TV

A couple of weeks ago Roger and I went to the Beh's house for dessert and chatting about educating children the 'Pine' way. Roger and I were there as old hands to help mentor some new and nervous young families. Tina and Cameron Beh are old hands at Pine too and have a lovely family with scrumptious kids. We talked the night away and were inspired to cut back on TV viewing. (Tina and Cam have no TV and occupy themselves with instrument playing, art and reading.)

We've never been big TV viewers - nobody here was hanging out for CSI or the like. Really TV was confined to some ABC kids shows, Spicks and Specks on the ABC and some sport. But we decided to try having everyone nominate what they would watch at the beginning of the week.

Funnily I think the nominated shows ended up being pretty much the same as we were already watching but since then there has been more of this:

and more of this:

I think that not having the expectation of TV watching has changed attitudes and now our thoughts go to doing something else - I love it.

Here's the 'held at gun point' story

As we were driving away from the airport Tom says 'So I do have one story I need to tell you.'


It was like this:


Tom and his companion Elder Roderick (a strapping young man who once carried Tom back to the apartment after he sprained his ankle) were knocking doors in an old apartment building. The one fellow they talked to was obviously drunk or high - so they left. When they were part way down the stairwell the fellow yelled for one of them to come back. Tom yelled back that it was both or none. And they were about to leave altogether when Tom noticed that the fellow had a gun hidden behind his back which he then pulled out and pointed at them. Tom said 'the arguement was pretty much over then.'

So they were ushered into the apartment and Tom figured that he was about to die in a third world apartment block and his body would never be found. The gun toting villain was rifling through their bags - a disappointing moment I'm sure. Because he was high or drunk he put the gun down and went towards a bookcase.

Elder Roderick was right beside the gun and being a bit of a good old boy who knew his guns, grabbed the gun and said 'we're out of here' and they dashed for the door. He cocked the gun and realised the chamber was empty (which was probably for the best since he said he was ready to shoot the guy) but pointed it at the guy anyway when he reappeared. Knowing the gun was unloaded the villain started coming at Tom and Elder Roderick as they were trying to get the dodgy locks on the door open. And met Elder Roderick's fist - a bit of a scuffle followed and Elder Roderick won.

They got the door open and headed out only to meet his friend - another scuffle - which the good guys won - and they raced out of the building and into a nearby field.

At this point they thought they should call the Mission President who calmly told them to take the gun to the police station.

A little interrogation followed at the police station with one of the police officers going mad at Tom and companion for being out tracting in the dark - and then finally they managed to relinquish the gun.

A chat with the mission president followed - where it was suggested that since these things get exaggerated when they hit the mission field and since he gets calls from parents when these things happen (which makes it sound not altogether unheard of) the boys could perhaps wait to tell the story till they got home!

Tom told the story so well that we were laughing to crying as we listened.

And Alec and I said 'yep we were right.' The night before we were saying 'I bet there is so much stuff that we'll find out when he gets home.' But I hope that's the most dramatic installment!

Home

A mix of nervousness (Alec), high expectations (Max), relief (Kim), and general excitement (everyone) met Tom at the airport.

The nervousness was due to scary returned missionary stories Alec had gathered from friends - brothers throwing out CD collections and similar. (So far it all looks ok - Tom seems to be coping with a return to civilian life.)

The high expectations were due to Max's many plans for things he and Tom will do together (and Max's stated expectation that it won't be long until he is an uncle - no pressure Tom!).

And relief that Tom didn't have to become the mormon version of Terminal Man - his luggage was overweight in London so he had to delay his next flight while he tossed out old clothes and sunscreen until he got in under the weight limit. And Tom had no money left on his account so he was stranded in the airport and cashless. And he made it through Dubai airport with an Israel stamp in his passport.

David and Beth and family came to welcome him - as did Mark Parry, Daniel, Jessica and Madi. All were grateful for the delay in flights since his old arrival time was 12.40 am and the new arrival was 6.30 am.

(Yep - that's Peet in a flanno - he took it off before church.)

The early arrival meant there was time for a shower and shave at home - both desperately needed - and a clean white shirt - more or less - all his shirts are torn or stained - we picked the best - his shoes have holes, his suits are stained and torn - and his ties are droopy - a clothes shopping trip is imminent. Tom tells us it is the inevitable result of hard work - and slackness in the laundry/mending department I think.

