Christmas Letter 2011

Merry Christmas, from my family to yours!  I am so so late with my Christmas Cards that I've decided to post my normal letter up here - and perhaps send the actual card later to save me a bunch of stress... SO here goes....

Its the end of the school year, everyone is exhausted and I look back wondering where on earth the time has gone. I’d meant to get this done so much earlier than I did - but well.. you know..

I’ve worked a full time contract at the school Morgan and Lilly go to - and its been a real blessing. Last year was full of very early morning starts - the kids being dropped at school early and having to hang about till I got there after driving however far I had to go. Although last year I worked fairly much consistently throughout the year, I had a few days here; a week there - between contracts to cool my heels and get ‘stuff done’ - including my writing.  Its a bit of a shock to the system -  its the first time I’ve worked in a paid role full time for an extended amount of time since having the kids.  Intermix this with my attempt to continue my short story writing and collaborative writing projects  as well as ( yes I have “SUCKER” tattooed to my head) me starting as leader with Joeys ( the tiny scouts) - leaving very little time to do much else. Its been good  be in the same area and for times when kids are ill - been able to get to them within moments of a call. I’ve worked in special needs across the college - with classes from year 1 through to year 9 .There has been some interesting and challenging times; but I wouldn’t have it any other way.  

 This year, Morgan and Lilly have: been to dance classes; competed and performed (they have won a number of trophies and were awarded the perpetual trophy for their studio this year)  played AFL for the whole season ( Lilly even played at the Gabba twice in the half time matches for the Lions) play a juniors style basketball, love Scouts ( and all the camps and outings they do) go to Karate (though not as regularly as they do the other activities) as well as did really well (As and Bs) with their school reports.  They’ve lost teeth and grown inches.

Age has stayed with Energex, but the whole company has shifted to a new premises, making his journey to work a very long and arduous affair.  He has moved roles and now works in Risk.  Adrian’s health continues to be a concern,but with careful monitoring, he manages it masterfully and is still able to work full time; even been able to negotiate a day a week from home. I continue to be the main driver and love our little Hyundai.

So blessed with the amount of travelling we have been able to do this year - all due to my full time job - money well spent as far as I am concerned. We went to Vanuatu last Christmas holidays, experiencing the five star and the village lifestyles whilst there. Highlights were defiantly the volcano and the incredible snorkelling trips we did all round the coastlines.  Easter saw us heading to the traditional camping spot at my parents property, bringing friends and relatives together for a heap of dirty wholesome fun. June holidays saw the kids and I drive up to Longreach to visit my sister Julie and her tribe; once again, bringing the country life to Morgan and Lilly. September holidays seemed to flash by with us spending the entire two weeks in New Zealand, tucked away in a chalet on the Coromandel Peninsula. Highlights involved the bubbling mud at Rotarua, speedy carts at Rotarua ( just about everything at Rotarua actually) big walks and hot sands at the (more bubbling stuff) Hot Water Beach.  Weekends through the year have been filled with AFL matches, Dance competitions or practices and scouting stuff. Age and I did manage to escape for a weekend to Sydney to celebrate our 18th Wedding anniv. (eek!!)

The floods throughout Queensland took our breath away as we watch icons of our state and city engulfed by the swirling torreds of mud. I cried buckets of tears for those lost and like many, sat glued to the live TV and internet watching it unfold. Although tragedy didn’t touch our immediate family, the waters came very close to loved ones homes; and many of the people I work with lost their entire homes and possessions.

Although I don’t feel as if I have had much success, looking back on my writing, I’ve been internationally published in a number of anthologies this year and invited to write regular columns for a variety of cutting edge sites. I have nominations for my science fiction short stories for the Aurealis Awards (its a big deal) as well - now THATS a bit exciting. My regular short stories, however, have screeched to a halt and I am feeling their absence immensely.  My novel languishes on my hard drive and paints are slowly drying up in the shelf.

I treated myself to bike hire for a weekend to Byron in August with the excuse of going to a writers festival. The festival itself was a boost of inspiration - but the riding I did made me long to be mistress of two wheels so badly, I am near to tears thinking about it now. All seasons for things, so I understand I need to be patient.  I’ve turned into such a big girls blouse about some things (esp when the kids are up on stage - I am an embarrassment)  

I’ve enjoyed catching up with all you lovely folk on Facebook, checking out photos as they appear and connecting - albeit briefly on skype or chat. Its the only way I seem to be able to see most of you..

Next year sees me full time teaching work in special needs again next year - at the kids school - so fortunate!

Best sign off - wish you and yours a wonderful holiday season. Stay safe. 

Hugs Annie and the rest of the Evetts.

If You Give a Mouse a Motorcycle

I'm looking for funny, simple poetry for Morgan to recite.. I found this - its a bit long - but it made me laugh..

