Operation Ouch!

 

 

The kids and I enjoy a BBC kid's TV programme called Operation Ouch. It's hosted by two identical twin doctors (Doctor Xand and Doctor Chris). Their programme is a knock-about mix of slapstick, combined with pretty interesting medical information. Of all of the programmes the kids watch on tele it's probably my favourite.

We'd bought tickets as soon as I saw they were coming to town, which afforded us Row A seats (lots of legroom) and the show demonstrated how viruses work (massive balls bouncing around the theatre), the circulatory system (illustrated by using a cow's heart) and discussions around the brain, digestion and stress. They covered a lot in a 90 minute show.

 

Doctor Xand and Doctor Chris are funny guys as well. There was a question and answer session and it opened them to queries as diverse as why people have heart disease as well as why we fart!

 

Both doctors are still practicing medicine which was great to hear - it must be difficult juggling that together with the demands of playing to sell-out crowds around the world.

Australia Day Fireworks

 

Having attended an 'Invasion Day' march earlier that day, by way of balance(!) we also went along to the Australia Day fireworks in the city. Canberra has a number of fireworks displays throughout the year, from the ubiquitous New Year's Eve celebrations to the Queen's Birthday and Skyfire.

 

Australia Day is another excuse to light up some gunpowder and we dashed into town 30 minutes before the show, but still managed to get a good park and excellent vantage to watch the display which happened over the lake.

The evening was warm and calm and the fireworks spectacular. Sometimes it's easy to forget what a beautiful city we live in.

Change the Date Day (Australia Day)

Friday in Australia was a public holiday. It's an excuse for everyone to get together, wave a flag or light a barbecue. It was a particularly sunny and warm day on Friday so ideal for outdoor entertainment, but something cast an increasingly large shadow over the day. The 26 January 'celebrates' the 1788 arrival of Governor Arthur Phillip in Sydney and the raising of the British Flag.

 

At the time of the fleet's arrival Australia was referred to as Terra Nullias (no man's land) which kind of implied nobody lived here - overlooking the fact that there was possibly upwards of one million Aboriginals who had made Australia their home for around 40,000 years prior to Arthur Phillip's arrival.

 

The genocide of aboriginal Australians, their mistreatment and inherent racism throughout the country which followed is well documented.

 

I actually think that the early European arrivals tried hard to be peaceful and stories such as Bennelong (an Aboriginal man who forged a relationship with Arthur Phillip and travelled to Britain) show that initial intentions weren't to exterminate and isolate the communities in the way that ultimately transpired.

 

Effectively though now by celebrating the day it almost acts as a microcosm of everything that is wrong in aboriginal relationships over the last two hundred years. Aboriginal life span is 10.6 years less than non-indigenous population. Nearly 30% of the prison population is aboriginal (compared to 4% outside of prison walls) and both health employment and educational outcomes are extremely poor.

 

Many (but not all) Aboriginal communities have started to baulk against Australia day being held on the 26th January. For them Australia Day is "Invasion Day" or "Survival Day". I can sympathise that it holds no positive relevance to someone who has seen their historic land occupied and their forefather's killed in their thousands. Meanwhile much of Australia chooses to look the other way.

 

Almost by accident I joined a march on Australia Day which culminated at the Aboriginal Embassy. There was a 'smoking ceremony' and a couple of people spoke to the large crowd. Australia has many anachronisms and links with a British past. Certainly though the calls to 'change the date' seem to grow stronger every year and the campaign appears to have an awful lot of justification. 

 

Peach from our garden

We've got a peach tree in our garden which grows miniature peaches. They are so sweet and delicious. This year I really tended to the bush (spraying the leaves/buds with copper at the start of the season) and watering throughout the dry spells we've had. I also put small nets over the fruit to stop ants and bugs reaching them.

I was rewarded for my attention with around 10 fruit - a couple of which we greedily ate at the weekend.

Audrey plays guitar

One week of music summer school down!

