Countdown to Christmas part 1

Rob's cousin Susie, husband John and their children Annabelle (10) and Amelia (5 and 3/4) arrived from Melbourne on Monday after a two day drive. After a huge amount of unpacking of their car, which revealed that they had left the kitchen sink at home after all, we set about catching up, cracking open some festive wine and beer and watching the children outstare each other for a bit. Once everyone was comfortable Scarlett and Amelia soon become joined at the hip and Annabelle got stuck into her huge library of books.  With the weather hotting up and with eager sightseers in tow we got the bus into the city - an adventure in itself - had a walk around the Opera House before hopping on the ferry across to Manly for fish and chips on the beach. Results: humans 5, seagulls 2.

We wish you a Merry Christmas

Christmas - it's just weird

It's the 7th of December and the seasonal festivities have begun. On Friday afternoon, the girls met Santa. I know - that's what I said. He visited them at Wattle Lane, the childcare centre they go to twice a week, at their Christmas party. Somehow Santa knew exactly which books they both wanted and produced them from his sack in return for applause and large beaming smiles. They were only able to stay at the party for an hour because we were going camping the same afternoon. That and because despite being an egg and nut-free centre that specialises in healthy food, come party time all bets are off and parents are called on to contribute party food. Lollies, chips, cheese 'products' and all manner of crappy foods are laid out for the  kids to ingest.  The thought of the two of them, in the car for 2 hours, with tummies full of E numbers sent shivers down our collective spine, so once Santa had finished handing out the gifts we squashed Scarlett and Florence into the car around pillows, sleeping bags, mattresses and the tent and headed  south to Kiama for the weekend.  It's amazing how little you need to take camping. I think on this trip we left the kitchen sink at home, intact. We hooked up with our friends Zoe and Paul, and their brood Sam and Bronte, just in time for the kids to go mental and the beer to be chilled.  On Saturday, the weather was a little too glorious, resulting in a touch of sunburn for everyone, the surf was perfect and the campsite pool proved a great alternative when the wind on the beach picked up. Rob only had to re-pitch the tent once and Florence only woke at 5am on the first morning (!). Yes, our tent is light isn't it? Apart from all feeling utterly exhausted today, we have just managed an early dinner out at the local Italian with only two drink spills. Merry Christmas. xx

Madame Butterfly

Here are few pix of Rob and the girls at the launch of a new restaurant in Centennial Park.  Scarlett's face in the final shot is a picture.

Mo, mo, mo

When Rob decided on a whim, towards the end of October to grow a mo, little did he know I would force him to turn it into a charitable enterprise.  A mo is a deeply unpleasant thing, so if you're going to grow one, you need to know there had better be  some bucks in it or else. It began as something that could have either been channeling the leader of the third reich or that bloke from On The Buses who shouts "I'll have you, Butler" in every episode. From there, Rob went through the 1970s' door-to-door insurance salesman look, before finally achieving something a porn star would be proud of. Many thanks to those of you who so generously contributed to the charities. Rob raised $395 during Movember. Maybe next year we can get a team of you lads going and raise 10 times as much. He is now - thankfully - clean shaven and once again enjoying kisses from his girls.