A couple of nights ago I was down in the garage and I heard something move in the backyard. It sounded like somebody running away when they heard me. So I ran back inside and locked the door. I have noticed a lot of animal pooh lately in the backyard and so I have made sure to shut the side gate thinking it's the neighbour's dog.

Anyway this morning at 5.45 am I went to get a towel hanging on the side verandah and  there standing in the middle of my backyard was the 'unknown intruder'...... a Wallaby.

He went into that sort of cautious squatting position when he saw me and sat there for a while. I went back into the house, woke my 6 year old daughter and we spied on him from the back window.

He finally hopped away when I opened the window. He hopped straight over the back fence into the state forest which is behind us.  I don't know if he'll be back but think he's been visiting for a while. I have a nice thick couch lawn that he must really love.

Now I know where all the droppings are coming from. Next time I catch him out I will have to try and get a photo. And I dont think I'll bother planting any lettuce or spinach out the back either.

Well the weather here has been beautiflul. The rain has kinda stopped again. Though the sky was cloudy again this arvo. The days have been absolutely beautiful here though, nothing to complain about.

There has been talk that we will get a big flood here in July but we are into the middle of July now and it seems to be clearing.

The kids have had an exciting holiday so far. We saw a couple of whales from the headland and the same night was a huge tide and went fishing in the river (not for from the mouth) and the kids saw a huge shark come up out of the water. I think it might have been a tiger shark. I've heard before of people seeing them in that spot.

I also drove to Sydney for a couple of days. It's my first drive to Sydney since I got my lisence in January. I havn't driven in Sydney much before. I managed to drive along Parramatta road, Woodville road to get to Fairfield, then onto Horsley drive, and drive back again to Eastwood. All without any incidences or getting beeped at, So I am quite proud of myself. I didnt even stress at all about it, which a few months ago would have been terrified at the thought.

The 10th of July was a 9 year anniversary of an accident that I witnessed, where I had to call an ambulance. 2 passengers died in the crash. They were brothers. It happened on a rainy night at 10 past 8. So that night (last friday)I went to cemetary to leave flowers. It was so eerie because it was exactly the same weather as the night of the crash. And I said sorry when I laid the flowers because one died while waiting for the ambulance. Then we drove out past the crash site and threw some flowers out to the spot. I took the kids back the next day in the daylight to show them what had happened and where the car hit the trees.

The main reason for taking them is because the 6 and 8 year old have been taking their seatbelts off when I'm driving, then I have to stop and make them put them back on. But I showed them the very spot the 2 guys landed (they werent wearing belts and ejected the vehicle and died in the rain in the bush)

It has had the desired effect and they havn't taken them off since. Also my 8 year old asked if I could stop at the crash site again so he could pray for the brothers. So I let him. But I told him I'm not stopping there again.

Also my son who is 15 now has never talked about the accident before but when I mentioned it last Friday he told me he remembered that car overtaking us the night of the crash. He was only 6 then. I dont think any of us will ever forget it.

Still a week to go of the holidays and I'm actually enjoying it. Will be a shame when they have to go back to school.

This morning  we heard on the radio about an accident where a teenager had been killed on the highway, in the early hours of this morning. It happened at a suburb close to where my kids go to school, so I said to my second eldest "oh no I hope it's not one of your friends from school. He said I only know 1 person from that suburb and said his name DG.

This arvo I got a phone call from my oldest son, saying that something really bad had happened and one of their friends had committed suicide. 

when he told me the name I got a cold shiver down my spine because it was the guy my son told me this morning that he knew, DG

So they are really, really upset, especially my second eldest because it was really weird that we thought of him when we heard the report and turned out to be him.

He actually is was in his class and they only talked to each other yesterday afternoon, not really that many hours before it happened.

Everybody at school is devastated and trying to work out why, My son said he seemed happy yesterday when they talked.

I feel deeply for his parents and family.

Thank you to Matthew at Admin and especially Lui for helping me with my problem. If this blog works then my problem is sorted.

You guys are the best

 I havnt been on minti for ages because i cant log in on my new pc. Anybody have any idea why? It must be something to do with settings. But if anybody can offer help or ideas would be appreciated. (I'm not on my computer atm)

I just have to tell you all something very exciting. My 7 year old kicked a goal at footy on Saturday. His first points ever. And also tackled and saved a try. It's his second ever game.

