Jenolan Caves

Well what a fun weekend away at Jenolan caves (past the Blue Mountains) with our friends. Though it didn't get off to a good start (Tom vomited in the car on the way - projectile, just missed my head) it certainly was a lot of fun in the end. We were 6 families from Mortlake - 5 kids from one class (1/2M) and 33 of us in total. Even the class frog got to come along.

We stayed in dorm style accommodation - we each had a basic room with bunks, with shared bathroom and kitchen. The kids ran riot around the joint, overjoyed with their new found freedom and pack mentality. We toured the Lucas cave for 2 hrs in the afternoon, and Tom spent most of the first hour crying and screaming to get out. Mark had to carry him most of the way as he was terrified, but eventually he got used to it and calmed down. The tour guide was very good humoured and got the kids attention by getting them to stare up for bats whilst he told us stories. Then we gathered for some pre dinner snacks and drinks whilst the kids chased butterflies and lizards!
We had a little trouble finding a place to BBQ that a) worked and b) fit us all in. You would think with all that wonderful nature it wouldn't be so hard..... But it was great fun and the kids had a ball chasing each other, looking for possums and generally running wild!

Some parents made it for drinks in the kitchen but a few of the dads retired early with the kids. The best move of all was made by Paula our organiser who sneaked off early back to Sydney to work on her book (upcoming bestseller!)
The next morning I got up early and went for a walk through the bush. I thought it would be a well marked trail - well sort of - but as i was first out i had to deal with lots of cobwebs - yeuk! I was also a bit scared cos it was so so silent and outstandingly beautiful and serene. I met up with Mark and Tom at the small pond near the caves entrance and we saw a platypus. When we returned and had breakfast, everyone was very jealous to hear it (apparently they are pretty rare in the wild) so we took them down to see. Though with all the kids running and shouting, the serenity was broken and the platypus stayed away!
We headed out after breakfast, packed up the cars (amazing how much 'stuff' you take for just one night!) and ventured back up the narrow winding roads out of the valley. Already talking about where next year will take us for our group adventure. We're moving up - first year was camping (Cokatoo Island) then dorm, next 5 star resort in Fiji?!

A little swimmer

Today was Ela's first swimming carnival. We weren't sure it was a good idea for her to attend as the deal was you had to be able to swim 50m. Ela could do it - just - but that's a long way for a 7 year old. She begged and pleaded to give it a go so we succumbed and today was the big day.

Mark went along to support and she did an awesome job. She race in the 8rs age group (turning 8 this year) and came 3rd. What an excellent effort - we are so very proud of her. Mark said she climbed out of the pool and had a bit of a cry - probably overwhelmed by it all, but she certainly has her Dad's competitive spirit. Well done Ela!

Husky 2012

Can't believe a whole year has passed since the last time we were in Huskinson for the Mark's triathlon (half iron-man). This time was remarkedly different however. We went down with our friends the Smiths as Chris was competing on the saturday in the sprint course and Mark on the Sunday in the long course.
The house (Sail Away) we had booked in Vincentia was absolutely gorgeous, right on the beach and smack in the middle of both the bike course and the run course. (one passed in front and one passed out back!) That meant we could watch from the balconies as (right on schedule) Mark passed by and gave us a shout as we cheered him on.

Despite forecast of rain, the weather was perfect. Warm and sunny. So we spent most of the weekend on the beach with the kids jumping and riding the tiny waves of Jarvis Bay. Fantastic - hope we can go back again next year.

New Computers

We all scored an apple product this xmas. Ela is now the proud owner of an iMac - now I will have to work out how to limit her internet consumption before my bill hits the roof.

I got a new MacBook Air from work, Mark got an iPad2 (though we pretended it was a present for Tom otherwise he'd be the only one without an iPad) and Tom got his own computer too. We had a Mac Mini which was hardly ever used, so I bought a new Samsung screen, connected the Mac to it and now he has his own computer too. Along with two new Ikea desks, they are all set to follow in my footsteps :)

Iron Mark

Well the day finally arrived when Mark got to put his endurance training to the test and compete in IronMan Western Australia. 6 months of 5am starts, Ks upon Ks of cycling, swimming and running all in preparation for this big day.

