And of course no Crook Law catch-up is complete without a game or two

I forgot to mention the games! How many rounds of Smash Up can we start without a winner? Two it seems...  But where it came to Alcamist Mr Hicksy was the clear winner... I got schooled which is why our next game will be played with an open chart so I can learn from the Master of the Apprentices...

Christmas proves to be fun and games as always

Christmas 2017 has turned on some beautiful days for the Law, Crook, Carter and Gallasch catch-up. It has been great to see Miss H's mum and dad and it is always fun to hang with the Crook Clan. The Carters had one attendee (Panda represent!!!) and it was fun to shoot hoops with Master T. The hoop was so low I could almost dunk it. My outside shots proved to be my contribution... I was on fire until suddenly I wasn't lol...

Once again Christmas tea was delicious pork from Hicksy's Kitchen (perfect crackling again Mr Crook). Today has been another dip in the refreshing pool followed by me running after my three on peddle go carts... After getting a Fitbit this Christmas from my gorgeous angel I have been trying to move more...

Out for tea tonight then back to the real world. It is just so nice to escape..

The Bull was everything I remembered and more

Yesterday my family and I had a rare weekend where we were all free so we took off to the local cinema to watch the latest family film, Ferdinand. Now I fondly recall the story of Ferdinand, the bull who loved flowers so much more than butting heads with the other bulls so I was a touch cautious when I sat down with my box of popcorn and waited for this film to begin. My worry was wasted however... This was a FANTASTIC film enjoyed by all of us. Even my son, Master 11 gave it a 5/10 which quickly turned into a 7/10 a minute later... He is talking about his favourite scenes even the next day...

I love the way that the film sticks to the simple storyline of the original book (10 or so pages with about five or six words per page) but has added in extra characters to emphasise certain qualities of the main character, Ferdinand. Without giving anything away it is a beautiful tale told with heart. A perfect family film for the young and the young at heart. I encourage you to watch it whether you know and love the story or not. If you have yet to experience the book though you MUST do yourself a favour... Find it and read it and I guarantee you too will fall in love with this brave bull...

Emerging and Celebrating

I have now completed the six month leadership course run by Local Government Association of South Australia aptly named the Emerging Leaders Program. It has been an intense six months of self learning and 'new' concepts designed to help me change or help the team to communicate more easily and clearly or work together with greater success. Yesterday was a crazy day starting with an early morning and a cruisey trip to Adelaide. Following this was a great learning module then a loooooooooooooooooooooong hour or so wait until it was presentation time. Graduation was intensely quiet until the final name was announced and then we all erupted with loud hoots and applause. After that a celebratory catch up with managers, CEOs and others.

Now it is time to celebrate a buddy's birthday with a few slices of pizza and lots and lots of fun.

Surprises at the Beach

Today was the last day of a refreshing three week break for me. After a few stormy days it has turned out to be a sunny pearler of a day. The best kind of day for a trip to the beach.

We love visiting family at Victor Harbour but today was extra special. While bobbing about in the waves we (Miss 10, Master 11 and I) thought we saw a duck pop out of a wave. It was a small black duck which on second examination turned out to be a penguin. Imagine our surprise when it was joined by another one. "Quick!" I cried out, "Someone get my phone so I can take a picture!"
Of course one of the kids went to tell mum what we saw and the other ran to get my phone. The moment they both left I lost sight of our visitors and they were gone. Such a thrill but over way too soon...

Laws and Crooks Conquer Victoria 2017 - Day Eleven

I am up today at 8:15, earlier than everyone... I can't believe I have even beaten my son up who has been up earliest of all ever since the holiday began. I think since we arrived in Beaconsfield Master 11 has been up extra early so often to enable him to watch shows on Netflix that we say are inappropriate for his sisters. I am up later than I have been all this week but not surprised I have beaten everyone else to rise. We didn't get back from Day Ten until 11pm and everyone was utterly exhausted. We have packed so many amazing, wonderful, family fun experiences into each and every day that I now find myself five epic days behind in my blog posting. The only way I think I'll catch up is to blog for today and work back through... As I post I am sure you will see just why I've had no time to type and have been having way too much double family fun (Laws X Crooks = awesome holiday memories). So here goes... Still no bowling yet (poor Miss 5) and it is unlikely this will change today. Instead we (Dads X 2 and the five cherubs) have planned to head back to Casey Arc swimming center to have more fun in the wave pool. I wonder if Ben will have three little ones interested in the toddler play area today?

After a swim and a bit of time bobbing in the BIG waves we will head 'home' to the marvellous castle at Lakeview Terrace for a bit of lunch before the boys (Ben and I and Master 11 who wanted to tag along) will be headed back to Fountain Gate to check out boardgames. My mate Ben has a great collection of odd and unusual games to play and I just love finding out what he is going to add next... Maybe an expansion on the card game GLOOM (family fun for everyone lol) or maybe a medieval themed game based on domination of the known world... You just never know...

The Gallasch girls are staying home today to catch up on everything as tomorrow is our last morning in Beaconsfield and the Williamson family need their house back. Tomorrow it is back on the road again, this time we are headed to the home of the Tommy and Dangerfield and those Cats we barrack for week in and week out. Geelong and the Cattery for tea...

It is now 8pm(ish) and looking back on the day it has been very relaxing. Everything basically went to plan (as above). Wave pool was awesome, Ben got some cool games that he is already reading over the rules so we can try one tonight (over a few scotches) and we had yummy take-away Mexican for tea... Taco Bill's makes some very yummy and very filling food...

Bring on Geelong!!

Laws and Crooks Conquer Victoria 2017 - Day Five

We have been promising Miss Five to go Ten Pin Bowling but today we had to switch plans and head to a different swimming center instead, Casey Race. Last time the Laws were here the Williamson kids took us here and the kids had a ball. There is a huge bucket which dumps water all over the kids, a waterslide and some linked pools that enable the younger swimmers to explore. This time though the not school holidays curse struck again. The bucket did not fill and all the explorer pools were taken up by school classes doing YCMA swimming lessons. In the two hours for swimming we had paid for there was probably half an hour where there were no school kids. Master 11 was most disappointed that the bucket would not work until after 3pm. Our swimming fun ended an hour before that. McDonalds for lunch (a bit disappointed with my wrap, but happy the team of cooks fixed it to my satisfaction with five minutes).

Once home I got to playtest a game that my mate Ben has been developing. I admire his creativity, such a complex mix of Medieval fantasy and Science Fiction. It is certainly not a quick game to play but I found myself immediately getting involved in the story of how the game pans out. Some tweaks still required perhaps but I strongly believe Ben has a game to rival the Cthulu based ones we have been loving to play or Dead of Winter, House on the Hill... In fact any of those epic games that take all night to play or even a whole day or two... Keep working that imagination hard Ben... I cannot wait to play test again and maybe complete a quest or two...

It was a funny night without Ben and Maria there. Master 11, Miss 7, Miss 5 and I spent a half hour or so riding, scooting and running up and down the big hill that leads to BB and Roh's place. Master 11 found a speedo on the bike he was riding so he could measure my pace as I took off after the girls. My top speed down hill, 25Km and uphill 21km. Following this it was chicken for tea. Sitting down to tea with five kids we were responsible for was certainly an eye opener. I think Miss H and I handled it well though. Bath quickly followed and then movie night with packets of chips (a break from popcorn). Garfield (voiced by Bill Murray) was the choice. Not the type of movie that kept our attention but the kids seemed to enjoy it. I wish Ben and Maria luck for tomorrow. The kids have chosen Garfield 2 for movie night with them. Netflix is both a blessing and a curse in the fact we can no longer tell the kids "So sorry, we don't have that DVD..." So many movies and shows are now available at any time.