Also excitinng my 5 year old daughter has her first rugby league games this Saturday. I am very excited and looking forward to watching her play.

 Well my kids have been really naughty lately whenever I take them shoppig, to the video store or anywhere for that matter. I am actually surprised how many people agree with me that a good smack on the arse is not such a bad idea.

I know this is very controversial and many will disagree and will think I am a child abuser or whatever, but I have told them all that if they are naughty in the shops that's what they will get; a good smack on the butt. And it usally works. I can threaten them with deprivation etc etc, but if they know they are gonna get a smack they usually, settle down once they kow I'm serious.

The other day I was driving out of Woolworths carpark with my daughter in the back seat, screaming at the top of her lungs becuase I didnt buy her lollies. Everybody was staring at me. I had to pull over and tell her to put her seat belt on and leave it on or she would get a smack. And I also added that I didnt care who saw it. I wasnt going to let her put herself in danger.

It worked. What should I have done, just driven away with her screaming on the floor of the car?

Does anybody else agree with me but is reluctant to admit it?

As you know my kids school was flooded in with most students, teachers and staff still at school.

Anyway the road to the school wasnt reopened till 9pm last night but they had already decided to keep all the kids overnight by then unless parents could get through. (most roads were still blocked).

At 8.30 this morning there were still 150 kids at scool (including my 3) who were still cut off.

It wasnt till around11.00am this morning that the highway at Urunga was reopened and I got through to pick them up.

So they are all at my place now. Very tired and hungry when I picked them up. Primary kids had to sleep on their classroom floor without  any bedding. Even little kindy kids.

But the school arranged for the ones who still couldnt get home to be billetted out. So they did a fanstastic job.

The school was expecting a lot of visitors last night for their major drama performance. So they went ahead with ''opening night' as planned, with year 7 and 8 as the audience LOL.

Well this arvo I went pick kids up from bus and it didnt come, so after half an hour I went to get some fuel then asked another bus driver what was going on.

It's been raining here all day, but anyway Coffs Harbour has had flash floods and 3 of my kids (plus the rest of their school) are flooded in and cant get any vehicles in and out.

I was really stressed out just finding out what was going on cos the school phone and bus companies phone were busy for about half an hour.

But I finally got through and found out they are all safe and being cared for by the teachers.

So anyway all the kids are in the library watching DVD's and being served dinner at 6.30.

The school has over 1200 kids but I'm not sure if its the whole school stuck but I think it's all of them. All the teachers are stuck there with them.

The school website is posting updates every 1/2 hour. So I dont really know what will happen when the flooding subsides. We are 40 mins drive away from the school and the highway is blocked in other places.

Lucky for me as  my pc hasnt been working and it just happened to start up ok yesterday and today so I'm not turning it off in case it doesnt fire up again!

Just saying hello to everybody. I havnt been on for ages for various reasons but mostly because I dont hve much pc access and when I do I seem to be doing other stuff.

Anyway my daughter started school today (yippee!). So thats probably why I'm actually on here now because I am free with no kids!

Also I just bought a cheap old car a week ago. Not sure how its gonna go needs a few repairs! But its good to be able to get around now and not wait for buses or spend hours walking etc.

I'm really looking forward to catching up with everybody again. I havent even looked at my watchlist. It's gonna take me ages to go through it so if it seems like I've been ignoring anybody it's just that I havnt even looked at it in ages!

Today I dropped something off to my son at school and he told me Santa had been and left gifts under the tree in the classroom. I didnt think much of it probably some pencils or lollys....

When he got home he showed me..... A CD r in a case. Case covers have printed photos of his class group, CD top has a printed photo of his Dolphin Kiss photo which was taken on a class excursion to the pet poipoise pool iN Coffs. That looks incredible! 

On the CD itself has 67 photos that the teachers have taken this year of stuff happening in the class, excursiuons and photos just of him they took.

Wow, how awesome. That is the best gift a teacher has ever given out to my kids. It must have taken ages as she has done it for every child in the class. How lucky I am to get all those photos but presented so beautifally.

I am stoked and thrilled. Thanks Mrs U. You are the best.