One week down, one to go. Eli played at a concert organised by the school today. His trumpet group played the Imperial March (Darth Vader's theme) on stage to probably around 200 people. I thought he did excellently - and so impressive that he's only been playing his instrument for a week! When I picked him up he said he was so nervous that he'd nearly dropped his trumpet! Audrey's concert is in week two!

Music School

The summer holidays are really so tricky to negotiate. This year the calendar has fallen so that A&E have no less than seven weeks of school holidays, it's made me realise that at this time of year I am often dreading, rather than looking forward to, Christmas. Additionally occasions such as this make you realise without doubt that parenting is a two person job. I also look enviously at friends who ship their children off to grandparents for the summer or who at least have them on hand for occasional-days of love and support.

Unfortunately we're not so lucky so the kids have had to do a variety of holiday programmes and I combine this with help from kind school Mums to get us through to February. It sounds fine in principle but holiday programmes are usually pretty expensive and somewhat ridiculously a lot of them finish at 3 or 4pm so not really ideal when you work until 5! In addition it means that Audrey and Eli are often exhausted by the end of the day which leaves us all a bit tetchy and grumpy. It's not ideal by any means but we don't have an awful lot of choice.

This year, on a friend's recommendation I signed them up for a music school running at the Canberra Girls Grammar. It was pretty expensive but the appeal of having them at least in one consistent place rather than a double drop-off around town - meant that I was happy to pay for the convenience. Until this point neither Audrey or Eli have really played instruments as the school takes a fairly low-key (no pun intended) approach to music tuition.

Neither of the kids were that concerned with which instrument they would play. I chose trumpet for Eli (I've always fancied myself with a trumpet) and guitar for Audrey - again an instrument I've tried but without much success.

Due to the cost I found it quite an exclusive crowd when I parked among the SUVs and BMWs to drop them off. The place was full of posh kids heading off with their organic cucumber wraps - one Mum was even in tears saying goodbye to her kids (it's a school holiday programme people!).

Audrey and Eli went off quite happily. They were both really excited when I picked them up at 5.30 - they'd mastered a few notes - Eli could get a really good blast on his trumpet and Audrey practiced her guitar until late that evening. I don't know whether it'll be a phase but day one was certainly pretty good. Just three and a half more weeks of holidays to go!

Vegetable update

The raised wicking beds we put in our garden a few years ago continue to be really productive. They've been topped up with horse poo (we have an endless supply courtesy of Audrey's riding school) and this summer we're growing tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, green beans and potatoes.

I think one has developed a bit of a 'leak' which means the water doesn't reach the end of the bed as it should so I may take it apart in the winter and re-configure it. They've been so good though and with Canberra's hot summers I always advocate wicking beds to people rather than beds with top watering systems.

Happy New Year - Dawn walk up Booroomba Rocks

Rather than the usual New Year's Eve Fireworks I decided to join a friendly bushwalking group and watch the morning sunrise over Canberra from the top of Booroomba Rocks. The rocks are an escarpment about an hour's drive south of Canberra. With the sunrise due to happen at 5.30am it meant that we had to get up at 3.30am to meet the group (4.15am) As a result we were tucked up early on NYE! The fireworks passed us by, and on the 1st we all woke up on time, got dressed and drove to the meeting point. From there we drove in a convoy to the base of Booroomba Rocks and then set off on our walk.

Because it was still dark when we headed off we wore head torches (which kind of added to the excitement). The pace set by the walk leaders was staggering, but we kept up (just about). Eli led the way and Audrey marched behind. I think if we had been alone the walk would probably have taken 30 minutes longer!

Nevertheless the view from the top was spectacular. We watched the sun come up and then ate bacon/veg bacon and egg sarnies. The kids had been bribed with bubblegum(!) and someone in the group had carted a bottle of champagne to the top which was nice. We probably hung around chatting and admiring the view for about 45 minutes. It's such a nice spot.

The descent of the rocks by comparison was pretty sedentary. We reached the car park easily and then drove back to Canberra. We were home just before 9am and so the day seemed realllly long but it was a good way to end the holidays. I was back at work the next day (and the kids have a whole further month to go!)

complete with our head torches

About halfway

back at the carpark