Hot

I didn't get any of the cleaning done that I intended to, but the a/c got fixed which surprised me.  First an a/c guy came and couldn't find the tap that is supposed to fill the unit anywhere but then discovered it's an electronic thingy on top of it (on our very high roof) that does it and there was something wrong.  So then an electrician came and he couldn't fix it and in the end the people from the heating shop came and fixed it which was weird, but apparently they install air conditioners and must have had the part that was needed.  Most of this happened while I was out, I went and picked up Phill from Junee and we went to Wagga to get a few things.  Josh has been home sick all week so he let everyone in and when we got home it was all fixed, thank goodness.
Yesterday would have been my brother Chris' 60th birthday.  He was murdered in 2002, on New Years' Day when he was just 49.  I talked to my sister and my mum and we remembered him and agreed that he would have thrown a huge party to celebrate, he loved a party.  He didn't even get to celebrate his 50th poor bugger.

He was a lovely big brother to me, spoiled me rotten all through my life, even when I was a grown up.  My mother surprised me with her continued hatred towards the killer.  Me, I choose not to think of him, he only got seven years and has been out for a while now.  I don't blame my mother, I would be the same if it was one of my own children. 

We finally took the Christmas card photos yesterday.  I had the kids pose out by the pool but it was so, so hot even at 3.30pm or so and they could barely open their eyes in the sun so we came inside after a few shots and I wasn't happy with them and we agreed we'd go out later when it wasn't so glaring out there.  Em suggested they get in the spa which was a great idea, don't know why I didn't think of it, and we got some good shots and I'm really happy with the result.  I had intended to use Vistaprint this year but as I went through the process they just kept adding charge upon charge until in the end the price was ridiculous and the kicker was the three week waiting time to receive them, I wouldn't have had time to post them out before Christmas.  So I went back toSnapfish which has done our cards for the past two years, the price was under half of what the other mob wanted, postage very cheap and only a week or so to wait for delivery, and from memory they delivered them quicker than that last year.  I should have done this a couple of weeks ago but it's all done now.

Tomorrow is the first day of Summer and it's shaping up for a long hot one, they're already talking heatwaves in NSW and Victoria.

I talked to Kate the other night and she said she wasn't comfortable with the email I forwarded on to her from Matthew and I told her that was fine, she had a choice and he wasn't going anywhere if she changed her mind about contact.  Then she surprised me by asking "How is Dad with all this?"  She has had a difficult relationship with Phill since her teens but in the end he is her father, he raised her and I know she loves him and I was so pleased (and so was he although he didn't say much) that she was worried about his feelings.  I'm so proud of all three of my kids right now.

I rang the school to tell them Josh was off for the whole week with this flu thingy and mentioned that we needed to see the Principal about Em going back to school next year.  They said he was away till next week and I said don't worry I'll phone back then.  I took Emily down to get her hair cut and while I was gone the school rang us back with an appointment for Monday which was odd, but I know Garry has wanted Emily back in school right from the start.  I just hope we can make it work this time as there really isn't any other alternative for her.  She's a smart girl and has so much potential.  I really enjoyed being out with her yesterday, we were pleased with how her hair turned out, I love our hairdresser here, it's nice to walk in and feel so at home there, they know us well now.  We went for a milkshake and coffee afterwards and it was really pleasant.  She has grown and matured so much this past year and I really think she's going to be okay now, she still has a way to go but she'll get there, I'm certain of it.  Only three weeks or so till the end of the school year, next year I'll have one in year 10, the school certificate year, and one starting her HSC studies in year 11.  What fun!