Soccer with the Pumas

Katy had a fun season with the Pumas. Within her team were a few girls from school plus a handful of girls who soon became friends. The first few games in the Under 8/9 division were easy with the Puma absolutely trampling the opposition. This tends to happen as they were an older team while most of the other teams had just moved up from Under 6/7's. As a result, for the sake of all teams the Puma moved up a grade to the Under 10's in division 3. The tables quickly turned on their first game which was played on a larger field against older girls and soon they were feeling a little out of sorts! We all kept focus on what was important...having fun and improving their skills. Each week they played better, grew in confidence and were holding their own. It was great to see.

The Pumas were invited to be ballbods for the Federation Cup, a knockout women's soccer competition. Belconnen United played against Canberra United Academy. On a chilly Wednesday evening, the girls lined up in the tunnel awaiting the big girls to emerge from the change rooms. Each Puma met a player from the Canberra United Academy who held their hand as they ran out on to the field. Katy's player looked tiny and very young compared to the other players but boy was she fast on the field! The Puma girls were excited.

The game itself was great and was nice for our girls to watch women play at a high level. We shivered through most of the match with Belconnen United leading on the scoreboard. The Pumas had no trouble keeping warm with their mini soccer match at half time. Unfortunately a rowdy group of spectators who were becoming increasingly boisterous with some inappropriate language and comments meant that we left before the final whistle.

Budgie Sitting Emerald

Thanks to a failed photo transfer from my phone, I missed posting this one from last holidays. One of Andy's work colleagues daughter has two budgies which Ella thinks is just awesome. Anyway, as it played out, they went away for the July school holidays and asked Ella if she would like to budgie sit.  Unfortunately by the time the holidays arrived, one of the budgies has passed away so it was only Emerald who came over to stay in Ella's room.

Ella listened carefully to the instructions and tips for looking after Emerald. Nothing too hard really - the normal food and water plus beware that Emerald might bite when handled. Ella was pumped and just in awe of this wonderful little bird. Within 5 minutes of leaving, Ella had closed her door and was busy trying to pat Emerald! Next thing we hear is a few squawks - not from Emerald but Ella! To her surprise (!) Emerald had nipped her and was now flying around her room!! Thankfully Emerald did fly back into the cage without too much fuss and Ella set about immediately training him not to bite!!

For the next week, Ella (and Katy) was enchanted with this beautiful bird and began to pressure us to buying her a bird although it would have to be a little quieter as Emerald often woke her up with his chirping! With big travel plans on the horizon, budgie buying has been postponed until next year.

Home Time

No skiing today... cleaning and packing up was the order of the day. With such heavy snowy conditions, I'm not sure how much skiing we would have done anyway.

Luckily the car didn't require much digging out (unlike last year) however the snow didn't let up on our numerous luggage trips to the car.

In all the years we have been coming to Guthega, I've never seen as much snow on our drive out as there was today. With the chains on, the drive was slow going. We caught up the snow plough and sat behind for a few kms, before plucking up the courage to overtake.

Things were going well as we drove in the wheel ruts however as we slipped out, the chains caught and we found ourselves sliding in slow mo. Thankfully we stayed on the road despite being completely at right angles to our direction of travel and luckily no-one else was around. The rest of the drive out was uneventful with the chains not coming off until near the park gates!!

All up the week was wonderful. Andy loves his new skis and personally my skiing is continually improving despite still not being able to keep up with the girls!!

Mini Lodge Challenge

Andy was up early for a Guthega Trig summit with his skins. Meanwhile the girls and I had a lazy morning. Once he returned the day began to take shape.

The girls went out this morning on the Mini Lodge Challenge, a kids version of the Lodge Challenge. The Mini Lodge Challenge is a timed challenge which requires one to ride - in any order -  the four lifts on Guthega (Blue Calf t-bar, Blue Cow t-bar, Freedom chair and Carpark double chair) starting and finishing at the lodge door.

