Urban Warriors

For Christmas - along with the usual water bombs and water pistols ( thats a different post all together) - the kids got Nurf guns... boy they have come along way..

Adrian has a revolving machine gun type, Morgan has one with a sight and lazer and Lillys has a pump action and all the sounds.. ( its bad for stealth though)

They sure can fly a long way as well.

So - with safety glasses on - it was on... the urban war. It ended in the hallway as a shoot em up. Lilly has a scary ability for accuracy - and no fear. She pops round the corner and shoots - and usually hits in a vital place. Where Morgan is very cautious and takes his time to aim before shooting...

With both teams loaded up with plenty of bullets - and no mercy for the poor photographer.. it was a great time - only wish I'd filmed it...

Annies Sausage Roll Recipe... revealed

due to public outcry and demand... here is my recipe.

just remembering this is a 'bit of this' and a 'bit of that' type deal......

I get about 500 g of sausage meat- it does about 3 trays of sausage rolls - about 6 - 7 sheets of puff pastry.
1 onion,
2 carrots
parsley and basil - fresh if poss
1 stock cube
EITHER 2 cups breadcrumbs OR 1 cup or potato flour or 1 cup self raising flour
2 eggs
big sqeeze of tomato sauce - or a tiny tin of tom paste
- beaten egg for glazing
rock salt for top

In big bowl put the sausage meat - put on thin rubber gloves ( and don't think kinky thoughts....) - finely grate in 1 onion, 2 carrots, chop up basil and parsley - a few handfuls of them - and crumble in 1 stock cube ( chicken is good) squish that about alot and give it a good mix.

crack in 2 eggs and squish it about

I used to put in 2 cups of toasted bread crumbs - but with Age gluten intolerant - I now put in a cup of potato flour - but you can put in a cup of self raising if you like - or the bread crumbs.

Squeeze in tomato sauce - or put a tiny tin of tomato paste in.

now give it your final squish!

I like to make small sausage rolls for parties - 1 mouthful type deal - so cut a sheet of puff pastry into three lengths and separate.

In the middle of line - plop in sausage roll mix so it is evenly distributed along in a line - about 1 cm high - maybe more.

stretch one side a little and pull over the top of the meat and then roll underneath. cut into 4 pieces and mark on top with a cut.

you can sprinkle rock salt on top - or glaze with brushed egg.

put in oven 170 till they are brown - about 10 mins

for gluten free - I have used the mountain bread wraps which are made from gluten free grains. they need to be wet slightly on both sides before putting the meat into them - and then glazed with a little oil.

it makes a crunchy crusty roll - but if faced with NO sausage rolls or these - Adrian prefers these anytime.

Yuletide Dragon

Dear Uncle Max spent a great deal of time and creative energy constructing a Yuletide Dragon- which sadly was destroyed by mini monsters within moments of introducing them to it. Happily - its fate was simply to exist till such a time of destruction as it revealed greater treasures withing its gut... and arms.. and head.....

I think Max has missed his true calling - this was a brilliant piece of recycled artwork which gave the kids alot of pleasure looking at .. and ripping apart.

It was in fact holding a bed for our dog ( which we have not as yet gotten.... in January.......not that the date means anything to the kids other than its not NOW!)

the kids were so ferocious, the poor dragon had no chance....

heres a photo of it being held down and ripped to shreds..

Christmas Drinks

With the table only half lain with Xmas treats - all ready for our annual Christmas Drinks - something that we have done since we moved back to Brisbane in 2000 and bought our first house. It got us to thinking about parties in general....

Something we have noticed throughout the years is the decline in invitations to parties - just in general really. People just don't seem to 'do' parties any longer. I wonder if its because we are all just so 'buys' in our busyness - or just can't be bothered with other people in our houses? It was def like that in the UK - in the five years we lived there - regardless to work or friendhsip closeness, peopel didn't seem to invite you over or in.

We used to do themed dinner parties ( dress ups the whole thing) as well - but stopped - mainly as it was alot of trouble with two small kids and all our friends had no children ( so made it hard all round) - but also that we never seemed to get invited anywhere ( do I smell??)

I come from a long line of HUGE party throwers - the Mitchell Shed parties are something to be experienced.. My brother Jamie is legendary with his Halloween and new years parties. Adrians folks used to do very posh dinner parties.


anyways... heres to a new year shorlty - full of parties and fun... soomething we are going to start agian are our dress up themed parties and dinners.

We survived five parties in under 30 hours

Yep.. last of the party goers are the Evett Family....Sad thing ( for me!)is that most of the parties were kids parties..

Yesterday was a pool party for Morgan - I didn't envy that mother with a half dozen high spirited 6 and 7 year olds racing in and out of the pool with waterbombs, buckets and water guns, devouring everything she laid out on the table - like swarming locasts.

This was followed quickly by a princess party - which both kids were invited to. 25 kids u nder the age of 7, mostly in fairy wings, pink and purple fluttering about the back yard, filling up on fairy bread, chips and lollies.

This morning was another fairy party, but held in a park. It was hot as.. well ... it was damned hot. Again - the park was a mass with fairies, wings and wands. Such alot of fun with the games organised - all fairy related; gorgeous cake and treats for all the kids.

