2012-01-03 Week 2 - New Year - London

Aiysha: We travelled down with auntie Lizzie to London as we were staying in her flat with Nick. Daddy went down separately with Uncool Dave on the train as he was staying with Dave.

We met up with Daddy and Uncool Dave at Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park - it was absolutely amazing! we went on the helter skelter, some prize games and the ghost train which was the funniest - I couldn't stop laughing, and Daddy couldn't stop laughing at me laughing. As Mummy predicted, Daddy and Dave went to get chocolate waffles - Daddy said they were amazing! I didn't win a prize on the coconut stall, but bought a bag for myself in another stall.


We spent a day walking to Buckingham Palace and looked at Nelsons Column and all the fountains in Trafalgar Square - it was amazing to see. We watched the guards change, and watched them march. They were very still when they were standing.

Cindy, Dave and Daddy also met us before we went on the London Eye. That ended up being a really cold and wet day, but the London Eye was amazing!

The Lion King was definitely one of the best things I've ever seen! It is hard to describe how good it was - I wish I could see it again! Thank you so much Joy for organising it for us! Unfortunately, we had to dash off so we couldn't really see much of Daddy. He bought himself a  whispa though - one of the nicest chocolates ever!

We went with Lizzie to the Millenium Bridge and St. Pauls. I tasted a whispa for the first time - amazing! We did a bit of shopping too. It was so funny seeing the bridge and Tate Modern, but it was a shame we didn't have more time. I talked to Lizzie and Daddy a lot about bombs as Daddy pointed to the docklands building that got bombed the day before his interview for a Tanzanian teaching job. Interesting stuff!

Our New Years Party was funny. I stayed up to watch the fireworks with Roxy, but went to be soon after. Lizzie and Nick had to sort out a leak in his sisters flat which was not great timing.


Mummy, Daddy, Roxy and I went to Covent Garden on a really wet day. Lizzie shopped with me for a while which was so much fun. I bought myself a new black jacket, but I also realised that things in Covent Garden and London were pretty expensive, so I am happy to save my money for Leicester.

I love the tube and counting all the Nutcracker posters on the walls - really funny posters!


We had to say goodbye to Daddy again, but we'll see him soon in Leicester.

Clara: I stayed up to see the fireworks! It was funny. Daddy is really boring, and he in so much trouble. Well, that is what I tell him anyway. I was sad when we said goodbye to him and Lizzie - we had such a great time in London, and I can't wait to go skiing!

C: Cold and wet most of the time - just one sunny day, which was very cold. Had a lovely time with Lizzie, and can't wait until we go skiiing. I went on a reindeer ride, the helter skelter, the ghost train and saw a singing Moose in Winter Wonderland. It was lovely! What an amazing place!

I just loved the Lion King - it was the best show ever. I always spot the posters in the underground, and also spot pictures of Big Ben and Tower Bridge. I know my places in London!

S: Food fest - Vietnamese, Dumplings, Sechuan, soft shell crab, fish and chips. What a treat!
Bowling - 185 - need I say more? Great fun.
New Years Party - met some funny people. Dadia and her Spanish boyfriend, Brendan and Isabelle. I packed in at 2am before everyone else as I had such a huge headache.
Mooching around London has been great! TKMaxx, Peacocks! Bargains galore! Even went for a run - first in 5 weeks because of my knees, but went okay.

2011-12-28 Week 1 - Christmas in Leicester

Aiysha: We're in England! Finally! Amazing! Joy and Furby made our room so nice with our bedroom in the loft and the train set is absolutely cool! We love it! Lizzie was there too, and Roxy is her mini-mee! That is very funny.

We have been for walks, played in the park, had teas with Grandma Brian and Grandpa Sik (my new names for them), played scattergories which I am really good at, Rat Race. It has been cloudy and rainy since we arrived, but I love it! It really feels like winter, and really feels like Christmas! We are so lucky to be here!

We went to 60 Woodmarket a few times already - with Uncool Dave and played Dance Studio, went to a cafe, and played sweet and sour out of the top window which was really funny.

We had pretty much 2 Christmases - one at Low Barn, and one at 60 Woodmarket on Boxing Day. We had a huge turkey for Christmas dinner, and opened our presents with Daddy as he was there in the morning with Nick. Uncool Dave made a lovely Christmas roast for us on Boxing Day, which I could not stop eating. Daddy was very impressed, and he kept on talking about the different flavours - boring! Daddy also talks a lot about this place called TKMaxx - I don't quite know what it is, but it is really boring!

I love England!

