Charles Dickens

Tonight we will start reading A Christmas Carol - because it's Christmas - but mainly because Susie brought back from her England/Europe trip a gorgeous print of a painting that is hanging in Charles Dickens's house. The print is now framed and hanging in our house. The painting is called Dickens's Dream and is unfinished because the artist died midway through the painting. I think it may even be better unfinished.

The painting has Dickens asleep with characters from his books filling his dream. We are going to read A Christmas Carol and look for the characters.

Chicks - again.

A third chicken died - just dead and stiff one morning. So I succumbed and agreed to get more. Three new - day old - black and cute as can be chicks joined the herd today. That brings us back to 7.

The kids have a new game called grasshopper soccer - they catch a grasshopper from the herb garden, pull the legs off (less than compassionate and green - I know), then give it to one of the chicks. That chick is then put back in with the others and they fight for the grasshopper - it's a bit gladiatorial but does look like they are playing soccer - and it gets rid of some grasshoppers from the garden.

Grasshopper collecting:

Gold, Frankincense and Smelly Cheese

Since Christmas is close-ish, we put up the nativity scenes for FHE - which put us all in mind of Max when he was 5 and convinced beyond doubt that the wise men brought gifts of gold, frankincense and smelly cheese.

We have no idea where this notion came from but Max and Louisa were both convinced. Max was more vocal about it all - Louisa was a bit suspicious that it might be wrong.

We even asked at Pine if he could have picked it up there - Patty was sure no one had said that but took advantage of it and told the nativity story the next day - pausing to ask if anyone knew what gifts the wise men brought. When Max confidently said 'gold, frankincense and smelly cheese' none of the other kids seemed to mind - so Patty just let it be - thus creating a group of children who have visions of wise men carrying smelly cheese.

This year Max is wise enough to know that there wasn't a lot of smelly cheese in Bethlehem - and old enough to laugh at his younger self.

At the time we didn't make a fuss about the misunderstanding - not to Max anyway - we laughed a lot and shared with everyone! And now we can see that you don't have to get all the facts right to love a story about Jesus.

Jesse, Louisa and Max also made Christmas puddings for dessert.

Primary Program

Because the Federal Election was held on Saturday, and because Pine was supposed to be coming out for a pot luck dinner (until it rained), and because we lost the talk and had to get a copy of it for the fourth time on Saturday morning - Louisa didn't start memorising her talk until late on Saturday night. This was doomed from the start since Louisa has trouble staying up past 8 pm. So we woke up early Sunday morning to memorise her part. It was actually a talk she had given earlier in the year and was quite long. But she pretty much got it before we left.

All the Primary kids - 29 of them - sat on the stand and there were quite a few emergency trips to the toilet as nerves got the better of them - including Louisa. Louisa sat beside Marilyn which was lucky because she was completely terrified.

When the time came for her part she started out well, got about half way through and drew a blank. She just looked over to me and said through the microphone - "Mummy, what's next?" Everyone laughed - I mouthed the next word and off she went again and did beautifully.

Part way through the program Max started to cry and came down to me - apparently he had stage fright - too may people watching. I figured that was that and there would be no way he would do his part - but he rallied and went and sat with Roger on the stand - then did his part beautifully - about the time he helped a little friend out of some prickles.

Thomas News

"Well, it's the last week of the transfer, which mean's I'll likely be getting a new companion soon. This one has gone by like a blur- been very busy. This week started by Elder Lind telling me that it's (and I quote him) "You're-senior-companion week". Elder Harris tried doing this a while ago, but this time it means I actually lead. I don't fancy it at all, really. I think my planning skills need serious work before anything like that happens.

Well, yesterday I did something interesting. I was thinking what I needed to do in order to be worthy to baptise someone. One of the ideas that came to mind was "dedicate yourself to the Lord in prayer." In the spirit of "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger", I decided to give it a go. What an amazing day that was. I couldn't NOT contact people. Every time I tried to make an excuse for not contacting someone, my mind would automatically boom out the message "Elder, you are dedicated!". Once that message came to me, there was no refusing. It was one of the most amazing feeling days I have had on my mission. I really felt on fire.

