Back from Brooms Head

Howdy again

Well as usual, much has happened and I'm disappointed I haven't been writing here more often, but enough whinging.
We came back yesterday from our second family camping trip to Brooms Head NSW, and this time was better than last. Last time we were with two other sets of friends and this time it was just one - I couldn't help but think it was easier with just two. The amount of washing up was smaller, it was faster to make decisions about where to go etc. It was a bit blowy on the first two days, but once it calmed down, it was great, though still cool right there on the beachfront. Hard to pick a high point, though just getting away from home/schoolwork and being able to sit and read for a while was terrific. Lowpoint was on the Monday morning when we all went walking over slippery rocks and on the way back I slipped and cut my right heel open. Lots of blood on my sandal and I was concerned I was going to have to go get some stitches, but some excellent first aid from Al once we got back to base and all was OK, though I still have a dressing on my heel right now. We had to spend about $700 on camping gear before we went this time, but I must say it all seemed well spent, especially our little gazebo which we rigged up over the cooking area. We have already booked again for the days before Easter 2010.
The Idea of North concert at the Powerhouse was excellent - just fantastic a capella singing from the two guys and two girls. They appeared on the Hey Hey It's Saturday reunion tonight as well and got a great reception as well as a big plug for their next album which I look forward to getting when it comes out. It's funny that they do Stayin' Alive as one of their big numbers after the huge number of times I sang it with the Clefhangers way back when.
Declan is reading away massively at present - after knocking off the Harry Potters, he ripped through the whole Deltora Quest series and I guess the question is what next to get him into. Verity is getting very tall and enjoys her ballet classes. Need to keep both kids active but not easy when I'm trying to mark papers and organise the term ahead for all the RAVE classes. Someone pointed out on camp how good it was to be with your family with no technology around for a few days - Dec and Verity just played on the beach for hours and hours.
Finished reading Steven Ogden's "I Found God in Bermuda" today and I wrote a little review for Facebook purposes. I enjoyed reading it and found it quite stimulating but wonder how to apply it to RAVE or even to parish worship generally. Was really pleased that Paul expressed an interest in reading it on camp, so I'll slip him my copy very soon, maybe after I get Steven to sign it at a conference coming up soon. It seems to be the idea of a non-supernatural God again, and while the idea makes rational sense, I'm just not sure I can easily give away my idea of a personal God 'out there' even though I concede I have no idea where 'out there' is or anything.
Very sad to hear that my old mate and groomsman Jonathan M has been in Adelaide Hospital at death's door with meningitis in the last few days. Apparently the latest is that he has responded well to treatment and is conscious enough to squeeze Robyn's hand etc, but this has been a very disturbing episode and I have been praying constantly for his return to his family - so much for my loss of a supernatural God!
Better head to bed - need to clock up more schoolwork tomorrow or life will be very tough!

Little and often

Hi ho, got to try to keep this diary going with entries which are probably smaller and more frequent.
What am I doing now? Watching Friday night NRL - one game going well, the other one not so well for tipping purposes. I'm currently 4th in this year's comp, but anything could happen this weekend. Al and kids have gone to bed.
What happened today? Took 16 boys from years 4 to 12 to last Chess tournament of year at Macgregor State School. Kids all did OK, if not spectacularly well. Highlight was Mark Bird beating the Churchie #1 - an awesome sight and well-deserved. A few other missed opportunities were less great. Still, everyone got at least a win or two, which is the main thing.
How's Alison? A little cranky tonight but probably tired after a long week. I know I am too and will be hitting the sack soon.
How's Dec? Not bad. Did great again in UNSW Science test the other day - another HD, only kid at his primary school to get one. Pretty remarkable. Soccer is all over - only the breakup on Sunday to come - and I think we're all fairly happy about that. I'll try to go to a bodypump class at the gym in the morning anyway. I was up very early today, worried about the excursion and also all the Yr 10 RAVE stuff to organise for today. All got done in time - just.
I'm still seething somewhat about the excursion I ran on Tuesday with all Yr 10s to St John's Cathedral. I was pretty happy with most aspects but very unhappy to see about 37 kids who had given back forms saying they were going, fail to turn up, citing 'being sick', having a Dr appt or just 'parent permission'. Allowing for those kids meant that we hired three buses instead of two and had basically too many staff going, costing the school more money -probably close to a thousand bucks all up. Grrr. Gave the teachers lots of chocolates today to give to the kids who went on the excursion and exclude the baddies. Vindictive? Maybe!
How's Ver? Usual great little Friday ballerina. Still struggles to stay in her own bed all night. Has frequently turned up in ours in recent weeks, which is fine except for interrupting our sleep if she rolls into us or sticks her hand underneath one of us etc. Would also like to see her reading by herself, but I guess we can be patient with that.
Big weekend coming up - finally seeing The Idea of North tomorrow night at the Powerhouse. Hope it's good. Sunday is Father's Day and packed with action of Church, Phil's "divorce liturgy" whatever that becomes and the soccer breakup. I've had at least two other invitations to do things on the day, which won't be happening!
OK, might be sleepy bobo time. Still playing a lot of chessmaniac, but I am fairly determined to let the current games be the last for quite a while - they are really soaking up too much time at present. Ciao ciao.