4th Launceston win again!

We had the Launceston and Tamar District swimming carnival for Cubs last night at Riverside Pool. Last year, our division 4th Launceston - won the Cubs section and were defending the shield! There was a BBQ, lots of games and fun races - including "leaders v parents", but Shayne wouldn't be in it! (I accidentally forgot my bathers...next year maybe!)

It started off warm but we had a few BIG drops of rain for a minute!

The Cubs got the first go on the slide...

....and the water was just a tiny bit cold!Lauren is really enjoying Cubs and swam in the "Cubs length of the pool" race with 9 and 10 year olds!

Happy swimmersA toothy smile just for Nanna!

Cheering on the relay team before swimming his leg

It was warm, but could have done with being a BIT warmer for the swimmers!

The best bit - rugged up with hot food!

Guess who is "so over" the Snaparazzi taking endless photos???

A modern koala, or about to do a break and enter???

Not sure where he got the energy to be a comedian at 9pm

on a Friday night after swimming all night!

The very best bit - they won the shield again!

4th Launceston Cubs with leaders Rikki, Akala, and Bagheera (back)

(Lol had gone home with Mum and Shayne as she was very tired!) Patrick and Lauren both did really well, and it was a great night with a great result!

Swimming lessons!

Patrick and Lauren's school offer swimming and water safety programs for all grade 3, 4, and 5 students. As our main swimming centre Windmill Hill has been closed for about 18months being redeveloped, from last year the lessons were at Grammar (private school) pool. Patrick went last year and it's a fantastic facility, and better than the usual learn to swim pool that is outdoors (brr) and even depth - which is great for the younger kids, but at 8 and 9, it's good that they get practice in a "normal" pool with varying depths. They have nine 1hr classes starting after the long weekend in March - perfect as it's still nice weather and not cold to be spending the rest of the day at school damp! Paddy had his lessons in the two weeks before the end of 1st term last year - the end of May - which was a little cold! Lauren's are 9.15-10.15, and Paddy's 10.15 - 11.15 so it couldn't be better for spectating.

*file photos from Georgina's collection, September 2008

Watch Dog???

This is Beau at 4.59 p.m. today...and EVERY day waiting by the door - staring at me! She gets fed at 5 p.m. She's 13, blind and deaf but still she knows! How do dogs know what time it is?

(There was a giant pool of drool at her feet!)

Gorgeous!

Mum and I decided we needed a change form pounding the pavements of Prospect, Punchbowl, Kings Meadows, Newstead and Norwood yesterday, and headed West to the Gorge. It's nice to get away from the traffic, and for a change of scenery. We often go out to Heritage Forest and do a few circuits, but this was nicer as it's such a spectacular spot!

I used to swim here at "Jake's corner" when I was a teenager!

Notice the peacock is missing his tail feathers?

Proof we went for the exercise and not just the scenery!

Nasty Incy Wincy!

Lauren came home from school early today as the bite on her arm was sore. It started as a small bite (like a mozzie bite) and has got bigger over the last 3 days. I took her to a pharmacist last night who said it was fine and not infected and possibly a spider bite - which is what we thought. Because she took herself to first aid twice, they had to ring me. She was devastated - Lauren loves school and today they were having a celebration of 4 birthdays - 3 kids and the teacher's father all have their birthday today, so she was extra sad about that. Anyway, we've just been to the doctor and it is most likely a spider bite. Because everyone reacts differently to bites, she's on an antibiotic to prevent infection and a hydro cortisone cream to apply around the outside to stop it spreading. It looks awful doesn't it? Let's hope it clears up very soon - I don't like my chances of keeping her home from school!!!

1,3,9

Number 9 in the Launceston Cup - Reputable

Number 1 Zavite, 3 Gotta Keep Cool and 9 Reputable for the trifecta!

I know I sound like I know what I'm talking about, but I don't. We've always done a cup sweep and I usually put a dollar on three horses for a bit of fun! I've had NO luck in the last few years, so today could be the day... I also like number 11 Pindari Prince and 4 Centurytwentyone - maybe I should just put $1 on all 15 of them! If you're going to the Cup - enjoy it, and GOOD LUCK! I haven't been for years.

***

*Good luck today Georgina - it should be fun!!

Race results...

1st Zavite(1) 2nd Centurytwentyone(4) and 3rd Ista Kareem(2)

Gym Junkie...

...not me!

I have been TWICE in a week though - that's TWICE more than the week before! I really wish I could like it, or be a real gym junkie and crave going but...craving chocolate is so much more fun!

