photos!

here are some photos. hopfully they work!!!!!!!!!

Lebanon Update

Another lovely spring date. Spent the morning at home, Lindy had a meeting in downtown Beirut this afternoon at Starbucks in the Galaxy shopping mall. The photos were taken down at Tyre yesterday, views of the fishing port and one of the bridges that is still to be repaired. It is amazing how many of the 178 bridges destroyed that have been repaired and are back in service. Trust the birthday party goes well for the Kittos and that you are still able to call in on Grandma Jeanie on the way home. Are able to keep in touch with the Aust. news through the Advertiser link each date.
Hello, Lindy here, just to let you know that we are still here too. Dad has taken over the computer!!! Happy Birthdays all round and lots of love to all and sundry.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hey everyone!!!!!!! its been along time since i have writtin on here but i finally found the time because my teacher gave us no homework yay!!!!!!!! But first things first my birthday!!! Thank you everyone that said happy birthday to me!!! i got lots of great things that i love and breakfast in bed!! i loved the kewl e-mails some certain somebodies sent me! thanks heaps for them they were cute and i enjoyed looking at them. school was good some how everyone litrally everyone new it was my birthday so my day was filled with fun! One of my friends tay came over and we did our homework and watched movies and had afternoon tea with Nanna & Pop. Then after they left we got ready and went out to the movies! We saw Epic movie which was good and we almost had the whole cinima to our selves but just as the movie stared people came in :( .Afterwards we got subway and got cold rock ice-cream which was realy nice but tay and i(IS EVERYONE HAPPY! I DID SOMETHING WRITE IN MY SPELLING seeeeee tay and i!!) didnt finish it that night so we had it for breakfast in the morning!hhehehe!!! Hopfully i will be having a minor party sometime soon with other skewl friends! Now the second thing second! Awhile ago all the year 8s went to west lakes for a fun day thing. it was realy good my friends and i(i did it again!!!) went kiaking and that was great fun (but everyone was threatening to capsize everyone.) Soon we will be having sports day and camp. For sports day i am only doing shot put for 1994 and relay for 1993 because its diffrent i high school, u can only have a certin amount of poeple from your colour and year enter the races and other things. In a week we will be going on camp to middleton and we will be slepping in tents, going surfing, going to greenhills, playing sport and much much more. Speaking of sport i have strated playing basketball again and we won our last match 24 to 22 againest st. Marys. It was hard at first because i was very sore(our teacher asked us to do as many sit ups as we could and as many guy push up we could do and i did 70 sit ups and 10 push ups.) Hope everyone is having a good time and enjoyed my very long blog entry!!!!!!!

♥ annie
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

My gosh! Annie turned 13!

Hello from Debbie. Haven't really got any interesting news. And I haven't taken any photos for ages, but I thought it was about time I wrote something - anything!

Obviously, another happy birthday to you Annie for Tuesday. Glad to hear that you had a nice time at the movies with your friends. Was nice to talk to you Hogben's on the Skype - even if the quality wasn't completely fabulous. Will be great to see if we can get it working with you lovely lot in Lebanon.

Stuart has had a VERY busy week. Monday was normal (home after 6pm), Tuesday was home at 6 and out at 7 to Natalie's school AGM where he was elected to school council, Wednesday was home at 7:40 with Bible study starting at 8. Tonight he is at school until after 8:30 and tomorrow I collect him from school and we go to Adelaide!

Tomorrow Natalie's class is leading the school assembly and apparently Natalie has a role so Calvin and I will be getting alone to that to oooooh and ahhhhhh. This week Natalie has also been doing swimming lessons every day and apparently enjoying them a lot. Natalie is still doing ballet on a Wednesday and having lots of fun with that.

Calvin and mummy have been a bit at heads this week, so it will be good to get away to some different scenery and other people. On Tuesday (I think) Calvin cut a piece of hair out of his fringe so that inspired me to suggest a trip to the hairdresser (more for a need to do something with this boy of mine rather than a desperate need for a cut), but he had a great time and sat like a statue (meaning the hairdresser had a good time to!). He now looks very neat and smart.

I'm just continuing to potter through each day, completely depressed by the repetitiveness of housework! Oh well.

Hope that the holiday is going well mum and dad and that you are all having a lovely time. Hugs and stuff to you all. Debbie.

