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I can’t believe that Jack is now 5. He is growing up very quickly, and not just in height.

After 3 weeks of rain and flooding, we were yet again lucky, and the sun was shining for his party. We’d changed the location from Blackbutt Reserve (where a lot of trees had fallen down) to Centennial Park in Cooks Hill. This is a lovely park, that had everything we needed, shelter in case of rain, a playground, toilets and lots of space to run around. It was perfect.

Jack had invited all his class plus more and so there were over 30 kids. Help was gratefully received from Aunts and Uncles as we had a lot of games going on. Then after a group rendition of ‘Puff the Magic Dragon’ they were fighting for the birthday cake (literally!). Sarah had excelled herself again with a racing car cake, all edible and eaten and cup cakes to match.

Though it was only 2 hours we seemed to get through a lot and all the kids had a great time. Later that afternoon, our two were very tired and Jack spent the afternoon playing with his new T-Rex car track.

Thanks to everyone who came and helped make it very memorable for Jack, and thanks also to those who wanted to be there but could not make the 22 hour flight, and sent their wishes by mail. Jack was very excited to receive cards from all his family and friends in England.

Grace had the honour of being the first one in our swimming pool yesterday.  Jack, Grace and I spent the afternoon scooping leaves out of the pool and then the kids went ond got their swimmers on.

Jack stood on the step, but Grace took the plunge and went for a very cold 10 second swim.  Straight back out again and off to get dried.

 Looking forward to the summer heat!

We are presently in an official state of natural disaster!.  Last Friday a cyclone hit Newcastle and it was the worst storm for 30 years.  The rain and wind were very heavy during the day, while I was at work and one my factory roof was being shaken to pieces so I eventually closed it down for the weekend.  All through the day there were reports of coal ships being adrift and ending up on the beaches.

When I left work at 4:30, I was driving home with the 4 wheel drive up to the door in water, very exciting.  There were a number of cars abandoned in the middle of huge puddles.  When I got home I cleared a bit of water out of the garage and then there was a phone call from Sarah.  She and the kids were stuck in Merewether in the other car.  Which ever way she tried to drive home she hit floods.  At one point she was afloat trying to get onto a main road.  So she parked up on one of the higher roads and I drove down in the other car, which is much higher and more capable.

Over night the winds were horrendous and it sounded to us that the tiles were being blown off the roof.  It ended up just being falling branches running down the roof.

Early Saturday morning I drove in to work to check everything was OK and to send people home and the city was like a war zone.  Cars were abandoned in the streets at odd angles, trees and electricity pylons were down blocking roads and a lot of houses were damaged.  It appears we’ve been very lucky.

Saturday afternoon some friends came round for tea and a shower as they had no electricity or hot water, and the wind and rain started again.  The night was not as bad as Friday but the damage was now being caused by flooding.  Parts of Newcastle and inland towns were underwater.

Yesterday was a bank holiday and the sun was shining, so we took a trip out to Nobby’s beach to see the one ship that did run aground.  It’s very impressive, a huge ship just sitting on the beach.  Then fish and chips beside the river.