We rushed from this party over to the other side of town, to a swanky lunch affair; but one where the kids escaped to the pool and I lay on a lounger in the pretence I was supervising them. The raspberry daquiries were the BEST i've ever had and I was sorry to have to stop at two ( designated driver...)

From here rushing back to our street party- held at th eend of our cul de sac- Street ricket, Thong tossing, bucket races and apple bobbing; along with a visit from Santa and a huge BBQ...

PLUS - lets not forget the lolly bags and other crap we all consumed.... groan....

Am off to bed now ( very early for me) and try and get off this sugar rush I am on.

Chooks Heads

Before you pass judgment on this photo - know that Morgan is going though a phase of "I'm not interested, I'm going to look bored" I was convinced that this was a teenage boy thing - but apparently it stretches backward to this age group. he was actually delighted and enthusiastic the whole time we were doing the chooks.

These two old girls weren't laying eggs, so got the chop up at grandmas. They kids were fascinated by the headless chooks and in feeding the heads to the dogs.

They were equally amazed at the speed in which the hens were plucked - grandma has done thousands in her time, and had some anatomy lessons as she pulled the guts and innards out. You can imagine how interested they were when some tiny eggs were found inside. Lilly is pictured holding two.


I refuse to be precious about things with the kids - they know if they are eating meat - what animal they are eating and its important that they learn the cycle of life, how to kill their own meat and take responsibility for taking that life. At grandmas a common question includes " What part of the cow are we eating?" followed by an anatomy lesson.

Christmas Letter 2009

This is the letter I will be including in with Christmas cards this year - thought I might as well post it here ( in case the cards don't actually get done)

Festive seasons blessings and wishes to you and your kin, from ours.

It hardly seems possible that its been a year since I sat down to sum up the past year. The kids are bigger, although my licence says I am older thankfully I haven’t succumbed to the dreariness of being old and the multitude of projects we swore we’d (I’d) complete, seems just as many now than it was at the start of the year.

I’ve been consistent with a weekly update on our comings and goings on our family blog - http://evett-family-happenings.blogspot.com/ and its always wonderful that people come on and comment - or email me aferwards. I think it has come to the point now that those who refuse to learn about email or get on line for communication and networking will miss out on so many things in this world about us. Selfishly perhaps, I know its so easy to post photos and share news online, I hardly, if ever, write letters any longer. Technology is proving to be the great age divider and I am constantly shocked to find people my age who have no idea on the simplest things (facebook, emails, blogs)

The kids have their own blogspots ( which I help with) and Morgan is a keen photographer with a really interesting eye for details. Lilly keeps me amused with her take on the world.

Morgan began playing AFL this year, twice was chosen to represent his club in the mid match activity (mini games) at the Gabba and once chosen to be a Lions mascot. He has joined and performed with the school junior choir and was awarded Student of the month in Feburary.

Lilly has loved her first year of Jazz ballet - and after seeing her at her first concert, Morgan said he could do a better job - so promptly joined in. I am very proud of both of them and have cried bucket at the fetes and concerts they have performed in this year. They both were awarded a Highly Commended trophy at the end of the year - Lilly will def be going back next year, Morgan wishes other boys did dance as well and its hard to explain why they won’t do it. I’ve been doing dance classes as well as my karate classes; satisfied to be seeing small improvements every few weeks.

Earlier this year they both did gymnastics but when class times and teachers changed, we stopped going; which was a shame as it was a great club. They both do Little Athletics but goodness knows why they do it in the middle of the day when its 35 degrees outside. Poor kids are so hot and tired after one event , much less having to train and do several. I have been assisting every week as either the tiny tots teacher ( ha ha - me as a phys ed teacher) or as a recorder and supervisor for the boys group Morgan is in. Again, I am very proud of my kids - who - poor things - take after me in so many of my ‘abilities’. sadly running and jumping is not amongst them. I am really impressed at the supportive spirit LA has - as even mins after all the others have finished running their race - Morgan is still going as hard as he can - running the whole way - and finishing - he gets as many cheers as the boys who run first.

I wished someone had told me you turn into a big wet mess when you become a mother. All I seem to do is have my heart burst with pride ( and cry) or have it breaking with anguish as one of my kids hurts too ( and cry)

For all sorts of reasons we have not been camping this year - something we will be addressing next year and making a priority. However the kids have used their fishing rods and caught their first fish - a golden afternoon etched clearly in my memory for this year.

People have passed on, babes born, new marriages, split ups; the cycle of life continues. For me, this year has been a crystalisation of ideas and coming of age. As with most developmental stages though, the thinking of it comes before the embodiment and I am still to fully step into some of these decisions and lifestyle changes.

For much of the year, our family has followed a 95 - 100% raw foods eating plan. With the party season now in full swing, this has fallen to the wayside and its scary how quickly bad habits creep in and become firmly entrenched. There is no doubt that it is an extremely cleaning and healthful way to live - both for self and for the environment, but its sustainability in the modern world and society has to be questioned. I kept a daily log of our food choices and recipes on a blog http://family-journey-to-raw.blogspot.com/

I have had the delightful task of turfing everything from my wardrobe and either ebaying or giving it away. Five dress sizes down and at times I still have worthless self conscious moments despite the multitude of self development course, workshops and books I have consumed. Adrian gifted me a style consultants session, where I had my colours done and dependant upon my measurements, guided me through what clothing styles would best suit me. armed with this, I’ve been able to go shopping for new clothes - which in the past has always been a nightmare and something I have avoided. I now have bikinis in my wardrobe - which have been worn ( at home) on several occasions ( I am not sure the world is quite ready for me yet). Although I am not about to knock down any modelling doors - I am nearly at a stage I feel sort of comfortable - something I would never have thought I’d be able to say. The mind numbing and depressing thing that gets me though is that I still have such a long way to go and as part of my journey wonder if you ever really get there….

