To all,
I hope that Christmas 2015 was everything you hoped it would be and that Santa came for all of you on account of your impeccable behaviour... For us Christmas was a joy being able to catch up with my dad and my two brothers and their wives and fiances... My eldest has been very under the weather and so unfortunately it could only be me with the two girls... Some delicious food, a lovely drop of red from Margaret River (Xanadoo I think it was) and some wonderful company... Got the girls home just in time for the start of the Gallasch Christmas festivities... So many kids, or so it seems even with just our three and the two nieces (Ben and I can act real kids sometimes too so I guess we should be counted in that mix)... It was just so wonderful to be able to spend some quality time with my wife's mum and especially her dad... It really has been a super stressful end to this year, in a similar vein to the way the year began and so it was just such a peaceful, thankful vibe to the Gallasch bash... Cannot wait next month to kick on with the Christmas spirit when we join the remained of this clan (Marks x2 and their families)... There will be even MORE kids running around then with Ben and I surely mixed in amongst them...
Winners are grinners... Christmas Eve we had a staff show thanks to the higher powers that be... The few members of the library team who were there cleaned up in the staff raffle... Beers, novelty toys and plenty of other humerous prizes... Who won the ham though? Yep! Yours truly just hamming it up!! Taking away the top prize and wondering how the heck we are going to eat it all...
Today (Dec 26) has been more of a peaceful, relaxing day... Tidying up... Taking Pa Gallasch around to see a great friend of his... Just this arvo I took my little Noo around to visit Oma (we miss you like crazy Mum!), my Grandma Peg the kids cousin Bernadette and went looking for my Nanny Bridget (never look for the Irish if you don't know the way)... A few tears, lots of songs and flowers, sticks and stones left at the graves...
Now it is just great to see the three little ones all playing together sharing new pressies and some special experiences... If only everyday could be like today...
All the best to you for a HUGE New Years Eve and hopefully the troubles of 2016 will be small and the triumphs epically large,
Some Call Me Tim
Friday, 25 December 2015
Phantasmagoria
Here is one I prepared earlier in the year... Once again only the beginnings of a story... The story is based on a story played out by a character I played during my Uni days in an online RPG called Paths to Immortality (P2I), a great game that always had some interesting presents given to the characters each Christmas by the Dungeon Master playing Santa Claus (reading back over that last sentence just sounds wrong...) I plan to flesh out the rest of this tale as a part of my compelation of short stories to be titled (funnily enough) In Short Supply... I hope you enjoy...
I've been in a real mood for writing lately, lots of random stuff... This one is based on a classic horror with a fantasy twist... Please tell me what you think...
Title - The House Amongst the Vines
My name is Xarra, I am a paladin, a warrior whose faith in the glorious Dawn Goddess Ursha grants me special powers. Together with my friends we saved Red Cove Bay, my home of sixteen years and this part of my tale begins as the city of Red Cove prepares for a great feast to honour the heroes of Red Cove.
The hammer of the blacksmith guided me and my two closest friends onwards through the twisting maze of the city's streets as we searched for Old Mick. I had a job for him.
"What do you even see in that shell of metal?" Asked Samuell Heartsthief, a bard, an elf and all-round trouble maker. "What I meant to ask was... Why the big hunk of ugly metal, my lady?" Sam added quickly after I gave him a narrow-eyed look with my ice blue eyes. The bard had romantically proposed only last night and already I was starting to regret my hastily given "YES!!"
"The cleric that brought all those poor citizens back from the grave wore this hunk of metal... It bears the symbols from the deity of fear, death and undeath and yet..." I began in explanation.
"Sammy... Sammy... You have luck in the dungeons... Luck with the ladies... And when a wizard is not around I'd turn to you for advice on anything to do with magic..." Calmly stated Theo, our mutual friend, a half-elf ranger from the Griphon Glen forest only two or three days East of Red Cove.
Samuell beamed at the comments, all mostly positive and all certainly true.
"But," continued Theo, "if you have not sung about it you're hopelessly unaware of all things relating to the Gods."
"Here we are," I announced, coming suddenly upon a ramshackled shed with a crude sign hanging from the door announcing that here abided the blacksmith Old Mick.
