, and serve 120 hot cross buns to the teachers and staff at Katie's school for their morning tea.  A fellow mom and I raced through this job, and I arrived at the field just in time for James's first race (but unfortunately after Cameron's events).  James has been so keen to be the fastest runner in his class.  He is, after all, planning to be a professional runner when he grows up.  Unfortunately, reality has intruded into his dreams, and he has had to concede that a few boys can run faster than he.  I was worried he would be disappointed with his fourth place finish, but on the contrary, he was quite pleased, and showed his ribbon off to anyone who would lend him an ear and a pair of eyes.

After fortifying himself with one of his two sandwiches, James was ready to participate in a relay race that involved jumping over mini hurdles and handing off a baton.  I enjoyed his intensity as he cheered his teammates, ran with all of his heart, and celebrated their first place finish.

Note the red hair.  Both James and Cameron are red for the remainder of their time at this school, somewhat to James's dismay.  He has begged me to try to switch him to green as this is the color of his favorite friend.  I suspect, however, that his request has more to do with the fact that green currently wins nearly every event in every carnival.

Waiting for the results:

Pure joy:

James receives some coaching during the bean bag relay, an event in which his team also finished first:

For his part, Cameron came home with two second place finishes, one each for the shot put and discus.  He was reasonably pleased with these results as they were an improvement from last year.  As for the running events, his main goal was not to finish dead last, a goal he only just accomplished.  It did help his spirits to remember his recent successes at the swimming carnival.

We are proud of both boys for their hard work, for giving their all in each event, and for supporting each other and their class mates.

Color Burst

On this glorious autumn day it seems fitting to share a few favorite photos I have collected around the neighborhood over the past week or so.  C has caught the photography bug, and he has been on the prowl for likely suspects to fill the frame.  I'll include a few of his shots toward the end of the post.

 

A Rose, a Bee and a Birthday Girl

Yesterday I stole a few minutes from a day filled with mundane household chores to spend in the garden with my camera.  Today we marked the final celebration of Sophie's birthday with a party for a few of her friends.  I hope you enjoy the photos from both days.

 

Farewell

Our last set of summer visitors have come and gone, and all of us, kids included, can hardly believe that we are approaching Term I holidays.  The cousins have certainly enjoyed one another's company, and I do think one of the favorite memories, for my kids at least, will be the homework sessions as they sat together around the dining room table.  I do believe there was more laughter than actual work, but I delighted to hear the happy sounds.

We are concerned for Tamika as she flies home and would appreciate your prayers that she does not suffer any permanent damage to her hearing.  Unfortunately she came down with a double ear infection shortly after arriving in Melbourne, and while she was in Sydney with her family, both ear drums burst, causing her severe pain.  She was a good sport for the remainder of the visit, in spite of walking around in a fog due to hearing loss.  Ibuprofen, tylenol, and cotton balls were her best friends for several days.

After dropping Blake, Gretchen, and their girls at the airport this morning, I came home to one of those unpleasant surprises from the Victorian Government waiting for us in our mailbox.  It is probably a testament to how long we have been living here, but my main reaction was one of relief that the penalty for exceeding the permitted speed by 6km/h was only $153.00.  I also had to figure out who the driver was, of course, and will only report here that it was not me (nor my brother-in-law Blake in case he reads this post).

Fittingly, Gretchen had taken a picture of one of the thousands of traffic nannies located in Victoria. 

I will probably drive somewhat more slowly over the next few weeks, or at least days, until the pain of paying for this latest traffic infringement wears off.   I predict that it is only a matter of time before one of these annoying blue and white pieces of paper finds its way into our mailbox again.

 

Happy Birthday to Four

Not only do Ross and Gretchen share the same birthday month, they each had a daughter born in the month of March, with the end result that four of them celebrate a birthday within the space of fifteen days.  What else were we to do but celebrate with some special treats. Happy Birthday to Alissa, on the 3rd, Sophie, on the 6th, Gretchen, on the 13th, and Ross, on the 18th.

 

Canadian Cousins Come to Town

Readers just might remember our trip to Ottawa, Canada last year when Sophie and her cousin Alissa become lost on Parliament Hill.  Well the Canadian cousins have come to visit us in Melbourne, and we are most happy to report that thus far there have been no incidences of lost girls.  We have had lost luggage, however, which unhappily has not been fully resolved, but other than a few sore throats, all humans are well and accounted for as I type.