After church, and lunch at Joan and Lee's (osso bucco and mashed potatoes - which is apparently far preferable to the canned pigs heart in jelly with mashed potatoes that Tom ate in Latvia), we came home for long enough for Tom to start unpacking and colour in the last letter on the mission chart before heading out to be released and to General Priesthood meeting.

Poor Roger is desperately sick and after soldiering through a long day at church he collapsed this afternoon and couldn't rouse himself for the Priesthood meeting - disappointing because Tom will probably bear his testimony again (in addition to Sacrament meeting) and Roger will miss it.

Funny - a two year mission seemed a very long time but now that he is home it seems like he never left. He is much the same - a bit more grown up - being held up at gun point will do that to you - a stronger testimony - a couple of extra kilos - a few odd Americanisms - but no accent - and the same boy. Same quirks, same sense of humour, same love for little brothers and sisters, same loud voice that Roger could hear up on the stand as he came in to church, and same sweet humble spirit as when he left us two years ago.

And he can read The Chronicles of Narnia in Russian and simultaneously translate into English!

We're happy.

A little more Sydney

Just a little more Sydney:

Sudoko on the Plane:

Shopping in Sydney means different things to different people - it's all about Glebe Books for us.

Louisa was completely exhausted and curled up on the steps for a nap - till a fellow came down the stairs saying 'little possum wake up I need to get past'.

Sydney

Max was sick - so sick I took him to the doctor. The doctor looked in his ears, listened to his chest and said "Congratulations Max - you win! You are the sickest person I've seen all day." Then diagnosed bronchitis, prescribed antibiotics and predicted 3 or 4 more days of being very sick.

(It's a blurry photo - but I think that's how he felt!)

So I called Peet and Louisa and told them they could take my place on the trip to Sydney Joan and I had been planning - we were leaving the next day. That made two happy kids.

Then Roger called to say he could take carers leave and I could go to Sydney. I was happy too.

Max was not so happy and started to whine. Alec told him not to worry - Dad would be home. Max sarcastically wondered 'and what could possibly go wrong with Dad?'

I went anyway.

Joan had four super cheap tickets to Sydney - actually so cheap they were free for me. (Joan and Lee and Sue and Graham had planned the trip six months ago, then Lee got busy and Sue had to work - so voila - free tickets to Sydney.)

We flew in to Newcastle and caught the train to Sydney - which was nice - we trundled past the Hawkesbury where Roger and I spent our honeymoon on a houseboat.

Checked into the motel and made a beeline for the David Jones Food Hall to buy chocolate coated strawberries and bananas. Louisa has an addiction.

Book shopping followed - Louisa went to sleep on the stairs of the shop - just for a moment and I wasn't far away.

Then dinner at Bill and Tony's. And bed.

A ferry ride to May Gibbs' house and back.

May Gibbs (of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie fame) was quite the woman - and reminded Joan and I of Grandma Thomas - in letter writing, art work and attitude.

Then the Hyde Park Barracks Museum - family history and temple work become pressing in the face of such difficult times past - St Mary's Cathedral, and the Australian Museum.

Italian thick hot chocolates at Max Brenner in the city.

Dinner at Bill and Tony's again - Peet has an addiction.

Another train trip back to Newcastle. A seven hour wait in the fun factory that is the Newcastle Airport (delayed planes due to fog).

Home.

Here's the surprise - my kids are getting big. I said no when they first caught wind that there were two spare tickets and begged to come. I knew I needed some time off and wanted to do heaps of things, and read and sleep.

Then they came and I had some time off, did heaps of things and read and slept.

They just don't need me to do much anymore - and I forgot - they're pretty much grown up. I even had Peet go off to David Jones for chocolate coated fruit supplies alone while Louisa and I read in the motel. And I didn't have to tell them to watch for traffic - or eat their greens - or have a bath. In fact I only talked to them because we were enjoying the same stuff and learning new things together. So in the end I went on holidays with three of my best friends.

Still, how nice to find Max still sick and still needing a cuddle and still a bit of a baby.