If You Give a Mouse a Motorcycle  by Kenn Nesbitt

If you give a mouse a motorcycle, don't be too surprised if he starts behaving strangely once he knows he's motorized. He may act a bit bizarrely. He may dress a little weird. He might buy a leather jacket and then grow a honkin' beard. When he straps a helmet on his head and boots upon his feet, then you'll see him pop a wheelie and go racing down the street. Pretty soon he'll find he's fond of doing motorcycle tricks. He'll be jumping over cars and trucks and buses just for kicks. He'll start working at the circus where he'll take away your breath as he rides with other rodents in the flaming cage of death. When he accidentally crashes he'll have no more fun and games; just the screech of twisting metal as his bike explodes in flames. And without his motorcycle he'll be fired from his job. He'll become depressed and lonely and a sad and smelly slob. And the only way to save him from this misery and pain is to buy another motorbike so he can start again. So remember this advice: Don't even trust him with your keys. If you need to give a mouse a gift, it's best to stick with cheese.

back to work back to the grindstone

I know loads of families do it - but I am really struggling with the whole full time work and juggling life around it.

Its nearing the end of my second week full time as a teacher at the College Morgan and Lilly go to.  I am in the Middle school section - so the high school part - and away from them - but its got alot going for it as far as convenience.

The teachers in my team are really relaxed and supportive - so really I couldn't ask for a better place to land.  The Teacher- aid rocks - so knowledgable and fantastic with the kids.

I'd kinda forgotten about the myriad of meetings and after school staff things - something as a contractor or relief you don't do; but have been fortunate so far that the kids are happy to hang out at school and wait for me.

So - its back into our mad world - Mondays is dancing - we are at a different studio this year - simply as the times suit the best.  Morgan loves his hip Hop teacher and the class.  My heart squeezes when I peep in to see him fully involved, smiling and jumping around.  His shiny smily face afterwards is all the answer I need.  Lilly just dances everywhere - so loves whoever she is with!  Best of all - the studio is only 10 mins up the road - rather than the 40 mins the other one was.
Tuesdays is karate night - Age has decided he will pick the kids up after class and I will either walk home or get a lift home after class. It lets the kids get to bed at a decent hour that way.
Wednesdays is AFL training.
Thursdays is Joey scouts - and muggins here has volunteered to be a leader.
Fridays is karate.
Saturday mornings are AFL matches.  Thankfully the kids are still too young to have to travel to games - thats next year - so not looking forward to that one.

I have staff meetings at 7.50 am on Wed morning, till 4.30 on Wed afternoon and one onTuesday arvo till 4.30 as well.

shheeesh.

I've been capturing my life every day with a photo - using the 365 days in photos challenge - and posting them over at Art By Annie

one day - when I get time, I might start to sketch again.. ba h aha ha.

Age is well. On a new medication which has made him a bit fuzzy and dizzy but hopefully has some good results in the shrinkage of the tumour. It has a few side affects we are looking out for - swelling of brain and the like - but so far so good.  One of the down sides is that he needs to take it strictly every 4 hours - so I am on the 1 am patrol to ensure he takes it then.  I am usually up - so its not a problem.

I have made a commitment to post once a week.. we will see how that goes huh?

Day 13 - our last day

Morgan and I got up early and breakfasted together as we watched the sea.  Age was wiped out again and hadn’t slept well. We went back to check on him and he just wanted to sleep. So Morgan and I got our snorkels and we went to Blue Hole together. I allowed him to  lead where we went. We floated and swam for nearly two hours exploring the reef.

Age and Lilly had finished packing their things and had breaky when we got back.  It was a pretty relaxed exit. While we waited for our pick up, I set up the croquet lawn and the three of us knocked balls around. Lilly was really good at it, with a great eye of where she wanted her balls to go.

I snapped this photo of just one of the crazy things in the line ahead of us, going on the plane. Yes - they are roosters tied up in a bag together. Another one was a small boy holding a kitten.  

We had planned to get to Villa and catch a taxi into town to do some shopping and mooching. But as it was, none of us felt up the craziness, so shunted around the airport and waited for our flight.

Age is very inspired to come back and do alot of the tours and sights we didn't do. In particular he wants to go to one of the other larger islands - Santo - where the snorkelling is supposedly the best in the world.

Day 12 Blue Hole, Blue Cave and Golf

So sad to say that it is our last full day here.

As part of his birthday pressie, Age went on boat tour to a underwatercave. The idea was that they were dropped outside it and would have to dive under and go through a small tunnel to pop out inside.

