Kayaking...............finally.

So Monday I finally went out in my kayak that Paul bought me for my birthday over a month ago !! I had been pretty nervous about using it......mainly because I had no knowledge of the water rules but also because I didn't really know the best places to go. A lady who I have become friends with, Karen, who has recently joined our church is a seasoned kayaker and she took me under her wing.

Our first trip was for over an hour and we paddled around the estuary and the million dollar canal homes. The water was fairly quiet and the weather wasn't too hot or too cold or too sunny so it was perfect. The one thing Karen didn't tell me was how wet you got though !! So I was without a towel, cossie or change of clothes but by the time we got back it was hot and sunny so I dried fast ! It was brilliant, no photos though I'm afraid ! I didn't fall in and the only worrying moment came on the way back when we were joined by a couple of dolphins - mother and baby. Karen told me that they liked to play and when they went under right by my kayak I was expecting to be tipped but luckily they thought better of it. So over an hour's exercise, saw two dolphins, 6 black swans and a pelican and no aching muscles the next day - awesome fun and will definitely try and do it again soon !

On Thursday the girls had an 'expo' at school. Sport in schools here is pretty big but it does seem to revolve around boys more so than girls with netball being the big one for girls. The school's deputy had won an award last year and used some of his prize money for this day. All girls in years 4 to 7 were treated to a morning of sports, they had tasters in lots of different things including fencing, soccer, tennis and hip hop. Tallulah has now decided to take up commando training (for a girl that hates exercise this is amazing) and Nakita wants to do fencing...........I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not ! They also had a lesson is nutrition and in recess (break time) they had sugar free muffins, fresh fruit and juice which were all devoured very quickly !!

This weekend is Easter and there's no rest for the wicked. Paul is replacing all the guttering after a demand from the nasty neighbours and I'm in the process of moving 5m3 of mulch. Luckily all of the garden is now mulched (and most of my body is covered in mossie bites) with the exception of the new garden bed by the pool so I hope to finish that off and then start the hard task of mulching the church before offering any leftovers off for free recycle. Then at least one job can be ticked off for the year. We managed an Easter egg hunt tonight too when it was cooler and the girls managed to find all of the chocolate before the dog did ! I treated us all to some english Easter eggs but I have to say our taste buds have definitely changed as they weren't that great and I have now found that I can take or leave all chocolate and sweets - which is a miracle for me !

Next weekend we are away. For some strange reason the schools are closed on Tuesday for Easter (I still haven't found out why ?!!) and with the girls off school on Friday as we travel south, they will manage just two days in school. They are gutted as I'm sure you can imagine ! Still, a family holiday, even if it is only a weekend, is well over due. It's been two years and two months since we last went away as a family and who knows when we'll get to go again !

09:04 - Sun 23 March 2008