Greyhound Gymkhana

On Sunday we went along to a greyhound gymkhana by invitation of my father-in-law.  Now to me, a gymkhana is for ponies and little girls showing what they can do on them, but apparently you can have a greyhound gymkhana as well.  Basically it involved lots of greyhound races but no betting (ie it wasn't an official greyhound meeting).

So we got to watch the dogs in the 'exercise' yard (every second photo I took seemed to have a dog relieving themselves - obviously they get nervous before a race!)

This was our favourite - I'm not a greyhound lover, but it was a beautiful looking dog.

Heading around to the boxes - it was a long walk for the trainers, the dogs seemed to handle it fine :)

And they're off and racing... 

(somewhere)

Unfortunately our favourite was just a pretty boy not a runner and came in last...

Catching them at the end of the race.

Since it was a fun event, there were also raffles & chocolate wheels, some fun running races for the kids and even a visit from the big man in the red suit handing out lollies and ice-blocks.

It was certainly an interesting day.  Billy really enjoyed it and wants to know when the next one is on!  (But then, that may have been the free lollies and ice-blocks!)

Dragons presentation night

Tonight was the final training night for the year for Dragons and a small presentation to each of the kids of a medallion (and candy cane!).

They also gave out four special awards - Best Female Trainer of 2011, Best Male Trainer, Best Overall Trainer and Most Improved.  I'm very proud of Billy for winning the Most Improved Dragon in 2011. 

He's really put in an extra effort this year, and its starting to show in his improved technique.  Well done Billy :)

Term 4 Wrap-up

We've pretty much called it quits for the year, so time for the term's wrap-up.
 
Maths:

Billy's been using both Khan Academy and Mathletics again this term, with a brief dip into 'Learning Ladder Yr 5' and 'Carmen Sandiego, Math Detective' (both PC maths games).  Topics covered have included:  Adding negative numbers, reading tables, associative & commutative property of addition and multiplication, fractions and equivalent fractions, twenty-four hour time, converting h/m/s to m/s and vice versa.

He's also been watching Cyberchase for exposure to new mathematical concepts and general 'living maths' practice like mental arithmetic and calculations, handling money, measuring etc.

He learnt more about compass points, set a trail using a compass and followed other group's trails.  He did work on map-reading - working out the scale, identifying things on the map like train lines, rivers etc.

English: 

Comparing Harry Potter - the books and movies with discussions about the differences.

Learning Ladder Yr 5 CD - exercises on parts of speech (adverbs, adjectives, phrases, prepositions).

Reading Deltora Quest.


Science & Technology:

Learning Java coding to successfully create a plugin for Minecraft.



Watching educational TV shows such as Backyard Science, Scope, Take on Technology, and Designers.

Planting seeds and looking after them.

Weather observations - made a windsock and rain gauge and observed the weather for 2 weeks.

Went to the dinosaur egg & nest exhibition, "Hatching the Past", and the general science museum exhibits.

HSIE:


Watching the kid's current affairs show Behind the News, as well as "For the Juniors".

Visit to the Camelot Lavendar Farm, feeding and learning about the goats, alpacas and llamas.

Watching Horrible Histories.


Creative Arts:

Watched a live production of Fantastic Mr Fox.

Filmed a video with friends, edited and uploaded to YouTube.


PDHPE:

Archery, Martial Arts.

Trips to the pool.

Not that the learning will stop, but I get to stop recording until next year officially begins :)

End of activities...

Its the end of activities for the year.  

Thursday was a combined Joeys / Cubs / Scouts party.  It was supposed to be a pool party but the weather didn't cooperate so it was held at the hall instead.  They still enjoyed it anyway.

Billy and another cub were presented with their Silver Boomerang badge.

It was the final archery for the year, with a very close game of archery bowling.

It was also the last drama for the year.  Billy was a bit sad about that - it means the last lesson with the teacher he's had for the last 3 years.  He'll be going up to the older class next year.

Billy also had a play date with some friends - it was supposed to be a birthday party but again the weather didn't co-operate so it was cancelled.

Monday night is the final dragons training for the year and the presentation.

Chuk the Assassin

Billy & some friends made this video at the park today (he's Chuk btw).  He wanted me to share it with you all.

How to make a Xmas pudding

We went and helped my father-in-law make the annual Xmas puddings today.  He makes 2 each year - one to eat at our family Xmas lunch, and the other to divide between the families.  This was our 1st time at helping him.

He has two gigantic bowls that are the traditional pudding mixing bowls.

Cream butter and brown sugar, add eggs, brandy, breadcrumbs & mixed fruit.  Try really hard to stir it but hand over to Mum because its getting pretty stiff.

Add flour, bicarb soda and mixed spice.

Line a bowl with the boiled pudding cloth, and cling wrap.  Spoon in the mixture.

Tie tightly.

Boil in the copper for 6 - 7 hrs, turning every hour.  Then hang for a few more hours to drain.

While waiting, clean up the cooking utensils :)

Simple fun

Take one air pump, a plastic bottle 1/3 filled with water, piece of tubing and a cork.  Apply pressure with the pump..

And watch the bottle fly!

Finish off with some 'quiet time' - making Xmas ornaments using styrofoam balls, aluminium foil and ribbon..

Less stressful Xmas

I commented to a friend yesterday that I felt so much more organised for Xmas this year, even though we're hosting it this year - most of my present buying has been done, menu organised.  I'm not feeling stressed (as yet).  I said it was the most organised I'd been in years.

