andrewsfamily.id.au

This weekend is the end of the school holidays before the summer term, and the summer sports have begun. On Friday Jack started this year cricket. He has got very enthusiastic and we’ve been playing cricket in the garden all weekend.
Saturday we were all hard at work in the garden. We’ve top dressed the back lawn, to even out some of the humps and lumps and get it ready for croquet.
Then today I competed in a club triathlon which Jack came to watch, and then it was the first session of Nippers. Both Jack and Grace are in the club this year, and it is great to see Grace really taking part and enjoying it. It helps she has a few friends from school in her group.

It’s been a few months since I last wrote and a lot has happened.  I’ve put a few new pictures in the gallery but I’m struggling to get the house gallery to work.

Firstly the house, we are almost there with the back garden.  We had some steps put up in the retaining wall last week, so now we can actually walk up to the lawn, instead of having to climb up.  Then the wall is due to be painted in the next week or so, then we’re done (for the time being).  Sarah has been very busy planting at the back of the garden, and it is beginning to look good.  The only big thing remaining is the bank between the lawn and the back of the land.  We’re still not exactly sure how to do this, so it will have to wait for a while.

They have started digging the block next to us, so there will be work there for the next 8-9 months but it will be nice to have a house not a plot of dirt next door.

Bigger events that have happened recently were Jack’s birthday, Swine Flu in Forster, School Athletics carnival, Christmas in July and more.

Jack had his birthday party at home, with just a few of his friends, it was a nice relaxed party and they all had a good time.

We went up to Forster during the winter school holidays.  On the way up we stopped at Alum Mountain in Bulahdelah.  We drive past here everytime we go to Forster and I’ve often thought about having a closer look.  This time we drove up to the mountain and walk up a track beside the cliffs.  There were some amazing views over Bulahdelah.  The next day we went for a walk around the coast and the lake in Booti Booti National Park near Forster.  This was a 7 km walk and probably the further walk the kids have done.  We took it slowly and they had a good time.  That afternoon Jack complained of a bad headache, when we check his temperature is was almost 42 degrees.  So off to the Doctor who said it could be swine flu.  No tests were done but Jack went on the treatment and we made sure he didn’t go near Bob.  Next morning we abandoned Forster and drove home.

During July the kids had their School Athletics carnival in which they both did really well.  Jack won his heat in the sprint and then came 2nd in the final.  Grace came 2nd in her heat, but there was not a final for the Kinder kids.  She is really enjoying being at school and loves reading her books.  Great to see her.

Sarah and I went to a Christmas in July charity dinner for the school.  They have been raising money to put Smart Boards (computerised white boards) in all the class rooms.  It was a fun night with a lot of friends, Santa was there and our table joined in the auctions but seemed to miss out at the end.

Since then we have been spending a lot of time working in the house and garden.  I have started triathlon training again, though not for the Ironman this season, I have joined in with a group cycling each Saturday morning, which is much a social as anything else.  We were in Forster again last weekend, using Bob and Carol’s house while they are in Venice.  Had the nieghbours round for dinner but had a relax for the rest of the weekend.

I competed in my 3rd Half Ironman last Sunday.  this was in Port Macquarie (3 hours north of Newcastle) and is on the course used for the Australian Ironman in April.

My aim for this race was to not stop during the half marathon run at the end of the race.  The way the race was started meant that I was with other swimmers all around the course.  This meant that I was constantly battling with others but it also meant I didn’t relax, so I had a good swim time.  Then into the bike ride which went straight into some hills which were hard work.  Once over the hills it was directly into a head wind along the coast.  It was such a change at the turn around to have the wind behind me and the speed went up 7 kn/hr just because of the wind.  The bike ride was 2 laps so I went through it all twice.

The run started off really well, and I felt good and determined not to stop.  I managed this, even though I was running very slowly on the couple of hills on the course.  It took a lot of teeth gritting to carry on especially as I got a huge blister on one foot and some severe rubbing on my hills – so much for new comfortable trainers.

Because I did not stop running I was very happy with my time of 5 hrs 51 minutes, Jack and Grace even managed to join me to run over the finish line.

We now have a hand over date for our house (12th December).  After this we just need to put in a drive, front deck and carpet before we move in about a week later.

There are now some more photos in the house gallery, thanks to Edward sorting out a problem on the website.  The kitchen and bathrooms are in and tiled and now the painter is in there doing there work.

Sarah has been extremely busy arranging all the completion details.  Carpet is booked, curtains and blinds are bought and the drive man and decking guys are arranged to start work as soon as we get the house.