I later became amazed that for all my telling you, my freinds, even the presidency of the church that I was dedicated, I had somehow forgotten to tell the Lord: the one who really mattered. I am so glad I finally did.

Then today, I lost it. Thanksgiving lasted longer than we planned, and as such, we are now writing to you at aound 6:30-7:00. Needless to say, I kinda feel like dirt because of that. Like I made a mockery of my dedication and therefore of God. I intend to seriously repent of that and re-forge my dedication. Yesterdays feeling was too good to loose now. The spirit that I had as a result of that dedication cannot be lost now, not when I only just accquired it. Well, that is really all for the bad news (if you can call it that- after all, now I just have a firmer resolve to re-obtain that dedication).

This week has been mostly trying to find less-actives. We finally have a branch list, so thats more of a help than a hinderence. We've had some strange comments on some names though, one of them had the comment "Crazy, Sick or Dead" We tried visiting him and his neighbours told us he didn't live there anymore, so I'm not sure which one it is. At most it's two of them.

The Snow has all but melted around here, actually. We had some actual rain here last week (I know, how does that work?) and the snow melted with that, but there is still some here and there. I don't have a hat and gloves yet, that will have to be a next P-day thing. My thick-soled shoes should do the trick for boots."

Seamus Bramley - Bushranger

The notorious, though little known, bushranger Seamus Bramley was the subject of Louisa's project. In a rare move the Pine big kids were assigned a project on bushrangers - they could choose their own bushranger - but the rest of the project had a formula to follow. Louisa had to do a brief introduction about the history of bushranging, and make a wanted poster.

She chose Seamus Bramley - well, more imagined than chose. When Maris and Mathilda were her Louisa mentioned that she had to do her project the next morning. Tildy suggested she make it up - and Louisa leaped on the idea.

Of course there was at least as much research in making it up as in just choosing one - but it was more fun!

Louisa presented her project to the class - Patty was very impressed that Louisa had chosen one who was not on the list - then Patty struck fear into Louisa's heart by saying 'let's look him up in this big book about bushrangers'. He wasn't there, of course, and Patty just said that surely they wouldn't be all there. Lousia was wide eyed and panicked the whole time Patty was searching for him. She fooled the whole class - except Peet who knew.

Louisa told Alexander and they both went to tell Patty - so sincere and scared looking that Patty thought something must be wrong - but gave Louisa 10 out of 10 when she heard the joke. The other kids all laughed too. Louisa was tickled pink.

Peet also completed his bushranger project. After a great deal of huffing and puffing about not wanting to, not going to, don't see why I should etc., he finished it and said 'that was such an interesting project' - good grief!

For the last time:

Now I really hope this is the last time I have to write this - another chick died on Saturday night - it also did not look too well from the start. It was ceremoniously buried by Peet with Louisa and Max while we were at Stake Conference.

The 5 remaining chicks look good - they went to school today - so if they can survive that, they should be right.

That's 123 dead pets - I think we better stop counting!

Maris & Mathilda

Maris and Mathilda came out to see the chicks and have dinner on Sunday night. The kids were so excited - Max spent all afternoon looking down the driveway for Mathilda.

Mathilda got the full tour - the hammocks, the fireplace, Honey, the goat pen, the dam, the mother & father duck (no sign of the babies that late in the day).

After dinner the kids showed Mathilda their favourite picture books - without a thought that Mathilda could possibly want to do anything else -a sign of a gifted teacher - when the children genuinely think she is interested in all the same things they are.

Maris and Roger and I mused about wanting more parents seeking an alternative education, and had a lovely night.

Max was so proud that Mathilda came for dinner - and remarked while colouring in that when he grows up he is going to live with someone who 'doesn't so much mind mess.' I think that's because I had everyone tidy their rooms before Maris & Mathilda arrived.

Four Wheel Driving

Wilder rides are sure to follow - but Lee took the kids for a fairly sedate ride in the back of the new truck. This was the second ride for Peet and for Louisa - on Peet's first ride Lee almost wrapped the truck around the tree - which would almost have been worth it for the fun we could have had with him crashing his new car - and Louisa had wheels screeching on her first ride. This one was more sedate since Joan and I were there to watch!