Within the forge a grizzly old man instructed one of his sons where to strike upon a red hot blade shaping up to look like a mean edged short sword. "Thanks to you lot we're busier than ever," snarled the old man as a way of greeting.
"Steady on," began Samuell, thinking his honour attacked. Both Theo and I grasped the bard about the shoulders, preventing him from gracefully drawing his rapier, a surefire way of getting all three of our trio killed.
"You and your family are most welcome, Mick," I replied, stepping casually in front of my fiancé and dropping my hunk of dark and dented metal upon the bench.
"Hmmm..." Murmured the blacksmith as he examined my treasure in the flickering light of the forge. "Lady Xarra... This is delicate work... This will definitely cost you extra..."
"My father will pay... Anything you ask old man... I'll want to pick it up before we leave in three days..." Was my response.
The father I referred to was Master Johann, Mayor of Red Cove and my step-father after elves brought me as a toddler to the markets one Spring. Taking pity on a helpless child Mayor Johann Dorth took me into his house and raised me. The wife of the Mayor was a devout worshipper of Urshas and so when I was fifteen summers I followed my mother, the Mayor's wife North to the fort that protected Red Cove Bay and the surrounding cities. After a year of military training and instruction in faithfulness I returned home with mother only a week before my homeland was attacked. Now with the battle over my father had demanded the citizens become better prepared for other battles, vowing that his city would never be caught unawares again. Little did we know what was to come...
As Mick placed his hand upon the evil cleric's armour to remove it from the bench I thought I caught a strange red flash pass across his sight. "Girly heed my words," the old man slurred. "Even they who be pure of heart and speak their prayers faithfully, by night they may become the wolf when the wolf's flower blooms and the winter moon be bright..."
Around Mick his three sons laughed at their dad and began to howl. They had not seen the look that had crossed that man's face though.
Confused and concerned I brought it up with Sam and Theo as we headed back for my home. It became quickly obvious that I had been alone in catching the strange look and the stranger words that Mick had shared with us.
"Yes, I am most desturbed by the foolishness demonstated by those boys and their father," Theo murmured, deep in thought.
"Boys will be boys and it is great to see that the father is just as much a boy as his sons," chimed in my love, less than helpfully.
I wanted to investigate further, wondering if my bringing this evil artifact into my home had somehow cursed my friends and family. I had a feeling though that the armour was a gift from the Goddess, not just a trophy of victory but something that I was supposed to make my own.
I've been in a real mood for writing lately, lots of random stuff... This one is based on a classic horror with a fantasy twist... Please tell me what you think...
Title - The House Amongst the Vines
My name is Xarra, I am a paladin, a warrior whose faith in the glorious Dawn Goddess Ursha grants me special powers. Together with my friends we saved Red Cove Bay, my home of sixteen years and this part of my tale begins as the city of Red Cove prepares for a great feast to honour the heroes of Red Cove.
The hammer of the blacksmith guided me and my two closest friends onwards through the twisting maze of the city's streets as we searched for Old Mick. I had a job for him.
"What do you even see in that shell of metal?" Asked Samuell Heartsthief, a bard, an elf and all-round trouble maker. "What I meant to ask was... Why the big hunk of ugly metal, my lady?" Sam added quickly after I gave him a narrow-eyed look with my ice blue eyes. The bard had romantically proposed only last night and already I was starting to regret my hastily given "YES!!"
"The cleric that brought all those poor citizens back from the grave wore this hunk of metal... It bears the symbols from the deity of fear, death and undeath and yet..." I began in explanation.
"Sammy... Sammy... You have luck in the dungeons... Luck with the ladies... And when a wizard is not around I'd turn to you for advice on anything to do with magic..." Calmly stated Theo, our mutual friend, a half-elf ranger from the Griphon Glen forest only two or three days East of Red Cove.
Samuell beamed at the comments, all mostly positive and all certainly true.
"But," continued Theo, "if you have not sung about it you're hopelessly unaware of all things relating to the Gods."
"Here we are," I announced, coming suddenly upon a ramshackled shed with a crude sign hanging from the door announcing that here abided the blacksmith Old Mick.
Within the forge a grizzly old man instructed one of his sons where to strike upon a red hot blade shaping up to look like a mean edged short sword. "Thanks to you lot we're busier than ever," snarled the old man as a way of greeting.
