Custard the Thief

Here is a list of the things that Custard has stolen this week:

• 1 punnet of kiwi fruit - kiwi fruit uneaten but plastic punnet shredded to bits
• 4 pears in a plastic bag - pears all eaten and bag shredded to bits
• the last chocolate hobnob - the one that I was so looking forward when I was going to sit down for the first time that day in-between saxophone and clarinet and treat myself to a cup of tea
• half a freshly baked chocolate cake - it was still warm out of the oven and he took almost delicate bites out of it as shown below whilst I was distracted by Tom who was stuck up a tree and terrified that a mummy possum who was in the same tree might attack him whilst he was trying to get down.  Tess climbed into a neighbouring tree and called out "Possie, Possie" in an attempt to distract the possum.  I'm not sure if it worked but Tom got down safely.  

This week was Education week and the school had an Open Day on Thursday which meant I got to spend 5 hours up at school marvelling at all the children's cleverness - lucky me!  Tess' year set up a Gold Town scenario and performed a bush dance.  Tom's year demonstrated the morning exercises that apparently every Japanese school child does.  Tess also performed in the Drama Group and the Senior Choir so there was lots to keep me interested.  

Tess, Sophie, Nina and Sarah dressed in "Olden days" style

 Sophie and Tess

 Tess in her drama costume

 Tess is to the left of the guy in the cowboy hat

The weather was glorious this week with temps in the low 20s which made surfing on Wednesday afternoon a lot more enjoyable for me.  Sadly there was no surf but the kids had a ball playing on the beach and in the waves.  

Stephen arrived from the UK on Saturday morning and was immediately whisked off to Tom's rugby game followed by some surfing whilst Tess and I had netball followed by tennis.  In the evening Jules, Stephen and I went to The Pantry for dinner - we left the children at home on their own so we took an early sitting and were back home by 8.30pm which worked quite well for Stephen with his jet lag.  

The great thing about Andrew now owning half of Okavango Delta is that Kate is also a sailing widow.  We walked with the kids into Manly, had burgers and ice cream and then walked back.  It was a lovely way to spend a glorious day.  

Tess, Eleanor, Tom, Issy, Kate and Ewan at Chur Burger

We have had some spectacularly beautiful mornings up at the dog park.  This is a photo of the morning crews shadows (Hamish, Peter, Helen and me) as the sun came up - you can just make out the poodles pom-pom like tails.  Custard is not in the photo - he rarely stays within coo-ee of me up at the park because he's always too busy exploring.