Fundraising quiz night in Avalon. We went as the 'Get Smart' table.
Andrew didn't entirely understand the theme!
The funny thing about Australia is that it really doesn't have any sort of spring or autumn - or at least, nothing which the English could associate with those seasons. After what seems like months of wearing boots and jackets, the sun has suddenly come out and we are in shorts and slapping on the sunscreen again. On Saturday the temperature reached 27 degrees and this morning for the walk to the school bus at 7.25am, I only needed a t-shirt. The poor children, however, are obliged to wear their winter uniforms until the end of next week, when they break up for the spring holidays. After that, they will be back into their summer togs for the next two terms.
Naturally - eventually the men had to put the wigs on....
In the space of a couple of weeks, I have gone from switching on the electric blanket every night, to being too hot with the duvet on. And before you snort with derision at how pathetic we are with our leccy blanket, bear in mind that at night, the temperature can go down to 7 or 8 degrees, which is very manageable in an English house. However, we have all stud walls, no insulation anywhere, single pane windows, gaps at the bottom of outside doors letting a gale in, and NO heating of any sort. Now you see how quickly you would nip out for an electric blanket!
Summer sports have also started in earnest, so now we are into a round of cricket matches and practice, and the netball 'summer comp'. Andrew is even planning to play summer soccer (which I won't be watching as it takes place at 8am on a Sunday morning....). Anna wants to join Nippers (junior surf life savers) which is at 9am on Sunday mornings - nearly civilised and at least I get to lay on the beach while she does it.
The other way in which we definitely know that summer is on its way, is that we have had our first ant invasions (the first one, oddly, in the upstairs bathroom, the second - today - in the kitchen) and we have started to both hear cicadas and see their discarded shells. At dusk, as well, the rainbow lorikeets have restarted their deafening choir and the laughing kookaburras are beginning their hysterics earlier and earlier in the morning.
Some of you may know that Andrew and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary last week, and to celebrate we took ourselves off for a very swish lunch at a very swish hotel in the city. It must have been swish, as Will Ferrell and John C Reilly were hanging about in the lobby, before taking off in a fabulous yacht for the day. We realised later that they were in town to promote their new movie - Stepbrothers - and last night they were on 'Rove', the most important TV chat show here. They were very funny, and I think the kids would really enjoy the film.
Andrew and I are, of course, very pleased to have reached the 15 year milestone, and it made us think of all the people who were at our wedding and are still in our lives now. My dad also sent us a copy of the speech he made on the day, which still stood the test of time. I remember during the ceremony, the celebrant made the comment that he had not presided over a marriage before where the couple had promised to compromise. I think we've both compromised a fair bit over the years, and there have been dark times, but all in all, I'd say we are very lucky to have found each other and managed to make it to this stage. As Andrew once said - 'we deserve each other'...
(you now have permission to reach for the sick bucket...)
Speaking of marriages, we are dealing with another divorce in my family, and it has been difficult being away when you know that your support is needed. It's also disappointing on a personal level when there is a break up within the family. You invest in that relationship and love them because they are loved by your loved one, and because they are part of your family. When it ends, and especially when your loved one is left, it feels rather like you have all been rejected. Which in this case we very much have. But there is always Skype, texting and the phone, and Andrew was also able to give this gem of advice on finding a new partner when the time is right. My advice was to look for someone who was just nice - not fabulously sexy or great looking - but ordinary looking and a nice person. And without a terrible track record when it comes to marriage! Andrew called out from the background - 'that's what I did - and it worked for me!'. Hmmm...not sure if that is a compliment or not really....
Another important milestone to be reached this week is my 40th birthday on Saturday. I'm quite excited about it and not at all worried about being the big four ''o". Virtually everyone I know is either 40 or over, and they are happy, in good shape and enjoying life. There is no point looking back, and no point in having regrets, and
I'm going to be looking to the future. I'm going to work on spending less money on things, and spending more time with people and doing things. It should be fun!
Catch you after my hangover has worn off!
A nice walk at Manly Dam for Father's Day
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