Miss 5 and Miss 3 did not make it to the end of the film (and Miss H missed at least ten minutes in the middle). Once the film was done all five kids dropped silently into the land of nod. Swimming was a great idea I think for tiring the kids out. With a quiet house all to ourselves my darling angel and I decided to try one of a handful of DVDs we brought on the trip. To the Wonder was supposed to be a beautiful romance but instead ended up being some disappointing art film we found impossible to follow. About half an hour to forty-five minutes in and Ben and Maria returned from a very fun night. I tried switching DVDs to Money Monsters which seemed to catch Ben and my attention but I think it was far too late to settle in for a full length feature. Good night Money Monsters... Maybe you'll get a proper watch soon...

Laws and Crooks Conquer Victoria 2017 - Day Four

Roadtrip! Well at least a little one... Before we start exploring the swimming centers and bowling alley and other fun filled things to do nearby the girls thought it would be a great idea to hit the Westfield Founatin Gate. We found the food court for lunch and K-Mart where the kids bought hand puppets. This trip gave Ben and Maria a bit of an idea of what they could do for date night. One of the girls' great ideas (I think it may have been Maria's) was for each couple to have a night out. Tomorrow night it will be the Crook couple.

The rest of the day was lazy, time where we settled into our new 'home'. Being five kids cooped up even in a wonderful house like we have been lucky enough to stay in here in Beaconsfield means that not everyone is going to get along. Boardgames with Daddy, Uncle Ben and Miss 10 saw us while away a little of the day. Mouse Trap, Uno and a few rounds of Mysterium (think Cludo mixed with that TV show Medium) kept at least a trio entertained and proved that Uncle Ben's years of board game obsession certainly makes him a tough competitor.

As the early afternoon kicked in and the party of five all under twelve were proving to be a handful Ben and I decided to head down to the oval and then a local playground. I had grand images of running the kids ragged and creating memorable moments of family fun. All I think we might have achieved though were a few bumps and scratches and some muddy shoes. A reminder that we are not officially in school holiday time for SA or VIC, as we walked back from the playground we couldn't have a second kick as the oval was being used for cricket practice. It is fairly wet and there are very dark skies, I am constantly wondering when Spring will come. We have some very busy days planned coming up... I am hoping for some great weather...

Better late than never - The Room - A story for Halloween

As we wandered through Westfield Fountain Gate yesterday I spotted an interesting looking game for PS4 in EB Games. Being so close to Halloween I found these odd and eerie images floating through my mind. This is my attempt at bringing all the weirdness together to assemble some sort of tale. Hopefully you get the idea...

The Room - A story for Halloween

Tony knocked confidently on the Smithson's front door as he had done so often over the past year.
When the door swung open he greeted the bear of a man who filled the door frame.
"Good evening, sir,"
"Tony! Come in!" Mister Smithson replied.
"Sorry, I can't sir," apologised Tony. "I'm here to pick up Josephine and we're already late."
"So I heard," said Josephine's father. "Something about dinner at the pizza bar and then some killing sunshine disco dance happening at the Steeds home ground."
Tony knew better than to correct the father of the girl of his dreams. He'd got the details about dinner right but disco hadn't been popular for at least a century. Tony had managed to score two tickets to see The Sunshine Killers, a hot four piece from Canada who were touring their recently released second album, Love, Death and Rainbows.
"Absolutely sir!" Tony stated enthusiastically, grasping the offered hand without wincing. Tony went with the handshake and allowed Jo's father to pump his hand vigorously.
"Your a good lad, Tony."
"Thank you, sir," said Tony as his hand was released.
"I'll go find Jo and tell her your here."

Ten minutes later Tony was opening the passenger side door of his '69 Mustang, helping the gorgeous Josephine Smithson step inside. She wore a new dress, one Tony had never seen before in the twelve months they had been dating. Short, but not so short daddy wouldn't let her out the door. Low cut too which Tony liked... It enabled him to compliment the opal charm at the end of the necklace Jo wore without hinting at what actually drew his full attention.
"Your wearing the butterfly and heart charm I bought you three months ago," Tony stated. "It looks amazing with that new dress."
"You noticed!" squealed Josephine, delighted.
"And what is that amazing scent?" asked the boy, noticing that his car suddenly smelled like a bee's heaven.
"Intreaged," stated Jo.
"Why, yes I am," affirmed Tony, his reply immediate.
"No," laughed Jo, a sound Tony loved even more every time he heard it. "It's a new perfume from France called Intreaged.
Tony joined Jo then and they chatted and laughed all the way to dinner.

"Take... Me... HOME!" demanded Josephine. "NOW!!!"
The look on the girl's face told Tony that she was not kidding.
"But babe!? The concert? The Sunshine Killers! Your favourite band..." Tony replied, suggesting that the night was not over yet. "Moonlight, Lover's Peak... Intreaged?" he added in an effort to swiftly change Jo's mind.
It was obvious Tony's attempt had failed as Jo's mascara ran.
"This night was supposed to be special..." seethed the young girl. Tony caught sight of the daggers that flashed across his girlfriend's electric blue eyes. During the car ride back to the Smithson's the silence spoke volumes. Tony attempted to redeem himself as they pulled up at Josephine's front door, leaping out the driver side and sliding along the bonnet of his classic so he could open the door for his girlfriend.
"Hmmmph," was his reward. "Call me in the morning and we'll talk," Jo suggested. "I'm still cross with you though..."
Tony gave Jo a weak smile.
"You're lucky you're cute," was Josephine's reply.

Tony drove off, still confused as to how a great night planned had turned into such a disaster. Not wanting to go home, but no longer eager to head to the concert he drove out to the outskirts of town to watch the stars. There was an old rundown house not far from the town limits that Tony's Grandpa George had always sworn was haunted. Tony decided then and there that he'd check it out and prove the crazy, old geaser wrong. It didn't take long to find the dirt track that lead to the long, twisty, weed choked driveway. A few rabbits leaped out of the brush as the Mustang roared past them, Tony picking the lightning fast critters in his high beams for only a second before they bounded away.

As the old house came into view Tony could easily see why his Pa and the other old timers had ghost stories galore about it. The windows were covered in thick dust, the roof looked ready to collapse at any second and there was an odd fog that swirled about, no obvious source for it, it seemed to just be there. The first sound Tony heard as he killed the rumble of the Mustang was the constant squeal of the front door, a rhythmic squeak slow and harsh on the ears. "Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeekkkkkkkkkkk, eeeeeerrrrrrrrrrkkkkkkkkkkk... Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeekkkkkkkkkkkk, eeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrkkkkkkkkkk..." went the door until Tony gave it a harsh kick and it fell with a resounding "BOOOOOM!!!" as it fell into the parlour when the rusted hinges finally gave way. As the violin like wail from the door ceased Tony could hear what sounded like weeping.
"Heeee... lllllll...." came the sound, almost a cry seeking a strong young man's assistance before it petered out unfinished.
"Hello?" called Tony. "Do you need help?"
"Heeee... lllllllllllll...." came the faint sound again.
From the parlour Tony followed the faint cry to first the kitchen, then a string of bedrooms and finally to a Sun Room which was in disarray. There in the corner was a hunched over woman dressed in black. Black skirt, black shirt, black shawl, black stockings with black shoes. The style of dress was very outdated, something that even Tony noticed straight away. The lady was facing the wall, searching the blank surface for a secret treasure. Her bonnet was up, over her head making the figure so easy to miss in the light of Tony's phone screen.
"Um... Ma'am..?" asked Tony, cautiously. "Did you call out?"
Soundlessly the figure turned around. Tony gasped. The figure had the wispy hair, the wrinkles of age, but where there should have been watery grey eyes, a misshaped nose, thin, lifeless lips almost bloodless in colour, there was nothing. Tony tried to step back out the room, to turn away from this strange scene that affronted him. The missing facial features appeared out of the blank wall where the faceless lady searched in vain. A well formed pair of eyes, eyebrows, nose with nostrils inflamed, a thin lipped mouth turned up in a sneer, all present in the whitewash of the Sun Room wall.
"You didn't listen, boy..." stated the face on the wall, the voice ancient, cracked like it were the house itself that spoke. As the words came the features of the face moved like an agitated serpent, slithering quickly to stare from below Tony, capturing his eyes somehow with an orbless stare.
"Now you get to stay with us..." the mouth stated.
"I... I don't understand..." Tony stammered.
"You can NEVER leave..." stated the face, just as fifty other features morphed onto the wall to join it.
Tony felt his face and suddenly found his lips were gone. In silent panic he felt for his nose. As he suddenly struggled to take in air the sight from one eye vanished. His world went dark as he felt the old woman grasp him in a comforting embrace. As Tony's lungs began to burn like fire, his body needing the oxygen he would never taste again, the young fool heard  as a chorus of lost souls again those chilling words...
"You can NEVER leave..."

