THE WEEKEND

Grr, I just wrote a really long post and then the computer lost it!!!! So here we go again....

Tom's friend hasn't come back this weekend as he had to go and help at his fathers farm. On Friday night Sarah, Tom and I went to Auntie Kay's (one of the teachers at Sarah's school) birthday barbeque. This was my first outback bbq! It was what you would expect: it was at the stables in town and most of the men were there in their jeans, shirts and cowboy hats! The food was great but the atmosphere was a bit quiet - Sarah and Tom agreed!

Yesterday morning I went out riding again at about 8am and then gave Sarah a lesson. She hasn't ridden for a while so it was mainly just getting her confidence back. She did really well and was doing rising trot by the end. There is also another horse Tex here that has been broken in but was left under the supervision of someone else for awhile and now we can no longer catch him. Chris has asked me to try and work with him, so yesterday was the start. We cornered him in the garden and then I spent about half an hour trying to get him to trust me. By the end I was able to pat him and have the bridle near him with the bit near his mouth. I felt this was a big enough improvement for the first day and it was starting to get too hot so we left it there. This morning I went back out and although we had to corner him it only took me a couple of minutes to get back to where we left of yesterday. After just under an hour, I was managing to put on and take off the bridle a number of times. Chris wanted the bridle left on for awhile and to leave him wandering around the garden. I wasn't happy with this as there are so many things the bridle could get caught on and then it would be even more work to catch him next time. I left it on for 10mins and then went to take it off. I was so surprised as I was able to walk straight up to him and fiddle around with the bridle and he just stood there! As you may have guessed, I'm quite pleased with how well it went! Fingers crossed I wont need to corner him first soon!

In the afternoon yesterday we also went swimming again. It felt so good jumping into the cold pool! I have been giving Sarah swimming lessons and she is getting on really well. She picks things up really easily. Yesterday was teaching breaststroke which she hasn't done before - thanks Yvonne for all your tips, they sure did help!

In the evening we went to watch Sarah's school play. First of all we went to the village park at 6pm and had Santa turn up on the back of a quad bike - no need for sleighs here in this weather! We then had a buffet salad bar before heading over to the village hall to watch 'The Fastest Handbag In The West'. The kids did great. Sarah was Cowboy Sam so I had plaited her hair to hide it under her hat! She looked great in her outfit! They then sang Christmas carols and I thought the most entertaining was "Aussie Jingle Bells". I have asked the teachers for the words so I will post them on here when I get them, they are quite funny. Sarah won the Literacy Award and so she was really pleased with this. The evening finished with us going back to the park for deserts.

I now sleep outside every night but even that is too hot sometimes. I don't think my room has been below about 29 degrees for about 5 days now and it is only that low at 6am! This weekend it has been int he low 40's and apparently it is to keep rising at least until the middle of the week - eek! Think I may be swimming lots! Looking forward to travelling just so that it is slightly cooler!

Still not sure what I am doing about Christmas and New Year yet. Should hopefully find out in about 2 weeks once things here are sorted out about where the kids will be.

Think I have covered everything I lost.

Hope you are all well.
xxx