Birthday lunch

Another year around the sun for me and we celebrated with a fancy lunch by the water.  With COVID dining restrictions still in force, we were allocated a two hour limit for our lunch.  Normally this wouldn't be a problem because usually the kids just want to eat and leave, in addition Mister had a work shift later that afternoon.  However, on the day we went we waited over an hour between entrée and main meals.  This meant there was no time for dessert and my lord, the desserts looked amazing.  Plus lets be real, I'm there for the desserts.

I'd still recommend this restaurant.  It is a beautiful location, gorgeous interiors, the food (and cocktails) were exceptional.... and I'll be going back sometime just for the desserts.

COVID-19 strikes again

COVID-19 claimed it's next victim in the house....me.  It started with a sore throat, minor sniffle, stabbing aches and pains, and the hot and colds.  I was isolated to the bedroom and Nurse Michael kept me hydrated, feed and dosed up on aspirin and the like.  I didn't feel tired or lethargic, but the aches and pains were not pleasant.  

Three days in Michael succumbed as well.  He slept for two days and bounced back okay.  Although, his ability to focus on tasks took a while to return.

Nanoo dropped off supplies, soups to nourish us, and took the kids to their commitments. 

For me, I've still got a dry cough.

Basketball champs

 

A couple of years ago, Mister joined some mates in their basketball team.  They played year round in summer and winter competitions.  Mister had never played before.  He took sometime, but his confidence grew and he improved week on week.  Let's face it, he has the height for the game.

Each competition round would bring it's challenges.  Mostly, they were placed in grades that were well above their skill set and would routinely get beaten but they kept going and honing their skills as a team.

The winter comp proved their most successful.  They were equally matched with the other teams and there were some great competitive games during the competition rounds.  So much so, they made it to the final rounds and ended up in the grand final having to face the number one team on the leaderboard.

Michael and I both went along to the game with a some of the other parents from our team and the boys had five friends from school show up to support them as well.  The opposing team's supporters took up 3/4 of the basketball court stands.  They had parents, extended family members, and all their school mates.

When the game started, it was clear why the opposing team were the premier winners of the comp.  They had great skills, they attacked and defended well, and had obviously played as a team for many years.  They also were very muscly, biceps and triceps all of them.  Their aggressiveness was a little confronting at first.  They were very vocal on the court -  fist pumping, yelling, and their supporters were just as loud.  Compare this to our boys, who are all quiet, lean and lanky.

It was a very close game.  Our boys stayed their steady course and plugged away, they had an early  lead but the opposition fought back and the last five minutes of the game were tense.  When the final whistle blew, the only indication we had won was the silence from the opposing team and their supporters.

The Quiet Achievers.

Kiss - End of the Road

Since childhood, my brother and I have shared a love of the band Kiss.  With the band getting on in age (aren't we all?), they've called it day when it comes to touring a live show.  The opportunity to see them one last time was too good to miss.  Whatever you might think of them, their music, the costumes, the makeup - they put on a very entertaining show.  It's worth it...... everytime.

Cold trip to Sydney

A very cold and wet winter visit down to Sydney to see my brother and his family.  Purpose was a Led Zeppelin tribute band.  Milly loves to come with me and I have to admit it's great to show her around the city and have her spend time with her cousin.  We always get the train and each time we do this she is more familiar with the city metro train system.  I imagine one day, she'll move to a big city.

She loves visiting all the old buildings.  On this trip I introduced her to The Stand Arcade and the Queen Victoria Building.  Plus no trip to Sydney is complete without visiting the harbour to see the bridge and Opera House.  Although the weather was foul.

It was just myself and my brother going to see the Led Zeppelin tribute band "No Quarter".   Milly instead got to spend time with her cousin and be treated to a lesson on nail art by Auntie Yin.

As for the band No Quarter, they sounded exceptional and very like Led Zeppelin.  A nice little trip, despite the cold and rain.

School photos

Year 11

 

Year 9

Year 7

2022 Junior Huckers

 

While we were packing our things to leave sunny Queensland, the kids sat down for their first game of Huckers together.  There was only time for one game but we hope it is the first of many.  

Watching them play it was clear someone of them had observed the adults and taken on some of our strategies and game habits.  It can be a cut throat game and it was nice to observe the kids keeping their emotions together when things became challenging for them.

In the end it was a close game between Casper and Milly, with Milly the final victor.

2022 Huckers Tournament

This was the Huckers tournament of the decade.  A tournament that spanned multiple days and set new levels of play.  One player even earned a new nickname.  It was a serious battle royale for the trophy and Grandad's ashes.

The Players:  Grandad Bryan, Tiffany, Corin, Michael.

Game 1:   Won by Michael (blue).

Game 2:  Won by Corin (red).  Due the the amount of knocking offs this was recorded as a long game.

It was already late in the night and all players were tired.  It was agreed play would be suspended and carried over to the following evening.

Game 3:  Won by Grandad Bryan (green).  This was a very tense game that lasted two hours.  During play a spectator was reaching across the table and smashed their wine glass, spilling their drink all over the table and Tiffany.  Play was put on hold to allow clean up and change of clothes.  Twice Tiffany was very close to winning.  Michael endlessly rolled numbers that enabled him to consistently knock out all players as they got close to home.  This earned him the nickname "The Terminator".  

Due to the lateness of play, it was again agreed the tournament would be suspended another day.

Game 4:  Won by Tiffany (blue).  Another incredibly intense game.  Corin only needed to roll a one to win the game and tournament.  Four turns of rolling and and he was not successful.  This allowed Tiffany to get her final piece home and roll for the win.

Game 5:  Won by Tiffany (green).  A brief and straightforward game for the tournament decider.  Tiffany only had one piece knocked off and managed to keep all her pieces together until the home run.

The winning board.

Hugging Grandad's ashes in celebration.

The traditional presentation of trophy from previous champ to current champ.