The only problem is that the house we’re renting is due to be demolished a week before we need to move out.  Our lease will be up so we’re negotiating some extra time.  They don’t want to, so it is being interesting negotiating.

Whatever happens we will be in for Christmas!!

This term Jack is being even more sporty than ever.  He has kept up with his weekly basketball and Nippers has started again at Merewether Surf Club.  As last year, this is a wonderful way to spend a Sunday morning at the beach.  there’s quite a group of them from his school in the group this week.

Instead of doing Little Athletics this summer, Jack has started going to cricket.  It’s amazing the skills that they are learning even right at the beginning.  It’s no wonder all the professional cricketers can hit the stumps in a single throw if they’ve been doing it since the age of 6.

Grace still does not want to take up any activities, but she really loves pre-school now and meets up with her friends outside of pre-school as well.  It will be a shame to move to Jacks’ school which is not the local school for the pre-school, so most of the others are going to a different school.  But I’m sure she’ll make other friends quickly.

After we were camping there were still 2 weeks of holidays to go.  During the first week both Jack and Grace went to 3 days of sports.  This was run by the people where Jack plays basketball, and was a big success for Grace to go.  It was the first time she has really been away from us except for pre-school and we were worried she wouldn’t stay, but she did and had a good time.

Then it was up to Forster for both Sarah and Grace’s birthday.  It was a lovely weekend and lovely to spend it with Carol and Bob.  We had a delicious dinner for Sarah’s birthday when we arrived up and on Grace’s birthday Jack, Grace and I rented a boat on the Myall Lake.  Dropped the anchor at one point for some unsuccessful fishing and then got caught in a rain shower.  After Grace’s birthday tea I made a good decision not to drive back to Newcastle that evening and to leave early the next morning.  this meant I had a smooth drive down instead of being caught in terrible winds, rain and traffic.

Sarah, Jack and Grace stayed up for a few days more and persuaded Kelly to go up with Josh and Chloe and also Dee and Blake.  Apparently a had a good few days together.

…A miracle of such magnitude…Shirley and Bruce celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary is Glitz and Glam. The night was recreated in Ricks Cafe Americana, Casablanca. Both daughters were home to organise and celebrate. Nicki flew in from New York and Rey came up from her home (which is attached to Shirley and Bruces). Sam on the Piano was just as good as from the movie… and the movie was replayed on the projector over the swimming pool all evening, till the speeches. Where we were entertained by a slide show of the life, and travels of the Golden Couple.

An elegant evening, with our “Letter of Transit”all ladies were requested to be dressed in evening gowns from the forties and gents in Dinner jackets or Arab Garb. Everyone looked very glam drinking bubbles and “gambling in the private salon”. All chips were provided for the roulette table in exchang for donations to (Grannys) Muriels Retirement village.

Most family and friends made it to the party and we hope to have a copy of old photos which were shown in the slide show so we can post them on this blog.

You may have noticed that the Gallery hasn’t been working for a while.  Well it is now sorted out thanks to Edward, so I’ve put a few recent photos on.  I shall try and keep it more up to date in the future.

A busy weekend just gone with Dave and Cass coming to stay with their son Xavier.

I started the weekend off with a leisurely swim.  Well a 3.8 km swim across Lake Macquarie, I’ve never swum anything like this distance before so it was a bit of a challenge.  I finished in 1 hr 20 mins (9th from last!) despite some severe cramp in my calf.

Dave and Cass arrived at lunchtime just as it started to rain.  We went to see our land in the afternoon to get Dave’s suggestions on our garden – very useful, but then had a run back into the car when the heavens opened.  We spent the rest of the afternoon indoors.  Dave and I popped out to get some more champagne and ended up in a pup for a while.

Sunday morning was Sarah’s first go at rowing.  She has joined the Hunter Rowing Club which is based on Lake Macquarie and joined a group of 4 learning the ropes.  She had a great time and is looking forward to learning more next week.

Carol and Bob were down for a barbeque lunch before we all went to see a newly built house (by our builders) and went our separate ways.

Last week we finally took possession of our land.  The estate is looking good with all the grass, trees and plants growing nicely.  We have been down a few times now and meeting other people down there discussing various house plans etc.

Our plans are in council waiting for approval, then we’ll be able to start building.

The only problem is that we are now paying a mortgage as well as rent, so we will be a bit strapped for cash for the next few months.  But it will be worth it when we move into our new house.