The kidlets were phenomenal at swimming lessons last night. Hayzey has gotten past her improvement plateau and is starting to develop the ability to use her arms and legs at the same time while swimming freestyle. Her rocket/torpedo is becoming highly developed and if you catch a sideways glimpse of her doing this she looks a little pink bullet gliding just under the surface of the water.
LGR can swim - but doesn't believe he can. He did the most perfect dive last evening and transitioned it magnificently into a torpedo then a few strokes of freestyle. All he needs is some more confidence and a little bit of swimming fitness - and he can't swim long enough to get the latter without having the former.
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I've got to confess to being completely addicted to the letters pages of various newspapers - mainly for the vast array of ideas and opinions that it exposes me to. I don't always like what I read but it's fantastic to see what others think and to see how that gels with my own views and experiences. Democracy is a fantastic thing and I strongly believe we should all listen to others more often - and possibly this is more true when we don't agree with what others have to say ...
Friday, July 11, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Returned
LGR returned from Grandma's place last night - and seemed to be pretty happy to be back. He certainly had a good time - a visit to Scenic World to ride the cable car, railway and go for a walk into the old mines, a trip to the lollyshop, out for lunch, uninterrupted computer time ....
He was given a bit of spending money while he was up there and bought himself some toys. He also bought some for Hayz - which I found to be quite sweet and considerate of him. Hayz loved getting a gift from LGR and they were very excited to see each other last night. Perhaps too excited .... there wasn't a lot of dinner eaten.
While LGR was gone Mrs G and myself took Hayz out for dinner. We ended up at a pub as requested but couldn't manage spag bol. Lasagna was good enough ... The following evening Hayz helped me cook an entire meal.
How did she help? She ate olives and tomatoes while standing on a chair and watching me .... She even managed to drop an olive seed into the eggs - a story she retold in vivid detail over dinner.
He was given a bit of spending money while he was up there and bought himself some toys. He also bought some for Hayz - which I found to be quite sweet and considerate of him. Hayz loved getting a gift from LGR and they were very excited to see each other last night. Perhaps too excited .... there wasn't a lot of dinner eaten.
While LGR was gone Mrs G and myself took Hayz out for dinner. We ended up at a pub as requested but couldn't manage spag bol. Lasagna was good enough ... The following evening Hayz helped me cook an entire meal.
How did she help? She ate olives and tomatoes while standing on a chair and watching me .... She even managed to drop an olive seed into the eggs - a story she retold in vivid detail over dinner.
Monday, July 07, 2008
Winners are Grinners
The mighty LLSC U/6 Red team recorded their first victory on Saturday morning - courtesy of a single goal in the 3rd minute of the game. Doesn't matter though - the kids were thrilled and the parents (possibly) even more thrilled. It was great to see the kids milling around after the game - all abuzz with excitement and filled with pride.
We had another game in the evening - at 19:45 to be precise. We were the halftime entertainment in a charity game at Marconi Stadium. The kids all got their pictures taken and got to run down the players tunnel to go out onto the field. When they finished all the kids stood on halfway, bowed to the crowd and then ran to the grandstand to wave to the crowd. It was fantastic and LGR loved it all. Except the game. Too many distraction to play soccer .... I don't even know what the score was.
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Sunday was a trip up the mountains. LGR is on school holidays and is spending a few days with Grandma. He was quite excited about it but the actual moment of departure was quite hard. He put on a very brave face and gave us all enthusiastic hugs and kisses but in the end there were some barely withheld tears almost shed by all of us. Even Hayzey misses him - as we found out during the evening.
We went for dinner with Aunt LU, Auncle AU and 'lil baby Lillee. Hayzey kept herself entertained but frequently told us that she missed LGR. You could by the look on her face that this was the truth - and a sweet truth.
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When we woke this morning I asked Hayzey where she wanted to go for dinner tonight. The answer was immediate. "The pub. I want to go to the pub for dinner. I want spaghetti bolegnese!"
She reported the same thing to Mrs G after I left for work so it must be the truth .... I guess we've now got to find that serves spag bol.
We had another game in the evening - at 19:45 to be precise. We were the halftime entertainment in a charity game at Marconi Stadium. The kids all got their pictures taken and got to run down the players tunnel to go out onto the field. When they finished all the kids stood on halfway, bowed to the crowd and then ran to the grandstand to wave to the crowd. It was fantastic and LGR loved it all. Except the game. Too many distraction to play soccer .... I don't even know what the score was.
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Sunday was a trip up the mountains. LGR is on school holidays and is spending a few days with Grandma. He was quite excited about it but the actual moment of departure was quite hard. He put on a very brave face and gave us all enthusiastic hugs and kisses but in the end there were some barely withheld tears almost shed by all of us. Even Hayzey misses him - as we found out during the evening.
We went for dinner with Aunt LU, Auncle AU and 'lil baby Lillee. Hayzey kept herself entertained but frequently told us that she missed LGR. You could by the look on her face that this was the truth - and a sweet truth.
---
When we woke this morning I asked Hayzey where she wanted to go for dinner tonight. The answer was immediate. "The pub. I want to go to the pub for dinner. I want spaghetti bolegnese!"
She reported the same thing to Mrs G after I left for work so it must be the truth .... I guess we've now got to find that serves spag bol.
Friday, July 04, 2008
Poet / Know It
I've just come back from a farewell lunch for a very competent and decent gentleman who wasn't given the chance he well and truly deserved at work. Very sad to see a bloke leave under these circumstances and a massive loss for the company. For me it's an object lesson in the impediments that can be placed in a career path when the skills of an individual exceed (or are perceived to exceed) those of their management. I always thought it was a good idea to hire those who could make you look good - but that is only true until those that you hire being to make you look bad ....
