West Linn 5/6 Navy versus Jackson

West Linn 5/6 Navy versus Sherwood

West Linn vs Wilsonville

Here are some photo's from yesterday's game and practice...Enjoy!~

Mrs Macquaire, Darwin and Modern Art

Today, Kevin visited with the President of Fuji Xerox and then golfed with his dad. I took the kids into town where we walked through the Botanic Gardens and along the waterfront to The Opera House.

We obserevd many very old and interesting trees (many of which Caitlin climbed!). I had a wonderful Vittoria coffee in the park basking in the sunshine whilst the kids played.

In the Red Box Gallery we observed the evolution of life itself. Through DNA we have discovered that we are closely related to Banana's!

This is a first edition copy of Charles Darwins "The Origin of Species".
After our science adventure we opted to get our fix of culture at the Art Gallery of NSW.

The children are huge fans of modern art so we indulged ourselves in this section of the gallery.

Brandon practically blends in to contemporary art!

Caitlin and Picasso!

Kevin arrives...

Tuesday, Kevin arrived in Sydney without his luggage. In his dad's clothes, we caught up with Cooper and visited the Power House Museum where the kids interracted with robots and learnt about steam trains and lots more fun. Then we had coffee at Darling Harbour. It was a gloriuos day as far as the weather was concerned. A balmy 24 degrees. Not bad for winter.

Friends, Family and Food!

The last few days have been spent catching up with friends and family at BBQ's, lunches and dinners. I have to say, some of the most exquisite food. Our chef friend, Sam served us Spanakopita, Tzatziki, lamb, chicken and topped it off with a fine macchiato. Pizza at Aunty Tine's. Spatchcock at Angelo's. Veal cappacio, twice cooked duck and snapper at Il Piave.

Oz Day Four

Taronga Zoo! We met up with Annette (my friend from High School whom I recently connected with via Facebook) and her three children, took the train to Circular Quay and then the Ferry to Taronga Zoo. The kids had a ball related to the Chimps and Gorilla. They saw the new baby elephant, Luk Chai.

Oz Day Three

Met my good friend, Carolyn at Bi-Centennial Park where the mum's drank coffee and chatted whilst the kids played. Patrick got reprimanded by another mum for knocking and kicking her son in the head. Then the kids played cricket, rode scooters in between lamingtons.

Later, we collected Cooper from his house and went to a cafe for food and coffee and a catch up chat. It was great to have all the kids together again!

Oz Day Two

Shopping at DFO...Australians are generally smaller so finding my size in so many fashions was fun. Then I took the kids to The Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. What an impressice centre. It has a 100 metre pool, a 50 metre pool and then a whirl pool with super slide and a massive toddler pool with playground. Brandon and I swam laps whilst and the kids played on the waterslide and whirl pool and Splashers Playground.

Where we are living.

This is Kevin's parent's house in Chatswood where he grew up for most of his life. It backs onto the bush and a golf course.

Oz Day One

After 23 hours travelling, we finally arrived in Sydney. Luckily for us, we had Premium seating so we slept most of the flight. Before we knew it we were watching the glorius Aussie sunrise. You have not seen reds or oranges like this in any sky (alright, maybe Indonesia).

On our way to Kevin's parents house, I pointed out the Opera House to the kids and they questioned "Oprah has a house here?" Can you believe it!


Following lunch, we went on a 2.5Km bushwalk. The weather was glorious. We walked in t-shirts but saw one guy without a shirt at all! This for winter! We saw Kookaburra and Cockatoo amongst other wildlife. Back at home, the Lorakeets came to feast. That's it for now, a brief nap before cocktails!

Caitlin's Eighth's Birthday

Caitie started her birthday with a family breakfast (sans Daddy) with her choice of waffles, maple syrup and mint tea. Then she opened her gifts which she was completely delighted with.

After school, Caitie got to play with her new games and then we had three dinner guests who shared in her request of Lasagne. We followed this with a heart shaped cake with pink icing.

Party day, we went with 13 friends to Oaks Park Skating rink. The kids had a blast. Three of Caitie's friends came back to enjoy a sleepover. Caitlin tells me that she is sleeping with Michael! OMG!

MISS CAITLIN

Brandon Cannot Find His Atlas!

I wonder why!

Patrick turns 11!

Patrick enjoyed his day very much. He awoke to his favourite breakfast. Then opened his gifts, which he was apparently thrilled with. Then he played a while then went golfing with his dad whilst I prepared his Birthday Dinner Feast and Brandon made him a chocolate fudge cake. He was very appreciative of spending the day with his family and of all his gifts. He is a sweet boy!

Happy Birthday Pat.

Little Miss

A typical expression from our Little Miss Caitlin who is currently exercising her right as youngest child to exhibit obnoxious and downright selfish behaviour much to the exhaustion of her parents.