Laws and Crooks Conquer Victoria 2017 - Day Three

With the sweet deal we got for Sovereign Hill yesterday we got free entry today. Last night the Laws and Crooks were throwing around ideas of what we wanted to get up to (more 9 pin bowling, checking out the rock crushing machine, seeing how rock candy is made, panning for more gold, making our own candles, more wagon rides... Def one of the greatest sausage rolls in the county for lunch...) So much still to do and only a few hours in the morning to do it.
Unfortunately we awoke the next morning with a dark and drizzly sky and one sick chick. These two factors both told us to get out of Ballarat and on our way to our next stop, Beaconsfield where a magical palace awaited our arrival... BB and Roh and family have been amazing in allowing us to use their beautiful home as a base for pretty much the whole time we are spending over in Victoria. This places us wonderfully close to so many family fun activities, puts us (the Laws) in an environment that we have found ourselves in and gives the Laws and Crooks enough space that we can both mingle and have separate family time if and when we choose all under the same roof. The perfect space for the perfect holiday.

With rain and upset tummy talk hurrying us along all those ideas for the morning needed to be placed on the back burner. Come June/July next year we may decide (foolish as it sounds) to tackle the Ballarat winter and have our free entry to Sovereign Hill then. A trip back to Medieval Land (aka Kryal Castle) might also be on the cards as a special birthday treat. Instead it was back on the road again and onto the M1 for 80 odd Ks until the C101 came into sight and we entered familiar territory. Now as I type this we are all recovering from our 2 hour plus car trip plus a trip to Fountain Gate Shopping Center for a couple of odds and ends (curse you Kmart!) I have seen that the shopping complex has Gold Class cinema. I am certain that there is something my beautiful Miss H and I are itching to see... Maybe a cider and some cheesy nachos while watching Thor and The Hulk battle it out. Cannot wait for date night in style...

I must make comment here though that we are finding the Victorian roads to be terrible (bumpy, rough and many potholes) and the Victorian drivers all seem to see drizzle, storm and wet and wild weather to be an excuse to take up a death wish. I lost count just how many times we got cut off, almost got hit and I know there was at least one time coming back from Fountain Gate that we saw one ute run into the back of another one. Funny to see all the cars waiting to pull in to a sweet looking school (def private) and all the other cars in the 3k line up indicating they wanted out the line (not there for school pickup, just got caught in the wrong lane at the wrong time). Even when we didn't see anything there was plenty to see...

I wonder what tomorrow has in store...

Laws and Crooks Conquer Victoria 2017 - Day Two

With Sovereign Hill just up the hill from the super awesome Big 4 Goldrush caravan park it made perfect 'cents' to us to take the Crook family back in time to the 1800s... Back home we have a historic settlement called Old Tailem Town. A great museum which shows what life was like for people living in the local area around the same time. Where Old Tailem Town differs is the history (riverboat vs gold rush) and the money invested (Tailem is pretty good but Sovereign Hill is laid out over a large area, has paid employees and volunteer staff, has lots of stores where you can purchased food, souvenirs, memories...) Our kids enjoyed experiencing an open carriage wagon ride, mine tour, scones with hot chocolate, so many things we loved doing last year. We also found the time to play nine pin bowling, purchase a fan or two and find out so much more about the history of gold mining in the local area. Seeing a $100,000+ bar of gold get smelted was a real highlight from the day and we have a list of experiences we want again when we get to go back for a few hours tomorrow. Then of course is it back on the road, headed south as we have a house to sit. Hoping that our amazing friends BB and Roh and the kids are having a brilliant o/seas experience someplace much (much) warmer... Many thanks for your incredible generosity. Laws and Crooks are on the road again...

Laws and Crooks Conquer Victoria 2017 - Day One

What an epic beginning to what promises to be a wonderful few weeks of amazing family memories. The Laws are taking the Crooks under their wing and heading over the boarder... Look out Victoria the party of nine are here...

Day one has seen a very (very) early beginning, hitting the road soon after 7:30am with the first stop Keith and the delicious delights of the bakery there followed quickly by a trip to the playground and its frightful rollercoaster. Our kids love that flat tray shocker and were extremely excited about introducing their younger cousins to the thrills and horrors of flying along at the speed of light with only your wits and utter luck to keep you safe and secure. The silos at Coonalpyn drew all of our attention as we drove past, sadly the drizzle and our time schedule kept us from pausing and truly admiring the majesty of such art.

Next stop was Horsham for lunch. Inbetween we saw all the wonderful little country towns flash by. I made sure I did not blink as we passed through Yumali, a sweet, tiny town where I am fairly sure my Aunty and Uncle once looked after the Post Office. Lunch was Maccas, quick, easy and filling, the best lunch when you are on the go with a long drive still ahead... Then the beauty of the Grampians mountain range and loads of roadworks a wonderful drive on a half decent freeway a brief pause after Aararat to change drivers and finally the last stretch to finally arrive at Ballarat, our home away from home for the next few days.

What a way to spend a birthday, and yet we still managed to make the day for my very beautiful wife a special one. It was topped off with dinner at the Ballarat Pancake Kitchen. When we ate there last year the poor staff were swamped when we arrived (five of us) since there were also a dozen or so callistenics teams that decided the same night to eat there... Our tea this time was a breeze... I phoned ahead and booked a table for nine and just so happened to mention that we had a birthday girl with us. Even though there was a slight mix up with meals the food was utterly delicious, the trainee gave us exceptional service and there was a lovely scoop of vanilla icecream with sprinkles and a candle for the birthday girl served up at the very end. Even though a sign at the cash register clearly stated that the restuarant can't split bills they were more than happy to calculate our individual totals... A great end to a full on day...

Laws and Crooks Conquer Victoria 2017

This is it! A crazy idea that two families head over the South Australia / Victorian boarder and see just what adventures and family memories they can make together. The Law and Crook family get along so well ever since Hicksy and I were thick as thieves in late High School and well... Then we married sisters...

I will attempt to blog our fantastic fun so you can share in our adventures...

Watching a tiger catch flies

Ahhhhh Sunday... Glorious, sunny Sunday... A lazy day after a BIG night with friends and family and our entertainer for the afternoon just so happens to be the stripy, orangy tiger Ginger... His stalking fly technique has brought a smile to all of our faces... Go Ginger! Catch those flies!!

Traaaa Laaaaaa Laaaaaa!!! AND Ninja-Go!!!

The school holidays are normally a great opportunity to checkout the latest offerings in kids (family) films. These October holidays have proven to be no exception. Earlier in the week my wonderful wife, Miss H took our two girls (Miss 10 and Miss 7) to the Shopkins Movie while I took Master 11 to see the LEGO Ninja-Go film... Verdict on these, enjoyed heaps by the kids but not so much by Mum and Dad. I can't say much about the Shopkins movie (thankfully not something I had to suffer), my experience with the Ninja-Go film was that it was no LEGO Batman... I've been spoilt with humour, action and fun where it comes to LEGO movies in the past. For me the tale of Lloyd and his friends did have humour, action and fun but not in the spades we have seen in the past. There are so many other family films coming soon which I think will be more entertaining (e.g. the second Paddington film).