Clara: I love Grandpa Furby's train set - it is so much fun, and I love riding Major! I can't wait until I go horse riding on a real horse! Auntie Lizzie is my favourite, I just cling onto here. Whenever I see Uncool Dave, I just have to run into him and tackle him - it is so much fun. He's much bigger than me, but I think I can easily beat him up.

C: Yup, pretty cold, but lovely to be back in Lowbarn!

S: Shopping on Christmas Eve strangely quiet - perhaps because all the shops were closing whilst I was panic buying? Fun though, and feels really festive, even though it is all a bit of a rush!

Cold though...

2011-12-20 Last Week of Term! England Here We Come!

Aiysha: Daddy had a work BBQ with a few of his work people and their families. It was a pool party and we played loads of games. I made friends with a girl called Sophie, who was the sister of Naomi who I knew from  ice skating a long time ago. We were pretty cheeky and we removed some prizes from the crackers so people would not get any. It made us laugh.

We had our end of year disco, and Daddy was not invited. Clara went to the disco before and had a great time! Ours was good, but there were a few moody girls there, but I still enjoyed it.

Kiera came for a sleepover and we had so much fun. We went for a night time swim and played DS and stayed up pretty late and got up very early. I was pretty exhausted by the end of the day, but it was so much fun.

It was a fun year, and it went sooo quickly! Next year I will be in Year 5, I can't believe it! I did loads of cards for everyone once Mummy got the right cards - Daddy kept of getting the wrong cards - silly Daddy, he was in trouble with Mummy again.

We went to Scarborough for the Christmas Carol - The Harveys and Watsons were there - it was really fun, Santa arrived, and the fireworks were sooo close! We also had fish and chips and an ice cream!

Joseph and Nick cam over to help Daddy with his branches, so me and Joes just played computer games - he is funny. Daddy was pretty proud of all the mulch he put on our lawns. Well done Daddy!


Clara: I liked the carols - I sat with Aiysha most of the time, and she looked after me. Daddy and I went on an ice cream hunt, which was really fun.

My disco was so funny! I just danced around with Claire and Georgia.

Kindy had an open day, and we were put in classes - I was with Mrs Radford, and she knew me because I was in Aiysha's class. I should be fun if I am with her, but Georgia may not be in the same class, which would be a shame. We will see!

C: OOoooo, lovely mulch Daddy! UK just around the corner! Can't wait! we're all packed up, but as usual Daddy is last to pack. So much preparation on the house ready for us to leave.

S: Finished work on Tuesday at about 3pm, straight into pool - might as well get the most of it before the UK! Very exciting!

2011-12-09 Netball Winners, Kindy Concert

Aiysha: Last game of netball, and it was like a final. We played the only team that beat us this season, but this time I played GA and GS with Olivia. We started off really well, and we were 5-1 up after the first quarter. However, their two best players were coming on. They helped their team a lot but when they shot, they missed so many. It was a fun game, and I did some shots from a long way out and got them in! We finally won 10-2, and because we beat them by more than they beat us, we won the league! It was brilliant! Last season we beat the best team in the last game, and this season we did the same! We must be improving.

I went down to see Clara's Christmas concert with Martina - it was funny!

Coming to England is so exciting! I can't wait!

Clara: It was our Christmas Concert! I was a reindeer, and Daddy helped make our hats when he came for Daddy helper, and Mummy made my dress! I was so happy, and I sang really loud and did all the motions. We only have 2 more days of Kindy, and I will be sad to leave Mrs Rose, and Mrs Higgins.

It was our turn for Bella the budgie, and we bought a new bell for her and a seed chew. I love having her. I get her out every morning, and talk to her, and make sure her water is clean. It's fun having Bella.

I can't wait to go to England!

C: Clara's concert was so funny! The reindeers were the best by far! We also got all our old Bali photos out to look at to see if we could recognise any places that we had been! The memories!

S: Daddy helper was excellent fun! The last one of the year, and it was really relaxed. I helped make the hats for the concert on Wednesday, and had great chats to Mrs Rose and Mrs Higgins. Great to see all the kids again, they are such a nice bunch.

England is coming up too quickly! We're not ready to have 5 weeks off! Er, yes we are...

2011-11-28 Touch State Champs & Suitcases!

Aiysha: We bought new suitcases and put stickers all over them ready for England. Funny stuff, if a tad crazy!

Fireworks for the Wannaroo Show were excellent. Roxy missed them both nights as she was asleep.

I invited Jasmine to play - I think she is nice, but not many people do, which is such a shame.

Watched Daddy's touch rugby - felt sorry for him and his legs, and had to look after him when Mummy went out for Linda's party on Saturday night.

Clara: I loved climbing into the big ice bins at Daddy's touch rugby. But in the end a lady came and told us it was a little dangerous, so I had to get out. She was very right and Daddy thanked her for noticing.