Its been a challenging year in health for Adrian. His seizures have gotten worse - or at least more violent - where he says the muscles in his arm and face are really tight or painful as they react. At least now, we can pin at least some of the reaction and seizures down to a gluten intolerance; though sometimes seizures come and there seems to be no reason. Anyone who has had to go down the path of celiac will understand the lifestyle changes which need to take place for the whole family. At least now there are choices commercially available and with us doing mainly raw, its been easier. Though in saying that lunchtimes for work are a huge challenge for the raw diet. Try taking salad an hour on a hot bus and putting it on your desk till lunch time and try and eat the slimy remains… ikkkkk

He has ridden his bike into work (26km one way) much of the year - till he came down with whopping cough. After collapsing at work and at home several times, he has had to take things very carefully and is still not our of the woods with this one. He has had to become a passanger in the car as its too dangerous and unpredictable for him to be behind the wheel.

We have been fairly quiet with our parties and ‘dos’ this year buthope to change that for next year. Though have a huge shed party up in Dalveen to organise to celebrate engagements, and milestone birthdays within the Mitchell Clan.

I have been consistent too with my writing commitments, which within the first few weeks of January resulted in me gaining a weekly column on Write Anything ( writing advice) and on Type A Mom (parenting advice). I’ve published my Friday Fiction every week as well. (http://annieevett.blogspot.com) The book I co-wrote has had some acclaim and given me the opportunity to lead workshops and be a speaker at groups, but has come to a stalemate, desperate for reinvigoration. Mid year I was asked to contribute to an Anthology - due to be published in January. During the year I have been asked to contribute articles for various magazines or websites - which have all been great for building me as a brand name - but no closer to earning any sort of income. All year, I have been putting it out there for my writing to eventually pay.. like money….I *should* know to qualify such goals…. I got my first paying job to write - a non fiction research piece on the inclusive policies within the early childhood system - a learning guide with assessment pieces. I’ve been asked to write another unit, so my first one must have ‘passed’! I have taught myself web design and have played around with the idea of just doing simple sites for people who don’t want to spent alot of money - but want a basic presence.

This year has flown and the next doesn’t look to be any slower. Next year brings us to a new turning point - Adrian will be seeking a job in May, I will perhaps be returning to teaching - at least on a part time basis and both kids will be at school full time.

I am typing this on Hamish - my new Mac - bought with the promises of paid work by the patron of arts in the house. I love it and have so much to learn ….just in case I wasn’t busy enough…..hope to see you visiting our family blog for more detailed updates through the year.

have a wonderous festive season - The Evett Clan

Morgan and Choir

For the last term, Morgan has been attending choir practice. I was surprised when he asked for permission to join - but delighted that he make a decision on his own about a performance art.

Equally delighted was I to find that this initiative was by a middle school student ( she is conducting) whose passion is singing and sought permission to start a prep/ year one choir to complement the lower junior one they currently had.

Morgan has performed at a few things with the choir and the chosen songs are fun and funky with some groovy movements.

This photo comes from the end of year concert at the school.

Family picture 2009

Its not very often we get all of us in front of a camera - so here it is - the fam shot 2009

Wedding Anniv - 16 yrs

Well - who can believe it - 16 years married - 19 together....

Too cool kids

The kids loved everything about the cruise ship including the really cool seating in the theatre which swung round and round and round. Here are two way cool kids who have discovered the peace sing for photos... groan......

My 40th...

Looking just a bit worst for wear..... here is me well into it at my 40th

Two Dozen roses

I’ve never received a dozen roses before...... much less two... A magnificent display now graces my writing table, the delicate scent wafting past me as the day warms. Each long stemmed flower is perfect, no doubt picked late yesterday - perhaps this morning as the ends of the stems are crisp and bright green still.

I’d always been a carnation girl. As a treat to myself during uni days, I‘d buy a single carnation and babys breath and arrange it on my study desk, staring at it rather than the dreary papers i was meant to look at. ( ahh the days before computers, when assignments were had written.) It was an affordable luxury - under $2 at the time - the price of a bus fare.

When Adrian and I were courting ( and I feel so old to be able to say that) He’d always bring me a bunch of carnations on a Friday evening before we went out. back then, I felt roses never lasted, were pretentious and a little ugly when compared with the radiance of a carnation.

I sit now and drink in the beauty of my roses. A statement to be certain, but one of acceptance. I am fully embracing my new stage in life, my new age grouping. The rose reminds me of youths momentary flare, but even as it dries, is still beautiful. Stately and graceful, powerful and delicate, soft but barbed. The rose represents a woman who is ready to step into her power.

I farewell my love affair with carnations; for they truely are a young girls flower; highly perfumed, frilly and fluffy, but handled roughly quickly becomes ragged and unattractive; discarded quickly and the next cheap one brought on board.

A dozen roses, so many statements within that cluster,beautiful on its own, magnificent together.

Virus be damned....