"Steady on," began Samuell, thinking his honour attacked. Both Theo and I grasped the bard about the shoulders, preventing him from gracefully drawing his rapier, a surefire way of getting all three of our trio killed.
"You and your family are most welcome, Mick," I replied, stepping casually in front of my fiancé and dropping my hunk of dark and dented metal upon the bench.
"Hmmm..." Murmured the blacksmith as he examined my treasure in the flickering light of the forge. "Lady Xarra... This is delicate work... This will definitely cost you extra..."
"My father will pay... Anything you ask old man... I'll want to pick it up before we leave in three days..." Was my response.
The father I referred to was Master Johann, Mayor of Red Cove and my step-father after elves brought me as a toddler to the markets one Spring. Taking pity on a helpless child Mayor Johann Dorth took me into his house and raised me. The wife of the Mayor was a devout worshipper of Urshas and so when I was fifteen summers I followed my mother, the Mayor's wife North to the fort that protected Red Cove Bay and the surrounding cities. After a year of military training and instruction in faithfulness I returned home with mother only a week before my homeland was attacked. Now with the battle over my father had demanded the citizens become better prepared for other battles, vowing that his city would never be caught unawares again. Little did we know what was to come...
As Mick placed his hand upon the evil cleric's armour to remove it from the bench I thought I caught a strange red flash pass across his sight. "Girly heed my words," the old man slurred. "Even they who be pure of heart and speak their prayers faithfully, by night they may become the wolf when the wolf's flower blooms and the winter moon be bright..."
Around Mick his three sons laughed at their dad and began to howl. They had not seen the look that had crossed that man's face though.
Confused and concerned I brought it up with Sam and Theo as we headed back for my home. It became quickly obvious that I had been alone in catching the strange look and the stranger words that Mick had shared with us.
"Yes, I am most desturbed by the foolishness demonstated by those boys and their father," Theo murmured, deep in thought.
"Boys will be boys and it is great to see that the father is just as much a boy as his sons," chimed in my love, less than helpfully.
I wanted to investigate further, wondering if my bringing this evil artifact into my home had somehow cursed my friends and family. I had a feeling though that the armour was a gift from the Goddess, not just a trophy of victory but something that I was supposed to make my own.
Wednesday, 2 December 2015
Another silly season fast approaching...
Where did November go? For that matter what happened to 2015? I just happened to pop onto Facebook and discovered to my embarrassment that I have not posted for almost a whole month!! We call December the silly season but with my gorgeous wife's big birthday plans taking up lots of our focus since August and so many breakups (Girl Guides, Scouts, work, etc.) it feels as though we have had a silly six months and that was all happening well before the windup to Christmas even began.
Looking forward to catching up with family and friends and enjoying Christmas... The craziness... The joy... The wonder...
A short but sweet post... Waiting for the craziness to crank it up a notch or two...
Looking forward to catching up with family and friends and enjoying Christmas... The craziness... The joy... The wonder...
A short but sweet post... Waiting for the craziness to crank it up a notch or two...
Friday, 30 October 2015
Halloween Queen
A quick short story in honour of Halloween (tonight) in Australia...
Halloween Queen
Her name was Sarah. She was the new kid in class with the girl next door looks. Tom could not believe his luck when she agreed to hang with him and his mates from chess club for Halloween. Tom's mum was working late that night as she did most nights, a single parent trying to keep a roof over her head and two teenaged boys fed. Tom was parent free, home with his two mates and brother almost through the boss battle of Mario Brothers when the doorbell rang. A little too eager for his mates, Tom ran for the door.
"That'll be Sarah," he announced as he disappeared.
"Whatever," replied Gery and Tom's younger brother Brad together.
"Jinx!" Brad shot with a grin, a moment before Gery tried to say the same.
The boys pelted each other with potato chips. When Gery cried "Stop damn it!" The other two whacked him on the arm.
"Jinx remember," smirked Brad smugly.
Tom ignored all this, the front door in his sights.
"Hi," Sarah said with a coy smile as Tom welcomed her in.
"Wow..." Tom sighed. "Um... I mean come in," he added hurriedly.
Sarah wore the Little Red Ridinghood costume from Crazy Dave's, the cheap shop in the town's Main Street. Tom tried to tell Sarah that she looked amazing, but for some reason what he was thinking didn't want to come out.
