Camping along the Goulburn River

As I mentioned in a previous post - Union Jack, The Hatchlings and I planned a camping trip for our summer holidays. Well, we've been, we've camped, we've conquered the wild outdoors of Acheron... and it was FANTASTIC!!

This is what our campsite looked like:

And when I sat outside on my ever-so-comfortable camping chair with a hot cup of tea in the morning - this is what I saw:

The Hatchlings enjoyed staring out at the beautiful vista too. Here they are at breakfast time, just chillin'.

When The Hatchlings weren't chillin', they were particularly keen on strolling down to the water's edge and launching as many stones as they could lay their hands on into the river. It might be genetic - I like throwing stones into the river too!

Every morning, usually between 10.30 and 12.00 we took to the tennis court with our lovely friends who were camping with us. No, change that - really we were camping with them. It was their camping trip - we just decided to gate crash!

Hatchling No.1 was more interested in the post tennis swim than the tennis itself. He lolled about under the shade of a beautiful gum tree while we sweated it out.

And the experience wouldn't have been complete without cricket...

Hatchling No.2's fielding ability was compromised only by his love of wearing his hat down LOW.

Hey! Who snuck in a photo of me? I'm the one who is found BEHIND the camera, remember?!

We were both caught at a weak moment - I facing the wrong end of the camera, Hatchling No.2 with his hat flipped up...

In the evening we had a campfire (of course!). Huh, who would have thought a group of little boys would be interested in a bucket full of cold ashes, and soot, and dust, and black stuff??

It's a mystery to me - you know, being a girl and everything...

It's official, we love camping. I don't know when the next camping adventure will be, but I hope it isn't too long to wait!

Jen xx

All in the name of h2o

See these faces?

They're the faces of two little Hatchlings who knew that two BIG water tanks were about to be delivered.

The Hatchlings also knew they'd see a bunch of blokes moving them across a steep hill (rather a perilous maneovre) in order to get them into Union Jack's desired water tank location. Union Jack's face looked much the same as the Hatchlings' faces that morning.

With the smaller tank already in place, the big 10,000 litre tank was delivered to our lovely neighbour's house. Their long driveway meant the tank was closer to where it needed to be that way.

Union Jack had a few ideas he needed to share with his willing assistants:
"Errr, it needs to go over there..."

Don't try this at home kids...

The tank man scuttled into and out of the tank like the seasoned professional that he is - much to the astonishment of the Hatchlings.

How many blokes does it take to move a water tank?

The tank was off and rolling (in a controlled manner) in no time.

There is no shortage of the male of the species around our place:

• 4 big ones moving the tank,
• 6 little ones watching them move it.
  

In a remarkably uneventful few minutes, the boys had the tank right where they wanted it. With a bit of a twist and a tilt - the tank made it to its new home.

"Easy" said Outback Joe.

He's got a mischievous face, that one. I reckon we'll see a bit more of Outback Joe before long...

Jen x

1920s Chicago

Union Jack and I recently went to a Christmas party with a 1920s Chicago theme - this was the result...

I love dressing up!

Jen x

The BEST Kris Kringle gift ever

If you ask me, I think Kris Kringle gifting is often a recipe for a big fat let down. One person may take quite a bit of time to think of something unique, interesting, and appropriate for the recipient, and then receive a candle/candle holder/photo frame or something equally unimaginative in return. The person who gets the photo frame is usually me, sigh.

But not this year!

This year my gorgeous work colleague, Laura, certainly used her imagination when creating this Kris Kringle gift ($10) for me. I'm sure Laura thinks she doesn't know me very well, but she zeroed in on a vital clue for this Kris Kringle. We've been chatting here and there about my upcoming camping trip over the past few months, and this is what she created:

Perfect!

In my book it really is the thought that counts, and I love that Laura took the time to think about what I might need to survive 5 nights in a tent with Union Jack and The Hatchlings.