We have been visiting all the usual places, or at least providing direction on how to find all of our favorite spots.  I believe it is hardly necessary for me to label them.

Waiting around for one of the errant suitcases meant we didn't arrive at Cape Schanck until sunset.  We squeezed out nearly every last drop of daylight before heading back to our cars.  That was when a band of serious photographers, with their tripods and expensive equipment, arrived.  I would love to view the results of their efforts.

For the sake of posterity, and also interested friends and relatives of Blake and Gretchen, I am including several photos taken by Gretchen on their many excursions.  Be sure not to miss the adorable koala they found lounging in a tree just past Apollo Bay.

Blake, Gretchen, and the girls took themselves into the city by tram, spent the day sightseeing, and then met up with Ross after he was finished with work.  They all went up the Eureka Tower, making Cameron and me a bit jealous as that is one thing we have yet to do.

At Loch Ard Gorge, Blake fulfilled his wish of exploring a cave in Australia.

The doorbell rang as I was putting the finishing touches on this post.  It was the remaining missing piece of luggage, only six days late.  Unfortunately Gretchen will have to wait just a bit longer as she and the rest of the family flew to Sydney this morning for a quick overnight trip.  I think it is safe to say all of us will be more aware in the future of exactly what information airline staff are attaching to our suitcases.  This one had a tag with a final destination of LAX, the name "Krist Hearty," and cut-off identification numbers.  Not a proud moment for United Airlines.

Labor Day in our Front Garden

Last year we spent Labor Day exploring Wilsons Prom.  This year Ross accompanied his sister and family on the Great Ocean Road, taking Katie with him. While they swam in the frigid ocean, took video footage of koalas in the gum trees, and soaked in the spectacular scenery, the remaining three children and I stayed home and played around with my new macro lens, a somewhat belated Christmas present from Ross.  

Prior to pulling the lens out of its box, I had read that macro photography can be tricky with its very shallow depth of field.  Nearly everything in many of my initial photos was blurry, and out of approximately four hundred or so photos that Cameron and I took today, we kept only a couple dozen.  I suspect that a serious photographer would assign most if not all of those to the rubbish bin, but we enjoyed ourselves, and the budding naturalist in Cameron delighted in some of the details we were able to capture.  

The tiny white flowers below have a diameter of about one inch in real life:

Sophie spotted a microscopic bug on a nearby leaf, and the shooting became even trickier as I was forced to abandon the tripod and kneel down in the dirt in an attempt to capture it.  Both James and Sophie helped by pushing the button on my shutter release cable as the bug moved in and out of focus.

The next photo gives a good indication of its relative size.

I was amazed at the kaleidoscope of colors reflected in the wings of the bug, something I never would have noticed without the camera lens.

The weather cooperated magnificently with our endeavors, and I foresee many happy sessions ahead attempting to improve our photography skills in the garden.

 

Wet Weather Wednesday and Wombats at Wilsons Prom

With her glasses, beanie, and uncharacteristic outfit complete with thermals, Katie was barely recognizable as she bounded down the steps of the motor coach that transported her back to civiliation from  the wilderness.  Once again I appreciated her enthusiasm to be back home, and I was relieved to discover that not only had she survived the dreaded outdoor camping experience, but that it carried with it many positive aspects. While she won't go as far as admitting that going on camp was wonderful, she has enjoyed sharing her many adventures.

Just off the bus:

Back home again, just before racing to our hot shower:

As it turns out, the threat of a wombat attack turned out to be a real one.  A neighboring tent to Katie's was in fact assaulted by a wombat lured by the smell of contraband lollies.  While no human was injured, a hole was torn in the fabric of the tent, and all of the girls and adults in the vicinity lost a couple of hours of sleep as a result.  There is some question as to whether the girls involved will be fined for the offense, but apparently they had received permission from one of the OEGs (Outdoor Education Guides) to bring the sweets into their tent for a midnight snack.

Aside from the wombat attack, the other big news was the wet weather on Wednesday night, midway through the camping experience.  Everything and everyone became thoroughly soaked and cold during a very long night.  Tents flooded, adults retreated to vehicles for some relief from the elements, and the girls tossed and turned in a desperate attempt to remain warm.  Adding to their discomfort, the following morning they were forced to smell bacon and eggs cooking from a nearby covered camping pavilion while they shivered in the rain over their cold cereal.

