January Highlights

Been a bit slack with the blog but due to the public outrage from readers (one person said 'Where was our blog?' - thanks EK) so  have decided to summarise January in a few sentences and a million photos.  We had a wonderful Christmas in Melbourne, caught up with a few friends but mainly with family. The kids loved playing with their cousins and we enjoyed great weather. We had to say farewell to Pomonal but were consoled by the fact there is a new country property in the family at Drysdale. Matt and I had to head back to work and the kids continued their fun holiday with the family going to wildlife parks and walks on the beach and hot springs and pirate shows and bonfires in the paddock and pedicures and so much more. Thanks to all for the fun times.

Since returning Matt and I have been to a comedy night, Changi War Museum and with the kids we have seen Titanic exhibition, Narnia Exhibition and Wicked. Kids have now started back at school.  There's afterschool activities to organise, orthodontist appointments etc, Matt and I are both busy at work but somehow we manage to juggle things between us... mostly - probably something to do with the fact we have help. 

A Christmas Tradition

We are heading off to Melbourne tonight, looking forward to a few weeks of summer with family and friends.  Following what has become our Christmas tradition, we started the day with the Bertram Family Christmas gift giving, with Lucinda and I being surprised by the girls who had spent their entire pocket money at a gift store around the corner to buy us Christmas gifts.  It was very lovely.  After pancakes for breakfast, the girls tried out their new snorkeling gear in the pool.  The pool was a bit cool on account of the deluges of rain we've been having recently - on Sunday and Monday it basically did not stop raining for 24 hours.  We then got ourselves dressed up and headed to Goodwood Park hotel to enjoy English Afternoon Tea at L'Espresso Cafe.  We enjoyed a wide variety of foods in pleasant surrounds.  Now we are in time filling mode, before heading to the airport in about an hours time.  See you soon!

Cinderella Goes to MBS

It's been a very busy couple of months and we are all ready for our Christmas break.  I have been travelling, Lucinda has been publishing a magazine and the girls have been finishing another school year.  That's not to mention all the end of year events that have been going on.

The biggest highlight has been the Avondale Grammar School production of Cinderella and Rockerfella, with Act 1 featuring Felicity as Cinderella and Alice as Dan Deeny, Rockerfella's agent.  The girls put on an amazing performance and just looked wonderful.  The whole production was fantastic with great singing and dancing involving almost the entire school.  I was very lucky that my work conference that week was in Singapore and I didn't miss out on the show!

As a presenter and part of the organising team for our sales kickoff event, I managed to get a room at Marina Bay Sands (MBS), which is Singapore's iconic integrated resort featuring 3 towers joined by a sky park.  The girls came over for a swim in the sky park pool, 57 floors up and looking out at the Singapore skyline.  Watching day turn to night (was cloudy, so no actual sunset to speak of) and the lights come on was spectacular.

Dog of a day and other tails

We've had lots of things to do to keep us busy recently. Dress up like Super heroes Day where Alice went as Super Turtle and Felicity as Super califragilisticexpealidocious. Matt's been away to Japan, USA and Hong Kong and Macau in recent weeks but on the weekends we've managed to have good family times with bike riding at Pasir Ris park a highlight. Felicity and Alice both had their awards assembly and Felicity was awarded Superstar Actress of the class and Alice got Talented Artist. This weekend we invited all Buckley's friends to the dog party for Buckley's 5th birthday party. It was very muddy which the kids and the dogs enjoyed. Otis the big white dog turned browny grey - we laughed a lot at him until he wanted to come and greet us and proceed to shake his mud all over us.

Last night we set up our Christmas in preparation for the silly season. And in less than hour we collect Brittany and Tess from the airport for their Singapore stopover before France.  I think they plan to soak up the sun while they are here but considering its rainy season they'll probably get a little more soaked than they planned.

Birthdays and other celebrations

Cup Day - The office went out for lunch to celebrate. Almost as good as getting the day off.

The Australian High Commission was challenged to an afternoon of sport by the Singapore Sports Council. They chose the sports - table tennis, darts and soccer. It was held at the awesome venue of the floating platform at Marina Bay. I won both my table tennis games - singles & mixed doubles so the way I tell the story is "I beat Singapore at Table Tennis while representing Australia." I even have a medal! Unfortunately overall Singapore Sports Council proved they were pretty good at sport!

I brought along my fan club to cheer for the Aussies but my fan club  had their own fan club and were required to pose with many from Team Singapore.

Scary face for Halloween. The kids did trick and treating around at Fiona's condo. Felicity went as a mime while Alice went as "Ghost girl"

The loot they scored was obscene. Next year they are going with a small snap lock bag. Once that is full then that's it!

Felicity and I had fun decorating her cake as a piggy.

Universal Studios for Felicity Birthday. Lots of fun with family and best friend Eleanor.

Felicity unwrapping all the gifts! Thanks so much.