Fire watching

I responded to an incident call on Friday afternoon. It was just about 1pm when the pager went off saying there had been a smoke sighting and could crews gather awaiting further instructions. I'd meant to put my PPE in the back of the car that morning but had forgotten so I had to drive all the way home (and wouldn't the roads be just CLOGGED with slow drivers???), get my kit then drive back in to Springwood and to our shed. Luckily the others waited for me.

We then headed back out here to the Winmalee shed (I could have met the others there) and sat there until after 6 when we were tasked to go and relieve Karen's brigade who were watching the fire from Faulconbridge Point. And there we sat, taking regular weather readings until after midnight when we were relieved by a Valley Heights crew. We'd whiled the time away by having dinner - those tightwads at Winmalee didn't think to feed us - we got the generator started and made ourselves toasted sandwiches and cuppas.

Pete L, Tracey and I got ourselves comfy on the rocks and played I Spy (two goes each and we were out of ideas) and The Prime Ministers Cat.

Pete McD. had been banging on about setting up his hammock all afternoon. I thought he was joking until I saw this :
I'd put my name down for the 6am crew on Saturday so was up and out again before 5:45 having got home after 1:30am. Again we were tasked to sit watching from Faulconbridge Point and taking weather readings every hour. I was armed with a book this time which I got a little bit read of and Holly played Uno with Craig. We were relieved some time after midday by Karen's lot again and headed home.

Shortly after we were back on the bitumen again and just outside Robbie's school we came across a car accident. A young girl had gone head first into a power pole and there was a live wire on the ground. No one was hurt luckily. We put witches hats on the road to keep people away from the power line and did traffic duty while waiting for the NSW Fire Brigade and the Police to come.

It was a hot, exhausting day and although we had a street party on and I was supposed to be going out with the school Mums, I just went to bed and tried to sleep.

The boys went with Jamie's friend Scott to their first concert last night - Lamb of God at Luna Park. They had a great time they said. They went down on the train but Ian went down in the car to bring them back, I didn't think it would be wise for them to be travelling home by themselves late at night.

Ishbel was supposed to be going to Carols by Candlelight with her friend Zanny but they had a bit of a falling out and she ended up coming home. She and I watched an episode of The Goodies before we both went to bed.

Tall tales and true

Sportsperson of the Year

We were back at Robbie's school again last night for another award ceremony. We almost forgot about it, Rob had to remind us while we were having dinner. Oops!

When we arrived at the school we were given a programme booklet. Looked through it twice to find Robbie's name and see what he was getting a prize for. Nothing. Looked through it backwards. Still nothing. Eeek! Told Rob to go and find out what was going on. The deputy principal, Mr Burnett, reassured Rob that he was getting an award for Sport, there had been a mistake in the printing. Relaxed again.

Sat through HOURS of prizes. Bum sore. Hot. Tired. That was Ishbel! Finally, the Sports prizes. The kids line up at the side of the hall, waiting to come on to the stage to receive their prizes before they stand facing the audience for a final round of applause. Suddenly had a second crisis of confidence, did the teacher reading out the prize winners have Rob's name on her list? Would he be left standing at the side like a dill when all the others had been called up?

The teacher did have Robbie down as (one of two) Sportsperson of the Year. Phew! She not only remembered him, but she said a little speech about him (the only student to have such a rave review) saying he was amazing, into everything and she listed all the sports teams he was in, a natural athlete and all round one of the nicest people she knows. How about that for a glowing report. So proud!

I was also greatly pleased to see Alex and Claire, my friend Joanne's daughters, get prizes; Alex for English (Yr 7) and Claire The Caltex Prize for Best All-rounder (Yr 12, best student across all subjects). Claire has finished school now and was just back from a week away on schoolies week. Joanne would have been so proud too.

Robbie's Award Day

In complete contrast to yesterday, I turned up early to Rob's award ceremony and had half an hour to kill. It was OK because they gave me a cup of tea and I had time to go and pay the 'voluntary' contribution. With three schools I get muddled about which school has been paid and which hasn't.

Rob got his award for coming second in Legal Studies. Here he is just after getting the award.

And here he is with Kate (his honourary cousin).

Kate seems to be completely incapable of posing naturally - you have no idea how many times this picture was taken - this is the best of a bad lot!

Ishbel

Ishbel with the Teacher's Core Values Award medal

and with the Premier's Reading Challenge Gold Award - this is for participating in the Premier's Reading Challenge for 4 years in a row.

My clever girl

I have been up at Springwood High School this morning because that is where Ishbel's school went for their end of year presentation ceremony. We'd been advised that Ishbel was getting an award, but not what it was for.

I nearly missed it! I saw Ishbel off on the bus to school as normal this morning and came in to work and got so thoroughly engrossed that I was in the middle of a thorny cataloguing problem discussion with Gillian when I realised it was 10 o'clock and the presentation began at 10 o'clock. I hadn't even got around to putting my bag away so was able to just grab it and race out the door. (Ian is up in Queensland so was unable to be there).

I was in plenty of time. Ishbel was called up with the others getting prizes in her class. There were prize winners for the various subjects they do (English, Maths, HSIE, Creative Arts, etc) and prize winners for the school's core values (Learning, Positive Relationships, Personal Growth and Healthy Environments). Ishbel's prize, a medal actually, was the Teachers Core Value Award - Learning.

Yay!

Unfortunately, the battery was flat in my camera so rubbish photo. Will try and get photo of Ishbel and her medal tonight or tomorrow and post then.

And I get to go back tomorrow to do it all again with Rob.

Apparently this sign was necessary at one library in the US!

Because I liked it . . .

TGIF - EU Directive No. 456179

In order to meet the conditions for joining the Single European currency, all citizens of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland must be made aware that the phrase 'Spending a Penny' is not to be used after 31st December 2009.

From this date, the correct terminology will be: 'Euronating'.

Thank you for your attention.

Shakespeare

This was played on the radio this morning.