"You've dyed your hair?" Tom said in disbelief.
"Nice of you to notice, Tom," purred Sarah. "Back home they called me Queen of Halloween. Anything and everything for the character... Ya know?"
"Nice!" Replied Tom with a touch too much enthusiasm.
"So what are the plans for tonight?" Sarah asked as she headed deeper into the house. "Scariest night of the year..." She added, leaving Tom by the open door.
"We've almost reached the bonus levels..." Tom explained, hurrying after Sarah.
"Hi boys," Sarah smiled.
"Hey," said Brad.
Joe and Gery both waved enthusiastically.
"What's their problems?" Laughed Sarah musically.
Tom shrugged. "Beats me."
"I've jinxed Gery," explained Brad, shrugging as if it should have been obvious. "And I guess Joe can't talk to girls..."
"Guys this is seriously lame," said Sarah. "I'll give you all ten minutes to costume up... We're checking out the abandoned mansion.
"Sweet!!" Brad squealed. Joe and Gery both gave an eager thumbs up.
"Noooooooooo way!!!" Blurted Tom. "Remember Brad, we promised mum we'd never open the door tonight and we'd not leave the house..."
Brad pointed to Sarah. "So who let in Goldilocks?"
"Um... Goldilocks?" Questioned Sarah. "Firstly my hair is black, not blonde... Secondly the red hood... Thirdly the basket has got to give it all away..."
"Goldilocks? Blonde hair? Man... I can't believe I did not get that before now!" Murmured Brad, slapping himself on the forehead with a harsh "smack!!!"
"Dibs on the Luigi costume!" Gery stated, bolting for Tom and Brad's shared room. As he passed by all the boys he got a thump on the arm.
'This is lame...' Tom thought to himself, thirty minutes later as Little Red Ridinghood, Luigi, Mario and Gery and Tom dressed as ghosts stood outside the gates of the big, old house on the hill.
The gates "squeaked" loudly as the rusty hinges protested against their use.
"Come on!" Whispered Sarah, eagerly skipping up the gravel drive way. She was at the great front doors before any of the boys moved.
"Last one there has to kiss her," stated Brad, looking at the other boys before bolting up the drive.
Joe gave Tom an elbow to the ribs before rushing off too.
"See you there... Lover boy..." Laughed Gery.
Tom watched them all disappear into the old house. "This is stupid... We should be home..." He muttered. "Guys!! Wait up!!" Tom yelled as half a minute later he strolled up the drive at his own pace.
The door swung open soundlessly, a complete contrast to the gates. The parlour was gloomy, even darker than the night. As Tom stepped in he meakly cried "Brad? Guys? Sarah?"
There was no reply. Three noisy steps in and Sarah's voice was suddenly in Tom's right ear.
"You never asked what the basket was for..." The young girl asked.
The lights flicked on and Tom gaped at his friends hanging by their necks from the rafters.
"Queen of Halloween the newspapers called me back home... Fifteen dead and counting..." The voice in Tom's ear whispered.
"Huh?" Cried Tom in disbelief. As he turned around the knife tore through the sheet he wore and bit into his neck.
"Tom you sweet boy... The basket is for your head..."
Happy Halloween everyone!!!
Halloween Queen
Her name was Sarah. She was the new kid in class with the girl next door looks. Tom could not believe his luck when she agreed to hang with him and his mates from chess club for Halloween. Tom's mum was working late that night as she did most nights, a single parent trying to keep a roof over her head and two teenaged boys fed. Tom was parent free, home with his two mates and brother almost through the boss battle of Mario Brothers when the doorbell rang. A little too eager for his mates, Tom ran for the door.
"That'll be Sarah," he announced as he disappeared.
"Whatever," replied Gery and Tom's younger brother Brad together.
"Jinx!" Brad shot with a grin, a moment before Gery tried to say the same.
The boys pelted each other with potato chips. When Gery cried "Stop damn it!" The other two whacked him on the arm.
"Jinx remember," smirked Brad smugly.
Tom ignored all this, the front door in his sights.
"Hi," Sarah said with a coy smile as Tom welcomed her in.
"Wow..." Tom sighed. "Um... I mean come in," he added hurriedly.
Sarah wore the Little Red Ridinghood costume from Crazy Dave's, the cheap shop in the town's Main Street. Tom tried to tell Sarah that she looked amazing, but for some reason what he was thinking didn't want to come out.