Ducks

The Native Wood Ducks who live around our dam have 10 babies. They are unbelievably adorable - and quite large - so their parents have done a good job of keeping them hidden. We've suspected for a couple of weeks that they might have babies - they flew away every time we went near the dam and looked generally parental - but we saw them yesterday for the first time.

Lee came out to work on the goat pen while the rest of us were at Stake Conference and saw them in the paddock with Honey - then we all saw them on the dam later that afternoon.

Cars

Lee and Roger have new cars. Here's how it happened:

1. Lee had been thinking about a Ford Ranger.
2. He asked Roger to check it out.
3. Roger did, the salesman phoned Lee.
4. Lee asked Roger to check out prices etc.
5. Roger phoned Lee with details.
6. Lee said to sign up for it.
7. Roger signed up on Saturday.
8. On Monday Lee went to look at it - he walked into the yard and said 'I think I bought that car.'
9. Lee cleaned out his car and had it washed for Roger - who is after all so fastidious.
10. Lee found $2000 in cash hidden in the back of the Mazda - for emergencies - those kids who put a brick through the window a couple of weeks ago should have had a better work ethic - they also missed out on a $1500 camera and only took a bit of change.
11. Wednesday morning - Lee picked up the Ranger and drove to Toowoomba where he met with a vendor who asked him what he was driving and Lee told him 'just an old Ford - it's a work truck' - the 'old' part may have been an exaggeration.
12. Roger picked up the Mazda on Wednesday night.

Thomas News

"Well, here I've officially hit shock point- It's started snowing. It's been doing that for a couple of weeks now, but this time the snow isn't melting the minute it hits the ground. In fact, the city is now pretty much cove red in it. So today, I'm going to buy a winter hat and a new pair of gloves (would you believe I lost one just when it started snowing? Good Grief!). That said, the snow is amazingly pretty! I will send you photos when I can.

As a country, the landscape of Lithuania is a little more interesting than the rest of the Baltics. It's actually got hills, for starters. Latvia is comparatively flat, and Estonia was almost entirely flat. Our week is looking very busy. If all goes well, we should come out with 19 meetings- which is superb according to my experience.

Do I feel like a native yet? Definitely not (I don't think I could get that drunk if TRIED *joke, of course*). My Russian, though greatly improved, still needs serious work. It's mostly comprehension that I have trouble with- I find resolving concerns absolutely daunting. But, I'm sure that will come the more work I put into it.

Normally we don't teach alone, but last week was more of an English class with a spiritual thought. Robert came afterwards, and I taught him a little English (the reason he came), and took the opportunity to see how his Book of Mormon reading was coming (he has been having trouble understanding what he reads). And I never travel alone, except, sometimes when its across the border, like last week. Once I got to the bus station, there was other missionaries waiting for me. We are alone as little as humanly possible.

I think there are some excuses people use that you can only use in eastern Europe. I've heard some interesting ones. "I'm Russian (thereby implying that being Russian orthodox is not only fine, but vitally important)" is pretty common, but I've also had "I have a lot of mushrooms"- I still don't understand the logic behind that, but mushrooms are pretty the staple food here. The most recent, and this is either a cultural thing, or someone who didn't know well enough, was some telling me (in English, near yelling) " I... Don't... Know... Your... Family". It's almost like he thought I wanted to date him or something.

This is explained in the post called Cars: How did Lee not notice he's short $2000? I'm glad nobody was reading over my shoulder, they might have thought I was rolling in it. And just as well Dad has a clean car for the little while he has it clean- because those days are gonna be over quick smart. And you're right. If there's one thing that gets to me about criminals it's their lack of work ethic. I mean, c'mon boys, life could be so much better if you just went the extra mile!

Elder Lind has been great. With each companion I've had, I've felt that I am working that little bit harder. Which means that I'll be home before I know it (shudder)."

Chicks

Hopefully this will be the last time I write this - one of the chicks died overnight.

It was Max's bantam. Louisa came in to our room in tears holding a limp chicken - we wrapped it in an old washer and braced ourselves for when Max would wake up.

