Whale of a time.

On Wednesday we were having a quiet day around home. All the children were home from school that afternoon. It was a glorious day.

What else do you do on a glorious day in St Helens? You go to the beach of course!!!

Our impromptu decision was made late in the day, which meant a hurried change of clothes and in to the car as quickly as we could.

We were listening to the local community radio as we drove when I heard the announcer say that there had been whales spotted off the coast of Binalong Bay.

With excitement, I pushed the accelerator a little harder and got us to the bay as quickly as I could.

When we arrived, we looked and looked and could not see anything. So we went to higher ground to see if we could see them. Very quickly we saw them. They were closer than we first thought. I knew the perfect spot to get the best view.

We took the dirt track to Skeleton Bay in the car, then I took off running to the heads, where I knew there were some big rocks that would give me an amazing viewing platform.

When I reached the spot, I looked eagerly for the whales we had seen earlier, but there was noting.

Camera in hand I waited. I kept telling myself that they could not have gone far.....

THEN......

 

 

 

What an experience. I've never seen a whale before.

 

I watched them for about 15 mins. I say 'them' because I think it was a mother an a calf

 

In this next photo the calf is on the left and the mother on the right.

 

 

 

 

I enjoyed watching them playing around.

 

 

Mariah and I were trying to explain to the children that this is not something that they will see very often in their life.

 

But the kids were more interested in a plane going overhead.

 

 

 

While the children watched the plane leave a trail in the sky, I caught a glimpse of the baby whale waving goodbye as they continued on their journey south.

 

 

 

 

 

Once the whales were out of sight we continued on with our trip to the beach.

 

 

What a magical day at the beach it was. the water was so clear it was amazing. It almost reminded me of being on a little island in Fiji.

 

 

 

A great way to spend a day... If only the water was a  little warmer. 



 







"What has been your greatest achievement?"

Recently I completed a survey at work about my experience at the Commonwealth Bank and about me and my work. One of the questions asked "What has been your greatest achievement?" For me that was easy. I wrote down that my family was my greatest achievement.

Having a family has been my greatest lesson in life. I am, and feel that I will always be, a scholar of raising children, and being a good husband.

As any student will tell you, if you want good marks you need to put in a great deal of effort. I recall my most difficult, and most busy semesters at university was also my most rewarding. I believe the same can be said for having a family. I feel the closest to my children when I am with them, helping them, playing with them, and teaching them.

This is not always possible. Work and other responsibilities often take me away from my family. I often return home to an exhausted family that are winding down and preparing for bed. In my previous job I would sometimes leave before the children were up and return when they had gone to bed. This was one of the biggest drawcards to my current position. I worked weekdays and I was home at a reasonable hour of the day. To me this is important.

Another thing that is important to me, are holidays. I love time away from work. To do things that I can't do through the working week, and just relaxing at home. I had no real plans this coming week other than attending a wedding on Friday. People were asking me, what I was going to do, and I would reply I have no idea. We have nothing planned. I very rarely make plans.

Sunday morning I was laying in my bed going through Facebook. A good friend, who served with me in Fiji had a photo of his wife holding a new baby. I had no idea that she was expecting. The last time we had spoken they were not sure what their plans were in regards to having another child. As I admired the photo and smiled that they had gone ahead and decided to have another, I recalled that there had been a comment on his wall from someone previously asking about when the twins were due.

At the time I had just passed it off as a joke between friends. Knowing what had been discussed previously, I thought there was no way that they would be going to have another baby so soon. Now I wasn't so sure. So I thought I would ask.

I was sitting in the middle of a class at church when I got a reply to my question. Rudely but quietly, I pulled out my phone in class and began to read. My heart sank as I read that they did in fact give birth to twins, but unfortunately one had passed away. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I read his note. I was filled with compassion for him and his wife for their loss. I then thought of my own children and what precious gifts they are to me.

The severity of this news was so significant to me because, another man that I served along side in Fiji had also recently lost a child. I hold both of these men in high regard. Both taught me a lot and were a great example to me during my time as a Missionary. Here they were being tested beyond my comprehension. I often think of them, wonder how they are doing, and then remind myself how grateful I should be.

The class I was in was a lesson on gratitude. I don't recall to much of what was taught, but I experienced and expressed gratitude for what I have, right there at the back of the classroom. I was grateful for the children that I had, and for the one that it on the way. I was grateful that they were healthy, and were accepting of me and my weaknesses as a dad.

I have enjoyed being with my children this week. I have enjoyed taking them to school, playing with them, reading to them and just being around them. They are wonderful children.

Striving to be a good Husband and Father to my family is my greatest achievement. Nothing will change that. I'm not sure if that was the answer work was looking for when they asked that question. But it is the truth.

Visitors at out Place

It is often a nice surprise to wake in the morning, open the blinds, and be greeted by one of this worlds amazing creatures.

This morning we said hello to a pair of Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus ).

The male, identified by the pink ring around his eye, was hiding in the tree tops keeping an eye out for predators.

The female, identified by a darker ring around the eye and a larger yellow cheek, remained on the ground. It looked like she was picking grubs out of the tree roots. every now and then they would squawk quietly back and forth reassuring one another that everything was ok.

They stayed long enough for us to take a few photos and be grateful that they decided to visit us today.

As Hanisi and I attempted to get closer, the male decided that it was time to tree hop. The female followed. to a tree just a few meters away.

We took these quick snaps and went inside to enjoy our own breakfast.

This is one thing that I do enjoy at our place. We have seen baby Kookaburras learn to fly from a big old gumtree at the top of our neighbours block down past our house to the trees that line our property.

last week I came home to find a wallaby under our clothes line showing off her new baby. You can just see his back in her pouch.

I wonder what we will wake up to tomorrow?

32 + 5 = Happy Birthday

This year I turned 32.

On my birthday I woke up very early, opened my presents, played party games and had pink cupcakes for my birthday lunch.

Not because I like waking up early, or because my favourite colour is pink but because I share my birthday with Hanisi.

The early morning came about because we made the mistake of telling Hanisi it was just one sleep till her birthday. She couldn't believe her ears.

 

 

Mariah had prepared an amazing spread of food for breakfast. Mariah always goes to a lot of trouble for our birthdays.

 

This was a nice way to start the day.

 

Unfortunately, I had to go to work. But I was told not to worry about lunch. So off I went. I had no idea what to expect.

 

Hanisi got dressed up in ALL of the clothes that she got for her birthday... yes that is shorts over trousers.

 

The surprise was a picnic lunch at the park...

 

The seagulls were not impressed that we were there...

 

Giant Seagulls.

If only we hadn't eaten so many cupcakes...... Maybe we could have joined the seagulls.

It was a bit of a windy day... as you can tell by Milly's hair... That did not spoil our ability of having any fun.

 

 

It wasn't long and I was headed back to work.

 

 

The girls on the other hand, were going home to get down to businesses. Doing what they do best.... MAKING A MESS. Not only of the house but the furniture. Shhhh don't tell the landlord.

 



I think Milly may have caught a glimpse of Avitar.

Or maybe she is trying to accessorise with her eyes?

They did manage to get some paint on their paper... and did some amazing paintings.

Hanisi's painting.

Once the paper had all been used up.... what else could they use?   I know their bodies. Hmmmmmm

 

 

 

What kind of birthday would it have been if they didn't get at dirty as they possibly could. I was grateful that the only evidence that this had happed was these photos. Mummy did an amazing job at cleaning up the mess that I was too scared to put on a public blog in fear of an immediate eviction notice being served on us.

 

 

Just joking Mr Landlord.

 

 

:)