What a weekend... After my beautiful wife worked seriously long hours over the past week we needed a weekend away to relax and recuperate... Toy sales are crazy so it was great to take the last few days as a chance for family movie nights, spa baths and mini golf...
The Laws ventured forth to check out the Big 4 caravan park at Port Willunga... Thanks to the amazing staff, a strangely quiet park and some unusual generosity we all had the best weekend away...
We also stumbled across some of the cheapest petrol we have seen in quite a while and an awesome, organic Farmer's Market...
I can truly recommend this park as a great place to stay and I am sure we will visit again... There is much about Port Willunga, Aldinga and surrounds that we are still to explore... The Laws vow to return...
Sunday, 1 July 2018
Thursday, 21 June 2018
The joy of giving
Today I got to breath in the crisp winter air on a glorious June day as Jervois Primary years 2/3 and 6/7 went tree planting. I missed out last year as my daughter and niece undertook this wonderful community and environmental service and this year it was purely by luck that it fell during my annual leave. We had 300 or so trees to plant and my daughter and I with a duo of young men managed to plant (maybe) ten of them. Today has been a true test of my sense of humour but thankfully I've a good one. I also think I made a great decision by planting the trees away from everyone else. My three 'helpers' spent most of the time bugging each other and stealing the poor little trees and shrubs we were trying to plant. Thankfully the other groups were faster planters and we managed in a few hours to get over 240 native shrubs, trees and plants into the ground... Hopefully the majority of them take root and flourish...
Tomorrow we (my beautiful wife and I) get to give again to this amazing school. Casa de Law's delicious and healthy pizzas are on the menu and have proven to be more popular than ever. We will need all our wits about us as the canteen kitchen becomes our pizzeria. We love a challenge!! I'm sure we'll handle it!!!
I just love the chance to be involved in the three kids' school lives... Their friends know us (and like us too I think) and the kids are so happy for us to be there and be involved... Loving this time of our lives...
Tomorrow we (my beautiful wife and I) get to give again to this amazing school. Casa de Law's delicious and healthy pizzas are on the menu and have proven to be more popular than ever. We will need all our wits about us as the canteen kitchen becomes our pizzeria. We love a challenge!! I'm sure we'll handle it!!!
I just love the chance to be involved in the three kids' school lives... Their friends know us (and like us too I think) and the kids are so happy for us to be there and be involved... Loving this time of our lives...
Sunday, 10 June 2018
Thank you to my wife and to Children's University Adelaide for a magical Sunday
Yesterday was family day... Both my wife and I had the weekend off and as an added bonus I had the Monday off as well. My amazing wife was working the Monday Public Holiday (Queen's Birthday) but she decided to organise an epic family day out anyway... We could not have asked for a nicer day... Perfect blue skies and sweet sunshine... My son has signed up for Children's University, a thing run by Adelaide University where kids are rewarded for undertaking educational outside of school hours activities and at the end of the year if they record enough hours they are awarded an official document (degree, certificate etc.) with a full blown graduation ceremony (cap, gown and everything)... Very excited...
So anyway, on this brilliant Sunday we (#TeamLaw5) headed to Port Adelaide and the Aviation Museum hoping that Master 12 would answer all the questions and get a stamp in his learning passport. I loved the museum, all the old planes, drones and helicopters, the displays were all very interesting and yes 'we' did finish off the worksheet and (eventually) got all the questions correct!! One and a half hours in the passport and one very proud mum and dad...
After a quick lunch at the golden arches (luckily we had vouchers for free burgers, thanks again to my amazing wife) it was decided that we were so close to the Rail Museum and it was still so early in the afternoon that we should visit this too... Master 12 was reluctant to tackle another worksheet so Miss 10 (almost 11) undertook this one... The Rail Museum was so much more interactive with touch screens and displays that light up and even a little steam train that we took a ride on (5 crammed into a tiny carriage was indeed an experience)... With 20 minutes to go before we hit the road bound for home Master 12 decided he did want to finish the worksheet and so a whirlwind of discovery later he now has his train stamp in the passport too... Another one and a half hours toward the end of year tally... Woohoo!!!