It would seem that after over six weeks of Adrians mystery illness getting worse and worse , that we may have an answer… and certainly not something we had anticipated. Its not something we have really talked about much as its been traumatic - but hopefully we see the light at a less serious tunnel this time.

With the stress of his work and just general stuff, Age has gotten run down and tired and very open to picking up whatever was going round - which he obviously did. A bad chesty cough went deeper and lower and evolved into a lower lung infection - which in old terms was pneumonia. We don’t go much for Doctors - so Age had a day or two off and lay around in the sun dosing up on love and Vit C and garlic.

Only marginally better, trudged off to work, but suffered fevers, aches and pains and never really got better. One night I got home from one of my courses to find him picking up the pieces of a kitchen drawer which contained our Dolton - which to the most was left unscathed ( phew!!) the drawer however was smashed from the sheer impact of him collapsing into it after a coughing fit left him with no air - and he blacked out. His coughing became spiratic but violent. One late night we ended up in hospital ( thats another story - bleeding hopeless public system… 8 hour wait.) A trip to a doc saw him come out clutching antibiotics which didn’t really do a great deal but stuff his stomach up and make him feel even worse. Another collapse in the kitchen while I was at a class resulted in the kids being taught how to call the ambo and other emergency care - and another smashed drawer.

The worst part was that he was getting more exhausted, stressed and the coughing seemed to trigger seizures. After collapsing in the street and finding out that the myth that you falling lightly if you black out is crap ( huge bruises and blood) - off to another doc and tests done - all seeming to be fine - except the exhaustion…so more antibiotics…..( just for good measure) Adrians seizures are unexplainable at the best of times - so really hard to pin that one…

A few more collapsing tricks later and all we had was the vague diagnosis that it was viral and all connected with the asthma and tumour…..

You need a good sense of humour on this journey - and Adrian is the master jester of this situation. I queried if he was going to demolish any more drawers then could I have a new kitchen? One morning he collapsed in the bathroom and when I rushed in to help him, Adrian accused me of hitting him on the back of the head! He was deadly serious as he stood there with cuts on his head and just goes to show that he DOES love me that he didn’t immediately launch an defensive attack back at me!

Anyway, not really any better and now forced to be the passenger where ever we go as there is little warning of a black out; you can only imagine how impressed Age is about the whole thing. Of a little comfort though, is the self diagnosis of Whooping Cough. A little known disease in adults - but after a bit of research on medical sites and listening to other adult patients recordings of the cough - its little doubt that this is what it is. No cure - just rest and it sticks around for 100 days.. Concerning is the link to his asthma and weakened lungs, compromised immune system and possible links to the seizures.

We are hoping that our week holiday doing NOTHING on board a cruise ship will prove a huge curative for him - 11 days and counting….

I’ve read a number of reports that it is a contagious disease, both Morgan and Lilly have had a slight cough a week or so ago and I have had a silly half hearted thing late at night - but we’ve put those down to stress rather than anything else….. so a check for anyone who has been near us in the last 6 weeks.. we might have passed something unwittingly to you.. that is, if you go in for the ‘passing diseases on’ theory..

Dreamworld Conquered

A bit of a reprieve from my NaNo writing today and the real official start to the silly season. This weekend is just the beginning of schedule clashes and running from one thing to another. From 8 on Sat morning we were at dance concert rehearsals, a quick lunch at home, change of uniforms and then off to Little Athletics. Sunday - we had a number of schedule clashes and just had to work around them to choose the best outcome.

Generally, I will be one of the supervisors for Morgans Age group at Little Athletics. This normally involves me organizing the kids into lines and ensuring they get their turns on each activity and recording times or distances. I bribe the kids often with lollies and cut up fruit as the waiting times between activities can be a little wearisome. They were training for the big competitions this week, so for the second time this season, I was handed the tiny tots to ‘play’ with as thier normal teachers were teaching relay races. We had a lot of fun teaching running ( how to start, when to run) - the kids like to just runn of in mobs - so its quite a challange to get them to line up and go at appointed times. discus - basically - “hit that dad over there with this rubber ring” ( not such a good idea - as Morgan - who was not training with the bigger kids as he was not competing, actually DID), then over to long jump were the kids ran like mad and hopped over a rubber rope to give them some focus to jump some distance. So

me just didn’t get it and just ran straight into the sandpit and fell on their faces. Its a laugh a minute!

Today - Sunday - we had to choose between Dreamworld and competing in the regional Little Athletics comp. As much as the kids are enjoying their time at LA, its really not a focus for me for them to compete - nor do I think they are really that inclined or gifted in that way…..we shot off to Dreamworld - it is the first of the Christmas Parties we have this year - Celebrated through the Social club at Adrians work - and the only one which anyone from Energex will be allowed to go to. How rough is this? Bah Humbug Energex, under the guise of concerns for public finances and accountability in the current financial crisis has all but canceled Christmas. The staff has in the past had an afternoon or an evening staff appreciate party - sometimes a big BBQ and entertainment, other times a theme park has been hired for a few out of hours session times - but this Christmas - not even an office party will be allowed. to make matters worse - a letter was sent home saying that they still appreciated the hard work staff members undertook - and understood the impact that long hours and on call hours have on people with families…. and STILL they canceled Christmas. ANYWAY.. best not dwell too much on that…

Today was about getting out of the house ( and all the jobs piling up) away from my writing, and away from Brisbane. Morgan is tall enough now to go on most of the rides - and Lilly is not too far away either. One of the sadder things about being overweight has been missing out on going on rides etc as I simply couldn’t fit. I was so delighted to be able to do so today. I’d been hanging out to get on the Mick Dohan motorbike one and it didn’t disappoint! Lilly and I went on it twice ( she was very disappointed to find she was too small to be on the bike so was consoled with the fact she could be in the sidecare beside me.