They're here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hooray

Thank you, thank you for letting us have Mum and Dad for a while. They arrived safely and even managed to suprise us by landing early and being outside waiting for us when we got there to collect them! Slightly embarrasing. The kids were extremely happy and also say huge thank you's to Aunties and Uncles and cousins for lots of lovely Christmas, Birthday and We Love You pressies!

Update

It's Sunday lunch time and I have just got home from the Hospital and the Drs AGAIN! This morning I started feeling 'uncomfortable' again and that soon turned into 'very uncomfortable' and blood back in my wee again!!! Ahhhhh. So Stuart dropped me up at the hospital and the nurse I got tested my wee, said 'You've got an infection. I CAN'T believe they sent you home without antibiotics. Go to the Drs'. So I went and sat at the Drs for an hour or so and I've got drugs and should feel normal in about 6 hours. The Dr I saw also said, 'I can't believe they sent you home from the hospital without antibiotics'. So I'm also starting to think "Waaa. I went through all that and I could have just had drugs!" Oh well, nice to know that the answer is simple.

My Adventures for the week!

Well, there aren't really that many, but they did happen this week.

First of all on Thursday as I was driving down south, I got about 10mins away from Tyre and touched the brakes. That's when I heard the clunk and suddenly realized that I had no brakes!!! Fortunately I was on a flat bit of the highway and there was nothing directly in front of me. I managed to change down the gears and coast until I was going slowly enough to use the emergency brake. Nig was great and sent one of the guys from school straight out to get me and we managed to drive the car into the city and directly to a mechanic. When they dropped it of at school later that day, the guy told me I was so lucky to have been able to stop as the entire brake calipers had fallen away!!! Anyway they managed to fix every thing and it only cost about AUS$45. We are seriously praying for this car to turn into a blessing and not a curse!!! I don't think that I told you about the other 800 odd USdollars we had to pay a month or so ago to replace AGAIN the entire automatic transmission that had gone for a second time, but of course only after the guarentee for the other one had expired. Ah well, that's life sometimes isn't it.

Anyway, my other fun adventure was tonight, (that is why I am writing at twenty to two in the morning), but this one really was fun, mostly..?! I've been filming a video clip for a local Christian Arabic singer. That that in itself could be fun but you will never guess what they had me doing in this clip..........................................................???????????????????

PLAYING VIOLIN!!! You didn't know I was that talented did you. Well you know television, it's all a lie, lies I tell you. We got a bunch of friends from church to mime playing violin, trumpet and flute. (Actually the trumpetist and the flutist do actually know how to play their instruments, even though we couldn't hear them.) So I got a free lesson in how to hold my violin and bow and I managed to make some half decent noise.

So thats us for now. Love to all. Hope Natalie and Calvins cuts and scrapes are healing well.

We went to the snow!

I know, it has been ages since I posted anything, but life has a way of sneaking past while your back is turned. Thought you might like to see some pics of the kids in the snow today. It is their last day of mid term so we just went for an hour or so this afternoon to have a play!

More flood photos

These photos were taken out at Salt Creek. First time I have ever seen it in flood. Gauges varied from 28 to 31 mls in the 3 gauges out the back. Only had to stand up about 40 metres of fence that had been washed over by the water. We were lucky considering the amount of water that went across the plan. Nothing ran into the lagoon this time. Afew thunder clouds building up again. You never know there may be more photos tomorrow.

WATER WATER EVERYWHERE

Late yesterday working in the office and heard there had been a bit of a storm at Black Rock. Thought we would go and have a look this is what we found.
Not a drop of rain in the gauge at Black Rock but they measured 212 points at Balck Rock. Top photo is looking south, at the shearing shed and from the crossing.

Fireworks photo

The rockets were the same as they use at the Adelaide show . Just not as many. A lot of comments from people who didn't come to the event still saw the display from the houses as they were so high.

More DB photos

The general view of the gym is a bit dark but hopefully gives you some idea of the setout. The bigger bouncy castle proved popular with the big kids but having the two, it meant the little kids could have a go in there own space and not be hurt by the big kids.

