Having survived Perth’s hottest Christmas interval on report, in a home with out aircon, we all know we will survive something. It was a loopy finish to a different loopy 12 months. Who would have thought we’d nonetheless be carrying masks, although now we have missed a lot of the lockdowns being protected by the WA border wall. You can think about we’re getting itchy toes as we’re unable to fly wherever, though now we have once more had a 12 months making good use of our caravan, travelling extra domestically round WA and components of Australia.
Our main journey this 12 months was a few months exploring the Top End, beginning with per week in Darwin staying with our attractive buddies and their children. Chris so kindly supplied his professional cricket teaching to each our boys, which kick-started their cricket season again house. After Darwin and surrounds, we wound our method down the Stuart freeway. It was all improbable, with highlights being cruising on a houseboat, paddling the Katherine gorge, being mesmerised at Uluru, and staying underground in Coober Pedy. We fortunately prevented a few lockdowns, and on our final leg sprinted throughout the WA border to keep away from being locked out! Our different journeys away have been to the WA south (Wave Rock, Esperance, Porongurups and Denmark) in January, and some days at a Scout bush campsite in October.
The children are rising up quick as they have a tendency to do, having two in highschool subsequent 12 months. We had thought-about transferring nearer to the excessive faculties, however have determined to remain in our rental in Mount Hawthorn as it’s so handy to the first faculty and there’s an amazing little neighborhood round us.
Olive is almost as tall as her mum now (though Clare doesn’t wish to measure her to verify this), wanting and appearing extra like an grownup daily. She has taken her gown model to the following stage, all the time wanting fabulous. She is midway by highschool and getting higher examine habits and outcomes to point out for it. She was ecstatic about getting an A in English, together with distinctive outcomes throughout most topics. The 12 months culminated along with her crew profitable the prize for one of the best main challenge by which they recreated a TV present. Although not sports-crazy like her brothers, she nonetheless performed a season of netball (to assist her pal), continued her weekly judo classes (now an orange belt), and has just lately began going to the health club along with her mum. She nonetheless loves Scouts and solely has 3 months left earlier than she strikes as much as Venturers.
Jetson has had an epic 12 months, graduating from Year 6 at Mount Hawthorn Primary! We are very proud to say that he acquired the highest maths award for his cohort of 120+ children, in addition to the tear-jerking Anzac Spirit award for “persistence, onerous work, and that never-give-up perspective”. He was elected by his friends as sports activities faction captain for the second semester, a recognition of his sporting passions. He made the interschool crew for the ball sports activities, and competed within the WA disabled sports activities swimming and athletics championships. He continues with indoor soccer, performed a season of modcrosse, and is now again into his favorite sport, cricket. He has aspirations to compete on the Paralympics, however he wants to decide on a sport first! He begins at Bob Hawke College subsequent 12 months.
Casper completed 12 months 4 this 12 months, with a wonderful instructor, and an incredible report card. He is loving his cricket and apparently bowls like a younger Brett Lee. He performed outside soccer for the primary time final winter. He was a champion utilizing his velocity operating down the wings, the spotlight being his one and solely purpose spectacularly scored within the final minute of the final sport of the season for a draw! He has continued with indoor soccer which he performs along with his buddies from outside soccer. He made the groups for interschool athletics and cross-country. Following the trail of his siblings, he was additionally chosen into PEAC (the first extension educational problem) program for subsequent 12 months, a lot to his aid. He was additionally accepted into the music program subsequent 12 months, so we will likely be listening to the flute performed round the home. With his ardour for artwork, Casper is a superb all-rounder.
Rob’s web sites have continued on steadily all through the pandemic, and with Clare at house extra (till now) he has been capable of put in additional hours, which he enjoys. The spotlight of his 12 months was driving the van to Darwin solo to begin our journey within the Top End. His new 12 months’s resolutions are to get fitter and more healthy, to cease the niggles of outdated age which are beginning to seem.
After 18 months with out substantial paid work (aside from writing for Rob), Clare has landed a job lecturing at Murdoch University, serving to to arrange and ship a brand new undergraduate diet diploma. It is an thrilling change from working with athletes and brings with it some extra regular and family-friendly working hours, although she nonetheless has occasional work consulting with AFL and Rugby.
Clare’s mum Nina turned 80 in May, and after a false begin attributable to a covid lockdown, we lastly had an enormous celebration with many buddies and family. She has settled in effectively and is completely satisfied in her new house at Juniper nursing house. Rob’s mum in Melbourne has had a tough time totally on her personal in lockdown this 12 months, we hope we will make it over there quickly to go to her (and Leanne after all).
We hope you and your loved ones have had an amazing 12 months and have stayed secure and wholesome, regardless of all the things occurring round us. With the opportunity of journey on the horizon, we’re wanting ahead to an thrilling 2022.
Clare, Rob, Olive, Jetson and Casper
