2011 seemed like such a quiet year, though on reflection ……..
The year started with some mixed feelings. Jean had finally had to take the big step and move into a nursing home after her illness before Christmas. So with the need to clean out the family home, the McGlynns gathered for one last BBQ at 40 Wilson Street. What a sprawling, rag tag collection we have become but it was good to see lots of face in those familiar surrounds one last time.
On returning home Cath finally succumbed to my persuasion and we purchased a camp trailer which we promptly christened on a very hot weekend camp at Waratah Bay. This was followed by a more relaxing week camping by the Murray at Easter at Barham were Kiara earned her steam boat license. Alas while great fun this precipitated our next big adventure for the year as a blown muffler on the wagon propelled us into the purchase of “a new car”.
A mighty saga this became as we hunted hi and low for the perfect replacement. Having settled on a Sorento we thought we had the car by June only to be told it was on order and so we patiently waited. Meanwhile the Apollo had one last fling with some miscreants one night, much to its (and our) regret, coming home a few days later much the worse for wear. And so we became a one car family. Meanwhile we waited for the new car.
As a bit of a distraction Cath decided she would have to turn 50 this year and a party would be needed. A gathering of family and friends was commanded and much fun and frivolity was had by all. Champagne flowed and Cath never looked more beautiful – or are we bias?
And still we waited for the new car.
Come September we decided it had been too long since we saw Cath’s sister Fran and hubby Guy, not to mention Michael and Lena, so a trip to Queensland was organised. So up to Atherton for a few days. Then a few days in the Daintree camping in tent cabins by the beach was extremely invigorating.
A croc spotting tour of the rivers, a tropical fruit farm visit and a bit of canopy surfing made it an exotic trip for all. We also managed to do a bit of walking even if the girls weren’t keen.
Then back to Atherton to watch Geelong thump Collingwood in the Grand Final with Fran and Guy. From there it was down to the Gold Coast for a week. Lots of lounging around, the required trips to Movie World and Wet and Wild plus dinner with Michael & Lena and some other friends made for a good time. Finally we (Paul) listened to Manly beat the Kiwis in the other Grand Final.
What a trip. Coming home was a bit of a shock.
And still we waited for the new car.
October saw Fran and Guy down in Melbourne for Guy’s birthday so we all needed to get dressed up and head off to Darby Day and celebrate together. This was enough of an occasion for Cath to invest in a new dress & a hat as well as a new suit for Paul – only his third ever!
Finally the wait was over and the new car arrived! Was it worth it? Hope so. It is so shiny with lots of new buttons so it should be fun running it in.
Around and through our family adventures the girls have continued to blossom and grow.
Kiara is turning into another book junky and we have to remind her to turn off the lights at night. She has graduated to her own iPod, celebrated her 10th birthday in style and her First Communion with grace.
Kiara is also developing well with her netball enjoying the sport and the group of friends she is playing with. Having moved up a grade, success is not as easy but the challenge is helping her development, this season she winning the coaches award.
Siobhan has now finished Grade 6 with excellent reports and looks forward to the challenge of crossing the road to high school. While a bit daunting, at least most of her friends will be with her. We are a bit worried though as she expressed disappointment that she will lose touch with some of the boys. She even invited some to her twelfth birthday, though they mostly stayed in separate corners of the house. She also celebrated her Confirmation and is growing into a confident young lady, What challenges the future holds for us all!
Til next year, which I am sure will pass all too fast.
Paul, Cath, Siobhan & Kiara.