Our Journal 2003

Our JOURNAL  2003

(This is our yearly journal that we compose on a document…it doesn’t look as nice here but oh well, here it is)

January is named after the Roman man named Januarius and also means “god of beginnings and doorways”. January was also once called Janus.

January saw our family travel home from our vacation in Adelaide. It was a great time to catch up on visiting family and we had a wonderful time with Nonna. We attended a few barbecues and went out to relatives places for tea. We also caught up with a few friends in Strathalbyn and also Poppy. We had purchased a large tent and we spent a few nights in it during the trip home. We also visited the Pioneer Village at Swan Hill. We had a great time here as looked through the old pioneering huts and went for a carriage ride, in which Miss R got to sit atop the carriage. Our favourite exhibitions at Pioneer Village were as follows:
John: watching the blacksmith fashion a mini horse-shoe using  an old fashioned bellow.
Susan: some of the early pioneering houses with their very basic essentials.
Miss A: the carriage ride and the general store and walking over the old bridge.
Miss R: watching the blacksmith and the carriage ride.
Master J: the carriage ride and the General Store
Master C: looking around the boat and walking across the old bridge.

It was great to come back home and after a few days of settling in, we helped our house guests move into their own home. These friends have lived in our home with us for the two weeks before we went away and then they stayed on while we were holidaying. We learnt many a valuable lesson while house-sharing, as would be expected with four adults and six children living together. Some of the lessons that we had to explore were the uniqueness of each family, patience, graciousness and acceptance of each other, sharing and consideration. We also de-cluttered our home and set up to have a Garage Sale on Saturday 18th Jan but we didn’t get rid of much as this was the day that the sky turned many colours, from grey to black to fiery red as one suburb of Canberra was lost to fires. This particular fire saw nearly 400 homes lost and 4 people dead. It was an eerie afternoon, and one in which we spent anxiously listening to the ABC radio.

We also had a very busy week toward the end of January, when Miss A and Mum worked at Hawker Softball. Susan was a Liaison Officer and Miss A was Bat-Girl for the South Australian U/19 Girls State Team. We also had the Junior KFC Carnival during the same weekend.

Softball Australian Nationals
Under 19 State Team held in Canberra. 19th – 27th Jan, 03

*What I learnt as a Bat-Girl.*
What I learned during the weekend was:
FRIDAY – When in outfield, jog up to second base and from the shoulder, flick throw to either the Pitcher or second baseman to avoid overthrows.
SATURDAY – If one person jogs, we all jog!
SUNDAY – When you’re in any team, you play to your best and you should be a team player. E.G: if you’re the 3rd batter, don’t try and smash it!                    ~Abigail

SOFTBALL CANBERRA – U/12 Girls Gold
*What I enjoyed*
I enjoyed pitching the most, then centrefield. They were basically the only positions that I played. I pitched four games out of 10 and centrefield for 3 games. I also did 3 bunts and 1 home run and quite a few 3 bag hits. At the Grand Final I was struck out, got hit in the knee-cap and hit a 1 bag hit and stole lots of bases.
I really enjoyed playing and being Bat-Girl even if I was running around a lot!
~Miss A

25th – Miss R’s Birthday

My Birthday

On my birthday we went to softball.  I got ten dollars from Dad and Mum. I also got a porcelain doll. Her name is Bonnie. And the Reynolds (family friends) gave me a porcelain doll too, called Ingrid. Because we couldn’t celebrate my birthday on the 25th, we celebrated it on a different day.

26th Jan – Australia Day
Australia Day is celebrated on the 26th of January every year.   It is the day that Australians re-commit to make Australia an even better place for future generations. It is the day where many Australians call themselves Australian-a day to reflect on what they have achieved.

There are many great things about Australia, like—The Lifesavers on the beach; The Farmers who work hard for a living; Sporting heroes and artists and the volunteers who help people in life situations, like ACT’S Bush Fires.

Our Land is one of the most important things in Australia, why, without it we wouldn’t learn anything about our culture. Our land offers us great opportunities, and makes us who we are.
~Miss R

We have spent the last week of January recovering from the softball week and preparing for Susan’s knee operation scheduled in February and also for the girls to start their individual school work.