In the meantime it almost rallied - it tucked it's legs up under itself and started to cheap. It was obviously still sick but the bit of extra time gave Max hope and he only cried a bit - it also prepared him so well for the inevitable that - when it finally happened - he was poking and prodding and dropping the cold, hard, dead body. I believe it has now been buried with Peet's help.

There is still one chick who is not looking so good - so we shall see - but hopefully the second time around will not be as traumatic.

The way I understand it - having a pet die is a marvellous teaching opportunity. Given that the bantam was pet number 122 to die in our family, the kids must be well taught by now!

FFFN

This week it was GoMA - Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art. It has been open a year now and Roger and Alec haven't been - the rest of us have been often and we were desperate for them to see it. So even though we were short on time we went in for an hour. The traffic made it half and hour and Alec met us in there later.

It is such a gorgeous, soaring, public space - wonderful river views, beautiful modern lines, toilets that the kids love, and - this time - not much art because most of the gallery is closed and preparing for an Andy Warhol exhibit.


Max and Louisa were distressed that the pigment room was closed and that the most recent display, with enormous balloons, was gone. Peet had wanted to show Roger the infinity room and that was gone too. There were still quite a few cool pieces - including some zen-like rooms where you could write letters and leave them to be read. We had a lot of fun reading other peoples mail and Max wrote a letter to Louisa and Peet - it said 'Have Fun Always'.

The gallery closed before Alec actually arrived and we waited outside on the grass for him. It was such lovely weather and the grounds are beautiful.

When Alec got there we wandered through the State Library building - it closes at 5 pm on Fridays too. There were people all through the passageways logged on to the Internet on their computers - it looked like something out of a sci-fi movie - as though they were all addicted to the Internet and getting their fix in the dark shadows.

Spent quite a while generally mucking around on the river walk and in the grounds of GoMA.

The kids practised Marcus's yoga moves.

Then we finally went to Lefkas and had take away on the river for dinner.

Marcus visits Pine

Marcus came to Pine on Friday. Sadly there were not many of us who remembered him - but even so it didn't take long for the kids to fall under his spell.

He taught yoga and sat on the floor and sang - for an hour. Mathilda came in - on her day off - and Kate was there, Jesse and I went in and Taylor came too. Marcus sang heaps of the old songs he used to sing with the kids - May we all Fly like Eagles, The River it is Flowing, I Love this Tiny Green Island and so on.

Marcus brought his Dante with him - cute and full of life and so rough and tumble.

Chicks

We finally managed to get some day old chicks on Thursday. We bought 6 - but when Max got in the car he was weeping because there was a special one he just had to have - so we went back in (because he isn't quite spoilt enough yet) and bought one more. The shopkeeper said that it was a bantam (which is kind of poetic for Max) and was unsexed.

Max was very pleased and we got back into the car. Max put his new chick in with the others who immediately started pecking at it - which led to tears and something approaching hysteria - so Max held it all the way home.

We were talking about the possibilities of breeding some of our own chickens when max announced that his would not be able to have babies. When I asked him why - he said 'because it's unsexed.'

Jesse had an orthodontist appointment that afternoon so we left the little kids at home with the other Fulcher kids to wait for Alec and play with the chicks.

The missionaries came over for dinner then Roger and I dropped them home. When we got back the chicks had a bed all set up with the bantam separate from the rest - the light was shining on them for warmth and they all looked ok. Since the point of this exercise was to try to give at least some of them to the black chook, who has been sitting for weeks, we took three chicks out to her. She instantly rejected them and chased them - so now we have all 7 to raise.

So the next morning before work and school Roger dug around under the house and found an old guinea pig cage, went down to hardware store and bought chicken wire - and made a home for them. There is even a separate little place for Max's bantam to keep it way from the others who are still pecking it.

A Day Off

Jesse, Joan and I all the day off on Wednesday. We had all been working hard for weeks and the drizzly weather, coupled with having just cleaned the house and bonded with it, had left us with a yearning to shop.

So Louisa and Max took the day off too and we all went to the Sunshine Coast to shop and swim. Good thing the swimming was a success because we were hopeless at the shopping.

