Penguin Parade

We finally went to see the Fairy (oops can't upset the gay people we now need to call them Little) penguins at the Penguin Parade (it was too cold during winter to be sitting out at night and then we were too busy over summer working). Unfortunately there are no photos as you are not allowed to take any (not even without a flash). Any way it was great. There were quite a few in at the burrows as we made our way down to the beach (babies and it is malting season where adults have to stay on land for 2 and 1/2 weeks until their new feathers are grown). There was not as many coming across the beach as we expected but we were at the side of the stands and saw them walk up the hill right beside us. We wandered back along the board walks and saw heaps up really close. There was one beside the path as we went to the car park. We could have touched it but had been warned earlier not to touch them because they bite.
There was also heaps of school kids from camps on the island. Being in charge of a group of 15 - 20 Primary school children in the dark in amongst hundreds of other kids and tourists is not my idea of fun.
Anyway it was a great night.

Cricket Presentation Night

These are the photos from the presentation night.



















Nick loves having his photo taken. (I think not).


All the U13's winners.

Nicholas

Nicholas with his cricket trophy.



And what happens when Dad and Patrick are pulling faces behind the person taking the photograph.

Nicholas' Cricket Presentation Night

Nicholas has enjoyed his first season of cricket very much. He continuously improved throughout the season. Presentation night was on Saturday night and we enjoyed a lovely roast meal and good company. To our surprise Nicholas won the bowling average on 10.75. We knew Nicholas had been doing well but there are a number of good players in the team all of whom have been playing for a lot longer. For those of you not up on cricket the bowling average means that for every 10.75 runs that were scored against him he took a wicket. (I had to have this explained to me because I had no idea.) Apparently Brett Lee and Shane Warne have averages in the early 20's so Nicholas did really well. The coach said that he also almost got the bowling aggragate (the highest number of total wickets for season) and that he was a very close 2nd in the batting average and aggragate. This photo was taken when we got home. There was a photographer there and I am getting some copies of photos that were taken so I will post them when I get them.
Photos don't want to go on so I'll try again later.

Unskilled Blogger

Still having problems getting my photos and words to line up. They look great on the creating page but when they are posted to the blog they move around.

Surf's Up

Surfs up. Patrick getting onto his knees and then his feet. Not quite all the way but nearly there.
Nicholas on his feet. Patrick decides to give the surf ski a try.


Getting on was a bit of a challenge even with Dads help.

Try, try again.

Yeh we've balanced long enough to use the paddle.

Oops he is on the way but without the paddle. Got the paddle this time but not really balanced.

Nick has a go on the surf ski. Starting to over balance.

Oops doubled up with the photos. And gone.

Surfing Lessons

The boys have been enjoying mucking around on the surf board and we decided that they should have a lesson. Both boys didn't want to go but we forced them (Phobia of stuffing up in front of others). A friend had had lessons with the Smiths Beach Surf Lessons and said that the teachers were really great and that they would be standing up by the end of the 2 hour lesson. The boys had an absolute ball and by the end were both standing up. Unfortunately I was at work and Dave had run out of battery on the camera by that stage but here are the early stages.

There were only 8 in the group (Patrick and Nicholas, 2 other kids, and 4 overseas guys from the Superbikes)







Getting ready to go.

Heading out board under the arm.

Nick on his feet and about to face plant in the sand. Pat getting up onto his feet.

Both were very tired and went off to bed early.

So we head off every couple of afternoons now for them to go surfing.

Bought some roof racks yesterday and put them on today. It has been a bit of a problem fitting the surfboard and 3 or 4 of us in the commodore. So they should make it much easier.

Same friend loaned us 2 extra boards and a surf ski today. Dave said to me you realise that he's not just being nice but he thinks that we will fall in love with them and want to buy them. We'll see.