"You've dyed your hair?" Tom said in disbelief.
"Nice of you to notice, Tom," purred Sarah. "Back home they called me Queen of Halloween. Anything and everything for the character... Ya know?"
"Nice!" Replied Tom with a touch too much enthusiasm.
"So what are the plans for tonight?" Sarah asked as she headed deeper into the house. "Scariest night of the year..." She added, leaving Tom by the open door.
"We've almost reached the bonus levels..." Tom explained, hurrying after Sarah.
"Hi boys," Sarah smiled.
"Hey," said Brad.
Joe and Gery both waved enthusiastically.
"What's their problems?" Laughed Sarah musically.
Tom shrugged. "Beats me."
"I've jinxed Gery," explained Brad, shrugging as if it should have been obvious. "And I guess Joe can't talk to girls..."
"Guys this is seriously lame," said Sarah. "I'll give you all ten minutes to costume up... We're checking out the abandoned mansion.
"Sweet!!" Brad squealed. Joe and Gery both gave an eager thumbs up.
"Noooooooooo way!!!" Blurted Tom. "Remember Brad, we promised mum we'd never open the door tonight and we'd not leave the house..."
Brad pointed to Sarah. "So who let in Goldilocks?"
"Um... Goldilocks?" Questioned Sarah. "Firstly my hair is black, not blonde... Secondly the red hood... Thirdly the basket has got to give it all away..."
"Goldilocks? Blonde hair? Man... I can't believe I did not get that before now!" Murmured Brad, slapping himself on the forehead with a harsh "smack!!!"
"Dibs on the Luigi costume!" Gery stated, bolting for Tom and Brad's shared room. As he passed by all the boys he got a thump on the arm.
'This is lame...' Tom thought to himself, thirty minutes later as Little Red Ridinghood, Luigi, Mario and Gery and Tom dressed as ghosts stood outside the gates of the big, old house on the hill.
The gates "squeaked" loudly as the rusty hinges protested against their use.
"Come on!" Whispered Sarah, eagerly skipping up the gravel drive way. She was at the great front doors before any of the boys moved.
"Last one there has to kiss her," stated Brad, looking at the other boys before bolting up the drive.
Joe gave Tom an elbow to the ribs before rushing off too.
"See you there... Lover boy..." Laughed Gery.
Tom watched them all disappear into the old house. "This is stupid... We should be home..." He muttered. "Guys!! Wait up!!" Tom yelled as half a minute later he strolled up the drive at his own pace.
The door swung open soundlessly, a complete contrast to the gates. The parlour was gloomy, even darker than the night. As Tom stepped in he meakly cried "Brad? Guys? Sarah?"
There was no reply. Three noisy steps in and Sarah's voice was suddenly in Tom's right ear.
"You never asked what the basket was for..." The young girl asked.
The lights flicked on and Tom gaped at his friends hanging by their necks from the rafters.
"Queen of Halloween the newspapers called me back home... Fifteen dead and counting..." The voice in Tom's ear whispered.
"Huh?" Cried Tom in disbelief. As he turned around the knife tore through the sheet he wore and bit into his neck.
"Tom you sweet boy... The basket is for your head..."
Happy Halloween everyone!!!
Wednesday, 14 October 2015
A Lucky Prince
This started out as an idea for yet another story about just how much I adore my beautiful wife and amazing kids... And I guess our two cats as well... I have been a bit lax lately in the romance department and both my wife and I realised together that we have not been on a proper date for at least six months (not including our Wedding Anniversary in June - Thanks Ben and Maria!!!) Wednesday used to be our date night when we would try and make the night special, go out for tea or feed bath and bed the kids early so we could have a meal together at home... This is bad people!! Bad... BAd... REALLY BAD!!! It has been too much focus on work and not nearly enough focus on home. So I thought up this story idea that was supposed to be a message of love but quickly turned into a self reflection... Sorry darling... I'll try harder with the romancing... Feels good though to get this off my chest...
