On Ironing

'Yeah, Mum's always wishing we had a house-elf to do the ironing,' said George. 'But all we've got is a lousy old ghoul in the attic and gnomes all over the garden.'

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

I think that ironing is one of things that you either love or loathe, and I definitely don't love it.

Because my husband and I both work and our eldest son goes to a school where he has to wear a shirt and trousers each day, we have quite a lot of ironing to do.

The only way I can endure it is by doing in front of the television. This usually happens on a Sunday night.

The problem is that while ironing is fairly rewarding, in that you end up with beautiful, smooth, sweet-smelling clothes, I find the act of ironing unbearably repetitive and tedious.

Do you iron? Do you have any tips to make ironing less dreary? Or less time-consuming?

Please provide me with some inspiration!

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No More Training Wheels

From a parent's point of view there are lots of important milestones in a child's life - learning to walk, those treasured first words; learning to read - to name but a few.

However, from a child's point of view few events are more memorable than the day they first learn to ride a bicycle without training wheels.

Our older children learned to ride a bike at around age five but we have waited longer with our youngest, mostly because we just haven't got around to it. However, this sunny spring weekend seemed the perfect time for this special event.

All four of our children have learned to ride on the same blue bike which is now rather creaky and rusty, but it has been a loyal friend and has served its purpose well.

Here is our little boy getting ready to ride.

Ready...

Steady...

Go!

And off he went ... after a few falls and crashes, of course.

Afterwards he said, "Mum, I am so happy. I am very proud of myself."


I'm very proud of him too.

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Going on a Bear Hunt

I went on a bear hunt and look what I found:

a picnic ground,


some rugged cliffs,

children in a tree,

a waterfall,

and finally, a fat bear looking down at me.

(These pictures were taken at Morialta Conservation Park here in Adelaide.)

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A Tangle of Limbs

This tangle of limbs belongs to two of my children and my three nieces, who are visiting from Sydney with their mother.

As you can see, they are enjoying their time together. We live so far apart that any time spent together is treasured greatly.

Mind you, a minute or two after this shot was taken my littlest niece got squashed and began to cry. Our little love-in didn't last for long!

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Idiosyncrasies

Tell me, why can I not go to bed at night unless the bed is made? For example, if my husband has a siesta and the sheets are ruffled, I have to remake the bed before getting in, even though I know I am about to muss it up again.

Also, why do I feel the need to clean the kitchen before I start cooking the dinner? I can't work unless the benches are clear and the dishwasher stacked. However, I never really feel like doing the dishes after dinner.

When I have breakfast in the morning I like to have a clean table. I will wipe up any spilt milk or other messes left by the kids so that I can have an aesthetically pleasing space for my own breakfast -- even though it means having to clean up again after myself.

I'm nuts, I know.

Do you have any idiosyncrasies? Please tell me I am not alone!

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The Queen of the Family

When I arrived home on Friday I was treated like a queen. My husband and the kids had been scheming and planning for days.

There was a balloon and streamer-bedecked throne for me to sit on,

a table beautifully set by my daughter,


an entree of prawn cocktails made with South Australian king prawns,



a roasted rack of spring lamb for the main course,


and a beautiful chocolate and berry cake from a local pattiserie for dessert.

For drinks they had purchased my current faves, lemon ruskis for the adults and Coke Zero for the kids. And after the meal freshly ground coffee and chocolates were served.

Don't you think that was a fabulous effort?

The thoughtfulness and kindness of my sweet family brought me to tears.

I felt deeply honoured. I am so proud of them all.

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A Bowl of Flowers...

... Sent by my brothers and their families in Sydney for my birthday.

Thank you so much guys! I love you all.

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