Henry and Minnie

Henry has longed for a dog for many years.  I'm not sure who is luckier.  Henry for finally having Minnie, or Minnie for getting Henry.

Four eyes

Another family member has poor eye sight.  After complaining of having trouble seeing the board in class, I took Milly in for an eye test.  She had one 18 months ago, but her eye sight wasn't significantly poor enough to need glasses then.  This time the optometrist said Milly's vision had doubled in deterioration since that prior visit.  Plus she has two astigmatisms in her eyes.

She's the first of our kids to need glasses, and she's short sighted like me.

Olde worlde excursion

It's always a pleasure accompanying your child on a school excursion.  It's an opportunity to get to know the kids and teachers better, and in this instance, learn a bit about some local history.  

Buster's excursion was to the Tocal Homestead, which is a collection of colonial farm buildings dating from the 1830s.  It gave the kids a chance to see and experience life on a working farm, and discuss the differences and changes over the years in people's lives.

The famous bushranger Thunderbolt worked at the Tocal homestead in the stables.  He ended up stealing a horse from the stables (taking his pick of the best stead) and his legend began.

Discovering the importance of horse power on a farm.

Visiting the main house and learning how the owner of the property liked his table set in the old days.  He also spent some time in the original kitchen and learnt how things were made and all the jobs done (eg butter churning).

The most amazing Banyan tree on the property.

Washing clothes with a washboard, brush and soap.  Then having to use old fashioned pegs to hang them up.  Buster loved it.  I'll have to get him to help with the washing at home.

Fetching water buckets and carrying them on a yoke.  All the kids were obsessed with this activity.

Dress ups.

Life skills or child labour?