Shouldn't laugh pt 2 ...

It's 6 am and I'm sat in mt PJ's watching the beginning of the end for PAFC. You could argue that surviving in the Championship last season by the width of some skin on some teeth was delaying the inevitable. So that's it back to league one and local derbies with E*e*e* City. But worse than that I think this is the start of a rapid decline that could threaten the very existance of PAFC itself. The club is a sinking ship on and off the pitch...

... still at least there is the World Cup to raise the spirits and maybe .... just maybe! ;0)

Shouldn't laugh...

From the Plymouth Evening Herald ...

THOUSANDS of people basked in the sunshine as Plymouth enjoyed its warmest weekend of the year so far. Temperatures soared to 18C in some spots, inspiring hundreds to take to the sun-drenched Hoe and Barbican with picnics and ice creams. Many more got out on the sea, as watersports enthusiasts took full advantage of the warm weather.

Our Char ...

Its amazing what a new baby does to you (... other than the obvious!) but we've certainly spent some time looking back at baby pictures of Alfie. He's really grown up so fast in every way. He wanted to get on the scales today and he weighed in at nearly 14kg ... no wonder he's getting harder to pick up.

We were amazed at how many baby pictures and blog posts we had for him compared to those for Charlie. So in an effort to redress the balance here are some more beautiful pictures of him from Kate*



* apologies for the vest/singlet I'd been painting in the morning!!! ;0)

Parkour in the Park ...

After Dora the Explorer it was time to do our own exploring across the road in the park. As well as a wedding there was also some Parkour going on. For those of you that don't know Wikipedia states that...

Parkour or l'art du déplacement (English: the art of moving) is the physical discipline of training to overcome any obstacle within one's path by adapting one's movements to the environment. It is a non-competitive, physical discipline of French origin in which participants run along a route, attempting to negotiate obstacles in the most efficient way possible. Skills such as jumping and climbing, or the more specific parkour moves are employed. The object of parkour is to get from one place to another using only the human body and the objects in the environment. The obstacles can be anything in one's environment, but parkour is often seen practiced in urban areas because of the many suitable public structures available such as buildings and rails.

Here is the father of Parkour David Belle in action...



While the kids in the park might not have been at this standard they were certainly giving it a go, leaping entire flights of stairs and picnic tables in one leap. Ross gave it a go leaping a wall in a single bound whilst increasing the risks by having a hot chocolate in one hand!! They were clearly impressed and invited us along to beginner Parkour classes in their capacity of members of the Parkour Association of Australia!!! They said we could also bring the kids!!!! ... I'm not sure that we'll be taking them up on their offer... that said the boys were clearly inspired and gave it a go!

After the jumping and rolling we took to the natural environment as monkeys!

Dora the Explorer ...

This morning we took Alfie and Charlie along to see Dora the Explorer live at the theatre. It was a great show and I recommend that you go to see it, although the hangover that came along with me didn't add anything to the experience!

Alfie had a great time along with Noah joining in with all the bits they had to and some that they didn't!

The perils of life Down Under ...

Life Down Under is fraught with danger... more poisonous snake and spider species than anywhere else in the world... and thats before you consider crocodiles, sharks, jelly fish and more recently a Wombat! - Link

However there is a new danger lurking in the park outside the City Hall here in Newcastle... killer trees! Take al look at the warning sign below! I kid you not this is a genuine sign pictured this morning!

Fig Tree Fracas

I want some of that on my snags ...

Its vintage VW tomato sauce... The peoples car maker are making a total of 1,000 bottles of Volkswagen Classic Ketchup to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the creation of Volkswagen Spiced Ketchup. Didn't know the company was into condiments? Neither did I. As the story goes, VW created its special sauce as a compliment to its unique curry sausage(!), and the ketchup features a thicker consistency and a special flavor compared to your run-of-the-mill Heinz. VW started bottling the stuff en masse in 1997, and it sold 20,000 units the first year. Since then, the ketchup sales have only gotten stronger, and last year, VW sold 425,000 bottles.

... here's my VW complete with another 12months MOT/REGO this week! Only one loose wheel bearing sorted to get through... ;0)

Building Progress ...

The building work nears completion. All the outside of the new part is painted and so I've started painting the inside, first with primer and then a top coat. It's going to take a lot longer than I'd hoped/expected based on the fact that there are three rooms, a corridor, a bathroom and a wardrobe to paint. Still its good to see progress and we plan to occupy each room as its finished. The first being our room so that we can get the carpet down.

We've bought almost everything that we need, other than another twenty gallons of paint, and decided that anything else we'd like will have to wait!



... the bathroom and wardrobe.