The kids and I set off to explore the coast line below the resort at low tide.  Our first stop was to  Picinini hole - a gorgeous deep hole in coral  and a haven for fish and coral.  It was about the size of a swimming pool and even at low tide was about 3 metres deep in some places. We soon got sick of it as it was so small, but still an incredible eco system surviving in that space.

The reef walkers once again came into their own as the exposed and dead coral, coupled with the volcanic rock made for very treacherous passage. Walked along looking at sea cucumbers and hairy starfish - which were abundant I might add. 

Very slow going and not only spiky but slippery in places too.

As the tide continued to go out we got to the Blue Hole area.  We had been exploring for a few hours and we were all hot and a bit dehydrated. We were still a fair way away from shore and I decided the best way to get to shore was to swim - rather than wade our way.  Lilly completely cracked it then, making such a scene that one of the villagers along the shore rushed out with her dug out canoe and offered to save her. I was very thankful as Morgan had been really good but I knew he was tiring as well. She bundled them into the wooden dug out and swam alongside it - pushing it along to take them back to the beach and then pointed to the best entry spot to the Blue hole. 

Oh my goodness.  What an incredible experience. At low tide, there were still  drop offs which were endless. I snorkelled around the caves and cove, feeling a bit nervous about being out by myself - and that the kids would be ok.  I was really torn as  the Blue hole was arguably the most incredible snorkelling experience I’d had.  Reluctantly - and again because I freaked myself out with the deeper water, I went back to shore, promising to take them both out the next day.

I returned immediately with a gift of my last pair of shoes for the lass who showed such kindness to the kids. She was pretty chuffed.

I treated myself to a hot rock massage which sounds alot more glamorous than it is believe me. Basically the masseur grabs a heated rock and pummels it into your skin. Its hot, really hot and if you flinch, she takes it away and says - oh too hot?  and grabs another - equally burning one and slaps it onto your skin.

I gushed so much about the Blue Hole, that after lunch we all walked back - even though it was the turn of the tide. Before we did, we decided to go to the pool for some intense lessons for kids on their snorkelling gear. 

Visibility was really poor due to the churning sand and it  made it difficult to make out shapes and the reef was too deep to appreciate the beauty I had seen only hours before.

We got out of our wet things and hit the golf course again. I loved it - not so  much as a game - but that we as a family were doing something together, chatting and having a good time. 

It was a pretty low key evening before we packed and were asleep by nine - I know unheard if! I can’t believe how much I have been sleeping .

Day 11 in Vanuatu - Happy Birthday Age

It was our last day at the Friendly Bungalows and the night before we heard that another couple needed to be at the airport for 8 am - meaning another very early start breaky at 5.45 and into ute at 6.30.  It was either this - or wait till around 2 until the ute arrived back and could take us practically back the same way - so we opted to be time and fuel sensible and go early.

We arrived at  Whitegrass Resort  just on  8am when  everyonelse was walking to breaky and waking up. Originally I had planned for us to stay here the entire time, but many resorts will not take children to the volcano saying its too dangerous and traumatic. I am very glad we stayed over at the bungalows. Very rustic and a billion miles away from everything. I didn’t miss not having electricity - well - the Friendly had power for three hours a day, but I will also say I was very glad to have a hot shower and a toilet that worked. ( there I go again with the toilet thing)

It was a great choice as we had the whole day soaking up sun at the pool and getting black volcanic ash out of hair and clothes.  I have included a photo of one of the many secluded siting spots where you can just take in the scenery on cliff faces.

Age was very tired having had a few seizures over the last few days. He and Lilly slept in ‘proper’ beds for over two hours that afternoon.

Morgan and I decided to explore what the resort had to offer and started of with  a round of golf on their very cute three par course. It only had six holes but someone had put alot of work into it and we enjoyed ourselves immensely. It was Morgans first real go at golf and he tried his very best to listen to all the waffle I carried on about to assist with his swing. 

Given the course, I decided only to take  a 9 iron and putter with us.

With any game of golf, I  am always happy if I get a few good shots in. I was rewarded with the thwack of a well placed hit a few times - so for me - it was well worth doing.  I also had the opportunity to spent alone time with Morgan and just chat.  He was particularly pleased with the traditional watering hole end; when  I had a well earned shandy and he had a fanta spider.  We saw a few other games to amuse us with and I promised to check out the  croquet and the boules the next day.

Age woke inspired to take a walk, so set off with Morgan to check out the White grass plainlands and the horses. Lilly and I attempted tennis in thick kikua grass where once ball landed it thudded and rolled. We returned to the pool and hung out there till the light began to fade.

The boys returned, dirty and tired and a little confused as to if they had actually seen the plain lands.  It appeared that the descriptions and reality were a little at odds with each other. We celebrated Adrian's birthday with cocktails at sunset with a special dessert plate of fruit and flowers as his ‘cake’.