Today we had a family outing to our local cinema to see The Captain Underpants movie. A few out loud laughs by lots of silly smile moments. A great recreation of some very silly stories. I have loved reading the Captain Underpants books with my son and it was great to be able to watch these books come to life on the big screen. A great morning out and a great way to start what looks to be a fun weekend ahead...

Just an average Friday trying to save the world one city at a time...

Friday regular day off from the library as I am working the weekend. Normally date day but this Friday is school holidays. Difficult to have a moment or two with the girl I love when our house is full to bursting with kids... Last night we had three extras with Master 11, Miss 10 and Miss 7 each having a friend overnight. Today though for a rock painting activity day we added my two nieces, two more (family friends) plus extras creating what seemed like a cast of thousands of little smiling faces. The perfect time to leave the amazing mums to it...

Instead I zoomed off to my brother-in-law, the king of board games. The board game for today was Eldritch Horror, a Cthulu Mythos based game where investigators traverse the globe in an attempt to prevent the return of one of The Old Ones... It is a long game to play but full of little challenges each challenge with its own pitfalls and rewards, characters can die on a couple of poor dice rolls but in the long run there is a chance of final success (on the most basic level anyway). I have really enjoyed exploring the various Cthulu (H. P. Lovecraft) themed games Ben has been acquiring. Not your normal go around the board affair... In fact so much more...

A great way to spend a Friday but unfortunately I needed to take off when we (Ben, Matt and I) were about half way through. I returned home to discover a happy household of friends and family, some beautifully coloured rocks and a very successful afternoon.

No sleepovers tonight! A fun filled weekend ahead...

Strange Magic not the Strange film I expected

Just in case we had a bit of bad weather on our trip to Meningie Miss H and I raided our local library and grabbed some DVDs we hoped the kids would enjoy. One of the nights away we watched a film about kids lost in the wild with a heroic dog companion but the other night we stumbled upon a great animation called Strange Magic... The story is fun with a bit of darkness but what really made this movie great for me, Miss H and the kids was the way pop songs were woven into the film. This was a great family film which entertained us all... 9 out of 10...

Thanks Meningie for a great weekend

A long weekend is a great opportunity to escape normal life and take the family to somewhere new... My darling Miss H was wonderful enough to organise a fun filled escape for Team Law to the beautiful country town of Meningie. We were directly across the road from a great park and playground and found lots of chances to take lovely family walks and even a (poorly chosen perhaps) chance to dip our feet in Lake Alexandrina.

Such a fun time away and so many wonderful family memories and we even came home with a computer chair from the RSL garage sale... Thank you Meningie for a great weekend...

Loving The Crown on Netflix

My wife and I have got into a terrible habit of binge watching our favourite shows. Lately it has been every episode of Heartland (has changed our views on the majesty of these beasts) which unfortunately is no longer on Netflix until early next year. Following this was a catch up of seasons three and four of Chicago Fire (funny to hear Miss H say "I remember that park..." or "I've been shopping there..." from time she spent overseas. Now that we have run out of episodes for both of these shows we have been on the hunt for something new.

A couple of nights ago we thought we would try The Crown, a dramatisation of how the current Queen of England, Elizabeth came to power and what important events occurred soon after her reign began.

We have found this show to be truly fascinating and very entertaining. The politics, the drama and the forbidden romances... All unfolding on the backdrop of some of history's truly momentous occasions. Queen Elizabeth has been such for 60 or so years now and it interests me greatly to learn (dramatised of course) the events that lead to her being crowned. Most enjoyable, most impressive. If you are yet to try it I can recommend...

Victoria and Abdul a very enjoyable day out

A rarity for us lately with our busy lives but the other day my darling girl and I took a trip to Mount Barker and caught the latest effort from the wonderful Dame Judy Dench... Victoria and Abdul... Dench once again plays an awesome Queen, this time of course Queen Victoria. Each character in this film has been well cast and the story is gripping, interesting and well paced. A great historical piece.

Follow this up with a lovely lunch at the local Cafe Aqua and it was yet another fantastic date... Delicious food, great film and wonderful company... Cannot wait for our next date... Love you babe...

What an amazing week

Last week was a big one for me... Two days up and back to the Hilton for a South Australian Libraries conference with a key theme "Are We There Yet?" It was a real shock to hear the President of the Libraries Board of South Australia inform us all that not only are we not there yet, he does not believe we will ever get there... There of course is meeting the needs and desires of all members of our communities and I realise that we can never hope to meet all of these, especially when we don't know yet what they will be...

Thursday I was back in Adelaide again, this time at Adelaide University for the next module in the Emerging Leaders Program... A solid day examining change... Thanks Lois for introducing me to Appreciative Inquiry, something I will be researching further...

Friday was a great date day with my gorgeous wife Miss H, brunch at out local Eat House followed by a trip out to Jervois Primary School to volunteer in the school canteen, dance lessons and then assembly run by our youngest (Miss Boo) and her class (every member of that class a character)...

A weekend of work, meeting and greeting a multitude of visitors to our region drawn to Murray Bridge by the Pedal Prix with a great catch up with friends in between.

What will next week hold?

Happy Father's Day to all the dads

A special weekend for me this weekend... A great catch up with my dad and my darling's dad too followed by a quite day at home with my amazing family.

Yesterday was a wonderful BBQ at Casa de Law with Laws, Gallasches and Crooks followed by a catch up with mates at a birthday bonfire. Today was a yummy bacon, eggs and pancakes breakfast in bed with some wonderful home made gifts and other perfect presents, lots of love for dad and a quite day in. Not quite the original plan but a great plan B with two sick chicks.

Now we are about to sit down together to share a tasty lunch while watching Disney's answer to the question... 'What is a Dog's Purpose'... Tissues ready...

The generous nature of fabulous friends and family

This weekend just gone has been a HUGE one for us. As a White Ribbon Ambassador (https://www.whiteribbon.org.au) I had the opportunity to host a house party to raise funds for this very important cause. The generosity of friends and family as well as local businesses has been truly astounding.

I am extremely pleased to say that with the massive efforts of my beautiful wife and all the support I have around me we managed to smash our fundraiser target and we still have even more donations coming through. Such a great night, such an important cause. Looking forward to November now and the opportunity to round up the men to make a strong statement when we all shout "NO!" we will not be silent when we witness violence against women or children and "NO!" we will not be violent.

Changing the mindset of a community is challenging but if we all do our little bit it is possible.

What a ride - A short story

The golden sand was hot to touch and the ocean so soothingly cool. Simon felt the snug fit of his billabong wetty as with board under his arm he dashed confidently into the mad surf. With a crash he flew through wave after wave until he left the break far behind him. Sliding serpently upon the buoyant board Simo then paddled leisurely across the flat in search of the big waves. Fellow surfers bobbed on the surface before the great sea rose up in answer to their simple prayer and three or four of the seal-like figures peeled off and flew down the great wall of ocean, entering the guts of the barrel as it curled over itself and then ripped the sheet of water to shreds as they cut up, down and then back across it in a display of unrivalled skill. Some drifted with poise and agility beating the cruel ocean and turning its waves into works of agile art. Others just lucked out and were knocked free from their board to suck up sea and sand and anything that lurked beneath the surface.

Simon hung out with the others, grommets and pros. Everyone was equal out on the waves. Everyone waited, no surfer had seniority, no skipping ahead and riding an extra wave based on skill or experience. No one dropped in, or if they did they made sure they acknowledged their mistake. That was the code. From where he was he could see the beach and its city of pretty umbrellas. Beneath each and every one there lounged mas and pas with their little ones, beach babes in bikinis and bathing suits that left little to the imagination and young men baring their back to the sun as they wore boardies or that sinful fashion statement the speedo. A immediate audience brought out by a glorious summer day. As Simon's number came up and the water rose up monstrously behind him he gritted his teeth and began to paddle. It was time to put on a show.