Patrick and Redd

Patrick and his very lovable dog, Redd whom he mostly remembers to feed, occasionally remembers to give water but always remembers to love!

Kids Eye View of London

I'm always surprised when I look through the eyes of my children. They astound me, make me laugh. I simply adore them. Here is a look at London through photographs the children have taken.

Patrick's Double Decker bus view of the red telephone box. The box was to become our life saver. We got separated in London and I was able to use the red box to call Kevin on his cell phone and meet up again!

Pat's view of the tower that holds Big Ben.

The kids and Kevin went on The Eye whilst Norman and I visited Westminster Abbey where we saw tombs of many great (or not so great) Queens and Kings including Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scotts.

The Poets corner was extremely interesting with memorials to Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, Charles Dickens and many more.

Brandon took this photo outside the Tower of London. Infamous home to many a scandalous murder and beheading!

It is also the home to the crown jewels which Kevin insists are completely fake!

It was here that we also met our first and only Beefeater and we witnessed the guard changing outside the vault where the jewels are kept.










Caitlin took this photograph of Janette pointing out the sights of the English countryside through the English rain.






This was on our drive up to The Cotswolds and the Lake District.



We are on our third day in Edinburgh and it has rained everyday. Makes us feel at home!






The homes range from sprawling country estates to row housing.

Just another day in the Beilby family. Caitlin decides that she wants to volunteer to work at "Paws" - the local shelter that hosts kittens and bigger kittens until such time as a generous human will adopt them. So...we embark on the walk to the cat sanctuary for some unknown reason with our cat chasing, slightly neurotic, not completely bright but lovable dog! As we approach the "Paws", Redd decides to attack the lovable creature basking in the the summer sun on a chair outside the shelter. Much to the cat's credibility, it fought back and gave Redd a couple of nasty scratches on his nose.

So...despite the drama, the shelter owner agrees that Caitlin and her friend Annabella may help out in the shelter and puts them to work immediately scooping poop and feeding the 30 or so kittens they house here.

I'm very proud of her. She worked very hard, despite the smelly poop and feral kittens jumping all over her.

Nina Turns 40!

Well, it was inevitable but a relief now the anticipation and anxiety about hitting a big one is over. I spent the morning drinking tea. Then my Caitlin fixed my hair with the most wonderful arrangement of gold and brown and black clips.

Then Brandon made me Scrambled eggs with just the right amount of salt and pepper which I indulged in whilst watching the morning news. Patrick and Caitlin went down the street to get a a Latte. Just perfect!

Caitlin and I took Redd to the park where I pushed her on the tire swing and then we swung together until motion sickness (or maybe the scrambled eggs) got the better of me and we decided to walk around the river which was glorious!


Back home I was showered with flowers and gifts from Oz. Yeah! Thank you.


Then I got ready for lunch whilst speaking to my mum!

Lunch was at Ricardo's Italian. My friend Michelle got me the cutest martini glass so I just had to put something in it!

Thank you all my special friends for their phone calls and email messages. I feel very very lucky to have such thoughtful people in my life.

Funny cards...thanks for making me laugh.

"At 40, a healthy diet is more important than ever."
Open card..."Better have a glass of red wine in between margaritas...and remember to eat the celery in your Bloody Mary!"

"Like a great wine we get better as we get older."
Open card...Or rather, as we get older, we feel better with lots of great wine!"

"Do you know what it means if a man is in your bed gasping for breath and calling your name?
Open the card..."It means you didn't hold the pillow down long enough! Have a killer birthday".


The kids and I went to Marrakesh Moroccan restaurant for dinner to celebrate. We sat on cushions and ate with our fingers which the kids adored! We had our fingers washed then rubbed with rose scented oil. I wasn't certain that they would enjoy the food but they LOVED it


Most of all they liked the belie dancer. Especially Patrick whose eyes opened wide as she sashayed along side of him! Caitie was determined to put a tip in her skirt despite her wiggling bottom and she eventually succeeded much to the joy of the diners.

After dinner, the kids and I met Kerri and her son, Sean for photographs down on the dock by the river with the city and the setting sun in the background. They should be incredible and what a wonderful gift and memory of my day.

When we got home (10pm) my neighbour turned up with more flowers. Oh my gosh! I have just had the most perfect day. Thank you all and goodnight.

MR WHITE HAS GROWN!

It is amazing what a diet of regular exercise water and pure bred mice will do for a snake!



Mr White is now gorging himself on Adult sized mice. It's incredible to watch him although lately he has taken to dragging the creature into his den for a private dining experience.

He likes to exercise everyday. He has taken to slithering down the stair case which he enjoys.

Even though the rest of us have tried to be friendly with Mr White, he loves Brandon best and actively seeks him out. Although he is not unkind to us, he just freaks out a bit and feels safer with Brandon, his buddy.

The photo above shows Mr White and Caitlin

approximately one year ago whilst in this photo Brandon holds Mr White up so that you can see his full length.