1/52

I just discovered a gorgeous blog called Che & Fidel.

They have started up a blogger community project encouraging us all to take a portrait of our children, once a week, every week in 2013.

Well.....I thought...why not??

What a great way to record the changes, the growth, the maturing that occur throughout a year and that you don't always notice...being so close and all.

Given that I have Master 15, growing up fast... and Master 12 on the very edge of that precipice called puberty.....things could get interesting.

So here we go.....this is my 1/52.

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What a difference a day makes.....

We survived yesterday....just!

It was Hot....with a capital H!

At one point I took the thermometer outside...granted I left it in the sun....but this was the result....

I didn't know it could get that hot!

At 1.30am it was still hot......

and sleep was not easily found!

But at some time after 2.00am a cool change finally swept in...aahhh....blessed relief!

Today was positively chilly in comparison....with a top of only 23 degrees.....perfect weather for a day out.

I have a group of old friends....we have all known each other for over 20 years.

Once upon a time, in a former life, we used to flat together and were known to run amok on a regular basis.

Here we are in action many, many moons ago.......

These days life is very different...we all grew up....got responsible.....and had families.

Now we try to get together each school holidays for a catch up.  When we do it's quite a crowd....kids EVERYWHERE!  Today's count was 21....we left some at home!

They swam.....

....and we talked.....after all that's what we do best!

H.O.T.......

The temperatures are predicted to hit 43 degrees in Sydney today.....that's approximately 110 degrees in the old money.

Heaven help the western suburbs...which usually mange to climb another 5 degrees or so higher than anyone else.

So I have come up with a few of MY tips for keeping cool.....please note they are totally unendorsed by any authority which may actually know....

• If you have air conditioning turn it on......as early possible....set your alarm....better yet set Hubby's alarm.
• Close all windows, blinds, curtains....the more your home resembles a cave the better.
• Drink, drink, drink....very important to stay hydrated.  However, best not make them alcoholic bevvies....we all know that famous saying..."Only mad dogs and Englishmen and intoxicated Aussies go out in the midday sun".
• If you have no AC at home I suggest a trip to the cinema.  Pick the longest movie possible....I can personally recommend The Hobbit....which runs for 169 minutes plus trailers and advertising...that should get you through.
• A day at the shops is a possibility....however....many, many people will have the same plan.  By the time you eventually find a parking spot, fight the crowds inside the shops and not be able to get a table in the Food Hall you will be feeling extra hot under the collar....and any added warmth is not to be recommended today.
• Wear as little as possible....if you can get away without a bra....do it!  Today is the day for hanging free.
• Tie any hair below your neck up if possible....I swear for every cm of hair hanging down my neck I suffer an extra degree of body heat....but perhaps that's just me.
• A personal favourite of my kids.....put your CLEAN undies in the freezer for an hour or so....before donning them for your cooling enjoyment.
• No physical exertion to be attempted...at all!!  Slothful lounge lying thoroughly recommended.
• Try to skip work....however, if work has AC, go and try to score a few hours paid overtime while you're at it.
• Pray for an early onset southerly buster...which has absolutely nothing to do with my dog.
• If you only have a fan...then I suggest lying on a tiled floor in front of it...while spraying yourself constantly with a water bottle.
• Do NOT sunbake...this will only result in sunburn and sunstroke...neither of which are pleasant.
• Remember your deodorant...you might not smell you....but we sure will!
• Try to enjoy it...it's the one day you can be sure you look smoking hot!
• If the electricity fails....PANIC.....it's every man for himself!

Potty humour......

Master 12 has a thing for toilets.

He can't walk past one without going in....I'm not sure he actually uses them....maybe he just likes checking out the architecture.

So he visits them wherever he goes.....shops, restaurants, museums, clubs, parks, other people's houses, fast food joints (they don't really count as restaurants), trains, planes....anywhere....except highway rest areas and porta loos.......he has some standards!!

It's difficult to understand why....but perhaps it can be traced back to this incident in his toddler days.....

or perhaps this occurred because his fetish had already taken hold!?!

What came first the chicken or the egg??

Not so easy come....very easy go....

Master 15 took another big step on the road to adulthood today.

He made his first major purchase....using his own money.

After approximately 173 hours of "Would you like fries with that?".....he was right to go.

He had been hankering after a laptop for many months....and today was the day....his ATM card was burning a hole in his pocket.

We drove up to Charlestown...where they have an Apple Store....and with the help of one of those uber cool and funky computer nerds the deed was done.

Here's a selfie...showing his delight on the way back home....

More delight at home.....

Then it was time for the momentous unpacking procedure....

Don't you just love the way Apple products are packed....so neat and tidy and perfect....seems a shame to take them out of the box.....

And they are so welcoming.....

Time to turn it on.....

We have lift off........

Now don't call us excessive or anything but that brings the Apple Tally in our house to.....

• 2 iPod Shuffles
• 1 iPod Nano
• 2 iPod Touches
• 2 iPhones
• 2 iPads
• 1 iMac
• 1 MacBook Pro

Apple may well be seeking world domination....and it seems they are starting right here at our place!

Feel the burn.....

Hubby and Master 15 recently had a day out to the cricket at the SCG.

Upon their return it was discovered that they had very irresponsibly not worn their sunscreen or their hats.

It was discovered because the evidence was all over their faces.

Hubby got a little hot under the collar...though that could have been from the sunburn....when I tried to take a quick photo.  He dared to pronounce that he didn't need his entire life to turn up on my blog.......why, I've never heard the like!!  I was in fact trying to record the moment to be used as evidence against him in the future.

Suffice to say he looked very similar to this.....

So now....due to his cheek and insubordination....what may or may not have even rated a mention is now scoring a post all of it's own!

Hair raising.....

Today is hair washing day.....but I'm not going out anywhere special.....so I took the easy.....read lazy.....way out and decided to tie it back instead.

Up it went and I inspected the result in the mirror.

Then I leaned in for a closer inspection....with a feeling of growing horror.

In a controlled panic I made my way out to where the kids were lazing around in the family room.

"Do you see it?" I asked them both anxiously in turn.

"Nup" replied Master 15, though I'm pretty confident that he didn't even look up from the iPad.

"Umm...Nooo????"  answered a bewildered and slightly worried Master 12.

"It's right there!!"

 It won't be long and I will look like this...

or perhaps this......

or at the very least this.....

Happy days ahead!!