We are so proud of Morgan for making his own mind up about things! at first he was unsure of wanting to go on any of the bigger rides - so we honoured that decision - until he was really bored with the kid ones… THEN he got a taste for thrill - and there was no stopping him. His favourite is the Claw.. I was able to ride on the cyclone for the first itme as well - and gald I don’t have a neck problem as it really tips you about. Miss Lilly is desperate to be big enough to go on some of those stomach churning rides - but its still a good 15 cm away for her yet! After 3 consecutive goes on the Enterprise (one that rushes you round and round then then upside down) - I was really queezy - thankful I had nothing in my stomach - and glad to have the excuse of sitting down for a bit.

We had a birthday party to go to in the afternoon - which I am glad of - as by the time it was time to leave in order to get to it in time - I’d really had enough.

So - what were the clear favourite memories of the day at Dreamworld? For Lilly it was the tiny pink lollies she was allowed to have… For Morgan - he wanted to claim the big six te-shirt - however, he is not tall enough to go on two of them - plus the t-shirts were not his size - so he chose a trophy to go on his desk - a tower of terror one..

Melbourne Cup Day

For the first time in many years (10 probably as the day glided past when we lived in the UK) I spent Melbourne Cup Day with no plans. Before we went OS and even as a poor student, I had a group of us who dressed in silly hats, ate chicken and drank far too much cheap bubbly.

I didn’t think too much about it until mid morning and now I feel a bit sad and empty. Previously there had always been a work function to go to as the rest of Australia took half a days unofficial holiday. Even after officially leaving work to have kids, I’d either had a part time job or group to celebrate the day with.

A few weeks ago I looked about our local cafes and restaurants to see what cup day functions were on. I wasn’t particularly keen to pay up to $70 ( for Lilly and then for me) to be with a bunch of strangers. Of my friends who were not working, they had other plans - so I thought to just do nothing.

Racing a close first with Halloween, Melbourne Cup Day always signaled the wind down to Christmas - of indulgent lunches with friends and the end of exams or projects. It was a day I enjoyed dressing up, having made or bought a fancy hat and giggle with colleagues and friends. I would call one of my sisters, Julie for tips on the race as for a time there she got quite serious about the condition of the grass, past wins and history of trainers etc. Sweeps and fundraisers assisted many of us at work in choosing the right horse for the race. Of course I would bumble my way into a TAB and choose the ‘winner‘ purely on the colour of the jersey coupled with the nags name. Highly technical and based on logic and genius. It was never really about the horses; but we all got over excited on the home straight shrieking the nags name out as they passed the finish line.

But today, I had nothing planned and it feels as empty and stale as a plastic champagne glass. On Adrian's insistence, Lilly and I dressed up and opened a bottle of lemonade ( oh the sheer luxury of all that sugar!) and shared a packet of cheezels. Sadly we missed the start of the race as I struggled with the television control box ( point out the person who doesn’t watch telly) - but got to cheer on the end. I had no idea who or what was running - so we just chose colours.

Miss Lilly looked gorgeous in pink fairy colours. Note my new mac set up behind her - as I am writing NaNo currently.

Halloween 2009

Along with an annual Xmas party, our street also celebrate Halloween.

I love our street. The feeling of community runs strong in a number of the people who live here and even though we don’t really see one another that often, it’s the nods in the afternoon or on a weekend and the catch up chats at our xmas party that really make a difference and make you feel like you belong. But its Halloween, when the most ‘stayed’ neighbour will dress up to scare the kids or leave a full basket of chocolates at the door because they have had to go out for the evening, that really brings a smile to my face.


Celebrations for Halloween range from children dressing in fancy costumes and begging for sweets door to door, to watching horror films and attending bonfires. Most Australians only see it as an ‘American thing’ having see it only on the TV or in films associated with that country. However, most people ( including Canadians and Americans) have little idea of the origins or meanings behind these customs. Halloween draws from an ancient Gaelic festival known as Samhain , which means roughly “summer's end”. Immigrants brought their festivals to the US and it has evolved largely from there. For us in the southern hemisphere it is a heralding of the summer to come – if it hasn’t already hit us!

In many other cultures is has been seen as a festival of the dead, where the belief that the border between this world and the otherworld became thin on this particular evening; thus, allowing spirits (both harmless and harmful) to pass through. The family's ancestors were honoured and invited home whilst harmful spirits were warded off. It is believed that the need to ward off harmful spirits led to the wearing of costumes and masks. Their purpose was to disguise oneself as a harmful spirit and thus avoid harm. Interestingly, Halloween (All Hallows Eve) is the evening before All Saints Day, which was created by Christians to convert pagans, which is celebrated on November 1st. The Catholic Church still honors its Saints on this designated day with a variety of festivities.

