“When I was a kid at Shannon Park, I thought those things were what they used to make clouds.”
Tufts Cove Power Generation Station
01 January 2024
18 June 2023
Broken Wing
Well, this happened. Gymnastics. Front hand spring off the vault (aborted at the last minute). Hyperextended elbow resulting in a small fracture near the end of the humerus. It might be humerus but Tig doesn’t find it very funny.
We had a talk and Charlotte reserved some prime real estate on her cast for Michelle and I (amongst the poop emojis and smiley faces, placed there lovingly by her friends).
I gave her some taratara (shark’s teeth) to keep her arm protected from further harm; and some koru (fern fronds/fiddleheads) signifying the stitching together of bone, fibres, and cells—all happening silently beneath the hardened outer shell (the cast).
Mum just wrote, "Mum", across a red love heart.
After a super busy year, with Summer just on the horizon, the Frangipani flower is there to remind Charlotte of the beauty of an injury received while pursuing your passion; and the promise of more great adventures to come.
08 April 2023
Social Media
Sitting in Starbucks, sipping Dragon Drink, and talking about Social Media.
We’re figuring out that perspective is everything!
24 January 2023
One More Sleep as a Child, Then Teenage Years Begin...
Dear Charlotte,
At lunchtime tomorrow, you will have been alive for 13 years.
That is:
- 156 months of your Mum watching you sleep;
- 678 weeks of your Dad making you laugh at fart jokes;
- 4,748 days of you leaving your stinky socks on the floor;
- 113,956 hours your parents have watched over you, marvelling at the person you have become; or,
- 6,837,340 seconds we've had to wait for you to arrive at the front door, ready to go—and counting!
As your parents, it is our right to tell you what to do. It's how we prepare you for the world. As a teenager, it is your duty to yell, "In a second!" and then stare at the nonsense on your phone and completely ignore what we tell you anyway.
You'll figure it out. You've already got everything you need to succeed in the world. All you need is your quirky sense of humour and to continue to lead with kindness.
You are about the begin the first of your seven teenage years. Enjoy this time in your life, mate. Turmultuous as it may be, the music you listen to now will be the tunes you vibe out to for the rest of your days.
Make the most of it. Remember, as soon as you turn 18; your mother will start hiding her make-up and jewellery and locking her shoe cupboard—and if you’re still hanging ‘round—your father is going to start charging rent!
Until then, sit up to the table properly, put your phone away, and please fold your bloody laundry after supper?
Happy 13th Birthday, Tig. We love you so very much. Being your folks has been the greatest pleasure of our lives.
xxooxx
Mum and Dad
21 January 2023
Great Success at the Titan's Gymnastics Invitational Competition
Congratulations to Charlotte for achieving bronze medal in the uneven bars, silver in the vault and floor, and gold medal in beam for a second place podium overall.
In case you were wondering, this is all her. There is no encouragement needed on behalf of her parents. In fact, we're not even allowed in the viewing areas during practice. We just need to be there to drop her off and pick her up. Everything else comes naturally for the kid who appears to be having a ball.
Keep going, mate. The sky's the limit. When you've had enough of this caper, we'll try lawn bowls, xx Dad
10 December 2022
The Four Voices
Did you have four voices: the voice you hear; the voice you speak; the voice in your head; and, the voice when you’re older.
15 September 2022
Welcome, Baby Iris
Charlotte has another cousin, baby Iris Stella Kathleen, born on 24th August 2022.
The last of the Elizabethan era...
Boy, we can't wait to teach her fart jokes!
Congratulations, Bex and Non, xx
Quote of the Day
“Dad, did you ever notice how ‘coming down with something’ is bad, but ‘coming up with something’ is a good thing?”
18 August 2022
For the W on Lake Banook
Charlotte just picked up her first heat win in K1. Based on her singing and dancing on the dock, we can tell—it’s a pretty good feeling after all these years of hard work and effort.
Let’s see what she does now that she has had the first taste of victory.
08 August 2022
Quote of the Day
“Sometimes I wish that, when I was born, like, I came out feet first—that way, like, for just a moment, I could have worn Mum as a hat!”
26 March 2022
First Gymnastics Competition
Hot on the heels of a UK Trip and still a little jet-lagged, Charlotte competed in her first gymnastics competition. The event consisted of horizontal bars, vault, beam, and a floor routine. No medals this time around, but she's improving with every appearance. Watch this space--she's on the up and up!
14 March 2022
12 March 2022
UK Wedding - Becci & Nonnie Get Hitched
After sixteen years together and three years of waiting for things to clear up after the pandemic, Becci and Nonnie finally tied the knot! Michelle, Charlotte, and Will grabbed a lemon-scented facemask and flew to the UK to join them for the big event.
Afterwards, we headed to Brighton for a brief family holiday on the English Channel, where we strolled on the pier, played arcade games, walked on the beach, and ambled down the Lanes with Becci, Nonnie, Esther, Tessa, and the two dogs, Saffi and Rico in tow. We would write more, but the pictures speak for themselves.
Congratulations, guys. We were so delighted to be there with you!
See more photos here:
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