A truly wonderful day of family filled fun... Thank you to my wife and to Children's University Adelaide for a magical Sunday...
Aviation Museum - 8.5/10 (great price for family of five, massive planes, friendly service)
Rail Museum - 7/10 (even with discount from visiting Aviation it still seemed expensive, great displays and lots to do, service a bit unusual)
So anyway, on this brilliant Sunday we (#TeamLaw5) headed to Port Adelaide and the Aviation Museum hoping that Master 12 would answer all the questions and get a stamp in his learning passport. I loved the museum, all the old planes, drones and helicopters, the displays were all very interesting and yes 'we' did finish off the worksheet and (eventually) got all the questions correct!! One and a half hours in the passport and one very proud mum and dad...
After a quick lunch at the golden arches (luckily we had vouchers for free burgers, thanks again to my amazing wife) it was decided that we were so close to the Rail Museum and it was still so early in the afternoon that we should visit this too... Master 12 was reluctant to tackle another worksheet so Miss 10 (almost 11) undertook this one... The Rail Museum was so much more interactive with touch screens and displays that light up and even a little steam train that we took a ride on (5 crammed into a tiny carriage was indeed an experience)... With 20 minutes to go before we hit the road bound for home Master 12 decided he did want to finish the worksheet and so a whirlwind of discovery later he now has his train stamp in the passport too... Another one and a half hours toward the end of year tally... Woohoo!!!
A truly wonderful day of family filled fun... Thank you to my wife and to Children's University Adelaide for a magical Sunday...
Aviation Museum - 8.5/10 (great price for family of five, massive planes, friendly service)
Rail Museum - 7/10 (even with discount from visiting Aviation it still seemed expensive, great displays and lots to do, service a bit unusual)
Wednesday, 6 June 2018
Feeling proud
Yesterday was our school sports day and I could not be prouder. I am so proud of my three kids and I only wish that I could split myself in threes so I would have had more of a chance to see everything from the day... The weather was perfect and it was so great to have a great friend along to support as well (thanks Larissa) and my dad too... I am also proud of the students of the school and the teachers, so many people working together so that the day ran smoothly, everyone seemed to give everything their best efforts...
Our team did not win for the first time since our kids began attending JPS but the team that did win has not had success in over twenty years... Sweet victory goes to Team Red... Maybe it will be Yellow's turn again next year...
Such a wonderful day... As always after sports day I struggle with my voice... So much shouting and cheering... For the kids, for the team and for an amazing school... Oh so very proud...
Our team did not win for the first time since our kids began attending JPS but the team that did win has not had success in over twenty years... Sweet victory goes to Team Red... Maybe it will be Yellow's turn again next year...
Such a wonderful day... As always after sports day I struggle with my voice... So much shouting and cheering... For the kids, for the team and for an amazing school... Oh so very proud...
Tuesday, 29 May 2018
Episode 3 of Biblio Bookends
More fun with pencil and an old video camera...
This time my daughter distracted me while I was doing the filming and the footage did not end up matching the script...
Every now and then I get a zany idea of how to promote libraries these days. It is getting tougher and tougher to get people through the doors on a regular basis which surprises me because more and more libraries are becoming community focused.
Libraries now need to be vibrant, interesting places less about books and more about spaces, flexibility and community focused events...
Check out my latest odd animation at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyV4H-OKg4M
Hope you enjoy it!
This time my daughter distracted me while I was doing the filming and the footage did not end up matching the script...
Every now and then I get a zany idea of how to promote libraries these days. It is getting tougher and tougher to get people through the doors on a regular basis which surprises me because more and more libraries are becoming community focused.
Libraries now need to be vibrant, interesting places less about books and more about spaces, flexibility and community focused events...
Check out my latest odd animation at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyV4H-OKg4M
Hope you enjoy it!
Friday, 25 May 2018
The question of why..?
So often we get up and head off to work without questioning why... We go about our lives waiting for the weekend thinking we are doing it for the money or for our families or for some other reason... In a meeting earlier this week (that just happened to be at work) I was introduced to the concept of why...
Not the why do we bother going to work (to make the money to pay the bills) but more the why did I want to work in a library in the first place. Also the bigger question that filtered through my mind was why does a library exist in our local community.
