The Bells - an Anthem

The birds they sang
at the break of day
Start again
I heard them say
Don't dwell on what
has passed away
or what is yet to be.


Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.

We asked for signs
the signs were sent:
the birth betrayed
the marriage spent
Yeah the widowhood
of every government --
signs for all to see.


Ring the bells that still can ring ...

You can add up the parts
but you won't have the sum
You can strike up the march,
there is no drum
Every heart, every heart
to love will come
but like a refugee.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.
That's how the light gets in.
That's how the light gets in.
(extracts from Leonard Cohen)


Guess where I went last night? He was FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'd go again tonight if I could afford it. Mesmerising, stimulating, fun ... what more could you want. Brilliant. Thanks Leonard for a great night.

Breath

Here is a spoiler from a wonderful book - perfect reading for a beach holiday - and a fantastic last paragraph. I love Tim Winton's writing. It is just beautiful.

"My favourite time is when we're all at the Point, because when they see me out on the water I don't have to be cautious and I'm never ashamed. Out there I'm free. I don't require management. They probably don't understand this, but it's important for me to show them that their father is a man who dances - who saves lives and carries the wounded, yes, but who also does something completely pointless and beautiful, and in this at least he should need no explanation."

This really caught my imagination - so evocative. Of course it reminds me of my own grieving father who I love so very much and brings to mind some of my hopes for how the twins will see their own father one day. Everyone should have a dance that is all their own, one that they can share with their children.

There is a link in the title to an Age review of this excellent novel.

May God grant you always,
A sunbeam to warm you,
A moonbeam to charm you,
A sheltering angel so nothing can harm you,
Laughter to cheer you,
Faithful friends near you and
Whenever you pray, heaven to hear you.
For Imelda Greene

Jon and Co

I really liked this site! What a great idea.

Beach Holidays

"Off to the beach now, in my car today.
Off to the beach now in my car today.
I'm going to swim, swim in the sea today;
I'm going to dig, dig in the sand today ... "One of Hannah's favourite songs from Beeboppers - and yup - we sure did do all those things and more on our beach holiday.
We just got back from a week down the south coast. We went with some of our favourite people and did lots of our favourite things - a fabulous time. It really helped rest us all I think. DH was 'happily' ironing his shirts ready for his week back at work. I am feeling ok about attending the first funeral since Mums. This one is for the mother of my sister's best friend. My family can't make it because they live far away so I am the 'family delegate'. My heart goes out to the family - she was a lovely woman and I know that my sister has a special love of her - she was a strong loving Irish Australian woman. May she rest in peace and guard over her children from above.



The Three Kits. The brats really love their drawing at the moment. Han often says she's drawing a car or a face or putting one of the family to bed. Kit is enjoying letters. He is copying lots of words from one of their nursery rhyme books. This one of three children - he later added 'k' to each one's tummy - hence the three Kits.


It isn't a beach holiday in Australia without some beach cricket. The big kids, their parents and my DH loved it. The brats had a wee turn too and they liked it.

There was a playground near one of the beaches...
Spoon people playing chasings...
The bigger kids with a little help from the littlies made us all pizzas for dinner - delicious!
WIth the other kids all making pizza - Kit and Hannah weren't going to be left out. They helped with the pizzas and then we made some chicken soup together. That night's dinner was the best all week - and I can promise you the other nights were a gourmet affair - but this one - the cooks were just so proud of themselves!
This image makes me a little sad. Silly really - Hannah is playing Articulate - a pretty good game that the older kids brought with them. She got the board and set it all up herself - essential to the game is reading and then using a variety of other words to help the other players guess the word on the card. I know she'll read and her vocab continues to grow but still it made me sad. DH thought it was gorgeous though and took this picture. I guess it reminds me of school. The brats start preschool 2 days a week soon. Hannah is SO excited about it - poor darling has no idea what she's in for really. God I hope she isn't disappointed too soon.
Check out the exhileration on B's face - just fabulous!

Holidays

Yesterday we drove up the coast to have lunch at a friend's house - they have 3 gorgeous girls (including a 'big Hannah'). It was a lovely visit. Kit managed to best the Dads at Wii golf (which he's never played before) and hannah made countless cups of tea for J - our host. Then today I ahd a couple of friends visit - special needs Mamas. So we had 3 little girls with DS and their 3 brothers - all younger (yes I know - but Kit is 1 minute younger after all - and i think that counts!) It was really lovely to see them find their bearings and play together (as well as fight!). I think I am very lucky to have a number of families nearby who are in a similar situation - as we begin our journeys through the quagmire that is NSW special education.
The brats have been enjoying some holiday painting - Hannah has put texta on the loungeroom floor, crayon on the deck and pen all over her legs! Maybe I am crazy to be thinking of taking her to the art gallery to see the current Impressionist exhibition??

We drove up to the northern beaches to my SILs holiday house for the day. It was a blast - great food and a lovely play at the beach. Little brat loved this hammock. She had a BIG sleep in the car and hence was rather cheekily still sneaking out of her bedroom that night. The pic above is after a few failed attempts to get her to settle down and go to sleep in her own bed - I was watching Hamish MacBeth dvds (a Christmas gift) and they did the trick!

At our local pool - so much fun! Little brat didn't stop squealing for about 20 minutes - glad she doens't do that at swimming lessons - they might ban her!


A Day at the Zoo: