In some countries they don't have...

Callum came downstairs and pleaded to be able to watch television with us for a few minutes (something Jennifer has been doing on nights I am out). We were watching Jamie's Kitchen when the following conversation ensued:
Callum: "Is my five minutes up?"
Jennifer: "Yes, I think so, but you can watch until the adverts."
Callum: "Do you mean advertisements?"
Jennifer: "Yes."
Callum: "What are advertisements?"

Now there's an ABC kid.

Whose child is this??

We had dinner outside this evening and the kids played soccer - which I applauded. Then Declan decided to move on and using a bouncy-ball and a large broom decided he was playing golf - complete with rules. Where he learnt golf I have no idea, but I'm worried...

Going to Bed

Last night, the boys were quite tired after a busy day. But they were still resisting sleep, in their own separate ways. Callum was reading a book, and asked for permission to read until 7.45pm. Declan insisted that although he needed a rest, he didn't want it in bed, so asked to come down and sit next to me for five minutes.

I glanced across at him, and his eyes were closed after three minutes. So I carried him upstairs and put him to bed, only to discover Callum lying on his tummy, book and head in reading position, and fast asleep.

Conversations

Last night at dinner, we were talking about the weather (which is forecast to be rainy today), and Archie's birthday party, which is today at St Thomas' Rest Park. Somehow, we got into a long involved brainstorming session about exactly how and where everyone at the party could take shelter, and how we should protect the most important thing at the party - the cake.

We concluded that we needed to take two separate boxes to the party in the morning, one for the cake, and one for the candles.

Pirate fun

Yesterday we went to the Maritime Museum, which has a pirate exhibition, with the Gaynor-Vincent family. There lots of fun things, but Callum really enjoyed walking the plank and then sliding down the slide to the bottom, where the fun stuff was. They had a treasure map that you could go and stamp in different places, and a pirate school, where you could make your own hat.

Then after a quick lunch at home, the Lees came to visit, so our house was filled with children.

Callum offered a viewing of Asterix and Cleopatra to everyone, so at one stage we had Callum, Aidan, Claire and Declan sitting in a row all watching it, with Callum providing commentary.

1st day back

Cal had his first day back at school today. He appeared to be one of the few kids in his class who was actually happy to be there - I don't know what that says about him, or how poor the comparative entertainment at home is but he was thrilled to be there. He had a fun day and racked up another two good work cards so came out very happy.

Callum the actor

Callum did a drama class for his second week of school holidays. A group of 10 children, roughly his age (including Isabel from up the road) spent a week mucking around and making up a play about pirates. Callum had a speaking part - his main line was to say impatiently "but where are the dancing girls?" which he did very well, as well as miming pulling up the sails and singing a sailing shanty. He seemed to have fun, which is the main thing, and he was very excited to show me and Grandma and Grandpa the video when he got home on Friday night.

Cheering Australia

Last night Evan and I were watching the Australian soccer team playing Bahrain after Callum and Declan had gone to bed. First Declan crept down (as he often does) to spend time with us. And then Australia scored a goal, and Callum had to come down to see what we were all shouting about. So we spent fifteen minutes all sitting on the couch and watched Australia score its second goal.

Luckily, Australia didn't score any goals in the second half after we'd sent the boys to bed.

5 going on 25

Callum and his friend Isabel are doing a holiday course together in Manly. As I drove them there this morning they were chatting away. There was a moment of silence then:
C: I love you Isabel.
I: I love you Callum.
C: We love each other.
I: But you haven't met my friends yet...

Flying

For posterity we'd better record the only real issue with our holiday. Landing in Cairns, Callum's ears started to hurt as the plane descended. They got worse and worse to the point he vomited just prior to landing. (My left ear was also hurting, so I could appreciate some of what he was going through and it might indicate a particulalrly quick change in pressure.)

He seemed to perk up after landing but was exhausted by the time we got to dinner. He wanted to go straight to bed but we insisted on dinner first. We got as far as the restaurant when he vomited again from the pain (yes, that was as much fun as you can imagine). We took him back to bed and he slept for 12 hours. He woke up fine.

He later announced that once we had flown back to Sydney he was never going to get on a plane again.

Lucky our future holiday plans are back on course as he had no problems with the landing into Sydney.

Queensland

We're back from a very enjoyable holiday in Far North Queensland. Highlights (according to Declan) were the aeroplane home (he was in the window seat) and seeing crocodiles. Callum's highlights change every time you ask him, but have included swimming in the surf, the wonderful playground in Cairns, fish and chips at an Italian restaurant, and the Sky train (an 8km cable car over the rainforest).

We had a very relaxing time, and apart from continuing to wake up at 5.30 most mornings, the boys were a delight too. Highlights for me included:

- Watching Callum and Declan being extraordinarily excited to get on the plane up to Queensland
- the playground in Cairns (I think the best children's playground I have seen, and I do count myself a connoisseur)
- both boys hand feeding the kangaroos at Cairns Zoo
- Callum and Declan having a wonderful time in the surf, and getting the hang of bobbing up and down in the water
- the butterfly house in Kuranda, where butterflies were happy to land on our hands (and in Declan's case, heads)
- Mossman Gorge, where Evan piggybacked Callum and Declan swimming around the gorge while I took pictures
- Callum having complete hysterics every time we saw a crocodile looking threatening towards a keeper

It is nice to be home, though.