dale's thoughts

Does this really count ...

... as a blog? To make things easier for myself I'm going for a quick summary of recent events. I reserve the right to expand on these points in the future.

Grant and Jenna's Wedding

Rocked!

My speech turned out to be a poem that I was happy with and managed to read as I wanted to. Everyone looked good and the photos are great. I didn't spill anything on anyone!

Garth and Rebecca Engaged

Awesome!

Alz and Carla Engaged

Excellento!

Anniebelle

Teeth, pain, sick, no sleep, runny nose, cranky, no sleep, sick, pain, sad, runny nose, no sleep... ad infinitum. Poor little bug. Love the bug.

Vocabulary awesome, counting awesome, colours... well.. getting there.

Callum

Love the boy. Doing well but been sick with flu, headache, infected finger, sore knee, not sleeping the best but getting there. Super smart, great report card. Proudest Dad in the world.

Cassandra

Sick, no sleep, ad infinitum. Getting better. Holding the fort together. On top of everything. Love the Super Mum.

Golf

Back to the driving range. Not ready for the course.

Work

Still there (thankfully). Getting in early to get home early and focus my family time at the afternoon.

Kung Fu

Still there (barely). Not been able to train due to sick, barely managed to make it the last few times. Should be able to get back to normal next week. School hols break will help. Need to advertise and get more students http://www.southerncrane.org. Oh yeah, and update the web site.

Weight

Lost some, got sick, lost some more, tried to put some back on, may have gone too far but not keeping an eye on it whilst being sick. I know how to maintain and manage it so should not be a problem for me again. Unnecessary photo of fatty Dale removed from blog.

That's it for now. Will I expand on these points? Only time, will tell.

Love You Since Long Time

Wow over four months since I could be bothered to write anything. That's not a very good effort is it? I've been meaning to write a lot and have been thinking about what I would write but not actually had the time or motivation to get something out.

Since I had the whole month of January off (and didn't write anything) I guess I should see what I can remember. Holidays were good, we drove to Melbourne and stayed with Uncle Peter and Aunty Josie. Caught up with Grandma, Uncle David and Amanda. The drive was OK apart from the last 2 hours each direction at which time Annie was truly 'over it' and had had enough travelling. Managed to lose a few more kilos and was quite happy with my weight over the holidays. I was especially good at Christmas.

Back to work it seemed like everything was exactly where I had left it, not that I would have expected anything different but one can only hope. At least I didn't get called when I was on holidays, which meant I completely let work fall out of my mind.

I turned 31 in March and did manage to bring cakes in to work but didn't do a party, other than the communal dinner out for March birthdays. I got $100 Kmart vouchers of which I spend $60 on a swanky new pillow made out of foam. I also got and A&R voucher which I bought 'The Long Way Round' DVDs and have been watching over the last week. I might do a party for 2^5.

Annie goats started day-care in Jan and Callum started school in Feb. Annie seems to have settled in well and there are nowhere near as many tears from her as there were when Callum started there. I'm told she loves to dance and sing (as she does at home). I can already tell that she's going to be a lover of the arts. She is a clever little cookie too and is picking up her ABCs and 123s, though more from the tunes used to sing them than from the letters and numbers themselves.

Callum has also settled in well to school and has quickly shown himself to be among the best readers and counters in his class. Quite surprising considering he is also one of the youngest. It makes you realise how many millions of taxpayers dollars are wasted because parents couldn't be bothered spending time with their kids before they start school. There seems to be an attitude that it is the education system's responsibility to teach kids to read and write instead of the parent. Anyway we will continue to give Callum the best start he can and help him learn as much as he wants.

Recently my grown up boy had his 5th birthday. I'm so proud of the way he (mostly) handles life and it was nice to see him have a good time with all his friends. He is generous and loving but does have a short temper which he gets from his parents. It's hard not to have high expectations of him because most of the times he meets or exceeds them, but when he doesn't he has real trouble coping. 5 is a cool age because you can hold up all the fingers on one hand at once and proudly display your age. I wish I could do 5 over again.

Had seriously bad food escape on Sat so lost a fair bit of weight over the weekend. The past 3 days chocolate bender that I've been on (leftovers from Easter) should fix that :D

Baby brother's wedding next week. Better think about writing out a speech.

Golf

Hit a bucket of balls with my Dad at the driving range yesterday. It's really the first time in a long time I can remember doing anything just with him alone. I had a good time and did a little better than I thought I would. Still far from golf course material though. I need to do things like that more often.

This morning Callum and I played mini-golf. We had a good time - he was very competitive and was proud of his hole in one at the end. Played with Annabelle at the play centre afterwards but didn't get much quality time. I think we need to do that at home. She had fun at least.

Back at training again for the first time this year. Lion Dance season fast approaching.

Mow mow mow the lawn, gently out the back

Gardening... check. Lawn... check. Still a ways to go but looking better.

Pretty quiet day on account of continuous brain ache. The boy got to see Madagascar 2 at the movies with his mum and Isaac. He came back and was proud to announce that "I like to move it, move it. I like to... move it!".

Zoned out watching the cricket while they were away as the girl had fallen asleep on me. Dissapointing batting day for Australia :(.

A Day at the Park

Today we went to the park in Wollongong. The kids got to play with Aunty Katy. Although it was cloudy and windy (therefore the beach was off) we had a good time. Pants with holes are perfectly acceptable.

Excellent food and Coffee at Turkish Delights Wollongong expanded the belly a bit but well worth it. Will be going back for sure. Love that Pide.

Soccer in the backyard was a little cold. No penalties were awarded no matter how hard he tried. The girl was happy all day, when allowed to roam free. Her speed walking definitely getting faster. Love the baby talk.

I could get used to not working quite easily. Looking forward to retirement in 35 years. Need to do some exercise tomorrow as holiday mode is starting to take hold. Lawn needs a mow and the garden need a tidy - that would do it.