Most other people I showed reactions ranged from cute (... females!) to scary (... males!)
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Hmmmm....
This picture of Alfie at day care was sent to my phone last week and provoked some household discussion....
Most other people I showed reactions ranged from cute (... females!) to scary (... males!)
Most other people I showed reactions ranged from cute (... females!) to scary (... males!)
Hornets Humbled ...
On another warm night in Newcastle the curtain came down on another Netball season and so to the hope of back to back championships. In a season littered with bitter rivalries between umpires and players repeating last seasons first place was always going to be a challenge. In the final the Hornets played out a game against last seasons finalists and friends. However it was not to be and the Hornets went down by ten.
The Hornets look to take next season off and take stock, although rumours that the GS and GD have hung up their bibs for the final time to concentrate on "proper sports" can not be confirmed nor denied.
by Jock Strap
Newcastle Evening Post
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Bathtime Fun...
As I mentioned earlier we've had Liam and Joel over the last two weekends and they did a great job entertaining Alfie. He thought bathtime was much more fun with two nephews to share the tub and toys.
Breakfast with Buddies...
It seems like ages ago now that the old crowd got together for a breakfast one Sunday morning. Its great that the kids are starting to interact with each other and enjoy each others company (... in the most part, Alfie is happy to share most things unless wheels are attached!) Ross and Sara ventured out and found plenty of willing volunteers to hold those new babies...
... Ben in the ball pool.
... Noah takes it easy or is he stuck!
... Alfie looks on!
... Come ere often?
... on the inside looking out!
... Who us???
... Ben in the ball pool.
... Noah takes it easy or is he stuck!
... Alfie looks on!
... Come ere often?
... on the inside looking out!
... Who us???
The Hillsborough Hornets...
It's finals time again for the Hillsborough Hornets, with our Semi and Final on Thursday. We've had a fairly good season only giving up points for a forfeited game we were unable to make and the game the other week when we walked off after half time when things got too rough ... I kid you not! Don't be fooled by the pink bibs! This week looks like we'll play that team again so expect fireworks!
It's pretty much the same faces as last seasons Championship winning team with fine stand in performances from Josh, Mel, Rosco (Former Australian Mixed Netballer!) and Julie. Wish us luck... this looks like our last season for a while so we hope to go out on a high.
What's doing down under?
What's doing down under? you may ask, well the obvious answer is quite a bit, so much so that finding the time, inspiration or motivation to write about it has been a challenge. Here are my list of excuses...
Excuse One: Beth has been pretty much been working full time with me at school and this has meant some very early mornings and late nights. We were often carrying a very sleepy Alfie to the car at 6:45am to get him to childcare for 7am, before doing an about turn to get to school before 8am. School is a good thirty five minutes away and so it's something of a mission, to get everyone up and out of the door, fully dressed with everything they need for the day. having said all that the money is very useful...
Excuse Two: The blogging has also taken a backseat after our camera expired on us. We were lucky to have been loaned Amy and Mitchell's but having seen at first hand the abuse that ours is subjected to we were hesitant to make too much use of it! We found out today that our camera will be resurrected soon and so something like normal service will resume. In short pictures tell a thousand words or so we are told, and with little time and my slower than slow typing speed factored in blogging has become non existent.
Excuse Three: Weekends have also become something of a blur with all the stuff that Beth does during the week (... pretty much everything around the home!) being left until the Saturday. Football training has started and we've had a couple of great house guests in the shape of Liam and Joel for the last weekends. Busy, busy, busy...
Excuse Four: Ross River Fever. Its back and as bad as before, which is about par for the course, it hangs around like glandular fever. Not much fun and without a conventional cure or treatment, so I'm going to try and get some herbal medicines that I've been recommended. I'm constantly tired, lethargic, lack patience and sleepy.... some would say these symptoms are hard to spot in my case!
Having heard all the woes of the Ivey World that here are some much needed updates and a promise to post more often....
Excuse One: Beth has been pretty much been working full time with me at school and this has meant some very early mornings and late nights. We were often carrying a very sleepy Alfie to the car at 6:45am to get him to childcare for 7am, before doing an about turn to get to school before 8am. School is a good thirty five minutes away and so it's something of a mission, to get everyone up and out of the door, fully dressed with everything they need for the day. having said all that the money is very useful...
