Well I must say that even though at times we – as a family – struggled to get into the swing of things as the calender ticked over to 2010, here we are all ready into the third month of the year!  And what a year it is turning out to be!

Our local home educators group have been looking for a new hall to be able to use for group get togethers. The only problem is that these days, the cost of sustaining the use of such a hall can be incredibly high and with a group like ours, that can spell disaster as the high costs often over shadow any benefits we receive on a regular basis. But as luck should have it, we have found the most wonderful  hall to use for our group. We can use it as often or as irregular as we like. The cost is great, which means we will probably use it as often as we can! and the best part about it all is that we are also helping those who are helping us. As they are trying to raise money to replace their hall, so it seems to be a win win situation for everyone concerned!

It is all just so exciting! Ever since we managed to secure the use of the use of the hall, members of our group have been busily thinking of all the possibilities it now opens up for us and our childrens learning. Our yearly calender of events , which is pretty full on already, just seems to have doubled in size with the possibilities! Our home ed group will be meeting next Friday to discuss possible activities, events and learning for the children.

I shall keep you posted on what we get up too! Because I am sure it will be worth discussing!

Well it is official, NIK actually went to her own Guide Unit today and joined in for the first time! We have been waiting for NIK to get old enough to actually join the guiding movement. She attends all the functions JAHG and I go to. She also joins in all the different events that she can, however today was the first time she actually got to attend her own Gumnut Guide session. She was so excited and upon arriving told her Tata and sister that they needed to go home and leave her there on her own.

The session went for one hour, from 4.30pm to 5.30pm and in that time NIK got to participate in the clean up Australia Day activity as well as some art and craft. She is so excited that she can’t wit to go back again!

Here is a picture of NIK in her Guide uniform.

NIK!

Well today will be my first day back at work in two weeks. I am thankful that the doctor did every test imaginable to try and find out what was wrong with me. After loads of antibiotics and different medicines, I am still not feeling 100% better but at least now I am able to stay out of bed which is an added bonus. The doctor did say it could take some considerable time before I loose my cough, which is the most annoying part of this all, so I guess I will just have to live with it for now.

So back to work I can go…

Well today we enjoyed our first official 100 years celebration of Girl Guiding event as we attended the annual Thinking Day Celebration.  The girls and I shared the day with a few other guiding friend as we picked them up along the way to ‘Thinking Day’ so that we could all join in the fun. All in all our little group of six join ed in the larger group of too many to count!

As tradition holds it, February 22 is known as World Thinking Day or just Thinking Day for Guides and Scouts all around the world. It is a day where we reflect and think about the meaning of Guiding and Scouting and about our fellow Guides and Scouts in different countries around the world.  The date, February 22, is symbolical with the Guiding and Scouting movement and was chosen as it is the birthday of Scouting founder Robert Paden-Powell and of his wife Olave Baden-Powell who was the world Chief Guide.

So every year on the weekend closest to the 22nd of February Girl Guides and scouts come together for various activities all around the world to celebrate ‘World thinking Day’. Each year the Guiding and Scouting movement ask their members to focus on a different aspect of area of concern, relevant to modern society.

According to the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts

The World Thinking Day theme for 2010, which the Girl Guides are focusing on, is girls worldwide say “together we can end extreme poverty and hunger” and the aim is to raise awareness among guiding members everyone about poverty and hunger and for us all to work towards improving the lives of the poorest people in the world.

So today we joined together in creating a birthday cake made out of non perishable food items, that were later delivered to a local establishment who cater for those in need. We also gave a gold coin donation (or as Olave Paden-Powell would say – the cost of an ice cream) so that the money could be delivered to charity.

We shared a breakfast on the lawns of Parliament House in Hobart with the focus on each Guide bringing local foods for the gathering to eat. The idea was to focus on food miles and to gain a greater understanding of what that actually means. After our breakfast we had some fun and games before we all embarked on a boat journey around the River Derwent. This was a very memorable event that everyone enjoyed!

NIK just loves her older sister and wants to be just like her. All she ever talks about is being old enough to play netball and having fun like JAHG!

So here are some pictures of NIK with the Netball, which were taken when JAHG and her Tata where practicing netball skills this afternoon.

NIK with the Ball

All Smiles!

Well today was the official day where JAHG had to go and register for her club netball team. She is playing for Wrest Point and is in one of the under 11 teams. JAHG is very excited about her new uniform for netball and is looking forward to getting to know a lot of the other girls who will be playing with her.

Upon registration today, JAHG came home with her uniform and happily put it on to go outside and practice her netball skills with her sister and her dad. They practiced passing the ball, shooting for goals and having fun! Here are some pictures of JAHG in action!

In Uniform

In Action!

Passing

Well today is a great day! we have always followed the football team in the AFL called Richmond, Tigers and we have always enjoyed going to the football to watch them play – rain, hail or shine, win or loose! However since moving to Tasmania, we have not had the opportunity to see the Tigers in action – live, as we just have not been back to Melbourne in footy season to go and see a game.

So we were delighted when Richmond was announced as coming to Launceston in Tasmania to play Hawthorn for the NAB cup. We rushed to purchase tickets the minute they went on sale in December and got great premium reserved seats! So today was the day. Football Fever landed in our house. Unfortunately I was so sick that the ticket I had purchased for me could not be used, for I was to stay home in bed, while SZG took the girls to the Footy. To say i was devbistated is an understatement, but then how I feel is so bad right now that I know I made the right and only decision to stay home.

The girls and their day had a great time. They got all dressed up in footy gear and enjoyed the game of footy, even though their team lost by a long shot… Now that’s dedication for you.

Ready for the Football!

Football Fever has Arrived!

Well tomorrow we are due for our house inspection. Thankfully the house in not really dirty at any stage, but with KAG so sick, things just are not getting done like they usually would before an inspection. I am however confident that all will go well in the end.

Life is not good around here. KAG’S still sick. Just as we think she is getting better something happens to make her seem worse. Thankfully she has a Doctors appointment tomorrow. She should get the results of her blood, urine, faeces and swaps tests. Lets hope it is nothing too serious as she has been bailed up in bed for days.

Well what a few days from hell it seems to be for me. I can’t really recall how long ago it was that I have felt so bad and had so many different symptoms with any sickness I have endured. I have managed to sleep for most of the time, Coughing in between and waking myself up. I coughed so hard that I have coughed up blood on many an occasion and also found blood when wiping my nose. The coughing is terrible, when it starts it becomes very hard to stop. So much so that I get dizzy and extremely light headed. I have also got diarrhea, which is not good at all.

I visited the doctors today and informed him of my many and varied symptoms. He seems to think that I could have a infectious disease, so promptly took swabs, blood  samples, urine and faeces samples to see if he could find out what is the exact cause. He also spoke to me about immunisation and after discovering I have never been immunised against anything, he advised me to get immunised, so today I finally did. The Doctor told me to go home and straight to bed, I have medication I need to take 4 times a day and also I am unable to go to work for the next five days (of which two don’t matter as they are over the weekend!), which is a real pain in the neck as I have not long started my new job. But Believe me, with the way I am and the way I feel, they are much better off without me. Especially as the Doctor seems to think what I have is highly contagious and infectious. I guess I should know more when I get the results on Friday. Until then I will remain halled up in bed for most of the days. Thankfully my Mother in law is staying with us at the moment and has been able to attend to the children for me, Other wise I, and they would be stuffed!

Back to bed now