In saying all of this, our family observes Halloween as an honouring of the knowledge, wisdom and energy passed down to us from those who have gone before, of those who have passed on. It’s a time to reflect on the lives of recently passed over friends or family members; to give thanks for their presence in our lives and to open ourselves to the blessing and wishes which can be passed to us in this existence.

Before the trekking up and down the street tonight, we sat in a circle and gave thanks for simple things around us and offered up our gratitude to the spirits around us, asking for protection , guidance and blessings.

We had a great little groups of kids to do the trek with this year – followed close behind by another group from a little further up the street.

Adrian delighted and terrified callers with his Frankenstein outfit. I quickly did up a coffin and headstone for the front where Morgan and Lilly placed little buckets of sweet offerings to the callers. We string glow sticks around the fences and I was luck y enough to find some pumpkin heads in a string of lights to be p-lugged in and looped around the fence as a welcoming light.

Just in case we didn’t have enough sugar – we laid the table with all sorts of sweets and treats – and how could you not have dead mans fingers dipped in blood at a kids party? ( cheerios)

The kids are still running around in circles (9 pm) and giggling ( drunk on sugar literally) I haven’t stopped them eating the treats they got , so I am expecting a huge sugar crash for the morning – hangovers all round.

Belly dancers and friends

Annie in belly dancer costume..... this is a bit of a ground breaking thing here - its me... actually in public and happy showing my mid drift.. I know I am not going to knock any of the super models off their perches just yet... and when reviewing the photos I went oh yuck - I went out like that?? but on the night - I felt great...


Adam and Bettina.. Bit of a funny story here - Adam didn't come in costume - so Jen and Bettina sent him up to their room - he stripped the sheet from the bed and the runner and is basically only wearing that.... what a crack up




Paramar ( thats not how to spell his name - but I have forgotten..) puts in an incredible amount of effort every year and every year he wins the costume comp.... and yep - this year - he won... Man - he must have been so hot with all that body paint on.

The guy in the other costume --- ummm well its just disturbing on too many levels and I can't comment any further...









I'm not sure how clear this will come out - but this is the entrance into Aladdins cave... just to give you an idea of the silks and the richness of the fabrics to decorate inside. am kicking myself for not taking photos of the interior.

Arabian nights

Just had to write a bit about our amazing night at the "FUN night for the 2009 Australasian Mannatech convention." Always a hoot and this was no different. The night before we had a black tie swanky affair but this night was for fun, letting all inhibitions go and just have a great time.

The event co-ordinators go all out - the decorations were fantastic - rich brodicade, overstuffed pillows and silks - just a gorgeous room to go into - then there was the camel rides ( not kidding) the all night belly dancers who interwined thier lithe bodies around the room, the fire dancers, the fantastic foods and authentic music....

Lots of laughs as the corporate team did a dance, the GM rode a magic carpet and was part of a skit... all sorts of things to inject fun into the night.

So impressed with everyone - most 'dos' these days people pike out with dressing up - not this bunch... most if not all people made the effort to put a costume on adn some went Well and TRUELY out .. I'll post some photos later...


I did an unthinkable thing....wore a bellydancing costume - which showed my bare mid drift... eek! I know I have a long way to go.. but I felt great, got compliments and I had a fun night... so really who cares?

I HAD to post up the pici of us on camel back... alot smoother than I had expected - but I was at the back which by all accounts is better. Age thought it felt like being on the back of a large chicken.

so yes... we had a great time!!! More photos to follow

Going to the races

Theres no doubt about it - Life is very interesting when Dougal thunders in. Julie and I were kicking back after lunch on the Saturday afternoon, planning our small jaunt to the Dinosaur tracks the following day, and Dougal announces we are all going to the races.. blimy... I had nothing really to wear..

We threw the kids into clean clothes, steamed some flattened hats Julie had on top of her wardrobe and I chucked on the only decent dress I had... I reckon we scrubbed up pretty well... but I have to share a photo of Bro Geordie - below is a snap I took of him the day before when he came to visit me... Amazing what some soap and a razor will do to a fellow.

We had a hoot, Julie introduced me to her drink - Vodka, lime and water - and we proceeded to place bets and drink, laugh and wander around barefoot.

Little Athletics

Today was our first taster of Little Athletics. I'd never been to it as a child and only heard snippets about it along the way growing up. So far I have been super impressed with the organization and dedication of the coaches and the committee. Always one to lend a hand I have volunteered to be a helper every week and am a scribe and marshall ( I get to yell at the kids to get in line and tell them who is next for a turn of whatever they are doing.)

Basically on the Saturday, the kids get to try out different skills in events and gain some coaching along the way. Their efforts are recorded and although kids will compare against each other - this is discouraged as they then enter their information into log books and try to improve against their last recorded effort.

I have volunteered to look after Morgans age group - boys and girls - there are three other parents who also help - and boy you need everyone with all the events.

Today Morgan got to try out Shotput and hurdles as well as the normal 50 mtr race. I was so proud of him - he really tried so hard the whole way through. Poor little bugger though - he runs like me... and thats really something I wished he didn't inherit.



Lilly is in tiny tots - who have thier own area and do an obsticle course, then learn some basic skills and just have fun. The teacher is fantastic and I am sure Lilly will have a hoot next week. Poor lass - came over to me - whingy and hot - and then proceeded to throw up and chuck and chuck and chuck.... while I was trying to officiate.