DROUGHT BREAKER

Well after weeks of planning and sleep less nights the Drought Breaker event has come and gone.
And it surpassed all our expectations with over 200 people there on the night, enjoying a great meal, free drinks and a few gift surprises. There were bouncy castles for the kids along with a face painter who worked non stop for 3 hours. The fireworks were really topclass and all were amazed that such a good display could be put on in Orroroo. Having trouble loading other pictures will post this and hopefully get more photos on another page

impakt camp at victor

oh i forgot to add in the last week i went on a youth camp to victor. It was realy fun and we did heaps of things! On the first night though we had to eat horrible food to get points for our team like veggimite and chilli sause mixed together and cat food, duck liver,pickled something with nerds and heaps more. Lucky after that we had chocolate sause and ice cream! We went surfing down at middleton and i stood up 3 times YAY. We had fried mars bars which were realy nice but very very sweet. We went on a scavenger hunt on the last day and ran around the main streets of victor. Some of the things we had to do were ask a person with a yellow hat what there middle name was and find how much doughnuts were. One of the challenges was to race to granite island and back but we ended up jogging(it was to hard to run on the tracks lol). Over all it was a pretty good camp!

♥ annie
xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

SCHOOL

Hey everyone! Schools back and im in yr 8 as you all probably know. my teachers Mr. Dabrow who got marryed last month. He's a good but sometimes strict teacher and is a great sport teacher. Im doing heaps of subjects like french and tech and many others. Thank you soooooo much my little cuties for your lovely drawing and debbie make sure you check your mail.....Hope your all having a good time and enjoying the summer when its not too hot. My post is not long this time but im keeping up the colours!

♥ annie
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

School

Natalie's first day of school for the year went really well today. Apparently she especially liked the painting, and she made a new friend called Grace as well as seeing her friends from last year. So that was good. (I also wanted to remind people to check the AllSaints Beirut Blog in the links - there are quite a few pictures of the kids there.)

More flood photos

This afternoon we took Jeannie for a drive up to carrieton to look at some of the damage to the hawker road at the Januarrie Creek The photos don't fully show the power of the water and the massive pieces of concrete and build up of gravel on the road. There is also dozens of huge tree trunks that had been ripped out of the ground. They say it will cost over 2 million to repair. We also went down to have a look at the lagoon at Black rock and were pleased to see two black swans swimming on the water. trust you all have a good week. Very nice to see the country side greening up, all we need now is for the rains to keep coming.

At last

This has been the holidays with lots of beach and pools at friends houses. It will definately be remembered as the swimming holiday, as I write Annie is packing swimming gear to go on church youth camp at Victor wich includes surfing lessons at Middleton. Mike is working elsewhere so Zac and I will have some nice times together
starting tonight with the Charlots web movie that I promised to take the younger s,school kids to. We are also picking up Mike & mine new bike tomorrow(our christmas pressie & Mikes bday pressie ) and some time Isaac will take me out for coffee with the $ he got for his holiday job of watering pots for two weeks so there you have some of our news. Hope you are all well (Debbie!)
and safe. Lots of love ,Hoggies. xxxxxxxxx

THE DROUGHT HAS BEEN BROKEN

At 10,00 am this morning we topped 100mls of rain (4 ins in old scale) Another night of steady rain 51 mls mainly in the last 6 hours. I think our puddles are a bit bigger than yours in Whyalla. We took these photos this morning. the top one is at the driveway at Black Rock even washed down the neighbours kids. the gate into brooks across the plain which had a good covering of water over most of it. The other photo is at the turnoff at the main road. The road to hawker is closed and the pekina creek is running and the reservoir is filling. B O M are saying there is still more rain to come.

RAIN, RAIN, GLORIOUS RAIN

We have had one of the best soaking rains in years. Started raining at 4 am on Thurs. and fairly consistant for the next 27 hours. 49 mls here in Orroroo down at the farm 44 at the shearing shed, 48 at brookes, 50 at haynes and 55 at Acklands. It has started raining again with another 5 mls so far with more heavy rain predicted for tonight. This is what the roadway into the shearing shed looks like.
Hopefully the start of a good year. Will start a lot of feed out in the back paddocks. Will post an update on rainfall tommorrow

Calvins Card

Hey Calvin, hope you like all the smiley faces, just like yours!! Glad that you had such a lovely busy birthday! It all looks like lots of fun. Lots of love from all the Masris. (Well done Mummy! and Daddy too :) )

Happy Birthday Calvin!!!XXXXXXXXXXXX

Happy Birthday to Calvin, Happy Birthday to Calvin, Happy Birthday to Calviiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin! Happy Birthday to Calvin xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Just wanted to say ...........Happy Birthday Calvin.