What I love most is the laminated "Crazy Woman" sign. It will be found hanging at the entrance to our tent throughout the camping trip.

All that is missing is a set of earplugs!

Thank you Miss Laura. You're a gem.


Jen x

S-s-s-snake!!!!

It's been almost four years since our last close encounter with a snake, but in the week leading up to Christmas this guy showed up:

Sadly he didn't turn up in this conveniently sealed plastic container. Now that I probably could have handled - close eyes, grit teeth, pick up box, launch into outer space, or somewhere equally as remote!

Hatchling No.1 and I first spotted this 4 year old (approx.) Tiger Snake as we wandered casually into our tv room.

"Something's there..." said Hatchling No.1 as he headed across to the window to peer out into the garden. Expecting it to be a super cute skink I followed him saying,
"Oh yes its a....." at that moment I spotted what most certainly was NOT a skink,
"Errrgh! It's a snake!"

Mr. Tiger Snake was sliding through our garden bed, rubbing along the window pane (which probably felt nice and cool).

I immediately laid down the law with Hatchling No.1: "Stay there and DO NOT follow me outside!"

I then suddenly found I was wearing my brave trousers and went outside to watch where our visitor was going. He slid into our garage (IE. closer to the door - eek!) and hid under the car. Fortunately my sister Selma has a friend who keeps snakes, and he was extremely excited to come and collect our unwanted guest.

After what felt like an eternity, Snake-Dude-Luke arrived and set about finding Mr. Snake. I lost sight of him as he slithered off into the junk corner of our garage. As luck would have it, Snake-Dude-Luke found him almost instantly. After a bit of hide and seek Snake-Dude-Luke picked up Mr. Snake (really, with his bare hands, no joke) and popped him into his waiting plastic container.

PHEW!!!!

Snake-Dude-Luke said he was a very 'pretty' tiger snake, and set off to find Mr. Snake a nice new place to live in the State Park (where people don't live and snakes should!).

'Pretty' wasn't the first word that sprang to mind when I looked at Mr. Snake, but then Snake-Dude-Luke does have a pet snake (Death Adder, me thinks) called Tickles. Need I say more?

I would love to love snakes, really, I would. The trouble is that they stir up a fear within me that goes right to the core. When I see a snake in the wild I almost cannot breathe - that's how scary they are to me. I just can't love something that scares me that much - full stop, end of story.


I might consider therapy one day...

...but it's an unlikely prospect.

Jen x

Merry Christmas to all...

Wow - it has been a rather BUSY lead up to Christmas. My blog has been looking at me dejectedly, with pleading eyes - both of us aware of the neglect being inflicted but niether of us willing to acknowledge it....

No, I am not writing this late Christmas Eve, and no - believe it or not I have not been drinking (yet).

In a day that has cleaning, trifle making, trampoline construction, present wrapping, tree lopping (seriously!), grocery shopping, child rearing, soul cleansing, carol singing, and whatever else happens to appear...... I am DETERMINED to wish my blog followers a very merry Christmas.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Let me assure you, I have so many cool stories to share that I may be compelled to go into blog overdrive over the next few weeks. There are fancy dress parties, snakes, tanks - all sorts of things to cover. Watch this space!

Meanwhile, have a wonderful Christmas and may 2010 bring you each and every little thing your heart desires.

Jen x

We're going camping!

We've talked about it for a long time. We've danced around the possibilities - a little bit scared and a little bit excited. Yet to date we have NOT been on a family camping trip.

All that will change this summer. With my heart in my mouth I booked us into a camp site in a beautiful riverside location for January. If everything goes to plan we will spend almost a week out in the wide open spaces, testing out our beautiful new tent.

The Hatchlings are already giving their new sleepng bags a bit of running in. In fact, they probably get a test drive about once a day at the moment. The Hatchlings aren't excited about camping AT ALL.

Can everybody send us positive vibes please? Part of me thinks we might need it!!


Jen x