A pleasant Sunday

The sky is growing very dark, and the rain is trying very hard to fall. It has been many weeks since we saw rain here. The children, however, can feel the electricity in the air and seem to be anticipating the storm.

Elsie has rung the sword shop three times today hoping the brothers would be there practicing. She'll be able to fit two practice sessions in before we leave for the farm. That will have to keep her going for another nine weeks until we return. Unfortunately, no-one answered the shop phone.

Both Elsie and Beth began their own blogs today. Elsie called hers Horseygirls' Heaven, and she will go completely overboard with horse information and pictures and horsey stuff. Beth has simply called hers Dear Diary. I haven't read her first post, but I'm sure it will be very 'Beth'. I believe Jack is keen to have one of his own, also. Wonder what he would write about....

Being Sunday, the children relaxed a bit. The Simpson DVD has been on, followed closely by Looney Tune cartoon DVDs. The two older girls wandered up to the fruit shop for milk and bread this afternoon. When they returned, we all realised how hungry we were and proceeded to finish off one and a half loaves of bread and half a kilo of tomatoes. I've been printing out and sorting into folder pockets this arvo. I'm looking forward to providing the opportunity for three of the younger girls to enjoy some of the thematic units I've been preparing.Not sure how much bookwork we'll get done this next 9 days, we'll probably use it as a time to relax from the stresses of packing!

A couple of the girls were asking to paint today... I felt bad about saying 'no', but the tables in the dining room were overflowing with all my 'organising', and it was another activity I would have to set up and clean up. Perhaps if we (should I say 'I') get all our necessary activities done, I'll have time to do some more playful things with and for the children.

Well, the clouds have finally let their drops fall. It sounds so lovely on the tin roof. Mmmm, I can smell that clean rain smell. There is a sombre orange grey tinge to everything now, a very peaceful feeling.

Willem is continuing to be cheeky. He likes to press the keyboard on the desktop computer while the children are playing on it. I can hear Emily's distress calls for someone to come and get her little brother before he wrecks her game of Hangaroo. Jack said she choses obscure letters when playing. Her first choice for one game was 'v'. She lets the kangaroo know that he is sillier than her and that she CAN spell.

Got a lot more packing done today, especially clothes and toys. My part of the wardrobe is bare. There is only one room I feel apprehension about - Jack's. Oh boy! that will be a challenge. I offered my help to either get him started or do it for him, which he quickly accepted, but neither of us really want to embark on this particular journey. I may get lost somewhere between the Macaano and the model ships and not be rescued in time to get to the farm.

I was really pleased to hear from John today, on the sat phone, even though it was only for a couple of moments. It is always weird to talk on that medium, with the slight time delay we tend to talk over the top of each other. I'm looking forward to him arriving home next weekend.