February saw a few difficulties for us as a family as Susan went into hospital for a knee operation. Living in the large two-storey house was inhibiting the healing and strengthening process so it was great news to hear that we would soon be moving onto base at Duntroon. We still managed to do our school lessons in and around Susan’s knee problems and lots of training for softball.

March is always a busy and tiring but exciting time for us as this is usually the time of softball Finals! John was away for a few weeks during this time but we carried on as usual. Master C was able to return to Kindy-Ball, after breaking his arm early in the season. Master J’s team went all the way and took out the T-Ball Boys Premiership. Miss R played in the U/12 girl’s league and she finished up having a lot of fun and making new friends and developing her skills. Miss A saw the end of the season playing in the U/16 girl’s competition and was thrilled to receive the MVP award for this team.

We also had the Association carnival and I coached Miss A’s team: the U/12 girls and Miss R played in the T-Ball team. Here’s what she said about the carnival:

“The carnival was fun. I had to play tee-ball. Our team name was STSA.I played first base the whole carnival. We won every single game even the grand final. I hit no home runs but I got to third a lot. Every STSA team got in the grand final. The score was 16-8.I think it was anyway. We played Central Canberra in the grand final.”

Over the Easter weekend, we travelled to Waverley, Melbourne for the annual softball carnival. Susan was coaching the Canberra Gold U/12 Girl’s team and they had worked quite hard to take out the tournament Final! Miss A also was presented with the Canberra Team Most Valuable Player Award. We travelled home on Master J’s 8th birthday as we were all anxious to get home and start packing to be moved to Duntroon. The next week was quite hectic as we sorted things out, gave away, threw out and then had another Garage Sale. We finally gave away the two blue Nissan vans that we brought over to Canberra from Strathalbyn and the old caravan! (‘Bout time, eh?)

April was also a little chaotic but extremely satisfying for us. After being in our new home for 10 days, John had to go to Darwin to play softball in the Arafura Games, which didn’t end up eventuating due to various international teams not attending because of the SARS epidemic. However, he managed to sit for his umpires Exam, and do a spot of umpiring with some international level umpires and play a few games. During this time, Susan had the opportunity to attend a National Coaching Policy at the AIS and so Peter (Poppy) came down and helped watch over the children while she was away for that weekend. John eventually returned and in June, Dad (Pop) returned to Broken Hill.

The weather is really starting to chill here now and it has a real bite to it. Brrrr, we have central heating in this house and for us, it is quite comfortable but we do feel for John who has to do physical training every morning in the icy cold.

Once a month, we have been opening our home and inviting other home-schooling families over for a cuppa. This is a good opportunity for the children to extend their hand of friendship and hospitality, proving to be especially helpful in learning to accept and entertain younger children

Just today, we went to Music at Midday, which is the Royal Military College Band playing in the city theatre for a gold coin donation. They play all varieties of music from classical, marches, waltzes, jazz and rock. It is a wonderful way in which to pass an hour and a rich experience for the children who are learning to appreciate different forms of music. After Music at Midday we went to the National Art Gallery. Miss R writes:

“Today we went to the Art Gallery. We went into the kid’s exhibit where you could feel inside boxes and you would have to guess what it is and the object inside the box would also be in the paining. In the other parts of the exhibit were many paintings and my favourite was the original “Water Lillies” by Claude Monet. That was what we mainly went there for as we are studying him this term. If you go close up to it, it is a big blotch of blobs but looks beautiful from a further distance. It was a large picture, bigger than what we all expected. We were looking forward to seeing “The Haystacks” but that is away at the moment on tour. (Miss R)

Lessons – Just recently we have finished our study of Ancient Rome and begin learning about the story of early England. Master J and Master C will be looking into Knights, Castles, Legends and some other interesting topics. We have also finished another rotation of Australian History with the boys enjoying learning a little about various bushrangers. (Isn’t that such a boy-thing to want to learn ☺ )
Miss A is working quiet independently and achieving most of her lessons by the end of each week. Miss R is also developing independence in her lessons and her favourite subjects are English, Shakespeare and Art Appreciation. ☺ Master J has become quite the reader now and can read just about anything. Now we just have to work on enjoying reading rather than viewing it as ‘only necessary’. ☺ Master C loves to sit down with us at table-time and pull out his workbooks; although I don’t have him do too many because I really don’t think it is necessary for him to be doing bookwork: he should be busy learning through play! ☺