Morgan really enjoyed himself and is keen to come back next week. They will start doing traingin sessions on two week day afternoons soon - so we will see if the kids are up to coming to that or not. My only concern is how hot it is going to get - today was steamy enough. We start at 1.30 and go through to 4 or so - damned hot time to be running round a field.

Uncle Justyn comes to stay

Dear and long time friend, Justyn came to stay the weekend.

Miss Lilly went quite mad and was delighted in the antics she could get up to with him.. They danced in the library and went swimming in the pool ( brrrrr - I believe that there were penguins on iceburgs there as well.)

It was so wonderful to see him, making the parting - as said by a great man - such sweet sorrow..

Fussing and Faffing

Spent about five hours today fussing and faffing about with paper, ribbon and card to give Jamie some ideas for his wedding invites. I wasn't sure what sort of blue they had chosen - so had some at home and bought some nice metallic and other embossed ones.

Boy - the whole invite thing has come along way from when we got married- what is it...17 - 18 years ago now? So simple to be able to use the printer - on any sort of paper. The array of scissors and edging, the ribbon, the clips - it was bewildering!

Anyway - I had some fun putting them together - I hope it gives some ideas and I'm sure they will know someone with a bit more card making skills than I to assist further.

Family Reunion

Just got home from the family Reunion Weekend. It was fantastic and it really made me wish it weren't so long in between them.

We had a chance to catch up with cousins - some of whom we lived in each others pockets throughout our childhood ( or so it seemed) and swapping tall stories with uncles and aunts; laughing so hard, your shrieks become gasps for air and pity for the story to stop. Lots of people brought photos from days gone past and there was much giggling over stories surrounding them.

Singing round the bar and retrieving toddlers from mud. This is family....

Happy 90th birthday Gran! - wow what a milestone.

It was a pity not everyone could make it - but with folk spread all round the world - its a little hard to orchestrate it all... especially on just a normal weekend. I know those who couldn't make it are looking forward to the tales and the photos.

Enjoy the clip I put together.

The Ekka - some photos

I'll be writing about this on the weekend - but thought I'd share some photos first.

This is an action shot of Morgan and Lilly fishing in the frog pond. They had long poles with a large lump of iron tied to the end of the string which needed to be dangled into the mouths of frogs as they opened and closed their jaws.

Lilly is pictured here pulling one out ( a rare thing!)

And for their efforts they won a crappy plastic thing.. yay! though in saying that - the nice man there gave Lilly a princess crown - which totally made her day.

And how can you go to the Ekka without having a strawberry Sundae? You know - it was the first that either Age or I had ever had - they were so GOOD! I think we have been too broke in the past to be able to just say stuff it - get it - you can only get them at the Ekka... I am usually so fussy with icecream - and I ate the lot.

What a fantastic afternoon and evening....

Hail

It hailed tonight. For some this might not be a big deal - but its the first time my children have seen it. The noise on our tin roof slingshot me back through time to my own childhood. Hail meant destruction, devastation, a spate of frustration and tip toeing around Dad.

Sometimes we would have a little times warning before it hit - the cannons would start and my mother would groan. The Granite Belt is renowned for the size of the hail stones ( often as large as gold balls). Many fruit farmers invested in hail guns or cannons and shot them up into storm clouds to break it up. Many said it chased the rains away. All I know is that when the cannons started, hell broke lose.

In lambing season it meant dozens of dead lambs, frozen, battered ripped apart by nature. In fruit picking and vege harvesting, it meant shredded trees, leaves and produce. All laid to waste as the hail ripped the flesh and tore at the hearts. Any produce which escaped would no doubtedly be bruised and unable to be sold.


So when the hail started tonight, my heart thumped momentarily and my breathing got shallower. Then I remembered I was in the middle of suburbia.

I rushed my Pjamed kids outside and under the tin roof and we shreiked at each other trying tobe heard above the racket. We picked up icy stones and popped them in our mouths and watched as our lawn was carpeted in white pearls.

After the torrid of rain had settled, Morgan and Lilly took bowls out onto the lawn and collected the biggest stones.

It was like frozen peas - but without the peas they noted...

A day at the Zoo

I had originally planned to take a bus to Phuket town and then get a tuk tuk to the zoo – but was feeling a bit crappy so decided just to get a tuk tuk directly to the zoo from my hotel. I knew anything I caught along the beach front would be overpriced – so cut in through some back streets and went a bit inland. After disagreeing with a few drivers on the price I walked away and one called after me that he’d take me. I knew I had the upper hand as it was early in the day with very little business likely to pick up within the next 2 hours. I was surmised and a bit embarrassed that my tuk tuk turned out to be a brand new merc – leather interior and airconned. Pok was very polite and offered to pick me up and take me back for the same amount. He said he’d wait outside for me – but I told him to go and make some money and exchanged mobile numbers telling him I’d be out at a specific time or would call him.

The Zoo itself is very old, tired and shabby and fantastic. The grounds are meticulously kept clipped, raked and tidied. The cages are old and in many cases you can feed the animals by hand.. including the crocodiles. Animal feed selling stations are everywhere – 20 baht by an honesty system – bananas, seeds, smelly frozen fish, meat – whatever the animals are likely to want to eat – is sold near their cages.

