The ones on the left are Smarties the one on the right was found in the same packet - an alien Smartie?
See also
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Not such a Smartie?
The ones on the left are Smarties the one on the right was found in the same packet - an alien Smartie?
See also
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Weston Park
Yesterday was a really sunny day so the four of us enjoyed a picnic in nearby Weston Park. Here's a couple of pics...
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Justine Clarke is Great!
One of my earliest childhood memories is being taken to my parents to meet the Goodies at a local bookstore in Wolverhampton. The Goodies were huge at the time - probably bigger than Elvis, though given it was the mid 70's Elvis would have definitely had the edge of them in terms of calorie intake. I remember being speechless when I met them. Bill, Graeme and Tim all there in the flesh - astounding!-I was lost for words...
Fast forward 30 odd years and I'm in the Canberra Theatre with Amy, Eli and Audrey. We're watching Justine Clarke and I'm similarly in awe as I had been with the fab-3 all those years before.
Justine is a big-deal in Australia - especially in the under 7's market. She's done it all, from actor to jazz singer to long-term Play-School presenter (yes - Play School's still going strong down under whilst the UK Big Ted, Humpty et al are all drawing their pensions). She's here promoting her second (tricky?) album and heavily pregnant with her 3rd child.
And what a show she puts on - despite her maternal size, she leaps around the colourful stage. I'm clapping, Audrey is clapping, two hundred other tots are clapping - then I'm shouting and people are just looking at me.
We know all the songs, we should do as been listening to them in the car for weeks. 'I like to Sing', 'Making the Garden Grow', 'Gumtree Family' they're all there. The crowd loves Justine, and she's a great performer. Despite this I seem to be the only one at the end chanting 'More, more, more!'
At the end there's a chance to meet Justine in the reception where she's signing t-shirts and posters for kids and parents alike. I'm prepared to say a few clever witty words to her, but like the 6 year old facing the Goodies all those years before I'm lost for words. Justine Clarke is great!
The video is a bit dark, so you might need to adjust the settings on your monitor
Fast forward 30 odd years and I'm in the Canberra Theatre with Amy, Eli and Audrey. We're watching Justine Clarke and I'm similarly in awe as I had been with the fab-3 all those years before.
Justine is a big-deal in Australia - especially in the under 7's market. She's done it all, from actor to jazz singer to long-term Play-School presenter (yes - Play School's still going strong down under whilst the UK Big Ted, Humpty et al are all drawing their pensions). She's here promoting her second (tricky?) album and heavily pregnant with her 3rd child.
And what a show she puts on - despite her maternal size, she leaps around the colourful stage. I'm clapping, Audrey is clapping, two hundred other tots are clapping - then I'm shouting and people are just looking at me.
We know all the songs, we should do as been listening to them in the car for weeks. 'I like to Sing', 'Making the Garden Grow', 'Gumtree Family' they're all there. The crowd loves Justine, and she's a great performer. Despite this I seem to be the only one at the end chanting 'More, more, more!'
At the end there's a chance to meet Justine in the reception where she's signing t-shirts and posters for kids and parents alike. I'm prepared to say a few clever witty words to her, but like the 6 year old facing the Goodies all those years before I'm lost for words. Justine Clarke is great!
The video is a bit dark, so you might need to adjust the settings on your monitor
Friday, June 26, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Life immitating the 'Hollow Men'
Since arriving in Australia I've been trying to learn Australian colloquialisms of which there are many. Last week Prime Minister Kevin Rudd introduced a new one to me.
As Prime Minister Kev is pretty much unknown outside of Oz, I'll describe him for you. He's a dork, a nerd, a dweeb.
Basically he's got the same sensible-parted-hair that his mum probably licked down for him as he grabbed his school satchel. His glasses similarly spell out 'Mr Sensible'. He would undoubtedly have been bullied at school - I can almost imagine a young Kevin Rudd sobbing as the bigger kids threw his blazer on top of the bike shed roof.
I guess there's nothing wrong with being a nerd though - just ask Bill Gates.
Like Bill, Kev has got power....
Probably following a focus group feedback session, Kevin has taken to using colloquiums no doubt to appeal to the 'ordinary Australian'. He used the phrase 'fair shake of the sauce bottle' no less than 3 times in a short speech on Sky TV. He also referred to the new defence minister John Faukner as 'Faulks'. urrggh.
It reminded me of Tony Blair, who as his empire crumbled took to wearing open neck shirts in a bid to appeal to the masses. Both things too painful and phoney for words.
As someone said to us last week, "Australians can tolerate a nerd, but can't stand a try-hard."
As Prime Minister Kev is pretty much unknown outside of Oz, I'll describe him for you. He's a dork, a nerd, a dweeb.
Basically he's got the same sensible-parted-hair that his mum probably licked down for him as he grabbed his school satchel. His glasses similarly spell out 'Mr Sensible'. He would undoubtedly have been bullied at school - I can almost imagine a young Kevin Rudd sobbing as the bigger kids threw his blazer on top of the bike shed roof.
I guess there's nothing wrong with being a nerd though - just ask Bill Gates.
Like Bill, Kev has got power....
Probably following a focus group feedback session, Kevin has taken to using colloquiums no doubt to appeal to the 'ordinary Australian'. He used the phrase 'fair shake of the sauce bottle' no less than 3 times in a short speech on Sky TV. He also referred to the new defence minister John Faukner as 'Faulks'. urrggh.
It reminded me of Tony Blair, who as his empire crumbled took to wearing open neck shirts in a bid to appeal to the masses. Both things too painful and phoney for words.
As someone said to us last week, "Australians can tolerate a nerd, but can't stand a try-hard."
Friday, June 19, 2009
Audrey's first haircut
We'd been putting it off for a while but finally agreed that Audrey should be taken for her first haircut. Just Cuts in Woden isn't exactly Toni & Guy but Audrey is none the wiser about these things as yet so we got away with taking her there.
She was a bit anxious at first but the hairdresser produced a large box of toys for her to play with and these distracted her enough to allow the cutting to begin! Here are some pics of her new 'do'.
Looking through the box of toys proved a good distraction
Sporting the new 'do' and a new pair of trainers too!
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