Excuse Two: The blogging has also taken a backseat after our camera expired on us. We were lucky to have been loaned Amy and Mitchell's but having seen at first hand the abuse that ours is subjected to we were hesitant to make too much use of it! We found out today that our camera will be resurrected soon and so something like normal service will resume. In short pictures tell a thousand words or so we are told, and with little time and my slower than slow typing speed factored in blogging has become non existent.
Excuse Three: Weekends have also become something of a blur with all the stuff that Beth does during the week (... pretty much everything around the home!) being left until the Saturday. Football training has started and we've had a couple of great house guests in the shape of Liam and Joel for the last weekends. Busy, busy, busy...
Excuse Four: Ross River Fever. Its back and as bad as before, which is about par for the course, it hangs around like glandular fever. Not much fun and without a conventional cure or treatment, so I'm going to try and get some herbal medicines that I've been recommended. I'm constantly tired, lethargic, lack patience and sleepy.... some would say these symptoms are hard to spot in my case!
Having heard all the woes of the Ivey World that here are some much needed updates and a promise to post more often....
Sunday, February 22, 2009
What's it all about Alfie?
The name Alfie always seem to provoke some reaction. We are often asked if its really Alfred (no ... unless he's pushing his luck!) and whether he'll turn out like the Alfie made famous by Micheal Caine in the movie of the same name! Last week there was plenty of Alfie related discussion! However the more the world learns about pre-teen dad Alfie Patten and his 15-year-old Chantelle Steadman, the worse it gets.
... (the baby is the one at the bottom!)
The Dominion Post in New Zealand writes.
Alfie, the British tabloids report, is not Chantelle's only admirer. Several teenage boys in the Sussex town of Eastbourne have ventured the opinion that they might be the father of week-old Maisie. Behind them, parents dazzled by the lure of tabloid pounds are pushing the claims of their offspring.
If this were the plot for a television soap opera it might be amusing. Alfie, all 1.22m of him, is promising to stand by Chantelle and Maisie even though he doesn't know what "financially" means, and doesn't get pocket money. Chantelle is insisting Alfie is her one and only love "there has been no one else" and Alfie's dad, who left his mum for a teenage friend of his stepdaughter, has revisited the family home wearing a devil mask to see if he can cash in on his son's notoriety.
But this is not a soap opera. Alfie, Chantelle and Maisie are real people adrift in a society in which notoriety is mistaken for achievement and success means seeing your picture in The Sun. What is more they are all children.
The sinners here are not Alfie and Chantelle, but those around them who have failed to do what good parents do protect their children till they are old enough to look after themselves.
Alfie and Chantelle, like, Nadya Suleman, the Californian woman who gave birth to octuplets last month, are now international figures. Unlike her, they have been robbed of their childhoods. While others their age are still kicking balls in the street, fretting about what to wear to the school dance and nervously anticipating their first kiss, Alfie and Chantelle have become members of the adult club. They comprehend the mechanics, if not the responsibilities, that go with that club.
Worse they've got there without the anticipation and the excitement and the setbacks that should accompany such things. There's something dreadfully matter of fact about the way Chantelle describes the events that led to Maisie's birth. "I love Alfie. I lost my virginity to him. We decided to start a physical relationship because we love each other."
And they've arrived at parenthood without the tools they need to do the most challenging and important of jobs. Once the novelty wears off, once the tabloids stop banging on the door and once they stop seeing their faces on the six o'clock news, they'll find themselves like every other parent, being woken in the middle of the night, elbow deep in nappies and having to make sacrifices for the good of their child. But, unlike most other parents, they won't have the resilience acquired from dealing with the ups and downs of growing up to fall back on.
Chantelle is about to discover that just because Alfie "held my hand and rubbed my back" he is not ready for the responsibilities of fatherhood.
Alfie is about to discover he'd probably prefer to be hanging out with his mates than hanging around in a poky council flat listening to a baby cry.
No amount of backrubs is going to change that. Maisie's future looks as bleak as her mum's.
... (the baby is the one at the bottom!)
The Dominion Post in New Zealand writes.
Alfie, the British tabloids report, is not Chantelle's only admirer. Several teenage boys in the Sussex town of Eastbourne have ventured the opinion that they might be the father of week-old Maisie. Behind them, parents dazzled by the lure of tabloid pounds are pushing the claims of their offspring.
