Oh Poop!

On Saturday I was putting Caleb's suitcase away in the garage, when I noticed a large puddle of water round the side of the house. It had been raining a lot the previous day so at first I thought it was from the rain. Then I noticed water running into the puddle from the back of the house ...oh not good! I followed the water round to the back of the house and...... there was all this nasty raw sewage coming up out of a drain. Gross!! We managed to get hold of a plumber who dug up the drain and found a tree root had broken through a pipe and was causing a blockage. So he cleared it all out and fixed it all up. I don't envy plumbers when they have to deal with stuff like that! I kept teasing Caleb, saying it was going to be his job to clean up all the mess outside! I think he would run away from home rather than deal with that! haha

Chinese Takeout

Caleb just spent two weeks in China and Hong Kong with Peter. Here are a selection of photos he took while he was there. It was a good experience and he had a great time.

I asked Caleb what this place was - he said "a building!"

Buddhas carved out of the rock face at the Thousand Buddha Caves

Another buddha

More buddhas

And more.... there's a thousand remember!

Eating with chopsticks

Outdoor food vendor

At a lake in Guangzhou

Outside the park in Guangzhou

Chinese foot and calf massage - apparently it's very painful!

More Pics from Oz

Stand off with a Kangaroo

Considering Jared's history with cliffs - this makes me nervous!

Lorne Falls

Cool effect huh!

Shake, Rattle 'N' Roll

Last night we felt one of the largest earthquakes in a while. ( I looked online this morning and it was a 7.8 on the richter scale, located way down south) It was late evening and Rachael and I were watching TV when the house started to tremble, then shake. It lasted for about a minute, long enough for us to look at each other and say "oooh, earthquake!" and then it died down. If it had gone on for any longer we would have stood under the door frames. Tremors are quite common here, and quite often you even don't feel them or they feel similar to a large truck driving by that vibrates your house. But everyone is waiting for "the Big One" which is suposedly overdue. Oh Joy!

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

I just got back from seeing the movie. I loved it! Once you get over the fact that they have to simplify the story and change small details for the big screen, it is great. A lot is packed into 2 1/2 hours, but it was well done. I don't recommend it for younger children or those easily spooked. As with the books, the story gets darker. Can't wait for the next movies now!!

Happy Birthday Rachael

This post is VERY late! (Like 2 weeks late) Sorry Rachael. My excuse - we were all stricken with a plague-like flu (well maybe a slight exaggeration), and then moved house - Ugh! to the moving and cleaning and unpacking side of moving, but Yay! to enjoying our lovely new home.
Now back to Birthdaying Rachael:




The Belle of the Ball
(To the tune of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme Song)

Now this is a story all about how
Little Rachael Ball arrived in town
And I'd like to take a minute
Just sit there y'all
I'll tell you how she became known as the Belle of the Ball

In Christchurch, NZ, born, but not raised,
In sunny Arizona she spent most of her days
Chillin' out maxin' relaxin' all cool
Spending her summers swimmin' in the pool
She has a couple of guys
She calls her Bro's
Jared and Caleb are the two amigos
She chose the right, grew up sweet, but she aint that tall
Her beauty's inside 'n' out, cos she's the Belle of the Ball

She went to Mesa High, was a Jackrabbit proud
Speaks with her hands to those who can't hear loud
Her iPod is bustin' with every song known to all
from the Beatles to Eminen, she's the Belle of the Ball

Now she's in NZ, gettin' back to her roots
And we yell to the world 'Yo here's our tribute
In our little kingdom
It says it all
That she's lovingly known as the Belle of the Ball

Happy Birthday Rach! (belated)