Weeks! #1sh: ends, beginnings and lots of pool time

Swimming lessons started the week before the year ended and week 1 of the new year began. The boys were enrolled in swimming lessons for every day during the week I decided to finally recommence the fitness approach I had planned since being in India but which had been delayed by respiratory illness of doom and so spent the duration of their lessons doing laps. All the boys are now happy to swim in the big pool after their lessons, so much splashing about.

We wandered to the pub for lunch with the parentals as it was the last day of their visit to Canberra.

Then Jude and I, who had both received a copy of the Shakespearean version of Star Wars, did a reading for everyone’s entertainment. I believe it was the scene where Obi Wan and Luke both get to know each other. Much applause – and Jude was surprisingly good at reading Shakespearean language aloud.

It was then goodbye to Nana and Poppa though the boys were to see them again in almost exactly a week – plus flying time.

That evening, accompanied by a nice glass or two of rose, we introduced the boys to Unexploded Cow – one of our very favourite games. They took to it with enthusiasm and much mispronunciation of French town names.

More pool time. More chances to try out the various effects on my phone camera.

Sometimes, post pool, all you want to do is have a quiet read.

Or Andrew comes around with many small plastic figures and you spend the afternoon painting.

Or making smoothies.

Or, if you are me, folding clean laundry.

New Year’s Eve was spent at Rachel’s house where we got to consume sausages and pavlova all created by Beryl, Rachel’s lovely KitchenAid. While all the sausages were fabulous, the duck and pork ones always stand out. It was a pleasant but low key end to the year.

The boys were in the pool again the next day, but I decided that, after an evening of more than several drinks, I was happy to sit this one out.

We had been slowly rearranging the boys rooms over the last week or so, so that Jude and Zac moved into one room, Sebastian moved into Jude’s room and Sebastian’s room is transformed into a boys’ retreat. This involved much sorting of books and toys and bookshelves.

James cooked us some wonderful roast pork with fabulous crackling for our first dinner for the year.

The next day it was back to work for me – I took my lunch in my new lunch bag from my lovely sister.

And at work tried out some of the tea I got in Korea – fabulously papaya-y.

We tried out playing Heads of State that night which, while entertaining, seemed overly complicated in its game mechanics to no particularly useful end. Also not entirely balanced.

The end of the week saw us celebrating with one of our favourite sparkling reds for no reason but that we could.

And I was excited to get my Sons of Anarkitty t-shirt, bought before I started watching. I am addicted now. Sadly, somehow I must have mis-ordered and the t-shirt is about three sizes too big, but it will still get some wear! It is too cute not too. I do like Sons of Anarchy though – even if I must admit some of the addiction comes from the fact that Jax is so charismatic as the central figure.

Saturday morning it was back to the pool – the boys had been Thursday and Friday of course, but it was a return to laps for me.

It was the last day of swimming though, so we got the advice about next classes for the boys.

Fabulous to see the evidence of Summernats on Lonsdale Street. Not.

The boys toys were put into boxes – some of which are ready to find new homes.

I went and visited the new twins, Hamish and Tasman, who Shell had so cleverly produced, in the special care unit at Calvary. Lots of sleeping like babies. So small!

It was then off to dinner at Sage for Jasmin’s birthday with pre dinner drinks outside at Mint. The food was good but not very interesting. Drank a fabulous Spinifex red though – the Bete Noir. Well worth it.

On Sunday the boys played with their newly rediscovered Go-Gos – the advantages of tidying and reorganising bedrooms.

Then Fritha came to visit and play for the day while Steve was at the hospital with Michelle – we managed to tire her right out!