And then I started thinking why.  This time last year, we were organising passports, tickets & itinerary for going to the US in Feb.  Billy had his performances of Wind in the Willows, rehearsals & a cast party.  We went away for a week to Coffs Harbour in Dec (combining a work trip for Pete and a holiday).  We had a homeschool excursion, swimming lessons and art classes.

No wonder this year feels relaxed by comparison!


And yes, I am aware I've probably just jinxed things :)

Trails, maps and compass work

Our cubs have been busy lately:

brushing up on compass points, setting and following trails using the compass

Map reading- understanding scale, finding locations and reading legends on a map (did you know maps and compass work are part of the NSW maths curriculum?  Handy for us, hey!)

And setting and following trails using bush signs.

A day in my life - 13th Nov

It's been a pretty laid-back, relaxing day today.  Just what I needed.

I was woken at 6:30 by Billy chatting via Skype to a gaming friend from England.  Yawn..  I find it almost impossible to go back to sleep once I'm awake, so I got up, fed the cat, and made myself a cup of tea in the hope it would wake my brain up too :)

I drank it while checking emails, Facebook, forums, blogs and doing a few online surveys (I do these for a bit of extra money - I can usually get a couple of hundred dollars over 12 months.  Its not a great hourly rate but I'm on the computer anyway and sometimes they're fun).

I'm feeling pretty sore today - after 4 weeks without any exercise, I refound my motivation this week.  Eased into it with 15 minutes on the Wii on Monday, did the BodyBalance class on Friday (first time in 4 weeks) and then Defendo on Saturday (first time in 5 weeks).  Arms and abs are reminding me that they exist today :)

Breakfast time - I made myself a poached egg on toast. Its my favourite comfort food!

Did my monthly maintenance of the RWA email accounts - part of my duties as webmistress is to go through them each month and clear out any that are getting full.  The hosting doesn't seem to have any nice reporting to make this easier, so I have to go through each of the 70+ addresses individually to check!  It's a bit time-consuming but better than having the addresses bounce if the mailbox is full.

Flicked through the local free paper (nothing startling), and junk mail (looking for Xmas ideas - didn't find any).  Unpacked the dishwasher, and then washed the remaining dishes by hand.

Still waiting for hubby to get out of bed so I could have a shower, so I curled up on the lounge to read a book.  Read for a while, then got up to cut up some fruit for Billy & I for morning tea.  Went back to my book.  Its an interesting read - the story line is quite enjoyable, although some of the writing style isn't to my taste.

Eventually had a shower, then got us all some lunch.  We all watched an episode of "Chuck" while we ate (Chuck vs the Sandworm).  Billy then invited a neighbourhood friend over to play while Pete & I watched a series of the Australian black comedy TV show "Laid".

I was sorely in need of something to wake me up, so I succumbed to a mini can of coke.

I made chicken schnitzel for tea (from scratch),

which we ate while watching Disc 1 of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.  Billy had read The Hobbit a few years ago with Pete, but this is the first time we've attempted The Lord of the Rings with him.

And since most of my photos today seem to be of food, I bring you something just as yummy - a gratuitous Viggo Mortensen photo...  :)  *sigh*

Ran Billy's bath, got him to bed then Pete & I watched an episode of Torchwood.  So why not throw in a gratuitous photo of "Captain Jack Harkness" as well :)

My bum is about to wear a groove in the lounge and my eyes are square from so much TV watching, so that will have to do me for tonight!

Hope everyone else had a good day :)

Correct me if I'm wrong..

but there appear to be only 6 weeks left until Xmas.  I'm honestly not sure how that happened - every year the days seem to accelerate in about October and the time just flies..

Looking at my calendar, most weekends are filled up until the end of the year already.  The weeks are starting to fill up with end-of-year parties and activities, plus those extras like getting the caravan serviced before we go away on holidays. 

I looked at my list of work yesterday - I have 4 customers that have said they want websites but haven't committed to them yet, one website that's underway plus general maintenance bits and pieces that pop up all the time.  Given that I can only work at most 10 hrs / week, I think I've reached the point where I have to start telling any new queries that I won't be available until January.  Knowing the way things tend to work, at least 3 of those potential customers are likely to suddenly decide they do want me to go ahead - and they want it done by Xmas.  Xmas seems to be this magical deadline that spurs everyone into action around this time every year!

We have two Xmas dinners at our house this year - Pete's family on the Sunday before Xmas, and mine on Xmas Day.  So two menus to be planned, food to be ordered, bought and cooked, a house to be cleaned, yard to be tidied etc. 

I'm actually well underway with Xmas shopping.  I've bought or ordered maybe a third of gifts, and know what I want for some of the others.  I'm really at a loss what to get Billy this year - I have a couple of ideas, but nothing really spectacular.  But then presents to wrap, cards to write...  I don't actually send that many cards anymore - one thing I've pared back.

So what about you?  Do you celebrate Xmas?  How are you going with preparations?

"Hatching the Past" dinosaur egg & nest exhibition

This morning Billy and I went to the Newcastle Museum to see the new exhibition "Hatching the Past".  It's a collection of dinosaur eggs, reconstructed nests and real dinosaur bones - most of which you could actually touch. 

You could even see gnaw marks on this bone :)

Afterwards we met up with my parents, sister and nieces to celebrate my mum's birthday with prawns for lunch, sitting on the foreshore, watching the myriad of boats coming in and out of the harbour.  It was a tough day :)