Then it was Simo and the wave. It roared around him and threatened to bowl him off his board. Through the tunnel he held his nerve until with uncanny force he was spat out the other side. Like a ramp Simo steered his board straight up and then he flew, the sun and the sky his friends for the briefest of moments until the board steered out of the nothing and smoothly back down the wave again. A jig, a jag and then across the face Simon flew before he sent his board with a swivel back up the face and into the open blue once more. This time as the board sent him back down again his flight was too long and his angle of decent too shallow. His board's nose slid sideways unexpectedly and the surfer was unceremoniously dismounted. With a big grin he paddled the rest of the way to shore.
"That was truly epic, mate!" yelled one of the shore dwellers as Simon shook the salt water from his hair.
"Yeah... I know..." Simon replied, "What a wild ride..."

Busy times ahead

Looking forward to some great events at work coming up. We have Wendy Altschwager next month followed by Tricia Stringer in October... Hopefully the end of this month will see us busy too celebrating the amazing talents of Australian authors and illustrators as Book Week kicks in. I love the theme this year of 'Escape to Everywhere'... It always helps me imagine dream holidays to take my gorgeous girl on, maybe with our trio of munchkins... Thinking about escaping to everywhere gives me ideas of places like a famous chocolate factory run by a zany genius... A neat little hole in Hobbiton... Visiting far off planets... The options of everywhere literally could lead to... anywhere...

I am also very excited that we have been in touch with a well known South Australian gardener who has not visited the Murray Bridge Library since 2013... Fingers crossed some busy months ahead...

So pop on down to the Murray Bridge Library and check out just what is going on...

Rock hunter

Had an extra day off today with my darling wife and our three crazy kids. This afternoon we decided to enjoy the winter sunshine and hit the local playgrounds hunting rocks. There is a fantastic trend where talented people are painting rocks and then hiding them at local playgrounds.

We founds rocks at The Bunyip, Spiderweb playground and nature play area. A fun filled family afternoon.

Caught ninja fever

Sitting on the couch I am amazed by all those brave souls attempting to conquer the Ninja Warrior Australia course... Not even in my wildest dreams could I even begin to take on such a physical challenge. Those competitors are strong, both physically and mentally... Truly amazing...

Smurfs tops the Boss and Spiderman thoroughly entertains

Master 11 has a mate over tonight and what better way to celebrate a sleepover than with homemade hotdogs for tea and a family movie night helping Smurfette find the Lost Village. Not too sure what to expect from the latest smurf adventure but after sitting through the (approx.) hour and a half expecting our ears to be bombarded by 'la la lalala la' I was pleasantly surprised that I was engaged, at times moved and giggled often throughout this flick. Enjoyed this somewhat more than Boss Baby... A very blue 3 and a half stars...

What about Spiderman Homecoming though... We picked up a mate and then with Master 11 (all things seem to be going his way at the moment), my darling and I we all hit our local cinema for a great night out. Before I mention anything about the movie it was great to see so much support for a local company. A large number attended the film showing before Spiderman and there was a fairly strong attendance for our movie session too (cinema maybe 3/4 full).

Now on to Spiderman...

Without giving anything away (I promise)... What a film!! Great gadgets, actor playing Peter is a great pick... Kick arse bad guy and sooooooooooooooooooo much teen angst... And of course the icing on the cake was Tony Stark in his finest moments (a great mixture of awkwardly delivered wisdom and lightly disguised sarcasm)... The friendly, neighbourhood Spiderman is back and I could not be happier... I wonder if he will be making an appearance in the up and coming Thor movie?

Who's the Boss? And The Spider Comes Home

Last night we had family movie night... Boss Baby was our choice of DVD and I'm still wondering if it was the right choice. We (my wife and I) found it to be an odd film, it was certainly not what I expected it to be. An interesting concept done reasonably well I suppose but I cannot help but feel like I've seen the idea before (and done better) and there was potential for the film to be completely different and utterly more entertaining. The kids must have enjoyed it though because they plan to watch it all over again this afternoon. I love family movie night with my four favourite people though so as an experience I would still rate the night three stars...

Hoping that Spiderman Homecoming will be better... My wife and I are taking Master 11 along tonight to see it at our local cinema. At $8 a ticket we can't resist. Hoping that what promises to be an action packed entertaining romp is not a let down thanks to all the awesomeness having already been shown on the ads on TV (I hate films like that). Looking forward to what should anyway be a good night out... Spiderman and Ironman in one sitting should fill the superhero appetite of everyone...

The Lion Sleeps Tonight

Happy birthday to me! Early July is a great time for us Cancerians and this year was especially special for this Crab... My gorgeous girl Miss H and two special couples (four of my closest friends) shouted me a Monarto Zoo experience to celebrate my 38th birthday... Lions, Wild Dogs and Hyenas oh my!!! It was such a thrill to see these creatures behind the scenes. To witness the ferocity, the intelligence and the power.

Thankyou to those special friends that gave such a gift.

Celebrating the Golden Years

What a night last night... We were honoured to join my Mother in law and Father in law in celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary. Great to catch up with their friends and family that we don't normally have the chance to see. Mum and Dad both had a special night, just what they deserved after so many adventurous years together.

I was especially proud of my angel of a wife who wrote a poem especially for the night and also our daughter Miss Almost Ten who was the only grandchild brave to speak... A few well chosen words straight from the heart...

I hope that we have as special a night when my darling wife and I celebrate our 50 years...

Time to bottle the vino

It is finally time... Time to bottle the vino...

As I look across the kitchen of our house I spy the fifteen Yellowglen Yellow bottles awaiting my first attempt at a shiraz... Bottling is planned for this weekend, but before it makes it into the bottles I am going to have to try it. Can't wait!! Cheers to my great mate Troy who has been my guide through this adventure (all mistakes and unnecessary risks are all my fault Troy). Fingers crossed it will be at least drinkable, at best delicious...

I have now tried my red creation and am of mixed feelings. Good legs, the red clings to the glass well... First taste has character, just not sure if it is Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck... Looking forward to many, many, many more tries to find out... CHEERS!!

Not happy... WI-FI issues causing anxtiousness in the Law house

We have had a WI-FI outage in our house since May this year... It has annoyed the kids to no end, Master 11 constantly asking (bugging?) me if he can use my phone to look something up. The worst thing though is it has stopped dead the ability for my wife and I to catch a couple of episodes of our new favourite series HEARTLAND. We are about half way through series 6 (out of 8 series I think) and it has been our night time ritual to what two or three (sometimes more) episodes in a night. I am starting to miss this show. Come on Telstra... Please get the NBN back online again so we can continue our addiction... LOL!

Hanging with the Minions

What a weekend! While my darling wife was hard at work my Saturday was jam packed with entertaining our three little minions (or more accurately keeping them from arguing and fighting... SIGH). I also needed to set up two little beds because we were adding two more little ones to the mix.

We have a great relationship with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law (my wife's sister) where every so often they will be brave enough to take on one or more of our trio, the catch being we then get the pleasure of one or both of their delightful duo. After putting off a planned sleepover once we bit the bullet and went for it. A quick run around the local bike track, Babe (love that movie), Shopkins messes and everyone down and out by 10pm... What a Saturday.

Waffles to start the Sunday or bacon, eggs and hash browns, followed by a crazy morning of seven in the house. The two smallest ones may or may not have been dressed in the wrong sized clothes by Uncle Tim... I'm admitting nothing until my lawyer is present!! Once our two nieces had been collected it was then a whirlwind attempt to buzz off to Mount Barker to catch the latest in the Despicable franchise, Despicable Me 3.

