Garth: The Winter House Fly

About two weeks ago, something extraordinary happened... We were visited by a wayward mid-winter house fly.

At first, he was nothing more than a passing distraction, until someone finally commented on how strange it was to have a fly buzzing around the house in the middle of January.

Before long, we realised something even more extraordinary: it appeared our humble house fly was following us around.

"What should we call him?" Charlotte asked one evening dinner.

"I think his name is Garth," Michelle replied.

"But how do you know?" Said the Charlotte, checking that she wasn't being lied to.

"Because," I said, joining in the ruse, "He told us, of course."

That seemed to be enough to allay any of Charlotte's concerns.

And so it was that out house of three, became a house of four. 

Garth is there with us during breakfast in the morning. He visits again during supper, and even comes upstairs to hang out while Charlotte puts her pyjamas on, and brushes her teeth.

We love you, Garth. Our faithful pet house fly.

Message in a Bottle for Charlotte

This message was written on a pukapuka leaf with a sharks tooth nib and ink made from snail slime and charcoal. It was rolled up and sealed inside a bottle with beeswax, and then tossed into a whirlpool by Nancy Nutmeg.

The bottle was sucked into the ocean, then it popped up inside your toilet! Your Dad found it, just as he was about to do a big poo this morning …

He fished it out, using the toilet brush, and opened it for you.What a caring Dad. But, I wouldn’t shake his hand today.

The message reads: 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLOTTE! 

Five gold nuggets were supposed to be inside the bottle, but Crackers Kea stole them and his them in his secret hidey hole.

XXX Aunty Briar

PS: It was my birthday too. I got a new pen and nibs, and some ink, and a water-blaster, and had a party.

What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up, Charlotte?

Sometimes, on the drive into work, Michelle and I will ask Charlotte what she wants to be when she grows up. Quite often, she gets confused between 'What she want's to be', 'What she wants to do', and 'What she wants for her upcoming birthday, but for the most part, her mind is fairly clear, and is well set on some of the things she wants.

As Charlotte snores upstairs on what is the last night being four, and the first night being five; I thought I'd share with you her answer from last Thursday, on our long drive into Kari's before work.

Dad: "So, Charlotte. What do you want to be when you grow up?"

Charlotte: "Well, I want to work in the Dalplex Fun Zone with my whole family, I want to be a ballerina, and when I'm five, I want to go to the Moon (on a silver spoon). Also, once I've been a ballerina, I want to become a big sister to my cousin Amelia, and hang out with my friends. (Pauses to think). Ummm..."

Charlotte cont'd: "Oh, and I want a trampoline for my birthday, and bunk beds from Costco, in case Amelia comes - that way, she and I can play."

So, there you have it. Out of the mouths of babes.