Trying something new while in lockdown

 Well it has happened...

Yesterday our Premier announced a six day hard lockdown across South Australia. Thinking of silver linings I have almost a week to spend quality time with my family ❤️ and I also have a chance to play around with some other ideas for online activities we can offer to our local viewers and those beyond the Murraylands. One idea was adult story time 👍 Some Libraries are successful offering this already with brilliant storytellers reading chapters from their favourite novels

I am going to share some of my Reedsy stories instead

I’ll post here and on my Facebook page when the first two stories are up

Cheers to my mate Troyzo for the idea!

Hope you all enjoy...

The Crook and Law six kid weekend extravaganza

 The Crook and Law six kid weekend extravaganza has given us a real run for our money but my amazing wife and I managed to survive. From Friday night to Sunday afternoon Casa de Law was home to six kids ranging from toddler to teens (and every age in between). It has been cat chasing, book reading, and fun-filled, crazy kind of weekend. A payback, together time, new experiences and old favourites kind of weekend. Thanks to our dear friends Ben and Maria June was our chance (my wife and I) to escape the responsibilities of parenthood and for two days live again kid free. The catch of course, come September we return the favour.

 

This was our first two night effort with Big Red (Miss Two) and we were unsure how it would go. Good news, it went great!! Better news, every year all six kids get older and I'm pretty sure things will get easier and easier. We love those little Crook munchkins and we have all loved our magic weekend.

 

Spending time yesterday at an amazing new local playground made me think of a poem I wrote a few years ago (published on the Parenting  Express website) called Taking flight with daddy. So here is the sequel, ...

 

SEVEN AT THE PLAYGROUND

 

Captain Tilly launched her ship

All on a cool Spring day

Upon the radar there appeared a blip

Tilly announced "I am on my way!"

 

Maddy and Boo walked a balancing beam

Each one careful not to fall

So much fun they could not help but scream

Feeling twelve foot tall

 

Nenna and Liv span around and around

For the youngest it was nice and slow

Captain Tilly would search until they were found

"More power Uncle Tim! Go! Go! Go!"

 

 When Boo discovered the wizzy

She could not contain her glee

Above all else she loved getting dizzy

Daddy's big boots kicked off, Boo yelled "Yipee!!"

 

The Lava Monster stomped and roared

The Lava Monster danced and sang

There were none who could ever be bored

As the Lava Monster chased the gang

 

 Swings flew higher and higher as kids explored

So much to do and so much to see that was new

Kid's minds opened and parent's minds floored

Captain Tilly re-entered her spaceship and again off she flew

 

 Boo got caught in the spider's web, bravely she clambered down

Nenna when shooting toward the stars and moon

Liv and Maddy had swing caused smiles, no chance to frown

But, sadly it would all be over too soon

 

Around and around the palyground the monster chased 

 All his running was all in vain

Aunty Heidi said it was time to go

It had suddenly started to rain

Such a fun weekend, thanks Ben and Maria!

Discovering the joy (and deliciousness) of The Mac Stack

What a weekend! When a great mate invites you down to Sunnyside to sample the next amazing idea she has for the brilliant Heavenly Hotdogs The Diner you of course say a resounding YES!!!

We've been there from the start, the initial idea which led to the dream that inevitably morphed into the local business Heavenly Hotdogs. Murray Bridge as a community has really got behind this local business and why wouldn't we? Great food, great family atmosphere and all at an unbelievable price. Naturally the idea has gone from takeaway van to full scale diner. It is amazing to see how much effort this wife and husband team are investing into creating something special as the site on Adelaide Road is slowly but surely becoming the perfect hangout.

I just love the vision of that beautiful dreamer Sunshine from Sunnyside, her love of all things eighties and a solid memory of the best hotdogs that have ever existed. Now this dreamer has imagined a tower of deliciousness that starts with the comfort legend macaroni and cheese and then adds succulent beef, bacon, homemade onion rings, all things absolutely delectable. I could not help but clean my plate and I look forward to the chance to order this mountain of deliciousness off the menu. If you need a meal that is sure to satisfy I can guarantee if you order The Mac Stack is sure to satisfy, 100%!!!