I must admit I was disappointed that the first fifteen minutes of the latest adventures of Gru, Lucy, the girls and the army of humerous minions was a bit of a let down for me... It seemed to be exactly like the adverts for the film, nothing I had not already chuckled at 100 times or more. The villain was the best part (or more accurately the theme music and 80s references associated with this villain), the only part of the first half of the film that captured my interest and made me smile.

As the film continued though it did engage me more and ended up leaving me happy I had watched it. The big plus was that my wife and I shared the experience with our three minions, hearing all three quote their favourite parts all the way home.

After a delicious home cooked creation for tea and getting Master 11, Miss (almost) 10 and Miss 7 off to bed my darling and I finished off this crazy weekend with a snuggle on the couch. Red Dog True Blue was the order of the day and this one did not disappoint. A great father/son film about a cute little pup who wriggled its way into the hearts of everyone down on the farm. Another terrific Aussie film that I think everyone can enjoy. No sex, violence or swearing, but a lot of drama, intrigue and a great story told really well.

I've loved hanging with the Minions in my life but I think the Dog and the Aussie Film Industry made this weekend for me...

2000 words all about me

The challenge has been thrown down... As part of an amazing leadership course I am enrolled in I need to submit a 2,000 word report on my leadership style. 2,000 words all about me... How hard could that possibly be? More difficult than I originally thought so it seems. In the fortnight that has followed since the inaugural workshop sessions I have managed to read the suggested readings, layout my report and make a few notes on what my leadership profile has (with frightening accuracy) revealed. Luckily I love a challenge... All the puzzle pieces are floating around in my mind... Just waiting for them all to fall into place...

The Apps Test - Teaching students by getting them to teach each other

I have just discovered that the year 6 and 7s at the school my kids are at is getting the students to play apps like kahoot for the term so they get really good at it and then they have to teach the class how to play/use it. Shared learning, presentation skills, so awesome...

Loving the See-Saw app too for sharing class moments...

Discovering Me

I have just arrived home safe and sound after two solid days (and an overnight) of leadership training. This is just the beginning of an intense six month journey which will be all about me (and the other participants) and how we can grow and develop as people and leaders.

Today was about profiling us and our leadership style and I must say my results seem to explain me perfectly. As a useful tool I plan to share these results with my direct managers and with my team. The next six months are going to be hard, more work than normal with assignments already due soon and more days offsite this month, next month and all the way through to December.

It is all going to be worth it... My extreme introvertedness now has a different name and all sorts of special skills associated with it... So energised and inspired about the next six months and the time beyond...

Father son bonding over classic Zelda

My wonderful son, Master 11 has downloaded the original Legend of Zelda and... He... Loves... It!!! It is just so much fun playing this classic Nintendo title and seeing my son just keep getting better and better at it.

I should not be too surprised though. Master 11 has always been I to the old school games like Frogger, Donkey Kong and Pac Man... Like the C64 games these Nintendo titles have dodgy graphics but the absolute best in game play.

So good!

Trying to put family first

I have always thought of myself as someone who puts family and friends first every time. These are the people close to your heart whom you would do anything and everything for. My personal expectations of what I aim to do for these people who mean the entire world to me are sometimes so high that I feel like I am letting them down all the time. Working for a local council library is a wonderful job where I get to work with a terrific team. Sometimes though (like now) we have organised lots of community events, some still needing the final touches and some still needing lots of community members to book in and come along. The closer the dates of these events become the harder I am finding to destress and switch off from work at home. Sadly it is then my wonderful friends and family who suffer.

I am trying to put my family first and stay true to who I am and who I want to be. Is there a secret way that I don't know yet where work and life can be balanced with ease? If so would someone please share it with us all? I am sure I'm not alone but I would love to find the solution soon...

I love my family and I recharge when I spend time with them and our amazing friends. Just not liking my cranky self right now... Trying to get my priorities right...

The lucky husband

How lucky am I?

I was outside this afternoon hanging sheets with my darling girl. The kids were on the trampoline and Miss 9 looks over. "Are you two doing washing together? How romantic!!" and she seemed serious. Is that romance now? I don't think so and I hope that my two daughters don't settle for a romantic date night or weekend of pampering consist of doing the washing together or sitting side by side glued to our phones or the TV screen.

I admit I have been very slack in the realm of romance... Plenty of amazing ideas flow through my mind but (like many people I am sure) I don't follow through... A weekend escape where I get to shower my gorgeous wife with all my complete attention and we get some quality alone time seems to be but once a year and is always a surprise for me (my angel has everything arranged). I don't know how she does it but it is not fair.

This has come from our discussion around the washing line that with Mother's Day just around the corner this seems to be the only day my wife gets told to relax. This is your day... Do what you wish (as long as it involves us)... Master 11 suggested that the birthday of each of our children should be marked as a Mother's Day as well as this day we became parents (once, twice and finally thrice) but what he does not understand is a child's birthday is a day of behind the scenes stress and chaos as the rush occurs trying to make everything happen smoothly, look effortless and perfect... No a birthday is not a relaxing day, especially not for a mother... Master 11 is right though... There should be a way to honour the amazing things mothers do for their children and partners do for each other and not just on one day...

Virtually anything is possible

Xcite Gaming has an amazing VR setup where you can experience a Formula 1 or V8 race car, don the headset and take the wheel and you can almost experience the real deal. I believe that Virtual Reality and the technology behind it has already gotten to a point where you could walk into a sensory room, don a body suit and experience a Hendrix and the Experience concert followed by Led Zeppelin, see ABBA perform, be amazed by Michael Jackson's moves on stage and explore a mountainside on a far off planet and all in one exciting afternoon.

Thanks to VR now anything is 'virtually' possible.

I cannot wait to see what comes next...

What a way to celebrate

We have one very excited young man in our household tonight. Tomorrow ten becomes eleven. We had an absolute ball yesterday when we ventured down to Xcite Gaming in Mount Barker for an afternoon of arcade gaming craziness. I rediscovered my old friend Mortal Combat and for the first time ever gave one of those big game hunting games a go. Pumping that plastic hunting rifle I now have "gamer's thumb", a small blister forming from where my thumb rubbed against the plastic gun.

It is great to see a company like Xcite seeming to do well after a big flood went through the shop. The games were great, the food delicious and the staff were so friendly and helpful.

Master Ten, soon to be Eleven had two goes on the Virtual Reality while Darren and I gave Sega Rally a darn good thrashing. I held my own after one disastrous lap, but this time Darren proved to be number one driver.

After this we had the 'pleasure' of a whole bunch of ten and eleven year old boys 'sleeping' over at our house. Very tired now... Looking forward to an early night...

Latest edition proves popular

We are babysitting a new edition to the Gallasch family tonight. A little fury orange kitten that has proven very popular with Heidi and the kids. Max, Freddy and I are perhaps a little worried about what this might mean...

The risk seems to be paying off

No more shhhhh... It seems my local community is embracing live music in the library. Our previous record for a Sunday opening (1 to 4pm) was 84 and we have not seen anything near that for many months. Our first session of live music with the very, extremely, awesomely talented Sofie Bozzetti saw us already by pass our long standing record with 85 for the day. Today we hosted an amazing local four piece called Escape From Yesterday (been officially together since December 2016, but sound like pros) and I'm sure we were at 87 with a half hour of opening time left... I've got a really great feeling my colleague and I might have cracked the early 90s...

This all goes to show the community is willing to support events that libraries are not necessarily known for. I'm hoping that this trend will continue as the Murray Bridge Library welcomes the Craggs sisters and later Jesse Budel. Rock the library and it seems the people will come... Loving the Sunday Sessions in March 2017.