Firstly - there really was very little to buy at the Eumundi Markets. We did get a sword for Max (and one each for Jake and Jed for Christmas - I feel very virtuous now that I have two presents!), and some cloths that squash up to look like mints until they get some water.

Secondly - when I did find a shop that had some things to buy the shop keeper lost me when she told Max that it was a 'hands in pockets' shop - even though I was standing right beside him - so I put away all the things I had collected to buy and left there too.

We did buy a pair of sunglasses for Louisa in Hastings Street - and we had a swim on Main Beach - great once you went numb.

Massimos for the kids then home via Forest Glen Health Foods - where I finally managed to spend some money. They had 25kg bags of organic rolled oats for $56.95. They were close to their use buy dates so I phoned Sally Rea for advice. She said go ahead and get her one too. I phoned Donna as well and she bought one - so that was 75kg of rolled oats.

Stew

We took Jessica and Madison Parry home from school on Monday and Tuesday afternoon this week while Donna and Mark took care of the inspections on the house they are buying.

The big bonus came on Tuesday when Donna cooked us dinner - I know - Donna is really unwell, Donna is having trouble seeing, Donna is busy buying a house and moving - but Donna made me dinner!

I spent the whole day with a feeling of excitement - first of all it was a stew - which I can't cook to save myself - secondly I wouldn't have to cook dinner.

We got home and I felt like I was on holidays. The house was still clean and tidy-ish from the weekend, there was just a bit of folding to do, then I sat back till dinner time.

What's even better - Donna made the stew (which we all loved - even Peet who is not all that keen on new tastes) in a slow cooker and she swears it is easy. So a slow cooker is now at the top of my Christmas list.

Because we all liked the stew so much Jessica was very proudly telling us all the other delicious dinners she could get her mother to make for us! Mac & Cheese, Pumpkin Soup, Lasagna....

Roast Lamb

Petie, Joan and Lee came out for dinner on Sunday night. The main reason was for Petie to visit Brenton. Roger suggested a roast - thought roast lamb - then said maybe not because it might not be as good as the roast lamb Joan cooked last time - I said I'd use her recipe - and it was fabulous. For future generations the recipe is:

50g drained anchovies,
4 cloves garlic
3 sprigs of rosemary - leaves peeled
1 lemon juiced
2 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
1.5 kg roast lamb.

Make deep scores in the lamb. Put everything else in the blender then pour over the lamb and push into the scores - marinate for a couple of hours - return to room temperature - roast at 220 for half an hour then at 180 till done. Makes an amazing gravy - serve with mash, rocket and balsamic, roasted tomatoes.

In this case we also had flourless chocolate cake for dessert - which was left over from Jesse's book club meeting on Saturday. It was the inaugural meeting and they were discussing The Good Earth by Pearl S Buck. Only two girls came - but more are expected next meeting where they are reading Bridge to Terebithia. Kelsey and Amber came this time and they talked books and school for the hour and a half - ate a small amount of chocolate cake - and made a small dent in the party goodies Donna gave us after Jessica's party.

Wet n Wild

Friday was the annual Pine trip to Wet n Wild. This may be the most anticipated excursion of the year. And the one I look forward to least. Those rides are just plain scary and dangerous in my opinion - but since I know it is an illogical opinion I keep it to myself and let the kids go and have fun. Max finally hit the magic 110 cm which got him on to various rides he has been too small for up to now, this included the black hole (which he went on 4 times) and terror canyon.

The point of these excursions eludes some Pine parents and so we go through the whole thing again about bonding, life being full of exuberance - which according to William Blake 'is beauty', risk taking, left/right brain co-ordinating, physical adventure and physical stretching.

Of course, the kids don't care - they are just having the most fun of their lives. Somehow we managed to avoid sunburn this year. Patty and Caryl were very brave and both went on rides with the kids. I didn't even get wet this year - Maris didn't come (which was lucky since she ended up being very sick at home that day) and so I mainly stayed with the bags. I did get to take a few photos along the way.

Max & Zeke on the way up to terror canyon - apparently Max stopped playing and helped to carry the tube right after this photo - I hope.

Patty and Louisa at the bottom of terror canyon. Louisa fell out of the tube a nanosecond before the photo.