A Lucky Prince
Once upon a time a young prince lay in bed beside his beautiful and amazing princess, listening to the soft, sweet sounds of her slumber. He smiled as his whole world whirled around in his head. His smile was one of thankfulness for the prince knew that his princess had her own stresses and worries that would normally disturb her slumber or prevent her from falling deeply asleep and remaining that way for all night long. The rhythmic breathing of the girl beside him eventually lulled the young prince into sleep and as the worries of his world spun about in his thoughts the prince began to dream...
Two black knights danced amongst the weeds of the prince's castle home, Sir Freddy the larger and older of the pair hunted butterflies with surprising bursts of speed. The younger of the dark furred pair, sleek and slinky Sir Maximus was seeking to capture a bird or two without success. With a stern word the prince attempted to put an end to Max's hunt, but the knight would not heed his prince's demands and so continued to crouch amoungst the weeds using them for cover, attempting unsuccessfully to hide from his prey.
The prince watched his three young angels bounce about and play upon the trampoline their imaginations as much flexing and growing as their physical muscles as they bounded about each other. These three were the prince's pride and joy and one of his greatest worries was how fast they were growing up, not just in height but in worldly experiences. The prince wanted to give them everything, support their crazy hopes and dreams and to be able to provide for them with what ever they needed, both then and now and into the future. You can only give what you can afford to give away though and not everyone is born with a spoon of silver and an abundance that is always there ready to be given away. The prince thought of how small his castle was becoming and how the past attempts at moving on to somewhere bigger and better had so far not gone to plan...
The dream changed and the two knights and three angels were gone. In their place was a beautiful beach of white sand and clear crystal coloured waves lapping gently upon the shore. Turning away from the shore and the rhythmic, peaceful sounds of the sea the young prince was delighted to spy the love of his life resting upon a hammock in the shade of two palm trees. A glass of bubbles was in her hand and a book was on her lap. The princess motioned towards her prince to come and join her, offering him a glass of his own and a space upon the hammock where he might join her. The prince wondered how was this possible? Such a perfect escape, time away from the craziness that was their world, time to reconnect with this person who was his rock, his love, his kindred spirit... As he ran from the beach towards the hammock, this scene of fun, romance, the perfect escape the prince felt the sea drawing him backwards. Grey clouds of doubt filled the sky that had only moments ago been clear, blue, a tropical paradise... All the while though the princess urged her prince forward with affirmations of 'I know you can do it!' and 'Just a few steps more!!' As the prince heard the words 'I believe in you!!' he looked over his shoulder and saw the worries of his world rearing up like a great wave and crashing upon the shore, but he had freed himself of the stresses of that worry and now could see it as just the hurdles of life... Turning back the young prince discovered that the palms, the hammock, the drinks were all gone. What remained though was his amazing princess. He fell into her open arms, squeezed her tightly and kissed her passionately, sweetly, with an embrace of pure and utter love. "Darling girl you are my whole world!" the prince announced and he knew the words he spoke were true. With this girl in his life and everything else that had come after, he was indeed a lucky prince...
A Lucky Prince
Once upon a time a young prince lay in bed beside his beautiful and amazing princess, listening to the soft, sweet sounds of her slumber. He smiled as his whole world whirled around in his head. His smile was one of thankfulness for the prince knew that his princess had her own stresses and worries that would normally disturb her slumber or prevent her from falling deeply asleep and remaining that way for all night long. The rhythmic breathing of the girl beside him eventually lulled the young prince into sleep and as the worries of his world spun about in his thoughts the prince began to dream...
Two black knights danced amongst the weeds of the prince's castle home, Sir Freddy the larger and older of the pair hunted butterflies with surprising bursts of speed. The younger of the dark furred pair, sleek and slinky Sir Maximus was seeking to capture a bird or two without success. With a stern word the prince attempted to put an end to Max's hunt, but the knight would not heed his prince's demands and so continued to crouch amoungst the weeds using them for cover, attempting unsuccessfully to hide from his prey.
The prince watched his three young angels bounce about and play upon the trampoline their imaginations as much flexing and growing as their physical muscles as they bounded about each other. These three were the prince's pride and joy and one of his greatest worries was how fast they were growing up, not just in height but in worldly experiences. The prince wanted to give them everything, support their crazy hopes and dreams and to be able to provide for them with what ever they needed, both then and now and into the future. You can only give what you can afford to give away though and not everyone is born with a spoon of silver and an abundance that is always there ready to be given away. The prince thought of how small his castle was becoming and how the past attempts at moving on to somewhere bigger and better had so far not gone to plan...
