Friday

We had an incredible storm on Monday.  A huge front came through, the sky was violet and grey and white, and ... messy? Smooth dark clouds, covered with swirls and splotches of other clouds; M likened it to War of the Worlds (without the alien invasion, of course).  It was bizarre.  It got dark very quickly, and at 3.45 pm (about 2.5 hours before it starts to get dark at this time of year) everyone was driving about with their lights on.  By the time we got to M's work, there was hail the size of golf balls and rain so heavy and hard we couldn't drive in it.  I parked alongside a wall, which was lucky - most of the cars in the car park were hail damaged, and a couple had the back windscreen smashed in.  Scary.  There was flash flooding on the way home, a mudslide on the side of Kings Park (can't remember the name of the "mount" - it's a hill, really, but when you live in a flat state like ours, it's all relative).  On the upside, at least I got the rain I was longing for.  Perhaps a case of being careful what you wish for. 

In the evening, we caught a glimpse between storm cells of an amazing golden sunset, the light bouncing off the clouds and turning the air a kind of pink and orange.  S and I went outside to see it.  It was so great - normally he's either in bed or getting ready for it by sunset, so he doesn't see many.  I loved the fact we could share it together.  It's one of those times I wonder: will this be a memory he will keep, too?  I remember my parents finding it odd or funny that I remembered certain things as a child.  It's so hit and miss at this age, and I am looking forward to him telling me later about the things he can remember. 

Then we went inside and he threw a massive tantrum which lasted forever, because he couldn't show Daddy (the sun had gone behind clouds by then and it was starting to get dark).  Oh well.  It all balances out :)
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Had work today, and I'll pick up the children later, come home, and then go out again to get M.  It's an exercise in organisation on Wednesday mornings, as I have to be at school at 7.55, so we have to be out of the door at 7.  Today there was a breakdown which made me about 15 minutes late... grr.  They're being assessed next week, so I'm hoping to be even more superorganised than I was today, and hopefully that will include me being able to eat breakfast :) 

I'm still enjoying it.  They had a relief teacher last week - I just can't figure out why, if you've taught for 25 years and are now retired, you would want to come back and do relief when you obviously HATE SCHOOL CHILDREN!!  Because that's what it seemed like to me, and the language assistant.  I think she was stressed out as she wasn't sure what to do, and I understand that.  But if it's obvious to me that she's not enjoying herself, well, I think the students can probably work that out too. And what do you think 14-year-olds are likely to do if they think you are losing control?  :D

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I made S some potato prints and he had a great time with them.  T also did some finger painting, and I think they are both incredibly talented.  I've taken some photos to prove my point: 



The ones above and below are S'.



And this one is T's:


I know, I know.  They only mean something to me because it's my children who did them.  Plus I have an inordinate affection for primary colours.  

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Moving on...

I'm looking forward to the weekend - plan to go to the park on Saturday, plus plant some sweet peas and more herb lawn.  We also plan to go to the Perth Sun Fair on Sunday, as the weather should be a balmy 25 degrees.  Brenda and the gang will be there with a stall, so I'll hopefully get to chat to her too, and I think there should be a few fun things for S and T to join in with.  It's so great that they're getting to an age where we can take them places and they can actually appreciate and participate in activities rather than being just that bit too small.


And now, I'm off for a run with the Doop.