The Big Easy

What can I say? It's been busy, but somehow outrageously dull at the same time, down in this corner of the world.

Kids and I fly to Borneo in five days' time to spend Christmas with my mother and stepfather (Spouse joins us a week later). This is Spouse and self enjoying a bit of luxury last time we went, 7 years ago.

And Kid 2 also clearly having a terrible time; Kid 1 enjoying the sunset.

There, now I've got myself in the mood for it.

Kid 2 is obsessed with elephants so the timing of this story was a bit off.

The list of things that Must Be Done before we get on the plane is staggering. I have made shortbread and caramels and chocolate truffles and bought gifts for all those people it's important not to forget (piano teacher, band teacher, tutors, woman who helps the kids cross the road - it's a long list). But I'm about to concede that it may be the first year in about 15 that I have not handmade my Christmas cards. Sometimes one just has to let go ...

AND, my clients apparently have sixth sense - they don't see dead people, they see people trying to get away on holidays. Turns out my laptop will be enjoying a trip to Borneo too, lucky thing.

Apropos of not very much, I had a birthday a few weeks back, and we went away for a weekend with some friends. Auspiciously, the weather was fabulous. We played badminton and drank champagne and ate duck with quince and pistacchios. Since then, it has rained more or less non-stop. We have had the coldest start to summer in 50 years. I am almost looking forward to the steamy heat of the tropics.

Ocean's Eleven

We have tried, several times, to take Kid 2 camping for her birthday. It always rains. This time we decided to outsmart the weather and get cabins instead, about an hour's drive and a five-minute water taxi ride away. This pic is from when we went last winter.

The rain held off until Saturday night, when the heavens opened with a vengeance ... packing up and getting back late Sunday morning was a cold, wet affair. But we did have fun. Before the deluge I played ping pong with Kid 1. And badminton. He is outraged that there are sports at which I'm slightly better than him ... And I went fishing but didn't catch any fish, but that's not always the point.

Oh, it wasn't my party? I think Kid 2 had fun also, with her five friends. There was arguing and chaos and eating of marshmallows and chocolate and not enough sleeping. Girls on the cusp of adolescence are interesting creatures. Not always attractive, but definitely interesting. Kid 2 looks more like her brother every day. Note: short haircut entirely her choice.

Kid 1 had just returned from a week of cadets camp (36-hour exercises, no sleep, 'rat pack' food) so was shattered on Friday night but held it together with remarkable fortitude. My fabulous brother joined us to help balance the age and gender ratios also.

All in all, I think it was a good way to start the kids' school holidays. I had hoped to take a week's holiday myself, but the Work Gods will not have it. At least for two weeks I have no teaching, so I can try to catch up on all my other work (paid and non-paid).

Tonight we are having the actual birthday festivities (today being the official day of Eleven-ness) at my in-laws' place. I'm cooking (I know, unusual, isn't it?) as my MIL has just come out of hospital and finds the whole cooking for a crowd thing rather irksome. Kid 2 is a hard-core carnivore, so we're having barbecue ribs with homemade BBQ sauce, potato salad and corn, followed by Eton Mess. Her favourite dessert ever is creme brulee (good kid) but there wasn't time for it to set ...

And here she is in all her Birthday Maxi-dress Glory.