From wombats and wet clothes, the talk turned to bushwalking.  Katie reckons they walked over thirty kilometres total, sixteen of which they carried all of their gear on their backs.  They were also given the privilege of cooking all of their food themselves.  I did not feel too sorry for them over this requirement, however, as they were supplied with far better ingredients than I would think to bring camping.  Meals included Thai chicken and vegetable curry, lamb stir fry with noodles, and tuna wraps.  The food was "surprisingly good," according to Katie.  In addition to the preparing of the meals, the girls were also required to clean up afterward.  This took longer than the actual eating process, Katie claims, and I am somewhat amused that she found this surprising.  

A highlight of the week was the surfing lesson at Waratah Bay.  The girls learned how to get up on the boards at the water's edge, and then spent time paddling around in the water.  The latter activity turned out to be quite a workout, and while Katie now has at least an idea of what to do with a surf board, she figures she would require multiple lessons to truly learn.

I would love to include several photos of her camping experience.  She did take a camera with her, but the batteries died partway through the week, and Katie has told me I must wait to see the photos until she has a chance to review and edit them on the camera itself.  I am not sure where the perfectionist gene in her comes from, but if I am lucky, a few will pass the test and be permitted to appear in a future post.

 

Friends for Life

It occurred to me today that I just may have discovered a sure-fire way to earn the lifelong gratitude of family and friends who are willing enough to make the long trek to visit us down under. The first step is to help them secure plane tickets departing during one of North America's many frigid winter months with warm, sunny Melbourne as their destination. The next step is to be sure and show up at the airport just before they stagger into International Arrivals.  The delight on their faces at seeing a familiar face after traveling for over twenty-four hours is a genuine pleasure, and if you are fortunate you will also get to witness several other joyful reunions as you wait.  The excitement in their air is palpable.  

Once greetings and exchange of information have taken place (Did you get any sleep at all? followed by sympathetic comments concerning the hideous length of the flight), your guests will be more than happy to exit the airport, inhale the fresh air, and follow you to your vehicle.  If you offer a warm shower,  hot lunch, coffee and possibly some TimTams as soon as the car pulls into your garage, the visitors perk up in spite of their fatigue.  You might even worry that they are about to weep with gratitude at the prospect.  You think, "Wow.  I have never found it easier to make people so happy."  

This was my experience yesterday retrieving Ross's sister Gretchen, her husband Blake, and two daughters Tamika and Alissa from Melbourne International Airport.  And I did get to witness an emotional reunion while I waited.  A young mom made her way out of the customs area somehow managing her suitcases while holding her newborn baby. As I watched the precious bundle get handed back and forth between the proud grandparents holding him for the first time, I nearly wept myself.  I was transported back to Katie's birth, and remembering how much I needed and wanted my own mother, and what a relief it was to have her hold our baby and tell us that we were going to be fine.  I also recalled taking a two-week-old Katie to the Dallas Airport to greet my dad.  I think there are few things more emotional than watching your dad meet your firstborn.

Between stealing furtive glances at the sleeping babe, and nearly eavesdropping on the emotional conversation between the daugher and mother, I didn't notice at first that the trickle of people coming out of the arrivals hall had nearly stopped.  Eventually I was the only one waiting, and at this point I got worried.  Where were our guests?  I waited for fifteen more minutes, increasingly concerned, but as it turned out, they hadn't lost their passports or missed their flight in Sydney.  Instead, unhappily, they were waiting for lost luggage, and eventually had to exit minus two important suitcases due to the incompetence of an airline worker in Ottawa.  At this point the suitcases could be anywhere between Ottawa and L.A., including Chicago and any other number of cities.  United held out a small ray of hope that the mislabeled pieces will be found, and we are hoping and praying for the best outcome.

As regular readers will know, Blake and Gretchen and their girls are the fourth set of visitors we have been privileged to welcome since mid-December.  Many have wondered how I have been coping, and while it is true that there is extra work involved with visitors, it is also true that the experience has its unique rewards.  I will probably never again have the opportunity to be a key part in helping so many people enjoy the trip of a lifetime.  The enthusiasm and excitement of our guests never fail to provide energy just when I need it, and I think it is safe to say that there is little chance we will return to North America regretting that we did not do more sightseeing.  This reminds me that I should end this post, and spend some time planning one more trip along the Great Ocean Road. 

Special thanks to Barry McLaggan for allowing me to use his gorgeous, stitched photo of the Twelve Apostles for my blog header.

