Jackson with Lego

Jackson with Lego, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

We have lots of Lego, I mean lots and lots and lots of Lego... like 4 Childrens worth from Duplo to Technic, from simple pieces to flashing lights and whizz bang operations... Yes we have Lots of Lego!
When I put it all safely away, about 15 years or so ago, I spent a lot of time putting pieces that belonged together into plastic bags and put all the patterns into one folder so now that Jackson Harry is old enough he can enjoy playing just as his Mother, Aunt and Uncles did all those years ago.
My one big regret was that we'd lost the pattern for the Big Red London Double Decker Bus and I couldn't for the life of me remember how it went together... I was telling Emily about this when she said, 'I'll go on the Internet and see if I can find Lego Instructions.' And there it was, the pattern for the Bus which went on sale in 1973! We also found the pattern for the Spirit of St Louis!
Just look at his face... he has the best days when he comes to visit and is torn between helping Gwillo in the garden or playing Lego!

North Shore Times Interview

Wendy and Paul from the North Shore Times came to interview David all about his Big Red Bus... Paul took lots and lots of photos and Wendy interviewed him then quizzed me on why was I still married to a man who has just spent 16 years restoring a double decker bus :-) Look out for the article soon...

Colour in my Garden -February 2007

February Flowers, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

At first glance there's still not much colour in the garden, I found a little bit of colour from last months Mosaic but I wanted to find new colour for February...

Caught in the act...

There was plenty of warning... since Christmas Day we've seen the glint in the eyes, the length of the reach - able to surprise many a guard, the longing while in the arms of a loved one and the single mindedness when movement was achieved... all I can say is Mission Accomplished!!
Tracy Island will have to be placed even higher to keep it safe!

Oh My Oh My... how they've grown...

... and so beautifully as well... Matilda May is almost 6 weeks old now and look how Abigail Rose has grown... we can't wait to get a good cuddle with both of them when they come over for a whole month... soon :-)

Fridays...

Most Fridays Nerys brings Jackson Harry and Charlie Ripley over to play for the day, while Charlie has a sleep Jackson goes to swimming lessons... he's very good at diving under and picking up a ring and he's very proud to show us how he can do 'swimming like a rocket' :-)
You should have seen Jackson's face when he first arrived and saw that two new loads of soil had been delivered he was straight into helping Uncle Gwillo, while Charlie just played with the 35 year old Duplo... doesn't look 35 years old does it eh??

Look at our Boys...

These photos were taken at the same age... Which is Charlie Ripley and which is Jackson Harry?????

delicious does dinner

Last night David and I were lucky enough to go to a 'delicious' dinner with a group of friends, it was held at 'Pilu at Freshwater' and was a dining experience we will never forget and of course want to experience... again so we'll be watching out for each new copy of 'delicious' to see if this months dinner/lunch will be held in Sydney. If you have the chance to go to one of these when they are held in your City... don't miss it but book early they are very popular and very reasonably priced at $90 for 5 courses with unlimited wines see menu below. YUM!

Pane e casu
Crispy Sardinian bread, percorino sardo and olives
Pizzini 'IlSoffio' Sparkling Sangiovese - King Valley

Carpaccio di capesante con cuore di sedano, finocchil e bottarga *
Hervey Bay scallop carpaccio with celery heart, fennel and shaved bottarga
Pizzini Arneis 2006 -King Valley

Culurzones con burro, salvia e salsa di tartufo
Ravioli of potato, percorino and mint with burnt butter and a tough of black truffle
Pizzini Chardonnay 2005 - King Valley

Arrosto misto di porcetto e capretto
Slow-roasted suckling pig and baby goat with condiments
Pizzini Sangiovese 2005 King Valley

Granita di mirto rosso
Red Mirto granita **

Seadas ripiena di ricotta
Typical Sardinian pastry filled with fresh ricotta, fried and served with warm honey.
Pizzini Barchetto 2006 - King Valley


* Bottarga is silver mullet roe...originating in countries surrounding the Mediterranean. Using sea salt, the roe is cured and dried to perfection, then waxed to prevent further drying and exposure to light

** MIRTO One of the symbol of Sardegna is the myrtle, white and red, Mirto liquor. Mirto is traditional digestive Sardegnad alcohol drink produced from herb Myrtle.

http://www.piluatfreshwater.com.au/home.html

Working down the back...