Orange Face - A Short Story

The sun vanished from the sky and suddenly my world was cold. It was night, bitter, dark, the world felt like my soul. My feet dragged me to the Three Aces, a bar downtown. It was a hell hole of a place and everyone there knew my personality better than I knew it myself. It was here that I first saw it, out of the corner of my eye, a ghost amongst the black and white, the grey of my world enhanced by the surprising addition of colour. It was orange, it was odd, it seemed out of place. Yet nobody else seemed to notice. I finished my scotch and left as swiftly as I could, the girl behind the bar with the offputting hair style raised one pierced eyebrow as I mumbled an excuse. She knew I'd never turn my back on a drink.
"Hot date?" she laughed.
I flicked my thumb over my shoulder to where I had last seen Orange Face but the face was gone.
"Never mind..." I mumbled before taking my leave.
The pit pat of a downpour met me as I hit the street. More grey in a dark, dreariness. I heard a laugh, sick, twisted, the sound of clowns after a hit of ice. My feet drew me toward the sound but somehow it was always just that moment too far away. Why was the sound drawing me ever closer? I should have been running away, like I always did from love, family, life. I turned, brushed the drizzle from my face and trudged back towards home. Orange Face! It was there, coming around the corner, coming straight for me. I couldn't get away. I lashed out, desperately attempted to create some distance, some safe space between me and the ugliness. As my clenched fist shattered the glass I felt the pain of the cuts and slashes. The shop window busted open and my ears were bombarded by the nagging continual piercing squeal of alarms. I limped away, a leaper in search of a hole to hide in, a safe haven where I could lick my wounds and my soul clean, clear, pure again. The shadows of the alleyway became my friend again, a place to hide, to flee under cover. More alarming, sharp sounds filled the air. The wail of sirens. The hunt was on and I was to be their prey. What of Orange Face? Did not that brute better deserve the attentions and intentions of the authorities? Authors of their own fate and mine, but not that of the face that was orange. I fled, drops of my life following after, a trail of crumbs for Officers Hansel and partner. Looking back down the alley I gasped at the splatters of colour that I was leaving behind me. Orange. Round, ugly, a thousand faces. I released the sound of anguish that was bottled up, building steadily inside me. I was lost, confused, afraid. Every window, mirror, every reflection I saw Orange Face before me, behind me, beside me. Until I finally faced the truth I had been running from the whole time. Orange Face was me.

Happy to be a knight prince who loves beer

Miss 7 has been quite busy tonight. I have a gorgeous picture of me wearing a helm going "Yar!!" As a handsome knight prince. My gorgeous wife Miss H is a happy, smiling fairy princess... Then I got a pic of me with a dot to dot claiming "My dad loves bear..."

A quick translation and I worked out this was supposed to be beer... Miss 7 was crestfallen when I informed her I was more a cider or red wine fan... "But you told me you like beer..."

A day off well spent helping our daughter celebrate her seventh

Today was a student free for our school. It was easy to convince Miss now 7 that it was purposely scheduled for us to celebrate HER birthday. I took the day off work so we could hit the road to the big smoke (Adelaide) and all celebrate in style. First stop Bounce for a full on hour of jumping, dodge ball, spins, poor attempts at flips and running around like maniacs... The birthday girl was very disappointed when our hour was up but I know I for one had legs like jelly and my throwing arm ached at the shoulder...

Subway for lunch boosted our energy levels up again and then we stopped by a park in Unley where thanks to Virtual Reality we chased down kittens for the fairies, searched for dinosaur eggs while fleeing an angry T Rex and finally attempted to rescue some caged aliens, most of them eaten by a horrid blue monster... So hard but so much fun...

Turning 7 years old is full on!!

I'm now determined to contact the right people at council to see if Murray Bridge can get the same or something similar at Sturt's or another of our beautiful reserves...

7 plus 3 has knocked us for 10

Kids' birthday parties are totally full on... We have just packed our weekend with a Leopard party for Miss 7 on the Saturday (17 kids ranging from 10 to 2 years and a really cool yurt) and a Princess party for our youngest niece, Miss 3 on the Sunday. With pin the tail on the leopard and pin the crown on the princess, two pass the parcels and a variety of other games both days have left us completely depleted of energy (and the will to live). Some how though our three darlings still seem to be going strong.

Looking forward to a solid night of catch up sleep, with any luck both mummy and daddy will be ready to tackle what ever challenges Monday throws our way.

As a final note on this brief post I must say I was quite proud of my artistic efforts with roaring leopard and pretty princess. Mixed medium, butcher's paper with crayon and texta combined...

The changing face of libraries

This month is an exciting one for us at work... Last night we had another great event hosting John Ovenden, Brian Knott, Sue Wylie and Penni Hamilton-Smith as between them they transported a crowd of seventy to eighty to Lord's Cricket Grounds and a cruise ship. John's wickedly creative and humourous mind made certain it was a laugh a second with no time to catch your breath. The talented actors delivered each scene perfectly. In between acts we were able to show off the fine local wines available from Willow Point and some yummy local cheeses. All in all a great night out at the library... Proof that the libraries of today ARE far more than dusty old books on shelves or the replacement for Blockbuster, the local DVD rental store.

This Sunday and each and every Sunday this month the library is also putting on live music sets. Murray Bridge and nearby areas are full to bursting with talented musicians. We are hoping that friends and family of the performers will come in support and get to see our amazing community facility for the first time, but not the last time. No more shhhhh amongst the shelves, we are places of life and noise... Community focused...

Fingers crossed this types of events will show more of the community we are there for them...

Libraries need to change so we can remain the same, here to fulfil our communities needs... What ever they may be...

A final note, I wanted to give a HUGE shout out to the amazing team I work with and the wonderful members of the Friends of the Murray Bridge Library. Without the mammoth efforts of everyone of Friday the night could not have been the success that it truly was. I cannot thank you all enough...

I'm not a celebrity... so interesting a social experiment...

After watching the first episode of the new series of I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here we have become intrigued by the characters. At first we were suspicious of some of those chosen to be celebrities (are they famous enough?) but through watching each episode I for one have found every contestant interesting as people.

A social experiment that has caught my interest. Tegan and Neezem sound like they have had some crazy lives but they are not unique. Every story told makes me laugh or ponder or wonder just how these people lived through those experiences but still managed to go on.

I am still not too sure of the hosts of the show though... The comedy is a bit hit and miss for me...That Shakespeare gag kinda made me smile though...

Inspired to tell the library's story

I've been told once or twice in my ten years in the library field that I do alright as a storyteller, proven I hope by my personally set challenge to make up a story using three things from the kids and parents that come along to each story time at the library on Tuesdays and Wednesdays of each week. Today at the February South Australian Librarians meeting we were all challenged by Patricia McMillan to write the story of our libraries...

Every great story has challenges, engaging and interesting characters, a journey, maybe a bit of romance... We need to workout what IS our story... What is the EPIC story of the Murray Bridge Library? To tell that we need to first determine the characteristics of our hero... The library... Is it Samwise Frodo's dependable friend or Alice headed down the rabbit hole? What stakes do we face, life and death? Belonging and isolation? Or is it as simple as finding meaningfulness for ourselves and our community? If we don't tackle the challenge who loses? If we do and we succeed who benefits? How do we take the leap... Tackle the challenge? Who are the allies that can support the transformation... Every great story has the change their world and themselves...

When we come to the edge of the chasm leap... The gap is never truly as large as it looks...

Once upon a time...

No posts since Australia Day

I am so embarrassed... I cannot believe it has been almost a whole month since my last post... So much has happened, through the crazy month that starts with an F. The challenge for me is to stop and find the time in our crazy lives... Challenge accepted!!

Jack's back - A novel review of Four Legendary Kingdoms

I have done it... I've broken the Librarian's... No the fiction lover's golden rule... Never, never, never ever... EVER!!!! read book four without reading the three books before it...

I've done it and I think I may have gotten away with it... My gorgeous girl got me for Christmas a copy of fast paced action writer Matthew Reilly latest, Four Legendary Kingdoms... Oh no I thought, that is definitely not book one...