Bottom of terror canyon for Max & Zeke.

FFFN

This week was a trip to Mt Coot-tha to see the lights. This was inspired by Max commenting on how much he loved to see city lights.

A very funny night - with accusations flying everywhere that we looked like country bumpkins checking out the big city - Louisa called us 'bush bumpkins'. Roger was loudly complaining about a fellow smoking and Max was equally loud about a couple kissing. I threatened to not take any one with me again when I go to any city. Alec though that was a good deal.

The lights were actually nice - but it was too cold to stay longer than half an hour. And it's November in Brisbane.

Max wore his red shirt with the Vietnamese communist star. He calls it 'my communist'.

When we got home and Max was getting into bed he started to take his shirt off. Roger was there and asked what he was doing - 'Dad, I can't get into bed with a communist!' Which is true enough

Thomas News

"It's been a shocker of a P-day.
Elder Lind had to go into Latvia for leadership counsel. Not a bad thing, except he forgot his passport and was stuck on the lithuanian border. So I had to take a bus into Riga, meet Elder Lind at the border, give him his passport and continue into Riga, then go home, because somebody needs to take care of english class when he is gone.
As such I spent all P-day on a bus. So I'll write in more detail this week.
Will write more tomorrow (ox in the mire situation, which I don't fancy at all)."

At this stage Roger and I both wrote seperately to ask if he was alone for all that travelling and teaching english.

"First, I'll answer your questions.

When I delivered Elder Lind's passport to him, I went alone. Most missionaries when they travel internationally (now THERE'S a sentance you don't see in other missions!) for visa reasons travel alone.

Tonight I teach english alone. I teach the advanced class who already know a lot of english- lucky for me, because they're all Lithuanians.

Well, this week was hectic. Had visa work for half the week (I REALLY don't appreciate doing visa work- gets in the way of actual missionary work). And also we had to prepare a halloween activity. Our activities coordinator seems to beleive that her calling is to delegate all work related to her calling to us- which we wouldn't mind so much if she even liked us. Elder Lind came back from branch council this sunday saying that this sister had openly accused us russian-speaking missionaries of being bad missionaries in comparison to the Lithuanians purely on account of our participance in a talent show last transfer (which, by the way, she wants to to arrange another one for next month). We really want to help this branch understand the role of Missionaries and Members a little more clearly- like how we should be proselyting more than we should be dancing for them! But thankfully, all that madness if over. If Elder Lind and I pray really hard, we may even get some work done!

But as for the good news, Robert has come to church this week. when he was there, he was even excited to tell people that he was getting baptised- Good sign. It's been getting difficult to meet with him as regularly as the university semester has begun, but we keep working at it."

It is all very surreal to hear this from Tom - and even more so when I checked the temperatures and Vilnius is getting a maximum daily temp of between 3 and -1 degrees celcius.

Taking shape

The goat/chook pen is starting to look like a shed:

Lee spent last Friday afternoon and Saturday working on it - he did have to corral Honey to protect his phone, drills etc Last week when Lee was working on the pen he had an extension cord with an electric drill attached lying in the padock - Honey snuck over, grabbed the extension cord, and took off with it in her mouth. Lee managed to retrieve the drill and most of the cord - but Honey ate the 3 pronged plug. One more thing in the long list of obscure things Honey has eaten such as Granny's mail, rubber thongs, a football, a set of Worldwide Leadership training booklets when Stephen was Bishop, scraps, toys, and so on.

6 months

Today is the 6 month mark of Tom being on his mission - 18 months to go - the chart is still not looking good - too many letters still to colour - though I am not looking for him when we do things anymore and Max doesn't cry every night.

Roger was saying this morning that he would really like to go and pick Thomas up when he finishes his mission. I agree that it would be great for them - though that makes it later still till we get Tom home. Roger thought a couple of European countries - Poland, Germany, Switzerland being the first picks - and then home would be fine. Louisa put a spoke in his wheels though when she said 'are you sure you won't look gay Dad? Two men travelling around Europe you know!'