The question of why is the heart of marketing, selling yourself and what you do and how you do it can only truly be sold if you understand the why and can clearly state that.So here goes...
Hi my name is Tim and I am passionate about my community. I want to be a great husband and father and strive to be that every day. I think that where I live is a great place for me, my family and my friends but it can be made better. I look for the best in everyone I meet and I believe that the people I work with can and do achieve great things. I need to challenge myself to do more with my knowledge and skills, equally I need to challenge those who I cross paths with to see the more that they too can do and be. I am lucky to be the Team Leader of the local library... I strongly believe that libraries are now so much more than books... They are the places where people can meet just for a coffee and a chat. Libraries can be hangout places, performance spaces, the research center for a brand new idea or the place where you uncover the branch of your family tree where the best nuts are sourced... We are the place you should go to be cool in summer and warm in winter... Libraries of today are where you should be greeted like a friend and treated like family... The hallowed halls of the past are gone... Has it been a while between visits? Come check us out... You'll be surprised...
So how'd I do? Wanna visit?
Not the why do we bother going to work (to make the money to pay the bills) but more the why did I want to work in a library in the first place. Also the bigger question that filtered through my mind was why does a library exist in our local community.
The question of why is the heart of marketing, selling yourself and what you do and how you do it can only truly be sold if you understand the why and can clearly state that.So here goes...
Hi my name is Tim and I am passionate about my community. I want to be a great husband and father and strive to be that every day. I think that where I live is a great place for me, my family and my friends but it can be made better. I look for the best in everyone I meet and I believe that the people I work with can and do achieve great things. I need to challenge myself to do more with my knowledge and skills, equally I need to challenge those who I cross paths with to see the more that they too can do and be. I am lucky to be the Team Leader of the local library... I strongly believe that libraries are now so much more than books... They are the places where people can meet just for a coffee and a chat. Libraries can be hangout places, performance spaces, the research center for a brand new idea or the place where you uncover the branch of your family tree where the best nuts are sourced... We are the place you should go to be cool in summer and warm in winter... Libraries of today are where you should be greeted like a friend and treated like family... The hallowed halls of the past are gone... Has it been a while between visits? Come check us out... You'll be surprised...
So how'd I do? Wanna visit?
Saturday, 21 April 2018
School holidays means family time
I just love the school holidays. Not only does it feel busier at work but it is also a great opportunity on my days off for my family to do things together. We never have a dull moment when Master 12, Miss 10 and Miss 8 are on holidays. Sleepovers, birthday parties and day outings fit in around trips to the library, coffees with family and friends and of course family movie nights.
Only yesterday was a prime example of this when we decided to visit an animal park my wife and I both recalled fondly from when we were kids, somewhere we had not visited for many, many (many times many) years. Cuddly Creek Wildlife Sanctuary has changed its name but it is still as awesome as we remembered and our three kids had an absolute ball as well. An abundance of monkey varieties had all five of us highly entertained and the opportunity to cuddle and hold a koala just topped off a brilliant day.
Sure we shared the park with crowds of others, but the park felt like it had enough room for all of us. It was not large but it was well planned and took us hours to see what we saw (we still missed the reptile room). Such an amazing day and such a great bonding opportunity for the Law clan. 5 stars easily. Well worth a visit and we vow we will return when Miss 10 and 8 are older and stronger so they too can share the thrill of cuddling a koala.
Only yesterday was a prime example of this when we decided to visit an animal park my wife and I both recalled fondly from when we were kids, somewhere we had not visited for many, many (many times many) years. Cuddly Creek Wildlife Sanctuary has changed its name but it is still as awesome as we remembered and our three kids had an absolute ball as well. An abundance of monkey varieties had all five of us highly entertained and the opportunity to cuddle and hold a koala just topped off a brilliant day.
Sure we shared the park with crowds of others, but the park felt like it had enough room for all of us. It was not large but it was well planned and took us hours to see what we saw (we still missed the reptile room). Such an amazing day and such a great bonding opportunity for the Law clan. 5 stars easily. Well worth a visit and we vow we will return when Miss 10 and 8 are older and stronger so they too can share the thrill of cuddling a koala.
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