I went in fully understanding that everything I went to see would cost extra – but for the uninitiated, this might seem that you pay to go in and then are constantly handing over small amounts of money the whole day. Well you are and it doesn’t matter. This zoo really is one of a kind and must see.

The very first thing I did was walk to the elephants – but was waylaid by the most magnificent tiger, just sprawled out on a throne slab. 200baht to take a photo of him. My luck with anything touristy was well with me today. Another Australian couple and I were the only visitors for over an hour. As it was so quiet, the tamer let me sit near the tiger and pat him on the head and he took a photo of me. He took a few photos with my camera and then got the other couple to sit with tiger. I took some shots myself and was about to go when the tamer called me over and patted the spot in front of the tiger. He told me to slowly slowly walk and sit. He then said “Lady lie down on tiger”… so I did. I must have moved a bit fast as the next thing I knew I had the jaws of the tiger and his hot stinky breath within centimeters of my nose. The tiger roared.

You know how time slows down and a million things go through your head. The first thing I thought was crap. It’s the monkey thing again – this time my head is going to ripped off. ( on my 30th birthday we were in Gibraltar. I was feeding an ape and it decided it didn’t like me and rushed me and took a chunk out of my shoulder. I have some cool scars after that one.) Next was – oh well – Adrian would be impressed.( he loves tigers above all animals)

The tamer shouted at the tiger and hit him on the nose with his bamboo stick. I looked up at the tamer and realized for the first time that he only had one arm. I had to try very hard not to burst into a fit of hysteria.

Its kind of a pity the tamer didn’t take photos during that time, but he’d dropped my camera to pick his stick up - so I only have ones from before and the strained look afterwards.

I gave the tamer 100baht as a tip and reckon I got out of that cheaply!

The crocodile show was amazing. Those guys are completely insane. Four large croc in water and they are either in the water with them on sitting on them or putting their heads inside their mouths. One stunt this guy does is the croc is on land and facing him with his mouth open. The guy takes a running leap and slides along the ground on his stomach and stops with his head inside the croc mouth. Insane.

The elephant show was pretty cool, along with balancing and dancing to rock music, they played instruments, kicked soccer balls and put basket balls into the hoops. The coolest thing was them painting. The elephants had paintbrushes in their trunks and then chose a colour and walked over to a big easel and started painting. How cool is that? Afterwards they auctioned them off and I bought two – one drew flowers and the other swirls. I think the kids would really like them framed and in their rooms. I doubt many people can say they have art by an elephant!

I even had my photo taken with the elephant that painted the picture and it ‘kissed’ me with its trunk! Man the trunks are so weird – tough and hard and kind of squiggy and hairy too.

I have to say the monkey show was a bit upsetting. Not badly – but just sad in a way. I understand that people want to see performing monkeys and its not even that they are treated badly. I saw in the back – beyond where tourists would normally see, the tamers being very affectionate and connecting with the monkeys while they were waiting to go onto the stage. I guess its not really up to us to judge – different culture and different rules. Also I guess, if tourists didn’t pay or want to see this sort of thing – then it would die out. However the thronging amount of tourists about clambering for photos with the monkeys was enough to cut that idea down in flames.

Princess in the Rain today

Phuket is so vibrant it is a living being. Day slides into night the flashing lights the bars that pop up literally out of the sand. Its an incredible place to just be part of, observe the tourists and the locals, drinking in every sense you have.

Every second motorbike you see whizzing down the road has a passenger perched on the bag clutching the hugest package of toilet paper – almost as big as the passenger themselves

Poses the question – is it hard to get – or do you just need a lot of it because of all the curries?

I just had to put this photo in - 4 on a bike - incredible... and I don't think it was much more than a 150cc either.

Today it was sub cyclonic along the beach front. I headed inland so didn’t see just how fierce it was for most of the day. I hired a taxi for the day to take me to the Zoo, the temples, Big Buddah, markets and the pearl farm. However, I decided agianst the Zoo - and did it the next day as a seperate outing - it really woudl not have been a nice day to do anything around the zoo. It was so disgusting – rain gail force winds, it was just a relief to be in the car again and driving, rather than dashing from building to building at the temples. I did persevere though – got so wet.

The Big Buddah usually has spectacular views all over Phucket – but when I was there , I could barely see his feet. The heavy cloud lifted momentarily ( thank you!!) in order for me to take a few shots –but barely that I had done that then the rain and fog ensued.

Its so hard to choose which photos to put up here too - everything was wonderous ( to my eyes at least) the Changmai Temple abounded in Elephant statues ( like many other places) and the richeness of the perfectly kept gardens to the gold edging on the fountains and railings all shouted the respect and reverence these peopel have for thier religion. I took heaps of photos in the temples and gardens - and got totally satched.


I felt like a princess today – chauffeured around visiting gem and jewelry shops. I was totally aware that the places I was being taken woudl have had kick backs tothe taxi driver and was incredibley overpriced... but it was a fun day to be out of the terrible weather.

I tried so many things on – all gorgeous – but even at their cheap cheap prices – so out of what I was comfortable in spending on my self. I loved a simple white gold band inlaid with sapphires and diamonds – worked out to be around $600 and I am sure if I was serious I could have bartered them down a bit more. Adored a string of pearls – black, purple, cream - $150 – matching bracelet $120.

So many necklaces and bangles too I could have just scooped up. It was fun trying them on and despite the rain at the scenic spots and temples.....I'd do it again!