ALIA article – How have you grown professionally during the pandemic?

Good afternoon all... 

I have discovered recently an opportunity to write an article for Incite magazine which is the Australian Libraries and Information Association (of Australia) magazines for Librarians and Information professionals

Although my article will not be included in next month's publication I did enjoy writing about my current experiences in Libraryland

I have included my article piece below:

 

ALIA article – How have you grown professionally during the pandemic?

 

My name is Tim Law, Library Team Leader at the Murray Bridge Library in South Australia. During this current pandemic I have found the opportunity to be far more bravely creative. With permission and encouragement from our Incident Response Team and my Manager I and my team have delved into the realm of online activities and I think we like it.

Closing the library on the evening of March 25 we were completely inexperienced with running events and activities online and totally unprepared, not knowing where to begin. Without a way to supply our normal array of activities for families as well as author visits and workshops we began to examine how other libraries were supplying these types of events.

While at home for a week following the library closure I also began posting LIVE storytelling, craft and simple science sessions from home, involving my two daughters who loved playing up to the camera. Feedback from friends and family enabled me to alter where I filmed, how long and whether I pre-recorded or filmed LIVE. Soon after returning to the library the team and I used what we have already learned to create fun sessions for our local families to enjoy.

We now plan to continue to explore the digital and see how it can run side by side with our previous program. This pandemic has taught me bravery, stretched my creativity and given me and my team an exciting license to try.

Law Family Adventure - Old memories and new

The dreaded COVID still remains with no obvious ending in sight. Like many we worry for friends interstate and overseas and hope that all stay safe and healthy. Finding ourselves in the July holiday break with no way of traversing across to Victoria my darling angel has thought why not explore our own state. South Australia has a multitude of amazing corners to explore. Last weekend was a delightful escape to the Barossa Valley (my favourite wine country) celebrating 17 years of wedded bliss and my 41 years young. Precious together time we look forward to every single year (and somehow manage to get thanks to a very special couple (we owe you BIG time Ben and Maria))!! This weekend we are on a different adventure. Me and my girls have spread our wings and climbed aboard our KIA to rediscover the Riverland...

So many years ago both Miss H and I fondly remember eating more oranges than ever before and almost dying on the Monash death trap (or should that be playground)... The Big Orange was a memorable experience and of course there was oodles of fun to be found on the wonderful Murray River. Years later sadly the Big Orange is closed (somebody please bring this South Aussie icon back to its previous glory), Monash Playground is no longer a training ground for life and there seems to be a lot less citrus around but I must say this area of our own backyard still has enough for us to think another visit is in order and something we need to schedule sooner not later (like in another ten or twenty years lol). A huge tick from Miss 12 and 11/12 and Miss 10 and a 1/4 makes me even more eager to come back later in the year when the weather is warmer.and we can have even more fun.

Girls and I are also S uper excited to feed the possums at Renmark tonight... Might bring back a playmate for Thumpy, Freddy, Ginger, Max and Patches... I’m sure the kids would love that... Pretty sure Council would love that too.

Celebrate Squidgy Day

Happy Celebrate Squidgy Day everyone! I cannot believe my little niece has turned two. Today was our chance to celebrate with the little cutie. As always it has been a brilliant day at Casa de Crook. My most favourite moment from today was giving the little birthday girl a push on the swing. Her rendition of the birthday song was perfect, topped off with resounding shouts of "Hooray!!!" from both of us.

Such a perfect Saturday; fine food, finer company and everything was focused on little Liv... Man did she know it.

I hope everyone else has had just as perfect a day. I cannot wait to see what Sunday has in store…

Dora's triumphant return

After waiting for Dora and the Lost City of Gold to become available at our local library the Laws bit the bullet and hired it on Big Pond Movies. Was it worth the six or seven dollars? You bet it was!!

I remember the cartoon Dora the Explorer and the spin off about Dora's cousin Diego from when the kids were younger. I learnt many a Spanish phrase watching this show and discovered exactly what it is that mouse named Speedy is actually saying.

What I loved about this movie was the homage to the old TV show and the tongue in cheek way that the cast pulled it off. Some of the scenes are predictable but all of the film is fun.

Something for all ages with this one.