12 of 12, December 2018

Things were a little frantic this morning as my New Zealand-based brother and his family were arriving for Christmas and I am their local hotel. Trouble is, I had been occupying the rooms — yes, all of them — that they needed, and although I have spent time in the last week getting things ready there was still a bit to do. Before breakfast I had managed to clear them some wardrobe space. The garage’s major restructure will make it easier not to collide with the barbecue, kayak, lawnmower, Scout camping gear and a bunch of storage crates (and much more stuff not visible in the second picture), and it is now serving as the budget accommodation suite. 

During breakfast I managed to get this year’s Christmas card production line started. I am slightly worried that the international cards won’t arrive in time … although I did manage to write and send them later in the day. Of course, now I am worried about the interstate cards, since I have no idea when I am going to have time to get them organised.

With a hot day ahead, and rain forecast for later in the week, I needed to do something about the overly enthusiastic grass in the yard. I probably need to trim the path edge too, I suppose, but there were other things that were more urgent.

During the morning I learned that the latest issue of a magazine for primary maths teachers had been published, containing an article written by a friend and me.  We’re both pleased that this has appeared.

In the evening, after several weeks of doing badgework and competition camp preparation, I finally had a chance to get out on the water at Scouts. My water shoes couldn’t wait to get off the pebbly shore.

I looked after the kayakers as the sun set over Mt Wellington.

In the meantime, the other leaders looked after the kids in boats.

We headed up-river and under the bridge on one of those glorious mild summer evenings.

And at this point we turned around and headed back … and then I failed to take any photos of packing up, and closing parade.

[The “12 of 12” project involves taking 12 photos on the 12th of the month; this is episode 112.]