C: We hired a big limo to take Linda out for her birthday - it was so much fun, but ended too early!

I was so excited going to the Wanaroo Show on Sunday, but, but, it disappeared! It finished the night before :-( Daddy laughed at me.

At least we saw the fireworks.

S: We had our Touch Rugby State Championships - we got to final and lost, but not before some major casualties, namely my knees. Played all games, but after first two, I struggled with my knees and had them both strapped up. Scored 4 tries in first two games, but rest was very disappointing. What a shame after all the training. Best game was definitely against Brothers in the semi - 0-1, 4-2, 4-4, 5-4.

We were just too tired and too damaged.

2011-11-18 Talent Comp, Mummy Helper, Daddy's Party

Aiysha: We had our Talent Competition this week - and we performed our dance on stage during an assembly. We worked really hard on the dance with Martina, Kiera and Yasmine, and it turned out brilliant! Even though we came third, everyone though we should have been first, and we got a huge round of applause when we got back to our class, and the teacher said we deserved to be first.

Finally on the Deathly Hallows, and we are watching the films. It is so good, and I cannot believe I have reached the end.

Daddy's Party at The Shepherds was funny - we started off on the water slides (Lilly was brave when she was tackled by Will), then we had loads to eat and played games and watched TV until really late. It was fun. The boys got together to talk Pokemon, but I didn't mind.

Clara: I am growing a flower - it is an Istersion, and I am taking so much care over it.

Mummy also came to be a Mummy helper this week - she loves it, and I love it too!

C: I love being Mummy helper. Clara behaves so well!

S: Penny and Jason invited all of us round to celebrate my birthday - didn't expect it at all, but was lots of fun. Nick and Tracey, Linda and Andy turned up too with all the kids. Very funny.

2011-11-06 Interschool, Yanchep Bike Ride

Aiysha: We had mixed netball performances over the passed 2 weeks - we won last week easily, but lost this week as we missed so many shots at goal. We didn't pass very well, but I was not marking their best players so could not do much. I think we would have beaten them if we marked their best players properly.

We went up to Yanchep for a bike ride - it was pretty hot, but was fun having our picnic. We did some throwing practice ready for my inter-school carnival this week.

At the Inter-school Carnival I was so proud - 4th in 400, 2nd in Long Throw, 2nd in Long Jump, 1st in sprint, 1st in team relay, 2nd flag relay. I was the only person to compete in all of the events, and was mentioned in the newsletter along with Callum. I was so proud, and Mr Gray was very proud of me.

Mummy and Daddy came to my parents evening. I showed them my artwork (my big paper machet cat), but sneakily tried to hide my not so good English work which I didn't do too well on. I flipped it upside down. Mummy and Daddy found it - they don't miss a thing, do they?


Clara: We went for another bike ride to Dog Beach, but I didn't like the dogs too much.

We also went for an ice cream at Cold Rock which I loved! We also had a play in the park with Daddy, which was also very funny!

In my Carnival I came first in my race! I was so proud of myself!

At the weekend Daddy and Aiysha taught me how to play Soldiers. It was a fun game where we use marbles to knock down soldiers. I was called Private Splattergun as I threw all the marbles at once, and Aiysha was Private Burns because the carpet kept on slowing her marbles down before they reached the soldiers - it was funny!

C: Clara coming first was great! Long may it continue!

We went for a parents evening at Aiysha's school, and really enjoyed speaking to the teachers about Aiysha's performance. She's doing well.

S: Aiysha was amazing! So exhausted...

2011-10-17 My First Sleepover!

Aiysha: I am back at gym - only 3 turned up! I was so looking forward to it, and I showed Mel my round-off backflip! I love gym so much I even did it at the beach when we went on Sunday when it was 35 degrees! It was too windy for me though.

I loved going into the pool though and playing Marco Polo again. We spent a long time cleaning the pool area - it has never looked so clean!

I went to Joe's birthday party at Arena - I was the only girl to go, and it was really funny! On Sunday, I also went for a sleepover at Joe's - it was very tiring, but great fun! I looked after Roxy and played with Luke mostly as Will came along, and him and Joe just talk about Pokemon cards. Luke and I raced each other on Mario Carts!

Clara: Went for my first sleepover at the Harveys (as part of Joe's birthday), I was so excited! I started off sleeping with Emily, but then she went into he Mum and Dads room, so I asked if I could go in with Aiysha. She looked after me for the rest of the night, and I was sooo tired on Monday that I fell asleep watching TV! I helped Nick make pasta which was fun, and I played so much with Emily.