Gwilym is never alone when he's digging in the garden, our little friend watches from the wood shed...

Dives down in anticipation...

Snaps up a delicious grub...

And occassionally hand fed :-)

He frightened Gwilym several times as he flew so close on his way to a feed, then he lingered far too long just where Gwilym needed to move the next rock...

QE2 comes to Sydney to meet up with QM2

Last night some of the family went to Jeffrey Street Wharf in Kirribilli to see QE2 arrive. Sydney was in gridlock while hoards flocked to the harbour to see the two ships at the same time.
A little boy's dream come true, Helicopters in the sky, Ships and Boats on the water and Trains going over the Harbour Bridge all at the same time.




Nick, Nerys, Jack and David on the Harbour Bridge.
No event is ever finished on Sydney Harbour till the fireworks are over.
All photos taken by Gwilym while I stayed home nursing my cold :-(
This last photo was sent to me by Tim... isn't it a beauty! I printed it out for Jackson Harry and you would have thought he'd been given his very own Ship he was so happy with picture.

My First Nine Quilts

My creation, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

I thought I'd show you some of the quilts I've made over the last 15 years, these ones are from 1992-3. The photos have been scanned because only two of these quilts still live at home with me which is a lovely thought... they are out there with my family who are snuggling under them during cool weather.

A couple of early Sasanqua.

Goodness gracious, how early can our Sasanqua's flower... February 19th?? Should be around the middle of the year methinks! These are the only two and of course they've dropped already but there will be many many more.

I just love this rose, the colour and smell is so intoxicating, wish I knew what it was because this is Emily's rose, it was her Grandfathers and no one knows what it's called... when I get rid of this terrible cold thing I'm taking one of tthe flowers up to Swanes Nursery.

Down the back...

Sorry about the break in communication, I've been down with a nasty coldie thing but in the meantime Gwillo has started work on the area out the back where there is a wood shed, an old clothes line, a small water tank and where pot plants are taken to die in the empty pot cemetery. He’s almost finished building the new kindling box and a vegetable garden for David is planned behind the pool... more rock moving and more photos later.

Valentine Lunch...

Gwil and I had lunch today while listening to James Valentine on 702 reading out love messages from the Telegraph and the Herald... he was very funny!

Happy Valentines Day Everybody...

The Thompsons on Holiday...

Nerys, Tim, Jackson Harry and Charlie Ripley have settled into a lovely little cabin right on Narrabeen Lakes for a few days... a beautiful spot for little people to paddle and play... we might all move down here when Tom, Emma, Abigail Rose and Matilda May next come to Australia.

Lorikeets shuffling for position on the feeding tray.

Lorikeets shuffling for position on the feeding tray., originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Our new bird feeding tray is very popular and for the first time ever more than one pair of Lorries can be found feeding at the same time... in the past there have been some nasty fights! And... our grapes are still untouched! Fingers Crossed!

Very Proud!

We're very proud of this young Kookaburra, he's been visiting a few times each day and just sits quietly on the BBQ by the sliding door hoping we'll throw him a scrap or two but if we don't he doesn't hassle us like those cheeky Lorikeets do! Yesterday our little Kooka caught a small mouse and had the decency to fly away with it and eat it somewhere else!
We've been concerned that we might be spoiling him and he would never develop his hunting skills but his hunting skills are doing just fine thankyou... especially when Gwillo was turning over the soil in one of the garden beds... not so many worms in there anymore! It's a funny sight if he lands on the handle of the BBQ because it turns and he looks like one of those people on a rolling ball or something... he even lets me pat him sometimes and his feathers are oh so silky.

Birds & Grapes...

I wonder if we’re tempting fate!! Here is the bird feeder that Gwilym rigged up this week, we've always had a lot of birds visit for a feed of native bird seed but it was all getting a tad messy inviting mice and rats to visit - all gone now thankfully but - YUCK!
Since Gwil made this feeder hardly a moment has passed without a pair of Lorikeets enjoying a feed - but - what about these Grapes?? There is a long story about these grape vines... when we built our home 26 years ago we were looking for vines that lost their leaves in autumn so we could have maximum sun shining into the house and heating up the slate floor during winter. (BTW it works wonders) David's father, a wonderful gardener in Canberra insisted we put in real grape vines because why put in fake ones!! He made us lots of cuttings so we trained at least a dozen Improved Isabella or Red or White Muscatels up the Pergola to give us wonderful shade in summer. BUT... the grapes were sour and horrible, the birds and possums got to them and made a squishy mess underfoot that was trodden inside the house inviting ants... we tried tying the bunches inside bags, we tried all sorts of bird deterrents but to cut a long story short gave up about 10 years ago and every year when the bunches start to show we or Jenny climb up and down the ladder cutting the new bunches off which give the leaves a better change of giving us more shade on hot days... it works wonders but this year I've spotted two or three bunches that missed the chop!!
I have my eyes on them and they are doing wonderfully well but... will the Birds or Possums find them before they are ready to taste??? That is the question... so stay tuned LOL