Ella completed the challenge solo in around 33mins. Convinced they were also going to do the challenge by themselves, Katy and Mira started off from the lodge. Andy and I left a few minutes later..... just to keep an eye on the girls. Negotiating the first few lifts were fine however Andy saved them from taking a wrong turn on their last lift. Their record for the mini lodge challenge was 39mins.

With all the kids not wanting to do anymore skiing and safety back in the lodge, Andy and I ventured out on our own. We ambled over towards Perisher breaking for a food stop at mid station. Our afternoon ski saw us take Leichhardt T bar for the first (me) and last time as it is due to be replaced over summer with a new chair lift! Skiing around this area was lovely without the usual crowds. Our route home was an interesting one with Andy taking me off piste through the snow gums. A nice way to finish off our skiing holiday.

Up For An Adventure

The whole clan decided on an adventure to Smiggins today! Co-ordinating 5 adults and 8 kids is (and will always be) challenging. At the top of Freedom, the Epic chair was a perfect spot for a photo of Grandpa with his 6 grandchildren!

With Patrick and Josh at a skiing lesson, the rest of us began our journey. Katy melted down on rollercoaster after becoming scared from another skier skiing too fast and too close to her. We left Andy with Katy hoping he could pick up the pieces and encourage her to recovery enough to join us.

Onwards we continued, however our plan was nearly foiled by the main link to Perisher, the Pleasant Valley chair being on wind hold. Luckily we have the ski tube, so down to front valley we chugged. This 15 minute journey was a nicely timed enforced rest/ lolly break for the kids.

In front valley with the masses we rode the Village 8 a few times just for the fun of it. Then across towards Piper T-bar, the link to Smiggins we went. Unfortunately I was little uncertain of the exact route we should have taken and with Ella skiing off the front, we found ourselves perched on a perciarous steep off piste slope. Already too far committed, we did our best to make it down...with a few tumbles and lots of laughs!

In perfect timing, Andy skied up with Katy, Max and Mira as we lined up to the t-bar! Rolling down into Smiggins we went. Here the group really splintered...deliberately! Smiggins is a great spot where we felt comfortable letting the kids loose with the only condition that they skied with a friend or two and we all met at a designated time/spot for lunch. It was a great idea to give them all a bit of freedom and independence!

Lunch as the Smiggins establishment was good too. The afternoon saw the gang break up into smaller groups doing a variety of things. Some went to discovery trails, others towards Mt P while a few had had enough. All up a lovely fun day skiing!

Solo Skier

Andy was a solo skier today as the rest of our family hung around in the lodge. The weather conditions weren't great and we were all up for a day off.

Andy was out early with the aim of testing his new skins, venturing off piste below the Freedom chair with his skins on into the wide bowl of Farm Creek. All went well and he was happy with his most recent purchase! With the skins safely tucked back into the camelback, Andy made the most of the morning continuing to ski solo only returning for lunch. With the snowy windy conditions, those who braved the afternoon conditions (not the Hogg girls) were restricted to the Blue calf t-bar.

Bluebird Day

The morning began by meeting up with Vera on Interceptor for our annual ski! It was a lovely catch up hearing about all of her most recent travels plus those to come... ahh the advantages of being retired!

Post lunch we checked in for a private lesson. Cathy, Patrick, Katy, Luca, Josh and Maki headed off with one instructor while the rest of us (Andy, Susie, Ella, Mia and myself) formed another group. I focussed on perfecting my parallels, the others we introduced to the art of carving! Our instructor was pretty damn good  - his demonstration of carving involved his hip skimming the snow with his legs almost parallel to the surface! We all learnt lots and enjoyed the lesson. Possibly our favourite parts was synchro skiing down Zarlis!

On the way back to the lodge we were excited to see 2 wombats out and about digging for food! 

Katy ventured out with a few others as the day was coming to an end, to get up close and personal with them. They became known as Big Brown and Fuzzy Face.