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I had a very engaging conversation with LGR this morning. We were talking about rhymes and coming up with verses when I said "I'm a poet and I didn't know it." Apparently this was very funny - to the point where LGR started chuckling very heartily. After a while I heard him repeat the phrase and start chuckling again. Very, very sweet.
Not too long after we were still rhyming words and I came up with "sugar" - thinking he would never find a rhyme. Wrong.
Booger.
Took him all of 1/3 of a second.
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Another LGR story. While I was tucking him into bed last night I looked up at his calendar and noticed he had scribbled in the numbers 32 and 33 in the empty boxes after July 31. I made comment (feeling quite chuffed that he had done this) and we got to talking about the picture on his calendar - Larnach Castle in winter.
The question was asked by LGR - "Can we go back there in winter?". I replied this would absolutely happen. Did I promise this? Of course I did. Was it a pinky promise? I had no idea what this was but said of course it was a pinky promise.
The next thing I knew he was reaching out his hand with a cocked little finger to shake with .... I honestly thought I was going to cry. It confirmed that he loved our trip, and wanted to spend more time with us, and it was such as solemn and sweet moment to share with my little/big boy.
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But it's not all LGR. Hayzey has her moments. This morning (about 05:00) she came racing into our bedroom full of tears. I was laying in bed being quite lazy (I should have been out and about doing some exercise) and Mrs G was having a shower (needed to be at work by 07:00). Hayzey opened the bathroom door, looked in, walked out of the bedroom, came back in, looked in the bathroom again, walked out again and never missed a sob. I called her over to the bed and asked what was wrong. She couldn't find her blanket ....
I asked if she wanted hugs with Daddy and she almost jumped into bed with me. She might be getting older but she is very, very tiny and so sweet when she's not being a typical know-it-all 3 year old.
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I had a very engaging conversation with LGR this morning. We were talking about rhymes and coming up with verses when I said "I'm a poet and I didn't know it." Apparently this was very funny - to the point where LGR started chuckling very heartily. After a while I heard him repeat the phrase and start chuckling again. Very, very sweet.
Not too long after we were still rhyming words and I came up with "sugar" - thinking he would never find a rhyme. Wrong.
Booger.
Took him all of 1/3 of a second.
---
Another LGR story. While I was tucking him into bed last night I looked up at his calendar and noticed he had scribbled in the numbers 32 and 33 in the empty boxes after July 31. I made comment (feeling quite chuffed that he had done this) and we got to talking about the picture on his calendar - Larnach Castle in winter.
The question was asked by LGR - "Can we go back there in winter?". I replied this would absolutely happen. Did I promise this? Of course I did. Was it a pinky promise? I had no idea what this was but said of course it was a pinky promise.
The next thing I knew he was reaching out his hand with a cocked little finger to shake with .... I honestly thought I was going to cry. It confirmed that he loved our trip, and wanted to spend more time with us, and it was such as solemn and sweet moment to share with my little/big boy.
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But it's not all LGR. Hayzey has her moments. This morning (about 05:00) she came racing into our bedroom full of tears. I was laying in bed being quite lazy (I should have been out and about doing some exercise) and Mrs G was having a shower (needed to be at work by 07:00). Hayzey opened the bathroom door, looked in, walked out of the bedroom, came back in, looked in the bathroom again, walked out again and never missed a sob. I called her over to the bed and asked what was wrong. She couldn't find her blanket ....
I asked if she wanted hugs with Daddy and she almost jumped into bed with me. She might be getting older but she is very, very tiny and so sweet when she's not being a typical know-it-all 3 year old.
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Night Out
I managed to make way into Homebush last night to watch the 3rd State of Origin. 'Twas a good night and a good game. From the very different (to TV) viewpoint I had it looked as though the game was moderately in the middle of the paddock but it was the NSW scoring options (or lack of) that were the difference.
It's great to be in an Origin crowd when the players decide to have a little bit of a pushing contest :-)
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I had a very good morning today. When I got back from my morning exercise Hayzey was already up and about and in a very beautiful and friendly mood; full of talk and excitement. It transpired that both LGR and Hayzey saw 'Daddy' several times on TV last night. It turns out I had blue hair!!! I was about 50m from the mass of blue wigs but I can still imagine their excitement at thinking I was on TV.
I bought them home a couple of souveneirs (including a blue wig) and this seemed to thrill them to bits.
It's great to be in an Origin crowd when the players decide to have a little bit of a pushing contest :-)
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I had a very good morning today. When I got back from my morning exercise Hayzey was already up and about and in a very beautiful and friendly mood; full of talk and excitement. It transpired that both LGR and Hayzey saw 'Daddy' several times on TV last night. It turns out I had blue hair!!! I was about 50m from the mass of blue wigs but I can still imagine their excitement at thinking I was on TV.
I bought them home a couple of souveneirs (including a blue wig) and this seemed to thrill them to bits.
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
What's That Noise?
The Clan Jones were all settled down on the couch on Saturday afternoon watching "George of the Jungle". In this movie there's an elephant that thinks it's a dog.
At some point in the movie the elephant began to bark - and funnily enough it sounded just like a dog (the wonders of sound editting). It was so 'real' that our pups - who were obviously listening in from the back deck - started backing in reply. Mrs G and myself started laughing - poor little pups were quite confused ....
At some point in the movie the elephant began to bark - and funnily enough it sounded just like a dog (the wonders of sound editting). It was so 'real' that our pups - who were obviously listening in from the back deck - started backing in reply. Mrs G and myself started laughing - poor little pups were quite confused ....
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