To add or not to add....

...THAT is the question!

I'm debating whether to add Tintin aka Kevin Rudd, to my facebook friends. I heard he's got the least facebook friends of all the pollies, and wonder what we would chat about online? I know I have many questions I'd like him to answer, and I'm sure he's got a few for me!

Pumpkin Patch

Patrick - aka Paddy, Pat or Patch, is having great success with his pumpkin patch! Mum gave him some pumpkin seeds last year, and he planted them as part of his gardening badge for Cubs. Luckily only one of the three seeds grew, as it's taking over our garden like something out of The Day Of The Triffids (not to be confused with The Day of the Triffitts - a book soon to be written hey Lisa???) Since Nanna began the cycle, I'm sure she'll finish it in a few months with a lovely big pot of pumpkin soup - after it's been taken to Cubs and school for Show and Smell - of course!

Thank goodness for that!

Today Mum, Mark, Jac, Georgina and I went to the Round 1 NAB cup match at Aurora Stadium. It was a beautiful day for it, although the crowd didn't reflect that. One lucky guy won $4000 by being the NAB "face in the crowd" and winning $1000, kicking a super goal from outside 50m to double it, and then had it doubled again because he was already a NAB account holder! He was sitting a few rows in front of us. What a great day out although he was barracking for Melbourne, so you can't win them all!

Hawka strutting his stuff!

Action in the middle of the ground

Brad!!!

How we Hawks fans felt at the end on the game...

....and how the Demons fans felt - DEFLATED!!!

Despite the best efforts of the "Green Team " The Rabbits,

and losing Changa and Ozzie to injury,

The Hawks won in a nail biting finish!

0.11.3.69 - 1.8.9.66

Go the Mighty Hawks!

Season 2009 - here we come!

9 and 1/2 years!

Patrick is 9 and 1/2 today!

We always measure the kids twice a year, and Patrick has always been in the top 2% height for his age (above the 97th percentile). He grew 4 centimetres in 6 months and 8 centimetres in the past year and is now 146 centimetres!!! If he keeps growing at this rate, he'll be taller than me by the time he's 12 and 1/2!!!

*I had to use this photo again as it is the most recent one I have!!!

Fab Friday TV Stars!

I had planned to take the kids to Aurora Stadium for Fab Friday at about 4.30p.m. today, but not long before then it POURED! We have had very little rain this year, so we badly need it, but I was disappointed when a big thunder cloud blew in. I knew the Kings - another family of Hawks fanatics - would probably be there, and when Lisa got back to me and said they were, I thought we'd take advantage in a break in the rain and head down to Aurora. Halfway there, the clouds opened again and it BUCKETED down, but luckily a few minutes after we pulled into the car park, it stopped. The Hawks were in the change rooms as it had been raining so much. We saw the film crew from HawksKids - a new TV programme starting on March 28th and running every Saturday for 30 weeks during the AFL season - and headed over to see if we could get the kids an interview! Look out for them as both Paddy and Lol, along with Jalen and Harri were interviewed, and talked about what they do to help the environment! It'll be on Southern Cross here in Tassie, and simulcast on the website. The "boys" then came out to train, and afterwards, signed some autographs. We were thrilled to get Stuart Dew and Chance Bateman's autographs, but especially to talk to Brad Sewell - number 12 - and get autographs and photos!!! He was really nice, and was very interested in what Patrick was eating - he thought it smelt like a sausage roll, but it was actually a free hamburger that poor Paddy was stuffing in as I dragged him over to the boundary fence! I'm so glad we went as it was a great afternoon! I can't wait until tomorrow!

The Boys training

The Blogerazzi and the Snaparazzi juniors heading over to the HawksKids film crew!

Jalen was interviewed first and spoke really well - he's going to be a regular on Hawks Kids TV so look out for him!

Harri also had his chance on camera, and had some 4 year old pearls of wisdom to add!I was really proud of Lauren,

and Patrick and can't wait to see them on TV!

Brad and Chance

Stuart Dew signed Lol's hat -

He is one BIG unit!

Brad taking the time to sign autographs,

have a chat...

and pose!

What a great bloke!

The Gunns stand from where we'll be cheering the Mighty Hawks home tomorrow!!

***

Lisa mentioned that she thought the Hawks might not stay at the Casino any more,

but we got the proof that they do...

...we followed them up the outlet on our way home!

(we do live near the Casino - honestly, although Project Stalk-A-Hawk was fully in motion!)

GO HAWKS!!!

*Thanks Paddy for the excellent action travelling shots