KARINGAL NURSING HOME CONCERT

The two older boys have been doing singing lessons on Fridays, and Mr 3 years has started the intro to drama classes at TPAC (Tasmanian Performing Arts Center). On the 14th (last Saturday), they took part in a TPAC concert for elderly folk at the Karingal Nursing Home at Devonport.

 Sufficiently blurred to not need my help :)

They enjoyed it, and will get the chance to do carols this coming weekend. Not my cup of tea, but it's about them.

Civic in Repose

Saying goodbye to the car.

Hey... got a $100 for it.

Car Crash

Well, our 2007 Honda Civic won’t see 2014. Earlier today, while driving my eight year old son to karate, going around a curve, the car ran into a little trouble. Crossed lanes, hit a culvert, rolled two and a half times.

No more Honda Civic.

Fortunately son number one came out of it ok. Just some nicks and scratches for me. Went to the hospital. They did their check-ups, told me to go home and have a shower and clean my cuts. Worst part of that is… they’re going to send me a bill for the visit. Maybe in America; but when did an Australian public hospital charge for looking at some scratches… or pretty much anything else? And not even clean and kiss my boo-boos for me!

Got to say, watching the rolling while it happened was pretty awesome. Except for worrying about my boy. Kind of expected a death or two, or at least dismemberments. Nope, the Gods love us.

And I love the smell of Dettol.

Was going to put the car in to get serviced in the next month. Oh well, guess I can use the servicing money now for the towing fee. And the hospital fee. And I guess I don’t need to pay car rego for the civic. So I guess it’s win-win-lose-win-draw-spleen.

Pioneer Park, Pademelon and Raspberry.

Yesterday (Sunday) the family went to Pioneer Park to take part in a tourist advertisement that's meant to draw attention to venues in this region. Pioneer Park is a six powered site (with other non-powered) camping spots, low fees, lovely natural settings. And it's the only camping site in this region (that I know of) which allows pets. I just discovered they have a walking track, so an outing is definitely on the cards.

Fleegle, Bingo, Drooper and Snorky

(If you don't get the reference... Google).

 

Speaking of Bananas... this tree is peeling like one.

(A tenuous link, I trust you will agree).

Ok, I blurred out their faces. But hey, would you like to 

be identified with my my blog? Nope, didn't think so :)

And back home. Bridie is here almost every morning now.

This morning she was in the raspberry patch. You can

just make her out.

Bridie and Milk Plastic

That pademelon came back this morning. Seems she's taken a shine to the spot in front of the garage. Well, we figure, if she's going to keep turning up, we'll name her. So she is hereby named 'Bridie'. I say 'she'... but it could me male.

 Bridie

 You've heard of pork scratchings... well, here's pademelon scratchings.

Pademelon Shine.

Later in the morning, we took the boys to a homeschool gathering. It had a hands-on science theme. Boys got to explore things that involved Bicarb-soda (baking soda) and vinegar. The section I liked most was where they made plastic from milk. It's a subject that's covered in the book Makeshift Workshop Skills by James Ballou. Good to see it done in real life.

Wobbly and Haunted Glove

 Boys decided today that they were going to try to create the Haunted Glove effect that they discovered in one of their kids science books. A little bicarb, a little vinegar... way cool!

 High five for Casper!

I was washing some dishes this afternoon and just happened to look out the window. I've lived in this cottage for a decade. This is the first Tasmanian Pademelon (Thylogale billardierii) that I've noticed come visiting.

On The Beach

We went to a couple of farmers markets and the beach at Devonport yesterday. Boys were bored at the markets, but enjoyed the beach. Started off with the swings, then explored the shells and beach glass. Discovered beach critters we hadn't noticed before.

This is what happens when you

leave Kynan in charge of the 

maypole.

Jedrek, however, prefers everything to 

move... even his maypoles.

Parvulastra exigua Small Green Seastar.

 Kynan found several dead starfish.

Not sure if it's the Purple Sea Urchin or the

Egg-Shaped Sea Urchin... but I am sure it's

not an Ornithorhynchus.

My personal favourite critter for the day was this little beauty.
Actinia tenebrosa aka Waratah Anemone 

All-in-all, a great time out. Looking forward to next time. Also collected shells. Gonna try and identify them. Great education for the kids.

The Earthling

I remember watching a movie as a kid, called The Earthling. The Plot at the Wiki entry for 'The Earthling' says:

"Patrick Foley (Holden) is dying of cancer and decides to return to the outback where he was born. He has stopped taking his medicine and is at peace with his decision to die alone in the woods. On his journey, he notices a family camping. From a neighboring peak, Foley watches as Shawn (Schroder), a 10-year-old boy, begins collecting firewood. The father attempts to move the camper away from the edge. Unfortunately, the camper rolls off the cliff and crashes to the bottom of the cliff with Shawn's parents inside. Shawn climbs down from the cliff finding the camper crushed upside down realizing his parents are dead. Foley has an ethical dilemma: take the stranded ten-year-old back to civilization, and lose his own wish to die where he was born, or continue his personal mission and let the boy die alone in the wilderness. He decides to take the boy with him, and teaches him along the way how to survive in the wilderness. A strong bond grows between the two, and when Foley finally dies, Shawn is equipped to travel out of the outback alone."

Got me to thinking. I no longer doubt that I'm in the early stages of Parkinson's Disease. I believe our civilisation is entering it's declining phase. And I have several young children and a wife who, gods willing, will all live long, fulfilling lives. But like Foley, I won't be there.

There's a tsunami coming... and I need to teach them how to surf.

Cowabunga Dudes!!!