If this were the plot for a television soap opera it might be amusing. Alfie, all 1.22m of him, is promising to stand by Chantelle and Maisie even though he doesn't know what "financially" means, and doesn't get pocket money. Chantelle is insisting Alfie is her one and only love "there has been no one else" and Alfie's dad, who left his mum for a teenage friend of his stepdaughter, has revisited the family home wearing a devil mask to see if he can cash in on his son's notoriety.
But this is not a soap opera. Alfie, Chantelle and Maisie are real people adrift in a society in which notoriety is mistaken for achievement and success means seeing your picture in The Sun. What is more they are all children.
The sinners here are not Alfie and Chantelle, but those around them who have failed to do what good parents do protect their children till they are old enough to look after themselves.
Alfie and Chantelle, like, Nadya Suleman, the Californian woman who gave birth to octuplets last month, are now international figures. Unlike her, they have been robbed of their childhoods. While others their age are still kicking balls in the street, fretting about what to wear to the school dance and nervously anticipating their first kiss, Alfie and Chantelle have become members of the adult club. They comprehend the mechanics, if not the responsibilities, that go with that club.
Worse they've got there without the anticipation and the excitement and the setbacks that should accompany such things. There's something dreadfully matter of fact about the way Chantelle describes the events that led to Maisie's birth. "I love Alfie. I lost my virginity to him. We decided to start a physical relationship because we love each other."
And they've arrived at parenthood without the tools they need to do the most challenging and important of jobs. Once the novelty wears off, once the tabloids stop banging on the door and once they stop seeing their faces on the six o'clock news, they'll find themselves like every other parent, being woken in the middle of the night, elbow deep in nappies and having to make sacrifices for the good of their child. But, unlike most other parents, they won't have the resilience acquired from dealing with the ups and downs of growing up to fall back on.
Chantelle is about to discover that just because Alfie "held my hand and rubbed my back" he is not ready for the responsibilities of fatherhood.
Alfie is about to discover he'd probably prefer to be hanging out with his mates than hanging around in a poky council flat listening to a baby cry.
No amount of backrubs is going to change that. Maisie's future looks as bleak as her mum's.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Welcome to the World Bella and Jack...
I'm doing a little bit of catching up with What's doing down under and the main event of the last few weeks has certainly been the birth of Bella Grace and Jack Duncan. With Noah, Alfie's buddy and brother to the twins, being sixteen months times are sure going to be busy for Ross and Sara!
We have got to know Ross and Sara really well since I started at school and it is great to see them with their two new additions. As you can imagine doing anything with three under two is a challenge, but I have to say they are coping amazingly well and making it all look very easy! Bella has already had quite an adventure in the last few weeks but has pulled through with flying colours... what a little fighter.
Many congratulations to Ross, Sara and familes... and to Bella, Jack and Noah you've got a great mummy and daddy!
We have got to know Ross and Sara really well since I started at school and it is great to see them with their two new additions. As you can imagine doing anything with three under two is a challenge, but I have to say they are coping amazingly well and making it all look very easy! Bella has already had quite an adventure in the last few weeks but has pulled through with flying colours... what a little fighter.
Many congratulations to Ross, Sara and familes... and to Bella, Jack and Noah you've got a great mummy and daddy!
MELONS....
We had great fun in the garden harvesting the melons. When we planted then they were described as Baby Watermelons that could grow runners up to 1m. Well we must have been something right/wrong as the plant took over the veggie patch then the garden and produced some Monster Melons. We love water melon... just as well... and this one was soooo sweet. I think I might make some sorbet with it, anyone have any other melon ideas?!?
... they say that child birth is like passing a watermelon!!!
... Melon Head!
... HEEEEeeeeeeeeEEEeaaaavvvvvveee!
... something yummy and sweet... .... oh and the watermelon!
.... Alfie starts work on the melon!
... they say that child birth is like passing a watermelon!!!
... Melon Head!
... HEEEEeeeeeeeeEEEeaaaavvvvvveee!
... something yummy and sweet... .... oh and the watermelon!
.... Alfie starts work on the melon!
Wednesday nights are made for dancing....
Check out the latest shapes that Alfie chucks around the dance floor.
Dancer: Alfie
Choreographer: Dad
Music: Some rubbish on MTV
Dancer: Alfie
Choreographer: Dad
Music: Some rubbish on MTV
Sunday, February 08, 2009
A tragic day for Australia,,,
I've just finished watching the News after a day of the worst bush fires Australia has ever seen. Eighty four people lost their lives today. After all the recent dry weather bush fires were inevitable, but having just watched the news coverage the scale and devastation particularly in Victoria is unbelievable, entire towns have been wiped from the map by fires which are often started deliberatly. It certainly brings home how important it is to take precautions with fire and to protect your house. I do get up on to the roof now and again to remove leaves from the gutters etc, something I'll be doing more frequently from now on...