Narration—Augustus Caesar
(from “A Child’s History of the World” by Hillyer)

Augustus Caesar came to be a very great man; he found Rome and left it marble. AC was one of the most famous men of Rome, and his time. But what AC didn’t know was, than there is also someone else rising in the east of his empire. Jesus. He was born in Bethlehem, Nazareth, he was to save the Jews, Gods people, from there sins. Although he was only a carpenter’s son at the time, he was to get older and save the Jews.
By the time Jesus was 30 he was starting to preach the good news to the Christians. Jesus chose 3 people to be his disciples. The roman soldiers at the time wanted Jesus dead, so they went and complained to the ruler of the estate at that time, Pontius Pilot.
They said “The Christ is trying to take after the Roman Empire and take control!” Pilot didn’t believe them, so.., he crucified Jesus for the simple reason to make them satisfied. So….. Jesus was crucified.
When Jesus died he had trained up disciples, 12 of them, they taught Christians, (apostles). They usually preached underground, because the Roman soldiers who were at every post, every street. Then the preachers and followers got “over brave” and started to teach above ground, out loud around the Romans. That’s when the first martyrs began, that is also when church history began. One of the martyrs was St. Paul. He was at first a Roman citizen, and then saw his crude ways and became an apostle. And because he was preaching the good news, he got be-headed.

Nero
(from “A Child’s History of the World” by Hillyer)
by Miss R

Nero was an emperor of Rome. He shouldn’t have even been emperor. He killed lots of people including his teacher Seneca. Now Agrippina, his mother thought that seeing his son was the emperor, she went around asking rich people to pay her bills. Nero said that she shouldn’t and got really mad. Agrippina said that he shouldn’t even be emperor, his step brother Britannicus should.  Nero sent her out. What she said warned Nero though. What if they tried to kill him? There was a woman called Locusta and she sold potions. Nero went to her and asked for a potion which was so strong to kill a human. He invited his brother over for tea and put the potion in his drink. When Britannicus had a drink he fell dead. Nero said it happened a lot so there servants picked him up and took him away. Thinking that his mother would tell all the people about him he planned to drown her. Nero had a boat and if you pulled some bolts out it would fall apart. He sent Agrippina on it with a mean captain. When they were deep enough, they pulled bolts out. Agrippina’s maid was killed by a servant and Agrippina was hauled on a boat by a friendly fisherman. When Nero heard about this he sent guards to kill her at her house. Finally, people elected Emperor Claudius.

Australasia’s Story by H.E. Marshall
By Miss R

Chapter 8, The Finding of Gold

In the town of Bathurst there was a man called Hargraves and he wanted to look for gold. So he hired a boy who knew all the rivers and creeks. And when he kept on digging and digging he found some. He went to the governor and said “Pay me £500 and I’ll show you where to dig.”. When he went to the place he saw lots of people digging for gold. You could hear the clicking of picks. One farmer found a Kerr nugget and he ran home and yelled “white man find little man, white man find big man”. There are other nuggets such as the ‘Blanche nugget’, ‘Welcome nugget’ and the ‘Welcome stranger’. The people digging there built houses and pubs and motels and it became a town.

King Canute
By Master J
(taken from James Baldwin’s 50 Famous Stories Retold)
25-3-03

There was a guy who was king but I forget his name. Anyway, people were worshipping him and he was sick of it. He asked them if the sea would obey him and they didn’t want to say no, so they said, “If you tell the sea to obey you, it will!” So he said, “Sea! Don’t touch my feet.” But the water went closer to his feet and they got wet so he threw his crown on the ground and he said, “You shouldn’t worship me but only worship the True and only King who holds the sea in the palm of His hand.”

August.
Last month the girls attended a training session at Hawker, spread over two days. This month, both girls were elated to be selected to train in the Winter Academy. So, training for this has started and we head out every Sunday afternoon, rain, hail or shine!

Miss R has attended two drama classes this term and is slowly fitting in and finding out a little more about it all.

We have started attending a church! Last week I went to the Ladies Bible Study and Master’s J & C played while the little Misses helped out by looking after some of the younger children.