Jessie is making a birthday card for you Calvin but it is not quite done yet and we need to go out for a while. So you will see your card later. Hope you have a lovely day and lots of fun with Mummy, Daddy, Natalie and I guess maybe some friends too! We love you very, very much. Aunty Lindy, Uncle Wadih, John and Jessie. xo xo xo xo

What we've been doing while Mummy is away

Natalie: Hayden came over to visit me. We played princesses and doctors and kings. We had fun with the doctors toys. Then we did Mr Potato Head. That's all there is. Bye.
Stuart: Debbie left just after 7am this morning to go down to Adelaide to stay with a friend. (The friend moved down just before Christmas, and her husband has just gone on a mission trip to the Philippines, and after being broken into on the weekend, she isn't coping too well.) Debbie took Calvin, to help celebrate Bradley's birthday. The plan is that she will stay overnight and return by lunchtime tomorrow.

Preaching day in Peterborough

Hopoefully we have the new blogger set up so we can go straight in. We took the service in the UCA at Peterboroughthis morning, good service and had time with some of the ex baptist folk over a cuppa tea. We were still able to get back and spend time with the Orroroo people. Rang Lindy last time all is going well the winter is starting to set in with snow on the higher ground Light snow where they live last week but melted in the rain. Have a trip to Adelaide on Tues, driving Cynthia Ploenges and Les Cottrell down to Enfield so they can attend a funeral then off to Laura to have the car serviced on Wed. will go to Pirie for the day in a borrowed car while they do the service. Photo of the Bundaleer Reserviour between Jamestown and Spalding They have just cut down all the Pine trees around so first time in years that you have been able to see the reserviour from the road. Have a good week.

At last

So I finaly sorted out the pasword bisso and signed up to the new blogg too. The sunset photo we took on our way home from Orroroo and the creamfight photo and others are self explanitary.We've had lovely holiday times with Mike around but he is back to work next week :(. Having breakfast at the market was one of the nice things, fireworks and swimming on New years eve was good too! I think new photos are still on the camera so more to come.
Glad you has a good b,day Dad and hope all others are keeping well. John and Jessie hope going back to school is good! :) Take care all. Love Kezza xx

Its been a good day

Thanks for all the blog cards and best wishes. IT has been a hot but good day. We upgraded to a new Next G mobile phone that will enable us to make calls while we are overseas and I guess overseas from here if we have too. The orange bean is a little massage machine. The Chiropractor said my neck muscles were very tight and some massages should help. time will tell how good it is. First go is very promising.
Mainly for Lindy's benefit we went to Clare for some shopping and lunch at the pub and called in at Jamestown on the way home to put in your cheque for #300.00 from the Lighthouse church and to give them your Tax File number. We then picked up Grandma Jeanie and went to Maggie's for a Coffee. The big question is "WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME WHEN I'AM 64"
I think we can say we have upgraded to the new blog.

Happy Birthday Grandpa!!!

Happy Birthday Grandpa/Dad/John!!!

We Love You Very Much

Jessie had great fun creating this card for you Grandpa. It is all her own creation, a graphic artist in the making if you ask me. We are hoping you have a lovely day with some special treats along the way. ANNNND, Happy New Year to you all as well. I have had no internet connection for the past 6 days so it is a bit late. We have had a manically busy holiday but it has been lovely! Lots of friends and fun (and food, but we are getting over that!) and now it is back to school tomorrow for the kids and I am down in Tyre for the day. Lots of love to all!!!!!!!!!

(By the way, Stu, I have already changed over Blogger!)

Migrating to New Blogger

You will have noticed (when you log in) that you sometimes have the option of upgrading to New Blogger. (It doesn't appear everytime, because Blogger is staggering the migration.) It would be good if everyone can do this when they get a chance, because if I move the Blog over before people upgrade, then they won't be able to access the blog. I'd like to make this upgrade later in the week, so if you see the option to Switch - please take it up. Happy New Year, btw. (That answer your question Kerryn? If you look in Blogger Help, there is a section on "My password wasn't sent to me when I forgot my password.")