Talking to Tom

News from the Mothers Day phone call:

• Tom still speaks with an Australian accent. (Peet thinks he sounds American - Peet is wrong.)
• Last week a fellow they approached in the park called the police over and accused Tom of trying to steal about $500 - the police let them go since it was clear that he wasn't - but told them to stop approaching people unless they want this to continue.
• The fellow firing the gun outside the school seems to be shooting every day now - but it's all pretty ho-hum stuff. (In one of Tom's recent letters he said they heard a sound like firecrackers and went to investigate - turned out it was a fellow shooting a pistol into the air outside a primary school - Tom said the weird thing was that it wasn't weird and they just continued on their way.)
• It's 'lovely and warm' in Latvia - between 13 and 20 degrees celcius. Tom said everyone is so much happier when it's warm.
• Many of the younger Russians say they wish they were still part of the Soviet Union - the older ones who can remember Stalin don't.
• The bed in one of his old apartments was actually the insides of an old couch laid on the floor - and it had a dent where many missionaries woke up, rolled on to their knees to pray, and stayed on the mattress - so any bed we put him in will be fine.
• Tom still doesn't know when he'll get home - but we do - 12.40 am on Sunday 31 May. He is coming home through London and Dubai - we just have to check that he is ok in Dubai since he has an Israel stamp in his passport.

Swine Flu

Alec has a cough - Louisa says he has Swine Flue - and she can tell because his room is a pig sty.

And that's the pretty clean version - we are trying to find a place for Tom to lay his head.

Max and Jesse

Max and Jesse have a thing - almost every night Max drags his mattress into the girls' room to sleep on their floor and listen to Jesse read Farmers Boy. (Peet is beginning to feel left out.)They made matching wands from twigs they whittled and sandpapered. And when Jesse was staying home for a day to catch up on some sleep and some uni reading Max was thrilled. When I asked if he was going to school he answered 'No I'm more into writing so I'll stay home with Jesse and write a story.'

Saving Roger's Bacon

Jesse sarcastically (or was it cynically) told the Bunya Forest Ward Elders Quorum President that we don't go in for fancy Mothers Day dinners in our ward because 'it's their divine role and they should just get on with it' - he was a bit shocked.

But when Saturday morning rolled around and Roger realised that he'd done nothing for Mothers Day we decided it wasn't quite that much of a divine role and we'd better get some flowers quick smart. So Roger and Jesse bought supplies. And Louisa, Jesse and I made little corsages for women young and old - and told Roger that he better share his birthday chocolate since we were 'saving your bacon mister' according to Jesse.

A weekend full of food.

Friday - Roger's Birthday:

• Sticky Thai Chicken with Jasmine Rice and Bok Choy
• Flourless Chocolate Cake with a warm salad of fresh figs, pears and bananas.

Saturday - Mother's Day Dinner with Joan, Lee and Petie:

• Crackers with Camembert and beetroot marmalade
• Maggie Beers really good Mac and Cheese with three cheeses and roast pumpkin
• Rocket Salad
• Warm Fig and Walnut Torte with Lime juice

Sunday - Mother's Day with the Fulchers:

• Anchovy, garlic and rosemary marinated lamb roast
• Roasted veges including potatoes, pumpkin, sweet potato, zucchini, and beetroot
• Beth's Lemon Meringue Pie - made by David - cause it's mother's day

Monday - back to the same old spaghetti - it was good while it lasted.

Life is Beautiful

Peet had a complete meltdown when some awful person put a dollop of whipped cream on his flourless chocolate cake - so I decided it was time for some perspective. He spent Saturday afternoon watching Life is Beautiful. And Saturday night offering to help in the kitchen.

Jesse says I am manipulative - I told her it worked when she was being obnoxious.

Anzac Day

I am not pleased with the Premiers decision to do away with an extra holiday this year - Anzac Day is not a day off for us and I rely on those days off to keep the house from falling apart before my eyes.

This year we started, as always, at the dawn service in the city - and as always I day dream about just booking rooms in the Sheraton and saving the drive at that hour of the morning. But I suppose if 20,000 other locals can manage so can I. When we first started going to the Dawn Service in Brisbane we were interviewed or on TV every year - there were maybe 2-300 people there - and we had kids.

Brekky was at New Farm park with the other Fulchers - lots of fun - when breakfast was cooked I was calling out for Peet to come and an obviously homeless fellow walked past - spotted Peet around the corner and yelled 'Peet - your Mum and Dad want you your breakfast is ready' and went on his way. Peet came.

A bit later the same guy showed up selling environmentally friendly pens - he had such a good patter that we all bought one. He led in with 'I'm homeless and harmless' - can't argue with that.

Then it was on to UQ to see the QSE's Instant Romeo and Juliet - so much fun - a quick stop at the art gallery - then on to a birthday party for a friend of Louisa and Max - home for a quick sleep.

The Pine AGM followed - I'm chair again which was expected - then a pot luck dinner - then home to bed - hooray - and in time for The Vicar of Dibley too!