Little boys, I just love little boys...

A month or so ago I was talking to Jackson about names, how everyone calls me Pennie but my full name is Penelope and we sometimes call him Jack instead of Jackson and even Jackson Harry. Last week he was in the car with his Mum when they saw a Pink Cadillac... our Thunderbirds mad four year old immediately thought it was Lady Penelope’s car then after a while he said to his mother, ‘We have a Lady Penelope don’t we Mummy!’ Yesterday he asked me where Parker was LOL (Parker is Lady Penelope’s Chauffer!)

Jack’s Mummy was having trouble settling him for the night, Daddy wasn’t home yet and Jack just couldn’t settle, so after stories and cuddles and much fondling of Jack’s quilt he said... ‘Pennie made this quilt for me didn’t she!’ Nerys suggested they take the other bed clothes away and he sleep just under the quilt, so a quick snuggle down under then he went straight to sleep. Makes a Grandmothers heart melt it does! But reminds me that Charlie is 9 months old and I haven’t even started his First Birthday Quilt!

Charlie Ripley’s personality is coming through strongly now, he adores his big brother and tries to follow his every move, play with his toys or just watch him. The other night when they were in the bath together the very gentle and caring Jackson decided to give Charlie a little splash. Charlie stopped and grinned then started splashing like a thrashing machine, Nerys was absolutely soaked and Jackson asked if he could get out of the bath now!

Yesterday we were invited by Jackson Harry to come over for Afternoon Tea, we had Morning Coffee Biscuits decorated with Chocolate Icing and Sprinkles... just delicious. Jack and I were having a bit of a rumble on the chair and Charlie started frowning and complaining... we thought he was concerned about Jackson maybe being hurt but when I let Jack go and picked up Charlie and proceeded to have a similar sort of rumble he laughed and laughed and kept looking around to see if Jack was watching... he wasn’t concerned that Jack might have been hurt he was Jealous!!!

Jackson Harry Loves Cricket...

Jackson just loves to play Cricket he will play all day if he can find someone to play with, he doesn't mind if he's the catcher, the bowler or the batter he just wants to play Cricket! One evening when the light was failing and all the outside lights were turned on he hit a 6 right up out of sight and onto our roof, we were all very impressed with him as he was with him self then as he looked around he asked , "Can we get some more light out here?'

Happy Birthday Joon!

Happy Birthday Joon!, originally uploaded by Pennie David.

Today is Joon's Birthday, we're having a dinner of Sashimi for starters, BBQ Fish for mains with Fruit to follow. There is a story about Joons Birthday being on the 4th of February. Joon goes by the Lunar Calendar which means his birthday moves all over January and February, some years it can be in the middle of Jan others at the end or even the beginning of Feb... with 14 Birthdays in our imediate family and many more in our extended family I just couldn't cope so I've asked him to choose a date... any date doesn't matter which one but it has to be one he's happy with and not too close to Tim's on the 15th of Jan. The 4th of February is the date he could have been born on if his family went by the Gregorian Calendar so the 4th of Feb it will be for ever more! Happy Birthday Joon.
P.S. It turns out his Lunar Birthday was on the 3rd of Feb this year, last year it was on the 15th January.

At last... help is at hand!

Poor Gwillo has worked almost single handed on our new garden bed, David's helped here and there but today a big helper arrived... after swimming lessons... in the form of a tireless but small boy, the always cheerful always happy to muck in... Jackson Harry!! (Enlarge the photos and note the tongue!)
Firstly one pulls the plant out of it's pot...
Then one places it in a ready made hole...
And again... pull the plant out of it's pot....
Lots of soil needed moving but JH was ready with a shovel.
Phew!! Time for a well earned break, this is heavy work.