The water catcher

The thing I love most about having an eight year old is the talks we have. I love that he stills hops into bed for a snuggle (I feel like I am on the count down there) and in lots of ways he is still such a little fella, but I reckon we have many a fabulous conversation ahead of us him and I.

This morning for example.

We have a bit of problem here in Sydney with water - as in there is not enough in the damn dam.

This issue is talked about obsessively but media and friends alike and so Thomas has a pretty good idea of the need to save and conserve water. I have tried to demonstrate proactively - we are putting in water tanks as part of our renovation, which will feed the loo and the washing machine, and we try to keep our baths (loved by Gaye and Thomas) and showers (loved by moi) to a respectable length.

It rained here a couple of weeks ago and there was much celebration as some of it actually fell into the catchment – a feat not seen for some years.

Thomas has been full of plans to collect water – lots of trucks following the clouds was the most recent.

So this morning as we drive to school, dropping Gaye off at the train and she (as she is working on election issues) was listening intently to the news on the radio. Once she got out he started chatting to me about the book he was reading and how much he was enjoying it – he offered to lend it to me when he was finished with it.

Then he asked, “So Mum did the catcher get it?”
“Sorry darling?”
“The rain last night, did the catcher get it?”
“Did it go into the catchment? Yes darling I think some of it did.”
“Why doesn’t it all go into the catcher?”
“Well the catchment is the area around the river that leads to the dam”
“Why do we want it in a river?”
“That is where it goes into the river and then into the dam and then into pipes and to us”
“Over one of the fountains?”
‘A waterfall? Yes the dam is made of concrete and steel and then the water goes over the dam in a bit waterfall”
“Is it working now”?
“Yes it works but there isn’t enough water.”
“Is this something I need to be worried about Mum? Cause we would die if there was no water.”
(Reassuring conversation about no need to worry and here is a few things we can do)
“I just don’t understand Mum, why don’t they get a wizard to help out with a spell for the water”

OR

“Mum does the government have a bank account”
“mmmm many”
“Does John Howard only have the pin number?”


OR

“Where do poos go?”
(Discussion about sewerage treatment including mention of chemicals)
“Oh so poos are good cause they put a potion in and then they make water and soil”

steel shopping

Can I just say that I have got 3 replies back today after faxing 5 companies yesterday for quotes for my stainless steel benchtop for our new kitchen (yes I know they are expensive and I know the scratch but basically life is about scratching AND I have given up lots of things I really really wanted in renovating this kitchen and I am NOT giving this up) and the prices vary by more than $3,000.00. That is $3,000.00. At the bottom $2,700 and at the top $5,900.

Only one month now until we move in. The movers are booked, the boxes are coming.

Just a quick trip to the hospital

Gaye has spent a good part of the last two and half days in hospital. She woke up during the night with some bleeding so we went to hospital on Tuesday morning at the direction of the birth centre midwife. They have done every test under the sun and it seems as if the baby is doing just fine, he is in there safe and sound, good heartbeat and his ultra sound looked normal. All the dreadful things they listed as possible reasons for bleeding did not prove to be true on testing - but they haven't actually worked out what it is that made her bleed.

So they have sent her home, which is good because we missed her and who rests in hospital anyway, but still at home resting today. The doctor was stern and firm with her about taking things easy (which I have to say she had been anyway) and coming back in should the bleeding start again but otherwise thinking that it is okay.

We are talking very sensibly to each other about how it is all going to be okay - but I admit to an ongoing worried feeling that has me ringing home often to see how she is.

He is eight

I can't believe it. This time eight years ago I was moving from the birthing room to my room in the hospital amazed and stunned at him and myself.

Today I still look at him with amazement, he rode his new bike (a big boys bike with 21 gears and only handle breaks and big big wheels) with confidence, ordered his own breakfast at the cafe without any prompting, carried his cupcakes to share with his class in by himself and read all the cards attached to presents without any assistance. I am so proud of him sometimes I could burst.

Tonight Gaye is cooking pizza and I have made an orange cake, Aunty Sal is coming and we will have a small family celebration. On Saturday a party for 20 at the local bike path with friends, family, hot dogs and more cake.

Happy Birthday my darling darling boy

I haven’t blogged for awhile – I don’t know why – it isn’t like nothing is happening it all is...

Baby making
Gaye has only 11 weeks to go. Which seems amazing, it starts out feeling like nine months will stretch forever and then suddenly you are on the down ward run. She looks fabulous and all baby (she has such a classic pregnant tear drop belly). We are excited and starting to believe it just might be true.

Having lots of dilemmas about birthing partners or not and generally enjoying the last part of the ride.

Thomas
Has started back at school this week. He is taking being the top of the school very very seriously, and was concerned to invite even the boy who didn’t invite him to his party last year to Thomas’ this year – because ‘I don’t want him to feel like I did.’ He is looking forward to being a sports monitor and so far likes his teacher thou nothing is in stone as yet.

Renovating
Thomas and I went to the coast for a week (with Gaye, my sister and sister in law joining us on the weekend) camping during the last part of the holidays with my parents, brother and his children. The kids rode bikes, swam, played in tents, got filthy and generally had a fabulous time and there were plenty of opportunities for the adults to engage in like activities or read a book too. Thomas went from there for another week at the coast with his Granny, which involved fishing, boating and playing quite a lot of cricket.

When I came home I dropped into the house to see how it was all going and there was basically nothing there, the walls, ceilings and outside cladding were all gone. Although in theory I knew this would be the case – I was still stunned to see the actual thing. It seemed like our moving date of the 17 March was an impossibility and our budget was probably blown!

Today however it all looks much better, the walls are rejibed, the outside cladding to go up this weekend along with the plastering and so it feels like it all might actually come together.

Lightning
Is beautiful and cute and running our life basically. If only he would take me seriously when I tell him that pooing is an outside activity!