We also celebrated Master C’s 6th birthday which we celebrated over 3 days ☺ He his learning to ride his new bike, with training wheels.

Miss A had a softball carnival in which she had opportunity to play against some Californian teams. This was a great experience!

September
Miss R went to Sydney for a one day carnival, with the Canberra Gold U/12 team and had loads of fun. Also, while talking softball, I (Susan) attended a Level 2 coaching course and will soon be accredited as a level 2 coach.

October
John arrived home the night before we left to go to Adelaide for the Long Weekend, for yes! Another softball tournament! It was great to go back home and catch up with friends and family. Miss A travelled down to Adelaide on the softball bus and the rest of us had a wonderfully peaceful trip in the car ☺

When we returned home, Miss A was in full training for the PSSA softball team. She was also selected as a train-on for the ACT U/16 Girls State Squad so she has been incredibly busy ever since; training three or four nights a week.

We celebrated Dad’s birthday on the 22nd in a fairly low-key fashion and then John went away……………yet again.

November
The second weekend in November had us travelling to Campbelltown (Sydney) for a one-day tournament and on that same day I had to drop John over at Holsworthy barracks to go back to work. John returned home again ☺ just in time for both Miss A and I to go Sydney for her to play in the PSSA tournament. While we were there, we went to Wonderland and had a great time! It was fantastic to go on exciting rides that I have not been on for many years. It was an exhilarating experience for Miss A to play on Diamond 1 at the Olympic grounds in Bankstown. She even hit 2 home-runs on that diamond! The other children enjoyed having Dad home with them for a whole 6 days and I’m sure that he enjoyed aspects of it too ☺ because no sooner had we returned then he had to go away………..AGAIN.

December
Life has still been incredibly hectic as we continue with Miss A’s softball and trainings. I found that I couldn’t keep up with it all and eventually had to quit my own team (A reserve). While I found this hard to do, it really was for the best. During this and the last month, I had been pitch/catch coaching the girls in the State team and coaching the Storm U/12 team and I had been moved from the Canberra U/14 team to the Canberra Gold U/12 Girls tea, of which Miss R is a part. I am enjoying working with Miss R in her softball ☺

Being the absolute TOTAL fans of Lord of the Rings, we were fortunate to be able to purchase the Extended Editions of both the Fellowship of the Ring *and* Two Towers. We were extremely excited to be going to see Return of the King on the big screen.

Both young master’s are avid wielders of swords (usually in the form of sticks) and fighting (in play of course) and they love to imitate the warriors from Lord of the Rings which also ties in well with our studies of the Middle Ages. ☺

We had another homeschooling family over for Christmas day and John cooked some BBQ meats and we had a simple BBQ and salad while we enjoyed their company. The children made good use of the pool. Did I mention that the three eldest children have become quite good swimmers lately? The life guard (Cate) has been giving them pointers and they have all grown in confidence when in the water and can swim from one end to the other. The *big* day finally arrived (Boxing Day) and we trooped off, with the visiting family, to Manuka Cinema to see ROTK and it was excellent! Thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t wait until the EE DVD is released. We have also just started listening to The Hobbit on CD. Both John and I have read the Trilogy over the last few months and enjoyed it very much; to the point where we speak another language- *Tolkien-ese* or that from Middle-Earth ☺

We were blessed again to be able to attend the Christmas performance by the Royal Military College band, performing at Music at Midday. We always enjoy going to this occasion.

We went for a drive to see the Christmas lights here in Canberra. We have a few houses here at Duntroon that look quite good but we do miss seeing the Christmas lights and festivities in Broken Hill.

My Dad has left Strath and has been to Mildura and saw his family and he is currently in Broken Hill. He is hoping to come over in January or February some time. It will be good to see him again.

Well, that is about it for our family this year! Hopefully, next year, I will be a little more diligent in recording our adventures, uneventful or otherwise.

In closing, I am reminded of the words voiced by Treebeard,

“Hm, hoom! Well, well! That is a bundle of news and no mistake. You have not told me all, no indeed, not by a long way…….” And further on when the hobbits ask him to tell of further stories he says,
“Yes, indeed I will. But I cannot tell it properly, only in short, and then we must end our talk: tomorrow we have councils to call, and work to do, and maybe a journey to begin.”

Treebeard in “The Two Towers”

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