We all helped Mummy bake a cake for Daddy when he came back from work last week as a late birthday- it was a nice chocolate torte. Funny name!

When we went down to the beach on Sunday, the waves were huge! Mummy and Daddy took me out to the waves, and the rip was pretty strong it knocked me over a few times! I caught some big waves - I love surfing!


C: All pool lights apart from one working! We'll get onto that asap!


S: Australia out of world cup - what a shame! Nice cake though :-)

2011-10-07 Bali: Day 11 - Denpasar / Kuta / Perth

Traveling today back to Perth. Plan - get to Kuta asap so we could get to Waterbom park again and relax...didn't turn out so easy.


Donkey to the beach after breakfast, boat ride was long - 2 hours? Had to bargain for a mini bus which didn't leave for at least an hour, and we took another 3-4 hours to get to Kuta - what a day, in messy traffic, arrived at Airport at about 4pm after leaving Coconut Cottages at 9am. Left luggage at airport, and headed into town. Everyone sad that we could not get to Waterbom Park.

One great thing though - we found Krishna! A supermarket which sold everything for a dollar - this is where all the hawkers get their stuff to rip off the tourists! Our taxi driver took us - amazing, we bought loads of stuff - gifts, massage oil, incense.

Took taxi into Kuta - so tired. Had an okay dinner, and went down some alleys to get some clothes - got some after bargaining with a funny woman - bali trousers for Daddy, skirt for Mummy.

Back to airport, and waited for plane. Daddy phoned Grandma Sik to wish happy birthday, and watched a bit of rugby. We had some food (wonton soup and noodles), then on plane. Arrived in Perth early in the morning. Absolutely exhausted.

What a holiday. Amazing.

2011-10-06 Bali: Day 10 - Gili Air

Our relaxing last day!

Mummy and Rox went to get their nails done, and Paish and Daddy spent morning on beach practicing throwing and gymnastics. Aiysha a little tired, so went to get a drink and Wi-fi, had lunch as Scallywags with mummy and rox - ceasar salad, prawn cocktail, baguettes - lovely, but costly compared to local places.

The inflatables were out, but too windy and rough to go out. The clouds came in and there was a little rain, but we went in to swim anyway, which was lovely. Paish threw 32m and we had a sprint competition and a handstand competition. We also did a few handsprings each. Aiysha impressive back flips as always!

We then decided to hire 3 bikes to cycle round the island - so funny, but hard as it was pretty sandy. Amazing to be able to cycle round an island! Mummy bought a ring halfway round in a shop.  We took a way back through some back alleys which was amazing - saw the true lifestyle of the islanders being off the beaten track. Great for the girls to see. Almost home, and Mummy gouged some of her foot out when avoiding a donkey - there was a lot of blood, but Aiysha and Clara to the rescue!

Dinner at Biba - pizza with asparagus spaghetti - amazing. Scallywags for pudding for all of us! We were spoiled!

Walked back long the beach and Aiysha found the most massive hermit crab - as big as her palm!

Read for a little, then bed. So tired.

A lovely last night.

2011-10-05 Bali: Day 9 - Gili Air

 

The most amazing experience - our snorkel trip. Glass bottomed boat, 2 stops, lunch stop at Gili Menu.

1st stop - Clara and Aiysha so brave. Both snorkeled, but Roxy just swam after the first dive, but swam at each stop, which was amazing! The first stop had the strongest current we've ever been in, and there was no way to swim against it. We were dragged a long way with the guide - just us, a girl and the guide - pretty scary stuff, and the boat came to get us. Saw amazing fish!

At lunch we went to a turtle sanctuary and donated some money to keep preserving them. The turtles were so cute. After lunch we did our second dive, and this time we saw so much - snakes, massive fish, and finally so many turtles! Daddy stayed with the guide and a girl, and they ended up diving down and stroking the turtles as they swam - one actually tried to bite them! What an amazing experience! One of the best ever!

When we got back, we played swings and sandball. Clara + monkey nuts = lots of mess.

Moved into the most amazing family room also with an outdoor bathroom shower area, beautiful bed and veranda with a horse in the garden and hammocks. Sat outside and read, and did some colouring in. Clara told me to write "Clara slobbering over her hand with those monkey nuts".

Wanted pizza again, but still broken. Went to a bar, which didn't look impressive, and, er, wasn't. Bruchetta was rubbish, and we had to send all food back. Horrible. Chef, who wasn't really the chef, was very sorry and didn't charge us. Mummy and Rox went home, but Aiysha and Daddy went to get more food, and ended up in Biba and had spaghetti and bruchetta. Took some back for Mummy, but too tired to eat.

Watched the geckos chase each other and read before bed. So peaceful here.