Last swimming lesson...

Joanna had her last swimming lesson for the term today. We aren't doing them over winter (today was just like a winter day at 11C) - even though the pool deck is heated to 30C and the water to 31C or so. She was enjoying them a lot and loves the water, but the last couple of weeks has been tired and only participates in the 1st couple of activities before just wanting to cling on to me. She is happy enough to stay in the water, just as long as she doesn't have to participate. If we'd been continuing on, I would have tried to change to a different lesson time, but with only a couple of weeks left, I thought it would be pointless (new teacher, new kids etc.). Unfortunately Ben never got a space in any of the classes that suited us, so he missed out on swimming this term. I will make sure I get organised a bit earlier for term 4, so he doesn't miss out again.

We went to the wiggles!

Last week we went to the Wiggles concert in Hamilton. And the benefit of going to the show in a small city (= small theater), was that even though we were only 3 rows from the back, it didn't feel like we were that far away from the action. Plus being above stage height means that we could see everything that was happening on the stage. Ben really enjoyed it - no dancing, he not really that kind of kid, but he was watching the whole time and there were a few excited comments (and he did stand up for the last song where they ask everybody to stand up and dance). Joanna enjoyed it too, although it was a bit long for her. The rip-off item for the mechandise I think had to be the helium balloons at $10 each!

Broke...

...my sewing machine needle. After only getting 1.5 pairs (out of 5) of Joanna's long pants taken in. Annoying. Now I will have to drag the sewing machine out another day to finish them. (Thankfully Peter reminded me that there is a sewing machine shop in his building, so he can pick me up a new needle - so that saves me a trip.)

Kill the Possum

Is the title of the book I've just finished reading (author: James Moloney). It's another young adult fiction novel (note: Don't read more than one juvenile ficiton in a row - you get a bit sick of the ego-centric lives of teenagers and school). I found it a bit slow and didn't really tell you much. It's underlying theme is about domestic violence. I wouldn't recommend it for young adults as it seems to support killing as a viable solution to the problem - even if it does point out all the associated complications/consequences of this. It also gives a lot of detail as to how it is planned and practiced - which if in the hands of the wrong teenager I could see the possibility of copy cat situations.

the plunge...

into darkness has happened.  Daylight saving ended on Sunday, which means the clocks have gone back an hour, and we've lost an hour of daylight in the evenings.  So, instead of riding home in bright afternoon sunshine and having daylight until after dinner time, it's now close to sunset on the way home and nearly dark by dinner time.  

I guess that's the last link with summer now gone... just waiting for the rainy winter to start.

Another Ben-ism

The Meringue-a-tang.

I'm going public...

...I'm pregnant. Due mid november, around Ben's birthday.

Stumped

Peter and I were having a discussion about where the word 'stumped' originated from. Peter was certain it was from cricket - ie. in cricket - the batsman gets stumped when he doesn't know how to attack the ball (and ends up missing it). I wasn't sure. So like all good children of the internet age, we 'googled' it to try and find out. Most information we could find doesn't link it back to cricket, but to tree stumps and various situations in which these used to stop/hinder peoples' activities, particularly in the American West. But that sounds like an American definition to us...

King Burger

Hungry Jacks is called Burger King here, but again Ben has given it his own personalised name - King Burger!

Suprise breakfast in bed

I got breakfast in bed this morning, for no particular reason (no birthday, anniversary etc.). It was nice and it was yummy - buttermilk pancakes topped with warm blueberries and greek yoghurt.