BBC News
Friday, February 06, 2009
Hottest place on Earth...
While the UK shivers and we watch Red Buses crawl through snow swept streets on our news, all talk here is of weather as New South Wales prepares to become the hottest place in the world on Sunday, with temperatures expected to soar to 47C.
The Daily Telegraph
We'll let you know how the weekend goes....
The Daily Telegraph
We'll let you know how the weekend goes....
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
I can swim...
During the summer Alfie has had many opportunities to swim and has steadily grown in confidence. While wearing various float devices he has been somewhat reluctant to release his vice like grip on your hands... until Sunday!
Alfie decided that it was time to go solo and have a go at being on his own. He quickly realised that with a little kick and waggle of arms he could really get somewhere...
... Mum decided that it was time for a cocktail...
Alfie decided that it was time to go solo and have a go at being on his own. He quickly realised that with a little kick and waggle of arms he could really get somewhere...
... Mum decided that it was time for a cocktail...
Friday, January 30, 2009
Scorchio...
We have been enjoying/enduring something of a heat wave in recent weeks. While we might have avoided the 44 degree heat in Melbourne that has played havoc with the Australian Open Tennis we are getting temperatures well into the thirties on a regular basis. Newspaper Article
Where I work only forty minutes by car the temperatures tend to be about two or three degrees warmer than the coast, the journeys to and from school are all about survival. Without air conditioning or even a fan, my plastic seats and a steering wheel too hot to touch its been interesting!!!
I think we have really noticed the heat after two relatively cool summers since our arrival. While it might seem that we are being whingeing Poms again, but very warm days are like the full day of torrential rain that you might get in the UK, simply the weather makes you want to stay inside... on this occasion with the air conditioners on!
Where I work only forty minutes by car the temperatures tend to be about two or three degrees warmer than the coast, the journeys to and from school are all about survival. Without air conditioning or even a fan, my plastic seats and a steering wheel too hot to touch its been interesting!!!
I think we have really noticed the heat after two relatively cool summers since our arrival. While it might seem that we are being whingeing Poms again, but very warm days are like the full day of torrential rain that you might get in the UK, simply the weather makes you want to stay inside... on this occasion with the air conditioners on!
Stralia Day...
We celebrated Australia (... pronounced Stralia round these ere parts) Day on the 26th. The weather was strangely Un-Australian but we had a great day.. none the less. We had hoped that we would celebrate this year as Australians but we simply haven't had time to do the study to pass the test but we are hopeful that we can get this done within the next three months. It would mean that we could carry both an English and Australian passport, but more importantly avoid any embarrassment on either side during this Summer's ashes series.
Anyway I digress... we spent much of the day at a local park listening to bands. There was a great atmosphere, with young and old alongside each other, lots of beer and not the faintest hint of any trouble.
I traded a kidney so that Alfie could have a go on some of the rides. He clearly enjoyed the merry-go-round, and we had a great view from the top of the Ferris Wheel. Alfie then gave two worried parents some cause for concern as he fearlessly scaled the bouncy castle ladder to get to the slide! Alfie also managed to get inside a Fire Engine and make his Nee Naw siren noise for all to hear.
Mitch and Amy came along to top off a great day...
Anyway I digress... we spent much of the day at a local park listening to bands. There was a great atmosphere, with young and old alongside each other, lots of beer and not the faintest hint of any trouble.
I traded a kidney so that Alfie could have a go on some of the rides. He clearly enjoyed the merry-go-round, and we had a great view from the top of the Ferris Wheel. Alfie then gave two worried parents some cause for concern as he fearlessly scaled the bouncy castle ladder to get to the slide! Alfie also managed to get inside a Fire Engine and make his Nee Naw siren noise for all to hear.
Mitch and Amy came along to top off a great day...
Yikes...
Almost big enough to put the bin out for us....
... the harmless (so I'm told!) Huntsman Spider.
... the harmless (so I'm told!) Huntsman Spider.
Bye Bye Nan and Gramps....
A couple of weeks ago we had to say a sad goodbye to Nan and Gramps. They had become very much part of life at home, entertaining Alfie and embarking on yet another project. When you visit Australia you can stay for 90 days on a tourist visa before you need to leave, Nan and Gramps managed an impressive 89 days!