Katie Departs For Camp

Four and-a-half weeks after sending  J off to prep, we bid our eldest good-bye for five days.  This is not the first time that K has gone off to camp without us, but it is the first time she has left reluctantly, and I find myself feeling rather sympathetic toward her as I relax in the comfort of a dwelling replete with comfortable sofas, cozy beds, and the option to turn on the heater if the air gets too chilly.

As can happen all too often around here, I was not really paying much attention to the emotional needs of my daughter in the busy days leading up to her departure.  My focus was instead the rather extensive supply list, the packing details, and searching for those irritating items that you know lurk in some cupboard somewhere but which inevitably go into hiding the week before camp begins.  This time around it was the first aid kit,  working torches (flashlights) with spare globes, a whistle on a string, water shoes, and serious insect repellant that caused us some grief.  Eventually all items were located or purchased and placed into the duffel bag, but any conversation that happened between us did not venture further than the practical realm.  It was not until we all sat down together over Sunday lunch that she was able to communicate to us all of her concerns.

Once K began to speak, the floodgates opened, until she nearly had me in tears over all the potential grief that she might come to in the days ahead.  Her destination is Wilsons Promontory, a place we liked so much that we visited it a second time last October.  It is true, however, that shortly after our first visit in March 2011, the campground where her class will be staying flooded so rapidly that all campers were evacuated by helicopter, and the Prom did not re-open until October.  I had conveniently forgotten this, until a friend reminded me Saturday morning over an otherwise delightful breakfast of poached eggs and smashed avo on toast.  She then went helpfully on to point out that it has been raining for the past several weeks in New South Wales and northern Victoria, and that all that rain will eventually make its way to Tidal River, located at the bottom of Wilsons Promontory, which incidentally is the southernmost point in mainland Australia.  These details I did not share with K, of course, as she was distraught enough already.

What exactly was worrying our daughter?  The list was so long that I am sure I did not capture everything.  Initially I attempted to alleviate her concerns through soothing responses, but eventually I ceased this futile exercise and started taking notes on my phone.  For starters, the girls are sleeping in tents for all four nights no matter what the weather, and it is supposed to rain.  They may not have the opportunity to shower, and I wish I had a photo of K's face as she contemplated just how dirty she will feel by the end of these four days.  The insects will likely be out in full force, and as we know from thirteen years' experience, all insects love her no matter what continent or country she is in.  She was, in fact, the only girl last year to be bitten by a jumping jack, a dreaded, venomous ant.

From weather and insects, she moved on to the food they would likely be consuming.  Last year she felt she nearly starved on camp, and I can only hope that this year she will be less picky about what she eats.  The milk will be in powdered form, the cereal will be unsweetened, and here I believe I temporarily changed the subject.  She soon remembered another issue connected with food, however, and that is the threat of hungry wombats attacking their tents at night.  I was quite tempted to laugh at this point, and I did make the mistake of smiling, but apparently wombats can be quite vicious when they have acquired a taste for human food, and I had to admit that I would not be very keen to face one in the dark.

Following is a wombat we encountered at Wilsons Promontory in October of last year:

Eventually it came out that one of K's teachers spent some class time last week telling his students just how miserable they are likely to be in the coming week.  He had the misfortune of accompany girls on this particular trip last year, and I can only think that he was exacting some form of revenge by dwelling on how much he and his unwitting charges suffered under the hands of their OEG, or Outdoor Education Guide for those not in the know.  Last year, the OEG assigned to the Year 8 PLC girls insisted that all activities carry on in spite of driving rain and otherwise horrible conditions.  The girls, according to the teacher, suffered cruelly.  (It may be helpful to remember at this point that if you were to place K's classmates on a sliding scale with luxury at one end and privation at the other, most would be more comfortable at the luxury end.  I use the term suffering here somewhat loosely).

Finally, K confessed that she is going to miss us, and we certainly cannot fault her for this sentiment.  S in particular is upset as K will be away over her birthday, although she finangled this detail to her advantage by convincing us to let her open her presents two days early.  In spite of a late night due to anxiety, K was up well before dawn this morning for one last hot shower, and she allowed herself plenty of time to straighten her hair.  Hair straighteners were not on the packing list, nor for that matter were ipods, mobile phones, e-readers, and other items so important to her young life. We hope and pray that her experience will be much more positive than she expects, and that Tidal River does not flood.

Here is K last year at the end of her first outdoor education camp experience.

And last night, as she sat contemplating camp amidst the gift-opening flurry:

And a couple of weeks ago, in a happier frame of mind: