Back ... for now ...
OK I'm back, I think - it's been a while. I just haven't been in the mood. I think it's returning to me...
Firstly you have learnt an important lesson about me. Perhaps I should add a disclaimer somewhere: "* promises may not be honoured". Secondly you can gather that I'm (as of time of writing) still alive.
Holiday in Review
Well my entire-month-of-February-plus-a-day holiday went really well. Here are some of the things I got done:
- Gardening: cleared the front and back yards into a mini-skip. Recovered half of Cass' veggie patch. It's coming back just not on such a large scale. About half the size of before should be more manageable.
- Put together Cass' mum's computer. Delivered it and finally got it working. I still need to get sshd working properly so that I can do backups for her to my server.
- Cleaned up the study - moved a bookcase downstairs. This is phase 1 of Operation: Get Annie in Her Own Room, which we hope to be complete in about 6 months time.
- Tidied up under the house. Moved the big desk in for my servers and moved the crappy white desk out.
- Bought a cheap n' nasty UPS and found out that Grant did too, and didn't realise it was me posting on the forums. Wrote a monitoring script which is nearly finished, just needs some tidying up.
- Got quotes for the back awning, which all came in >$8k, so we decided not to proceed given the current economic climate. Note to consumers: please stop spending!
Fun with Callum, whom I had all to myself for 4 days when Cass went to Melbourne with Annie to visit Susan:
- Ten Pin Bowling: he scored 150+ using the ramp thingy and bumpers :D
- Mini Golf with Unkey Grant.
- A trip in to see where I work (Daddy's "Orange" work, not "Old" work).
- Backyard cricket, since we had mowed a pitch in the backyard for him - I need to obtain a heavy roller from somewhere, and hire some ground-staff).
- Beach: had fun jumping waves, but we lost a Bob the Builder Sandal. Realised when I'd got home so we went back and did two laps of our trail with Callum on my shoulders but we couldn't locate the missing shoe.
- Fishing with my Dad. Callum's first fishing trip - Grandpa took us to the lake. I hooked a tiny Bream on Callum's rod and he helped reel it in. He was quite happy he caught a fish. Oh, and he still reminds me when we go over Windang Bridge: "Last week, lots of days, Grandpa caught a Pelican! Hahaha" - in reference to a story Dad had told him about once hooking a Pelican.
- Mowed the lawn while he played the computer. He was a good boy and left me to it.
- Lion Dance: for the Vietnamese community. There were 5 strings of fireworks which scared Callum - he ran off and I had to drop the cymbals and run after him. He didn't enjoy that performance because he was hoping to get to play with his little lion, but when I brought it out he went shy. He was a good boy for me though.
- Lots of fun playing indoor games such as the computer (trackmania), hungry hungry hippos, cards, train-sets etc.
All in all we had a really good boy's weekend.
Thirty
Oh yeah, I had a birthday in there. Massive party, no-one was invited :p. Actually, had a nice quiet dinner at home with my loved ones. Had a much quieter one once the little ones went to bed. I got FFOW for my birthday from Cass, Callum and Annie. From Katy I got edible chocolate Cluedo, which I am debating about whether or not to actually play it with other people or play it by myself. From my parents I got a nice lamp and a globe for it and a camping billie, to use when I uh, go... umm, camping. I got one hundred big ones from Mum and Pete (and a birthday dinner at the club) so that will go towards computer bits. My friends gave me a hammock and a stand for it so that I can relax in the backyard.
All in all I didn't find 30 to be much different from 29, which, incidently I didn't find too different to 28. The numbers have lost their importance for me, much the same way as Christmas is a bit of "bah humbug" and Easter is just "Get Fat Day".
Lately
Annie is doing well, when not screaming for either an unknown reason (perhaps lactose intolerance is the latest thing we've considered, which we are trying to rule out), or screaming because of reflux. She smiles a lot and likes her cuddles. I've got a sore shoulder and back from holding her too much. It hurts but it's worth it.
I gave blood again yesterday - if you don't donate and you are eligible then get of your ass and do it! Ask yourself: if you were badly injured in say a car accident, would you feel entitled to another donor's blood even though you don't donate yourself? No, there aren't enough donors. Blood IS in short supply, so you NEED to do something about it if you can.
More photos with Janine. If you scroll right down you can also see a Callum-on-a-Bus. The photos achieved exactly what they were required to do.
Played a game of indoor soccer with work mates. It was a good workout and I'll try and play regularly on Wednesdays after work. I've been getting to work around 8am which is about an hour and a half earlier than normal. This gives me more time at home at the end of the day and it feels like more time overall.
Went to Wings over Illawarra with the Hunter's. Callum had a good time but there wasn't as much to see as at the Nowra air show we went to.
I've started trying to exercise more, and am incorporating a walk to Westfield Figtree once a week. It takes me about 17mins there and 17-20mins back. The first time I went I realised I needed to bring a hat and put on sunscreen, and that my work boots aren't ideal walking shoes. The second time (today) I realised that I really really do need better shoes.
Tonight I carried Callum up from the car asleep as he had got back late from Granny's. I used to love it when my parents carried me in to bed from the car at night, but I'm enjoying it even more being the parent. Sometimes he wakes up a bit (he is heavy now after all) but sometimes I can change him out of his clothes into his pyjamas without him waking up.
Till next time...