We marked the last couple of days with some family picnics and days out together.
There wasn't a dry eye at the rail station, other than Alfie's who was quite taken with the passing trains!!! We are sure that Alfie misses them however ... walks around Hillsborough and rides on legs have been in short supply!
We have lots of lovely memories of their visit and thank them for everything that they did while they were here. We also know that our parents do a lot for us from home too, and their love makes them feel much closer to us. Hope to see you Down Under again soon...
Congratulations Jo and Brendon...
Things have been pretty busy of late and so there have been few updates. I'll try and get you all up to speed on What's Doing Down Under. We were delighted to be invited to the Wedding of Jo and Brendon at a local church. I was working with Jo last year and we struck up quite a friendship, I'm pleased that I am working with her again this year although the name change is a little confusing!
Beth and I had a wonderful day, taking in everything during the ceremony and enjoying the evening meal and festivities. Both Jo and Brendon looked great, it was great share their day. Thanks guys...
Beth and I had a wonderful day, taking in everything during the ceremony and enjoying the evening meal and festivities. Both Jo and Brendon looked great, it was great share their day. Thanks guys...
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Le Grand Cirque...
Just got back from Le Grand Cirque performance in Newcastle. It was simply breathtaking. Circus performances are not normally my thing but this was stunning. I found a couple of online clips to give you a flavour of what we saw...
If you ever get the chance to see it take the opportunity...
If you ever get the chance to see it take the opportunity...
Friday, January 16, 2009
No-oooooo!...
Alfie has become very talkative of late and starting to use more words and string some together, he actually said "Mummy and Daddy" the other day, talk about melt your heart. He holds quite long conversations with you complete with facial expressions and gestures. Last night he was particularly talkative, although as usual most of this was not caught on camera.
Take a look at these short videos. Guess which word he can pronounce perfectly?!?!...
Take a look at these short videos. Guess which word he can pronounce perfectly?!?!...
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Stair project completed...
Jon has worked so hard on the steps at the back of the house (.. in extreme heat. Beth actually came out and one point said "Its hot out here" and scuttled back inside!) to make them safer for Alfie. Thanks to Matt and Jon we have some great looking rails. I have to admitt that I wouldn't have had a clue where to start... I've learnt heaps!
The Foreman and her little assistant comes to check the work...
The Foreman and her little assistant comes to check the work...
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Anniversary v.3...
Wednesday marked our third wedding anniversary, we had a chat about the last three years and marvelled at how much has changed. It seems kinda strange that Alfie wasn't there on the day but a look back at the wedding pictures show that he wasn't!
Take a look for yourself...
To celebrate the day Beth and I went for a surf lesson in crazy conditions. The instructors took the seven of us out to get smashed about for eighty minutes. I managed to get up for the shortest of rides but spent much of my time battling with seven and a half feet of foam inside a washing machine... Beth and I have both crossed Professional Surfer off our potential change of vocation list.
After the surf safari we walked to the Brewery for a bite to eat and some drinks.
After that we took Alfie to the Fair and he had a ride and he managed to pick up a perfect prize on one of the stalls.
After that it was back home to get ready to go out for more drinks and another bite to eat... we were celebrating three years after all. We went to Isobar and had a great night. We managed to find a great spot which was basically a bed with a table in the middle, we kicked back chilled out and watched the ships pass with the sea breeze blowing in.
Take a look for yourself...
To celebrate the day Beth and I went for a surf lesson in crazy conditions. The instructors took the seven of us out to get smashed about for eighty minutes. I managed to get up for the shortest of rides but spent much of my time battling with seven and a half feet of foam inside a washing machine... Beth and I have both crossed Professional Surfer off our potential change of vocation list.
After the surf safari we walked to the Brewery for a bite to eat and some drinks.
After that we took Alfie to the Fair and he had a ride and he managed to pick up a perfect prize on one of the stalls.
After that it was back home to get ready to go out for more drinks and another bite to eat... we were celebrating three years after all. We went to Isobar and had a great night. We managed to find a great spot which was basically a bed with a table in the middle, we kicked back chilled out and watched the ships pass with the sea breeze blowing in.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
More Veggie News...
Looking back through the blog I saw some of the previous pictures.
It's gone from this...
... to this in three weeks!
It's gone from this...
... to this in three weeks!
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