We stayed at the Royal Palms Resort which was perfect for a short trip away. The kids loved the pool and it was just a few blocks from all the action. Busselton is pretty small, and its famous landmark is the 1.8Km Jetty that runs out to sea.

I took the kids for a ride along the miniature train, which runs all the way out to the end of the jetty and we went down below the sea to the viewing rooms and watched the fish and the coral.





Its the longest in the southern hemisphere and Mark got to swim all the way out, around and back from it in the first leg of his swim (4Kms).

We dragged ourselves to the start line at the beach for the 6am start but it was impossible to spot Mark from the other 1799 competitors dressed in the same black wetsuit and white swim cap!


However we did see him run out of the water and up the beach as he came in close to his 1 hour target. After that we saw him off on the bike leg and then went to enjoy our day whilst he spent 5 and a half hours in the 32 degree heat cycling around Busselton!


We swam and ate lunch then headed to the playground near the beach to see him come past on the run. As he was doing 4 x 10 Km loops we were able to wave and cheer him on his weary legs, plenty of times before he crossed the finish line in an amazing 10 hours and 54 minutes. We saw him coming - which is tribute to his precision - with a big smile on his face and he ran across with his arms in the air.








We met up with him in the finishers enclosure where he was beaming, eating ice cream and visiting the nurse for a blister check (a few needed popping). There was some minor vomiting (not surprising considering all he had eaten all day was a Vegemite sandwich and a large number of energy gel drinks (24!)


So we went to The Goose for dinner - Busselton's finest restaurant on the beach to celebrate and watch the final stragglers finish the race in the dark.

Our final day was spent relaxing at the beach, swimming in the pool, eating ice cream and playing crazy golf! But the holiday came to an abrupt end when we arrived at Perth airport the next day only to find all flights grounded and delayed due to an approaching thunderstorm. I dropped the car at the rental desk without any fuss (unlike when we picked it up and realised we couldn't fit Mark's bike box in the boot! Luckily Ela came up with the suggestion - after we had tried to push and shove it a 100 different ways - to slide it over the top of the back seat. Since the kids are so short it was cozy but worked fine!) And then we spent 2 hours waiting in the checkin area. When they called in the Sydney flight (us) were were thinking how luck we were but no, actually it was the beginning of a nightmare. We waited 2 more hours in the departure lounge only to be told the flight was cancelled and we needed to get into a queue to get re allocated. 5 hours later, at 9.30pm when i reached the service desk I was told there was no available accommodation in Perth or surrounds and there was no space on any flight to Sydney for over 24 hours. We were given pillows, blankets and tried to settle the kids on the floor of the departure lounge when there was an announcement that all passengers were to take a flight to Melbourne. So instead of spending the night in Perth airport we spent 3 hours on a flight and then 4 hours in Melbourne airport lounge. Finally got to Sydney about 9am (sans luggage of course) and home by 11am, a full 24 hrs and no sleep after we had arrived to begin our journey! What a bunch of memories.

Jungle Rock

This year Ela has been learning to play the flute. Each wednesday she has lugged it to school with her music sheets and practiced under the expert tuition of Mr Burjan.

The end of school year concert where all students who have been learning an instrument get to show off their talents is called the Mortlake ARIAs (or MARIAs).

This year Ela played on stage with the other flutists, a song written by her teacher, with words composed by Ela. she has really enjoyed herself this year and we were really proud to watch her perform on stage in front of the whole school body, parents and teachers. Well done Ela!

Latin Festival

Today was a holiday so we braved the weather and jumped on the ferry to Darling Harbour. It was day three of the Latin Festival and luckily for us the rain stopped and although there was a cold wind, the sun was out. The kids had a ball watching all the dancers and listening to toe tapping music from the various South American and Spanish regions as well as playing with equipment at the circus skills area. Ela impressed us all by hula hooping with 10 hoops at once! Our favourites were probably the Argentinian drummers dancers and whippers!