We had a problem with the shower which leaked under the house and into the bedroom and so that had to be fixed by cutting a hole in the plasterboard. We've also had to get the tiler back for the third time as the tiles on the floor of the shower don't drain. There is also some electrical work which needs to be finished.

As we near completion we are seeing the advantages of having a site supervisor who is doing all the chasing, getting people back to finish work to a high standard. We have a feeling that without those contacts or authority we'd be struggling to complete. The next post should feature a completed room!!! Woo Hoo!

... our Bedroom.

Caves Beach ...

If you asked Alfie what his favourite beach was up until about a week ago, he would have replied "Bar Beach." There isn't anything spectacular about it if you are a a (nearly) three year old other than they sell chips and icecream there!

Although last week we went along to investigate the caves at Caves Beach. There are several short tunnels from a large cave which make their way through the headland. The one above is about the biggest, the smallest requires you to lie flat on the sand and wriggle through like a worm for about ten metres.

Charlie seems to have developed a liking for the beach enjoying the sand between his toes to go along with all the fluff he seems to store there. Although when giving the opportunity to dip a toe he voiced his disapproval.

While Alfie and I went for a paddle and a scramble on the rocks, Beth and Charlie enjoyed the shade in the cave...

Alfie seems to have gained a lot of confidence in the water and doesn't get too upset when he pushes his boundry a little too far and a wave cleans him up! We're looking to get him some swim lessons over the winter so that he can enjoy the beach even more next Summer.

... Alfie at the entrance to the Cave.

... before going on another mission! Caves Beach seems to be the favourite for the moment.

Mitch's Birthday...

When we were invited out for a suprise meal to celebrate Mitchel's birthday we were somewhat hesitant. As anyone with young children will testify eating with your children in public can be a challenge and closer to feeding time at the zoo than a fine dining experience!

... quick someone call Norris McWhirter! 

However not wanting to miss out we went along with the mindset that if we managed to eat oursleves then it would be a bonus! Having said all that we had a great night. Alfie was perfect, aided somewhat throughout the three hours by a small DVD screen and the opportunity to run around on the harbour between courses. Charlie took the opportunity to tuck in as well and so a good time was to be able to be had by all.

... it was quite a nice Autumn evening weather wise but Charlie still covered with a hat for the first time!

Mitchel ended the night with an icecream and a smile after being helped out of its glass! ;0)

The Reptile Park ...

This week we took a trip down the coast to the reptile park. We've been there before with Alfie, but this time it was Charlie's turn in the papoose!

... Alfie checks out another carrying pouch!

... the twins check out the Roo too!

There was a lot to see and Alfie seemed quite taken by most of the animals, some of which are safer than others to touch. When asked on our return what animals he saw he replied "Rabbits and a Giraffe," it was obviously money well spent as we saw neither! We did see lots of Crocs, Aligators, Koalas, Wombats, Kangaroos, snakes, lizards and spiders. They actually "Milk" the posionous animals for their venom which is sent to the hospitals to create anti venom so the work they are doing is certainly worthwhile.

We had a great day looking at all the exhibits and listening to the many talks. It's quite a small park but great value. All the talks seemed to be presented by the same man who seemed to have quite a bit of material up his sleeve as well as the snake inside his shirt!!!

The Boys ... Month by Month

Happy Easter ...

Easter is all a little strange here ... new life, Easter chicks ... leaves turning brown and falling from the trees! Its Autumn ... best to focus on the true meaning eh! Anyway we packed up and left for the Hunter Valley Gardens... the largest formal gardens in Australia fact fans!

We met up with the Murdoch's and had a great time. The kids went well on the Easter Egg Hunt with Alfie's hat coming in useful to collect the eggs. After that there was time for sack races ... (check the video .. Alfie due to complete his race sometime on Thursday!), egg and spoon, parachutes and ball games. There was also a show for the kids which Alfie and Noah might have ended up staring in given half an opportunity!!!

Just one of the many family days out planned for the next two weeks while I'm on holiday.

He aint heavy ....

Local Park Opens...

We were quite put out several months ago when the local council seemingly sold our local park to the Tennis Club so that retired people who you would think would have plenty of time on their hands could play tennis on an additional court during the busy late afternoon period! So the swings and the see saw that was our park was gone...

Then nothing for months until work started on a new park. Lake Maquarie Council ... I take it all back!



This week the park finally opened and the warm weather had every child in the suburb down in the park ... many of whom we'd never seen before. It was great to have a place for neighbours to hang out with the kids.



Parks have obviously changed since my day ... gone is the concrete, chain swings, broken glass and older kids drinking cider! ... in are climbing walls and nets and a flying saucer shaped swing! I'm sure we'll be making great use of the park in the future.

Love you too Charlie...