A Python Cuddle for Rhys

At the school fair I was asked if Rhys would like his photo taken with the snake. This is the photo, what a brave boy! The snake was about 5 kilograms.
Now Tasha has ridden a camel and Rhys has worn a snake, both experiences that I have never had. There are such great opportunities for kids available over here.

St Patricks Day Concert

The girls danced well in the concert and were very cute. I was lucky enough to have a leprecaun sit on my knee, he's pictured here somewhere. The older girls dancing were great to watch and the Emu Creek Bush Band were very entertaining and played great music.
A highlight of the evening was Natasha and Rhys getting up on stage for the bird dance. Rhys was the youngest child that went up and he took part as well as any of them. Especially the wiggling bottom bit!

Rhys the Fish

I took the camera to Rhys's swimming lesson this morning. It was very humid in there so excuse the misty photos.

Irish Dancers

Tash and Em are dancing in a concert on St Patricks Day. Don't they look cute in their costumes. Of course Rhys had to be in one of the photos, no show without Punch!

Labour weekend fun

Before all you NZers say "but it isn't Labour weekend!" be assured that here it is.
We had a busy productive weekend. Wayne headed out to Wedderburn for some token finding fun for prospecting enthusiasts. We headed out to join him on Sunday and Tash and Em learned the basics of gold panning.
Today I helped the kids to bake cupcakes (baby size ones). They iced their own and chose their own colours. Tash purple, Emily - Orange and Rhys made yellow. They learned that it takes a lot longer to bake and ice cupcakes than it takes to eat them.

The Little Peoples Art Studio

This is a new business based at 287 High Street, Golden Square. Rhys went along to try it out. Here is the result of his time there. He really enjoyed himself. I will take the girls there sometime soon as well. They have white mould objects to paint, you can make a clock or a photo frame or a mask. I found their prices really reasonable. They have kindly taken an earring stand of my earrings to sell as well, so I am rapt.

Monday Morning

The dawn sky was just beautiful this morning, I had to take photos. I was up early 4.45am because I woke up with inspiration for the short story that I have to write for my Advanced Fiction Writing paper I went straight to the computer and typed 1500 words by 6.30am. So by 7.00am I had written a story and taken photos. Rhys also has had an achieving morning as he attained his Swordy Blue Certificate for swimming he has only had 4 lessons and has received 3 certificates. He will be expecting one every lesson at this rate!! :)

Open Day on View Street

What a lot of fun. There was music on three different stages and fairys, very tall men and beautiful butterflys. We enjoyed the antics of an alternative artist who stood on his head after his painting was complete. His painting looked a lot like the art of relaxating (see David's blog). The girls had their faces painted and I enjoyed a yabbie burger.

4.30pm

This will be the last update of a very normal uneventful day in the end. We are now at 33 degrees and 19 km/h wind and no fires here. The best outcome we could have wished for but not very newsworthy.

1.30pm

Still uneventful, Bendigo is experiencing 29.9 degrees and 20 km/h wind.

10.30am

All pretty quiet really. Bendigo is at 22.6 degrees and wind is at 17 km/h. No fires here and the Daylesford fire looks to be the same as earlier as well.

7.30am Update

All quiet on all fronts apart from a small fire in Kangaroo Flat at 7.30 this morning which has been now labelled safe. Last temp recorded at 16.5 degrees. A fire weather warning is current today in the Northern Country, Wimmera,Mallee, North Central and Central forecast districts and parts of the Western,West and South Gippsland and Northeast forecast districts. Temperatures up to 40 degrees, relative humidity down to 6% and winds to 35 km/h will cause extreme fire danger. Rhys's kindy is closed today due to the threat of high temps and bushfires. The girl's school is operating as normal. Today I will only be updating on the presently contained bushfire at Daylesford and hopefully no activity in Bendigo. The Daylesford fire is of interest because it is about 50kms away from where Wayne is working and there is concern that the high winds that are forecast could cause it to jump its containment lines.

Looking hot for Fryday

Tomorrow the weather forecast is for over 40 degrees with 50 km winds so it will be another very high risk fire day. The CFA is gearing up and warning people to activate their fire plans. In light of this for concerned readers who do not have the access to all the news items that I do. I will do 3 hourly updates starting at 10.00am (NZ time) Hopefully it will be very boring with nothing to report.

Out n about in Bendigo

Today I took the children to the Golden Age of Couture exhibition where we feasted our eyes on some beautiful Christan Dior and Yves Saint Laurent gowns from the 1940s and 1950s. Here is a link that you can paste into your browser to view a slideshow of the gowns on display. http://www.theage.com.au/news/photogallery/entertainment/arts/the-golden-age-of-couture/2008/12/03/1228257128617.html
After that I finally took some photos around Bendigo of the lovely old buildings, something that I have been meaning to do for ages.

Bushfire makes a stunning sunset

Red Moon Rising

Wayne took these photos last night. A beautiful red moon.

A story of being in the midst of it

Some of you may be interested to read a couple of blogposts from a travel writer who happened to be staying in Eaglehawk with her Aunt when the fire in Bracewell Street was happening. Here is the link. http://www.cooltravelguide.blogspot.com