I have read a couple of books by this author, Contest... Ice Station... Great Zoo of China... I am yet to sink my teeth into any of the Jack West Junior novels... That was until now... After considering borrowing books 1, 2 and 3 from work and then one Sunday looking for something to read I decided to give it a go...

First scene first page and POW!!! The action starts from the get go and does not let up... This book has you back in the thick of things and the craziness is well explained... I really want to go back to book one now and see just where this series began...

Thanks to my darling girl for a wonderful gift, a great story that throws the reader straight into the action...

Happy Australia Day everyone

To all the 26ers Happy Birthday on this special day for all aussies... Happy 'Stralia Day, the only country that has a slang name for the island they all call home.

I am ashamed to say that there was not a barbie in sight for me and lamb did not feature a single ounce on the menu. I did spend the day with Dazza and Kazza though and Muzza and Benny, Lawsy (my gorgeous wife), Lawsy (Master 10), Lawsy (Miss 9) and Lawsy (Miss 6) as well as Wizza, Chazza, Madzza and of course little Tillza... Apologies to a great mate Dazza who had invited us around to his joint for a lamb chop or two but the day has just left us buggered and so it is the other aussie tea tradition (takeaway) that will need to satisfy the troops tonight.

And what did this fine bunch of awesome aussies get up to today? So glad you asked mates. We hit the track in a (kinda) convoy up to Springfield. And what is up at Springfield you are wondering... Definitely not the Simpsons... We ducked up North to the big city, Springfield Adelaide where there is an awesome old house, Carrick Hill (http://www.carrickhill.sa.gov.au/) and although we did not step foot into this fine old establishment there was pleanty around the grounds to keep us entertained.

We met Bilbo at Bagend, Charlotte and her babies in the spider's new web, a howling wolf, Aslan the lion and all sorts of other amazing things (lions and tigers and zebras... oh my!) Carrick Hill has the Storybook Trail, fun for the whole family... As some of my friends suggested, with my library background and my interest in children's story time and the classic kids tales this trail and everything it encompassed was completely, utterly and entirely up my alley.

What a great way to spend Australia Day... Perfect blue skies, an amazing house in the foreground and lavish gardens as far as the eye could see. The best thing of all, not once did we hear "I'm bored!!" Utter bliss!!!

The amazing Plan B

Who was planning to go to the Adelaide Zoo today to see all the dinosaurs? We were... When the heavens opened up this morning though and there looked to be no end in sight of the grey sky and drizzle the plan to go checkout the dinosaurs at the Adelaide went right out the window.

Instead we got as far as Mount Barker and the cool kids play center just down from the hospital. Loads of fun for the kids (all seven of them) and a great catch up for us once again with the Crook and Smith families. After we had killed a few hours this way it was time for lunch in the park scaring the local ibises (good times... I think I know their mating dance!!)

Finally (for Mount Barker) the girls hit K-Mart and the boys checked out the new gaming centre... Awesome!! Classic games, VR, I took on a mate SEGA rally style and came off second best 4 out of 5 times (my laps on that one win though were epic!!!)

After a drop of vino with a great mate it was then tea from our local Pizza Hut which was delicious and so well priced thanks to a great voucher I had emailed to me... Such a great Friday off... Great friends, family adventures, no dinosaurs but still a fantastic day...

A Challenging Year Ahead and I Cannot wait

I have been nominated to be a part of this year's team from Murray Bridge Council to participate in the Australasian Management Challenge. I was part of the team in 2008 and we did ok for a first effort but the Rural City of Murray Bridge team in the Rural Challenge got top spot so the expectations of this team in this challenge are really high.

I am also hopeful of being registered to take part in the Emerging Leaders Program for 2017 which will hopefully help me to grow as a leader and inspiration for the team I work with.

It looks as though 2017 will be full of new challenges, an exciting year and a great opportunity for me to learn and grow as a leader and as a human-doing, not just a human-being...

Wish me luck!!

New Starwars might be the best ever

This Friday I had a great day at work, productive in getting all the last minute items ready for a busy week of holiday activities. The day was made better still because in the back of my mind I knew I was head to Mount Barker with the boys to finally catch the lastest Starwars film 'Rogue One'.

The film was amazing!! It had everything a Starwars fan could hope for. Being a film outside of the numbered series this one sits just before the fourth film (the first ever Starwars film to be released to the public, the one that began the well deserved hype). All the expected references to films before and what is to come were there with some suprising humour and lots of action packed fun.

All four of us who saw the film together left in awe, agreeing that in our opinions it was the best Starwars film ever. One of us even went ahead to claim it might just be the very best film of 2017... A very bold claim seeing as it is only January and there looks to be a multitude of amazing films yet to come.

I worry that Disney have created in Rogue One a film so great they will not be able to top it. It will be interesting to see the next efforts (2018 will see Episode VIII featuring Carrie Fisher in the iconic role of Princess Leia as the scenes for this film have already been shot and 20019 is the scheduled release of a Han Solo film which I am not too sure about). We shall see as the years go on if Disney can continue this Starwars awesomeness... May the Force be with them...

Happy Birthday to a Wonderful Friend

It was so great last night to catch up with our wonderful friend Larissa to help celebrate her birthday (today) and just have some 'adult' time away from the kids. Thanks to Jen for doing such a great job sitting and great choice of venue chosen by the birthday girl, The Robin Hood Hotel.

My brother-in-law Ben and I love this place as almost everywhere you look you see Medieval weaponry and suits of armour. The meals are well priced too and the drinks were (for the most part) delightfully cold. Yesterday was seriously hot!!!

It was great to chat with Larissa and others, find out about planned relaxing escapes and even some overseas jaunts. Good luck Larissa as you head back to your birthplace. May the trip be full of fantastic memories and may you, Anna and your mum create fresh new moments while there.

I am hopeful that 2017 will be a chance for us also to undertake a family adventure somewhere far, far away. My fingers, toes and everything else are tightly crossed... Only time will tell if such wishes come true...

Epic day of family adventure

What a day the Law family have had together today... We started off with a plan to head to Hahndorf this morning to go strawberry picking at Beerenberg. After sleeping in late (much needed!!) and a late breakfast we hit the road in fine spirits only to discover 50 million other people had the same idea as us on this glorious Monday so early on in 2017. We continued driving, eyes peeled as we saw the people pouring in and out of other Hahndorf tourist destinations. With my nose in our street directory I then frantically searched for a plan C rattling off a few sites I recalled fondly from childhood.

After a quick stop at Lovell's bakery for a yummy pie and doughnut we were energised for a quick stop at Melba's Chocolate Factory in Woodside, followed by a climb up the worlds largest rocking horse (aptly named The Big Rocking Horse), took a moment to share a few secrets at the Whispering Wall and finally had a clamber over the wooden creatures at Mount Torrens.

All of these places both my wife and I remember fondly from our own family trips around South Australia. It was great to have the chance today to create new memories with my own family in these same places.

Love these guys...

A trip to the cemetary to visit old friends

I have been meaning to visit our local cemetary and spend some time with my mum who passed away Christmas day seven years ago (2009). Although mum is quite often in my thoughts I only get to the cemetary to visit her twice or three times each year. With the lateness of the school year finishing and the craziness of Christmas time for us I missed my usual visit and instead headed up the road today.

It was odd to stand before mum's grave and feel annoyed that a bird had left a present. It also felt a little strange to pass by so many graves on my way to mum and see the grave stone of the father of a great mate, to see my young cousin and to read the family names of people I know well...

I also visited today the resting places of my grandma (Peg) and grandpa and my niece Bernadette. It made me smile as I then spent a lost five minutes seeking the grave of my nanny. She was very Irish and I think Nanny Bridget would have had a dry chuckle as I checked all the headstones of where I thought she was and not getting close.

Hopefully in 2017 I'll visit more and worry less... Only time will tell...