COVID-19 and its Consequences

So, the world has been turned upside down by a virus that few took seriously until a few weeks ago.
Panic buying has emptied the stores of pasta, rice, flour, sugar and toilet paper.
Currently, most restaurants, pubs, clubs, and social gatherings have been either banned or restricted.

Churches have closed. Our North Mackay Church is now all online. We are using Zoom to connect with other members and trying to keep our elderly ones safe.

As I work at the shopping centre, I've been able to buy TP  for some of Sharlene's colleagues that have had difficulty in getting to the shops in time. Everything is bought out by 9am.

Queensland has enforced either early holidays or student free days. NDIS offices are reducing staffing to skeleton crew, meaning I'll be working remotely from home alternate weeks.

Solar Panels are GO!

The solar panels that Sharlene’s tax return bought were installed today and began reducing our power bill from 1:10pm, at which time our meter read 7227kw hours.

Our system is about 7kw on two strings with 8.2kw inverter, evenly divided north and west facing.

Junior Camp and its Aftermath

A week into January, Zem and Az went off to Junior camp. They caught a bus that was traveling through to Somerset. 

By Wednesday, Zem had somehow fractured his heel but initially everyone thought it was a sprain. (Not sure how, but the closest we can get is that he pencil dived into the shallow end of a pool.) He was eventually put in plaster after an X-ray identified a crack in the bone. “No weight-bearing!” Was the instruction. But try telling that to a 12 year old who doesn’t feel pain well.  

Well, on Tuesday, it was the first day at school. It was raining. Hard. I dropped the younger ones to their school, but Zem was going to his new high school. So we prayed for the rain to stop while Zem was settling in. In the 10 minutes it took to drive to his school, the rain slowed and stopped, so that Zem’s cast stayed dry. It stayed stopped until I got back in my car to leave, and then it poured down again.

On Thursday, Zem had a CT scan in his heel and it was identified that the break was more significant than previously thought. He now has a ‘moon boot’, so at least he can now have a bath, but still on crutches and still no weight bearing. 

Check up in 4 weeks.

Christmas 2019

This year we planned to drive southwards to catch up with Grandma Mac and that side of the family who were gathering at the caravan park where she was holidaying. Unfortunately, on the 23rd, our car broke which resulted in a cancelled trip and a quiet Christmas at home. 

This Christmas was enjoyable in that the children gave quite thoughtful gifts to each other - ones that showed an obvious impact of gratitude and expression of unrestrained joy and enthusiasm. 

Lily received a Sylanian Families car and kangaroo family. Sharlene also sewed some sleeping bags for them. 

Zekiah got several sets of lego, the greatest of which was a helicopter with moving blades and sliding door and windable drop line.

Azariah and Zemiel both received gel blasters and have been blasting away ever since. Zemiel is content with shooting at targets, and doesn’t much want to be targeted. The gel balls do sting when hit at close range, and Zem is vey risk adverse. Having said that, he will call for a truce and then fire on you when you back is turned. So will Azariah for that matter who will pretend to be out of ammunition and then shoot at close range.

Liana and Ki have water blasters and so join in the games - with Lilly looking the meanest.

Shar got a dress making manakin, but has spent the last few days making dresses for Lilly. 

Happy 12th Birthday Zemiel

Zemiel celebrated his 12th birthday on the 12th of September. This year, as presents, he received a Jembe drum and a swag. 

He also got two parties and two cakes - one at Nunna’s house and one at home. 

Meet Bear and Ash

One week ago we got two new pups. They are amstaff x lab/border collie. 

Bear is male. He licks and chews everything. His tail is constantly wagging and body wiggling.

Ash is female. She is calmer than her brother and listens better. She is easier to cuddle. 

We’ve had them for 1 week. They had their immunisation injections last Tuesday. They are now 7 weeks old. 

So far, they have learnt to sit, and stay.

The children are enjoying the interactive pets but have learnt the importance of keeping the house much cleaner.

New cast for a broken wing

Behold! A new bright red cast has been obtained for Zemiel. 

Book Week: Reading is my Super Power

Our children enjoyed getting dressed up for book week this year.

Zemiel transformed into 'Sam Silver'.
Azariah went at 'Peter' from the book: Whispering in the Wind.
Zekiah went as 'Arnold' from the Magic Schoolbus series.
Liana dressed up as 'Angelina Ballerina' from the series of the same name. As such, she formed one of three in the prep 'Pink Brigade' with her friends, Ellie and Makayla.

Azariah Learns Violin

This year, Azariah has been learning violin.
We've endured his practice in private and we've enjoyed his performances in public.

Indeed, we are proud of his achievements and when he played with the school violin ensemble at the local shopping centre, it was only appropriate to go and support his effort.

So far, he's also played for church and the school concert as well.

Broken Arm!

Shar got a call from Zemiel's school on Tuesday.
It seems Zemiel took a dive when he tripped over another boy's foot when playing handball.

His arm swelled pretty swiftly and so a trip to the doctor and then to the base hospital was necessary.
The x-ray confirmed a full break of the Ulna and a decent fracture of the Radius.

Zem naturally has a high pain tolerance and he was quite calm whilst being checked out. The most upsetting thing though, was when the doctor confirmed that he could not attend his class' Sydney-Canberra trip next week. That was devastating and took some time to accept. Fortunately, the school has made plans to keep him occupied through the week.

He's been awarded a full cast to immobilise the arm, along with a cool sling. At night, he has 'sprunge' bath 

He's had some discomfort when trying to sleep and the idea of another six weeks of having a cast doesn't seem appealing. His cast will be re-examined next week and perhaps a new one put on.