Opportunity to Update

With Katy's new window installed, we have been slow to decide on the curtain. The shape and size of the window meant that the roman blinds (our existing window furnishings) would not be suitable. After some consideration, we decide to order a honeycomb blind from an online company (recommended by Cath) and install it ourselves.

The blind arrived and we couldn't be happier. Installation was a breeze, the colour was lovely and the blind is so light to open. That made the decision easier to order more. We opted to still be conservative and bought blinds for Katy's main window as well as Ella's two windows. Again it would be another trial installing and using these types of blinds on bigger windows.

Our only hiccup was one of the blinds in our second order arrived with a cut cord! A quick visit to the shops to find more string and we were back in business. Again the blinds were easy to install and look great ( except for the patching and painting which needs to be done!) Now time to seriously think if we want to continue with the rest of the house.

 Katy's main window

 Ella's two windows - new and old blind comparison

Winter Netball Done

Katy decided to sign up for netball rather than soccer this year along with her friend Mira. They joined the Inner North Netball Club and were allocated to the team known as the Simbas. Turns out that their team consisted of 4 other girls from their school. 

As for many sports held during Covid times, parents were not allowed to attend. For the first game, Ella and I took Indi around the oval a few times doing some training. Here Ella revealed that she actually wanted to do winter netball again! So sometime during the following week after a few emails, Ella joined The Pink Pearls team which consisted mostly of year 7 Canberra High girls.

Most weekends, Al & Rob would drop off Mira and Katy and we'd retrieve them an hour later. The girls were always chatty post game despite being beaten every match bar the semi finals!

A few hours later, we'd drive Ella to her game at a different location. Her team. faired a little better winning most of their matches. It just so happened that Aoife was in a school netball team in the same competition so I would hang around chatting to Cath watching their games from the grass.

On the last day of competition, I realised that one of Ella's coaches was the daughter of a fellow sonographer - such a small world!!

Both girls enjoyed their netball season. Ella signed up for a summer comp and Katy was disappointed to find out the school summer competition held in Term 4 has been cancelled.

School Holiday Adventures

School holidays have changed in the last year - no more holiday programs as both girls are sadly over them. This means we now can leave them to entertain themselves (or get bored) while we are at work. However when I did get the opportunity to be home, I wanted to do something with them and so suggested going on a picnic to the river with Indi. Both girls agreed to join us.

It was a short drive out west to the edge of Belconnen to Shepherds Lookout. I've run here before and knew although the trail to the Molonglo river was relatively short, it was also steep. The sun was shining as we ambled our way down ignoring the no dogs sign. By the time we arrived at the river both girls were hot and eager to go swimming!

Can't say the water looked that inviting - it was brown and turbulent. Anyway the girls waded and so did Indi. She got the wettest as she doggy paddled around! Everyone was happy. Post swim we enjoyed a sushi picnic lunch before trekking back up the hill. We were hot and sweaty at the top and needed an ice cream on the way home. Twas a nice adventure.

New BFF

While we were at the snow, Indi ventured over to our friend's place to hang out with their 8 month old labradoodle Panda. Indi behaved and the two dogs are now the best of friends! They managed to play non-stop for the first day before slowing down a little. Just over two weeks later, Panda got to have a sleepover at our place which was lovely.

Return of Blue Skies

Our final skiing day for 2020 was under blue skies! We cleaned the lodge and pack the cars before driving around to Perisher. A tour was in order. Skiing down Rollercoaster, we were overtaken by 3 skidoos all with their lights flashing and sirens on. Wondering what was going on, we arrived at Ridge Chair with a rescue in progress. The chair had come to a halt and 3 people were being assisted off a chair that was about 10m off the ground. No-one around us seemed to know what the issue was and the 3 people returned to the front of the queue. We inspected the chair as it passed us on the way up and were unable to identify any problems with it so we remained completely baffled as to the reason for the rescue mission.

Similar to our route a few days ago, we skied over to Eyre for a late lunch. Again it was wonderful eating delicious burgers in the sunshine in the snow! Post lunch, there was not much time left as we still needed to drive the 3hrs back to Canberra. Our group split but gathered together a short while later for the last chair ride of the season on the village eight. A very satisfying long weekend with friends to enjoy the last of the spring snow.

Indoor Lodge Day.

Rain was the forecast today and drizzle it did. Most of the crew spent the day indoors taking a much needed breather from the hustle and bustle of life. Reading, playing games, cooking, searching through the old stack of magazines for recipes and crosswords were some of our activities!

 

Also slow motion videos were a hit...

Skiing Falls Creek

We took Cath and her new skis on their first journey into the back country. With the snow disappearing quickly and the weather looking a little sketchy, we opted to stay relatively close to the lodge for our outing to Falls Creek - yep not the Victorian Falls Creek! 

Lack of snow cover meant we walked down and across Gauthega dam and a short distance up before finding the start of decent snow. On our skins went to begin the hour long climb up Guthega Trig.

 

 

Skiing off to the east, we made our first downhill decent through the snow gums and into Farm Creek all very tentatively. Safely at the bottom, we spied a natural piste at the top of the creek and decided to trek up to it. 

 

Through some amazing large, gnarled snow gums we snaked our way up to an awesome view and what turned out to be a sensational natural ski run!

 

Under the lip of Guthega Trig, we ate lunch eyeing off the many ski tracks coming off the top. Andy suggested that we could do our last run from the top. Yep it didn't look that steep - until we tried climbing up! Slowly though and without incident we found ourselves at the top. Launching off the edge, trying to keep in control and upright we made it down all the way into Falls Creek for the last time.

 

 Andy coming off the steeper bit!

Another uphill slog followed by a long traverse that was challenging on tired legs and soggy snow! We had a fantastic day of spring snow backcountry skiing!

Long Weekend Skiing

The snow was mostly hanging around, the weather looked sunny and the lodge had free space so we snuck off for a sneaky long weekend. As the lifts at Guthega had closed, our only option was to park at Perisher and ski from there. Our family toured Blue Cow before heading over to Eyre for a late lunch. Although the sun was out, the snow was hard, icy and bumpy. Ella and Andy did a few laps at Eyre while Katy and I ventured back to front valley.

 

Here we found Cath and Aoife who'd just arrived. We made our way over to Blue Cow wondering what to do. There wasn't much time left before the chairs would begin to close. Andy and Ella headed back to Perisher to drive the car around to Guthega. Andy unfortunately dropped his glove while riding the Pleasant Valley chair much to Ella's amusement.

Meanwhile, Katy, Aoife, Cath and I made our way to Guthega. The lack of snow over this side was alarming and also meant there was a bit of walking from off Blue Calf down to the lodge.

Naughty Puppy

Oh dear Indi, what have you gotten up to while we have been at school and work?? Indi is fascinated by the pond and digging up the pond plants filling up the pond with soil in the process. Those poor poor fish have somehow managed to survive! The water lilly after being dragged out of the pond (don't ask me how Indi did that) sadly did not. Anyway, the pond water was emptied and relished and Indi was given a bath. 

 

We erected a small fence surrounding the pond hoping that it would deter Indi from further exploration. Unfortunately several days later we observed her inside the fence standing on the pot plant frantically and happily digging in the mud. We've also seen her bow down poking her head  under the fence lapping up the water. As I type this a month later, the pond is once again dirty and needs a clean out and we'll have to go back to the drawing board for ideas to keep the dog out of the pond.