Willbanks' Down Under: 314 + 210 Weeks

This week started badly with a really horrible incident for Carmie. It was the kids' buddy Winter's birthday picnic, and it was being held at the NAIDOC festival downtown at the civic centre. There were tents and animals and a jumping castle and merry-go-round and people everywhere, and the kids were really excited to be there. We had just arrived and were walking through the grounds on our way to the picnic, when suddenly poor Carmie was attacked by a mentally disabled man. She had just walked past him when he pushed her with his arm, then he swung around and grabbed her by the back and hurled her about four or five feet, and she landed on her face. It was really violent, and so frightening, and happened so fast, there was nothing I could do. The carer with the man was visibly shaken, and took the man away, while I sat with Carmie, who naturally was hysterical. She couldn't stop shaking and was so frightened. The carer never came back to check on us, but luckily I was with my good friend Tanya who is connected in a roundabout way to the house looking after this man, and she contacted them for me. They have since followed up to get a better system in place so this doesn't happen again, but that didn't make me feel much better at the time. Carmie's face was a bit scuffed up, and it took her about 15 minutes to recover, but afterwards she was able to enjoy the party and the festival. And the festival was really great; rides for the kids, beautiful Australian animals for the kids to pet, aboriginal activities for them to do. It really was awesome. Poor Carmie though, she didn't deserve that :(

This weekend Lolo and Dida moved house to a townhouse in Ulladulla. Mum's been pretty stressed over the move. My cousin Beau came down to help, and Jeff got in on the moving action too. Then we had a birthday dinner over here for Lolo. The kids helped make her cake, with very blue icing. We are going to miss the farm, but the townhouse is much more convenient for them and for us!

This week Carmie learned to play chess, checkers and backgammon with her dad. She loves all three. She did a brilliant job of explaining all the chess pieces and moves to me last night. She's going to be able to kick my butt at it in no time. She has been staying up late reading at night time, but sleeps in a little in the mornings to compensate. We have had quite a few playdates this week too. The kids' new friends Willow and Finn came over for a play. They got along really well, it was lovely. Then our little neighbour Gemma came over yesterday. It was a half hour play that turned into several hours. Somehow Gemma and Arley get along like a house on fire - there is never any fighting, Gemma just bosses him around and he does her bidding, and they laugh and laugh and laugh. We're going to have to watch out for those two! Then today we went to story and craft time at the library, met some friends there, and then we went and had a picnic lunch at the harbour. The kids climbed the rock wall and Carmie dug clay out of the sand and made little clay mountains. When we packed up to leave and go back to our car, the kids saw that the markets had started and there was a jumping castle - and that was it, we spent the afternoon at the markets. Arley is sitting with me now totally pooped out - exactly what he needs!

So, a busy week, with lots of fun things to do, and one shocking incident that hopefully I can put behind me and stop dreaming about!

Driving the firetruck at the NAIDOC festival