The dream changed and the two knights and three angels were gone. In their place was a beautiful beach of white sand and clear crystal coloured waves lapping gently upon the shore. Turning away from the shore and the rhythmic, peaceful sounds of the sea the young prince was delighted to spy the love of his life resting upon a hammock in the shade of two palm trees. A glass of bubbles was in her hand and a book was on her lap. The princess motioned towards her prince to come and join her, offering him a glass of his own and a space upon the hammock where he might join her. The prince wondered how was this possible? Such a perfect escape, time away from the craziness that was their world, time to reconnect with this person who was his rock, his love, his kindred spirit... As he ran from the beach towards the hammock, this scene of fun, romance, the perfect escape the prince felt the sea drawing him backwards. Grey clouds of doubt filled the sky that had only moments ago been clear, blue, a tropical paradise... All the while though the princess urged her prince forward with affirmations of 'I know you can do it!' and 'Just a few steps more!!' As the prince heard the words 'I believe in you!!' he looked over his shoulder and saw the worries of his world rearing up like a great wave and crashing upon the shore, but he had freed himself of the stresses of that worry and now could see it as just the hurdles of life... Turning back the young prince discovered that the palms, the hammock, the drinks were all gone. What remained though was his amazing princess. He fell into her open arms, squeezed her tightly and kissed her passionately, sweetly, with an embrace of pure and utter love. "Darling girl you are my whole world!" the prince announced and he knew the words he spoke were true. With this girl in his life and everything else that had come after, he was indeed a lucky prince...
Monday, 5 October 2015
Bounce... And crash!!!
We have had a wonderful day in Marlston, Adelaide checking out the Bounce there.
How do I explain Bounce to someone who has never been... It is a play center for children aged three to fifty-three with trampolines EVERYWHERE!!! There is a dodgeball area and a slam dunk area and an area with trampolines on the floor and walls (and almost seemingly on the roof as well)... There is only one major catch with Bounce... Only one person can bounce on a trampoline at a time... This means if you are bouncing around with your five year old daughter and three year old niece YOU will be the one who needs to make sure that you don't bounce on THEIR trampoline... Don't run from one side of the area to the next while racing your competitive nine year old son or eight year old daughter because it will be fate that a three year old and/or six year old will run across your path or just accidentally lose their balance and tumble in front of you. Other than this (which is completely unavoidable and all part of having these amazing kids in my life) Bounce is an awesomely incredible playground of aerial acrobatics, tricks, jumps, flips and cartwheels... Only if you're up for it though!! Not the cheapest day out but a wonderful hour of energy burning fun fun fun!!!!
How do I explain Bounce to someone who has never been... It is a play center for children aged three to fifty-three with trampolines EVERYWHERE!!! There is a dodgeball area and a slam dunk area and an area with trampolines on the floor and walls (and almost seemingly on the roof as well)... There is only one major catch with Bounce... Only one person can bounce on a trampoline at a time... This means if you are bouncing around with your five year old daughter and three year old niece YOU will be the one who needs to make sure that you don't bounce on THEIR trampoline... Don't run from one side of the area to the next while racing your competitive nine year old son or eight year old daughter because it will be fate that a three year old and/or six year old will run across your path or just accidentally lose their balance and tumble in front of you. Other than this (which is completely unavoidable and all part of having these amazing kids in my life) Bounce is an awesomely incredible playground of aerial acrobatics, tricks, jumps, flips and cartwheels... Only if you're up for it though!! Not the cheapest day out but a wonderful hour of energy burning fun fun fun!!!!
Thursday, 27 August 2015
Every parent's worst nightmare... One sick chick
Miss 5 is down for the count and has been for a few days now. There is nothing more fearful for a parent than a sick little one. They go down so suddenly and so severely that it is almost impossible to predict. When our first born got sick in his younger years we (my wife and I) were quick to react. Funnily enough the two girls who followed after him had less and less sudden response when illness threatened, but after a couple of trips to hospital which resulted in overnight stays we are now much more concerned when there is a niggle in Boo's throat or a bit of a cough. Hopefully we are on the mend now and mummy and daddy will get to have a solid night of slumber. I guess only time will tell... It is never fun when you have in the house one sick chick...
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