Happy Earth Hour

Bethany had her second ballet lesson on Wednesday afternoon and her enthusiasm hasn't waned at all, quite the opposite. Toby had his last cricket practise so we left him at school and took Bethany to ballet. I packed afternoon tea and books to amuse Jossie and me while we waited. I was prepared to take photos this time, though I'm not sure they have turned out any better than last week's.

You will probably have to click on them to see it properly but I love how Bethany is so straight and attentive. She is giving it her all.


On Friday afternoon Toby and Andrew left for Goobragandra, car filled with a tent, sleeping bags, cricket bat and other camping essentials. I'm not sure where Andrew's camera is otherwise I might help myself to some photos. They arrived home after midday on Saturday very tired and completely filthy but having had a wonderful time. They spoke of it so highly that even I felt that I could possibly stand it for one night.

Mim came over on Friday evening for a girls' night and we were just about to have our girls' dinner of roast vegetables and Israeli couscous when who should show up but Mim's boyfriend, Bill! This is impressive when you know that he lives three hours away. I didn't have enough of our dinner to share so we made some bacon and egg sandwiches for him! We didn't abandon our girls' night and made him watch Sense and Sensibility which he handled very well. He is going to make Mim watch Dirty Harry in return.

In the late afternoon, once it had cooled down a bit, the kids put their swimmers on and we drove down to the beach for a swim. The water was deliciously cool, though it isn't very deep. We met some of the Scotts there and the children all had fun covering themselves in river sand (made up, in part, of dirt) and then getting clean in the river. Chris and I waded and kept an eye on all the children as the river flows quite swiftly. The river bed is very stony and we skimmed stones. Most of mine just go plop but I can produce one skip quite regularly and even managed two, once. Chris skimmed one stone that jumped about twelve times!

During Earth Hour last year we played games by candlelight with friends. This year, though the Scotts had come over for dinner, they were long gone by 8.30, needing to put their kids to bed. Andrew and I watched a Midsomer Murder by candlelight, very romantic. I love the way Earth Hour is only about lights - you can still watch television, cook or have a cup of tea. I sort of feel like we should turn off the power at the fuse box but then we don't really want the fridge off, do we? I was so enjoying the candlelight that I left the lights off for the rest of the evening. I could be tempted to do that regularly.