Ten pin bowling

We have a date for bowling with some other family later in the week so we thought we would get some practise in.

Lindsay apparently went bowling for her birthday this year and she bowled first so the bumpers came out and she pretty much had the angles worked out pretty well, I think in the first game she got 105 which beat me and Ryan.

Ryan didnt do so well until he changed shoes near tge end of the last game.

I improved in the second game from 100 to 105 and did win that one, beating Warren as well as the kids. Two games was enough though, when we played league it was three games.

It was a school holiday discount so $5 a game including shoes so not too bad.

We are ready for the family championship now on Thursday.

Our Christmas get together

We had our Christmas lunch/get together on Saturday. Jason suggested that we go the their place so the kids could have a swim. That was a good choice and the kids loved it.

After thinking about food, who will eat what and how to keep it cold, we decided to buy a subway platter and a couple of buckets of chicken from kfc.  I ordered it beforehand and we picked it up on the way. Jason said they would do nibbles and drinks and Sheridan brought dessert.

It was a stressfree day, the kids had a swim before lunch then after we had eaten they played with nerf guns in the front yard. With big cousins at 18 and 15 looking out for the younger ones, 12 to 7, it meant the adults could sit and chat.

As we used mainly plastic plates and spoons, clean up was pretty quick too. There were a few subways left over which I brought home to go into the bin. I packed up the left over chicken and Lucy has a few meals.

Secret Santa

I belong to a face book group and each year, someone conducts a secret santa. It seems that a lot of the women (and it is mainly women in this group) are either single mums or widows.

Not everyone elects to go in for secret santa but I have for the last few years. I posted on here under Christmas one of the gifts that I made to send and I also sent a book that I thought the person would like.

We fill out a questionaire about favourite colours,  etc etc. I was matched this year to someone that that far away and she is a single mum with a couple of late teens. I know from the group that she is madly saving to buy her own house. Therefore money is not plentiful and I would think that she would not buy anything for herself. Besides having contact from another person, the idea is a gift.

I posted mine off one morning and that afternoon, I received a parcel from who ever was matched to me, its not the same person.

Besides a card, there was a strong large shopping bag, a tablet bag with strap and another bag that I was at a bit of a loss over, thanhfully she had mentioned it in the card, it was a brolly bag, made from thickish material so thst if the umbrella was wet, it would absorb the moisture. As I usually misplace or get rid of the covers of umbrellas, it woukd be good. All handmade the articles were too.

Biscuits

A recipe that I have used when we were living in China as I was able to obtain everything that I needed. It was titled "104 cookies for $4". Its a good recipe but makes heaps and things can be added.

Recipe is 500gms of butter, cup of sugar, cream togerher then add a tin of condensed milk and 5 cups of sr flour. Takes a bit of work to mix it all together.

We did some rolled in sugar, added choc chips to another, milo to some and the last lot had mixed fruit.

Three trays went into the oven three times with 12 on each tray so 108 biscuits.

We had bought cookies cutters so there are hearts, stars, circles and rabbits, we were keeping the duck for the coconut, but ended up not using coconut. Several packs were given to the cousins today.

Oh Christmas tree, you know the rest

We havent had a Christmas tree in years. I dohave a set of twigs that Imade several years ago with some tinsel wrapped around it that sits in a pot and usually does duty as our tree.

Warren went to Bunnings today to buy some Christmas lights he thought the kids would have fun putting them up. They had sold out of lights so he bought a tree instead.

Of course the bottom one came first.

He did put up lights outside along the gutters as well and bought a type of disco light that shines red and green lights in different patterns on the front of the house. This is the extent of our decorations.

The Grinch

I took the kids to the movies yesterday. I was surprised at how busy the shopping centre was as well as the movies, so many kids there. We were given seats up in the second tier, dont think I have ever beenup there before.
Movie was okay, thought it was a bit long almost two hours.
Some quite funny bits at times.
Unlike a lot of kids movies these days, I didnt find any underlying humour.
Kids enjoyed it, even the 15 year old which surprised me that he agreed to go, I thought it would have been too young for him.
He even suggested to Warrenthat he should go and he would probably like it.
I did look for a hint of sarcasm but no, not a whisper.

South Bank

Today we took the train and bus into Mater Hill Station and then back into Brisbane stopping off at platgrounds.

I just find this building is stunning.

Such a nice walk along here under the arch and flowers. There are a couple of wide leaf looking structures up high to give shade.

This pool was open and had lots of people out using it. Unfortuneately the smaller pool with the fountains is still closed for maintenance said the signs.

After lunch it was time to climb up into the frame. Great to see that there were sun shades over the equipment.