Brillistration

The Museum of Brisbane held an exhibit of children's books illustrators. Tina and I took my three kids, Sophia and 5 other little girls from Pine. It was actually pretty interesting - there were original drawings and the books they were published in to compare. Lots of illustrators who I had no idea were from Brisbane - including Kerry Argent - Wombat Divine, Too Loud Lily, etc.

Herb Garden

This is the state of my herb garden - it is actually more wretched than it looks - though there are a couple of nice tomatoes growing in that jungle.

However there is a good reason.

I haven't been game to touch it because for the last 5 weeks - and probably longer - our little black bantam has diligently sat on eggs under the lemon grass. When we realised what was going on we replaced her unfertilised eggs with fertilised eggs from David & Beth's chooks. Unfortunately they don't seem to be hatching so on Wednesday we will get some day olds and hope she takes them. We are also hoping she'll stay broody till then.

Pine Sleepover

A major event on the Pine calendar - sleepover - which should properly be called almost-no-sleepover - started at around 4.30 am on Friday morning. That's when Louisa woke up in anticipation - closely followed by Peet and Max - the fact that they were hoping to stay awake all the next night didn't inspire a sleep in.

Roger went of course, Alec & Jesse too. Peet and Louisa walked to the shops with a group of other kids and Kate - and had to be rescued by Alec and Sue since they were too tired to walk back.

The usual events were held - a camp fire, a night soccer game - this time with glow sticks tied around the kids ankles, pizza for the kids, Patty made curry and chutney for the adults, Roger snored loudly and so on.

Old Pine kids came, old Pine parents came - Carol and Di were the only two adults to make it right through the night.

Max got hit in the head with a glow stick at around 1 am and had blood streaming down his face Bruce Willis style. One of the little kids noticed and told Alec who offered to clean it up but Max declined - also Bruce Willis style. Max fell asleep on Alec's lap at around 1.30 and Alec put him to bed in the back of the forerunner as Max muttered 'I'm not tired'. Connor - 9 and still wide awake - remarked 'we've lost a good man.'

Caryl arrived at 4.30 am to take over the festivities and a bleary eyed breakfast followed. Everyone was home by 7 am. Jesse went straight to sleep - the only one in the family to make it through the whole night without sleep - and the others followed.

After a very lazy day, where I read almost all of my book and Roger mowed, we went in to Lefkas for takeaways for dinner - which we ate down by the river.

Pathetic

That's me - and completely lacking in any form of self control.

On the first Friday of November Pine has a sleep over - and we have a firm tradition that Roger goes and takes anyone not breast feeding. Since Max is 7 that translates - and has translated for the last 5 years or so - into a night off for me. This night off is usually spent with some shopping, dinner and then home to sleep alone. To me this is a glorious evening - Roger can't understand and says that he feels like a part of him is missing when he is home alone - I think a part of me is missing too - but I like it for a little while!

The pathetic part is that every year I make a list of things to buy - this year it was a new watch band, nail polish and a long ruler (to mark the lounge room map) - and every year I come home with a stack of books and nothing on my list since I run out of money.

This years books are:

Angela and the Baby Jesus - children's Christmas book by Frank McCourt who I don't love - but it's a lovely book so I won't hold that against him.
One City Two Brothers - picture book about a legend about the beginning of Jerusalem.
Animals - gorgeous bargain table book full of great animal pictures.
A World of Poetry - obviously an anthology - selected by Michael Rosen.
Collapse - Jared Diamond - was going to try to read Joan's copy but now it is in small paperback format so it is easier to carry around.
Looking for Atlantis - Colin Thompson.
Castles - Colin Thompson.
The Art Book for Children Part 2 - part 1 was fantastic and I've been waiting for part 2 - so really this one at least counts as delayed gratification.
Through the Childrens Gate - Adam Gopnik - my reading for the night - light, insightful, funny pleasing account of fatherhood and life in New York.

In my defence - and such a long list does need defending - there were many more books that I passed up. Jesse came with Joan and I for the afternoon shopping this time - she arrived at Pine at 5.30 - and she agrees that I showed unusual restraint.

After dropping Jesse to Pine and saying a quick hello there, Joan and Lee and I went to Arriva for dinner - unbelievably good food. Then I was home and to bed with Through the Childrens Gate.