Catapults

There is not too much to this: 8 cut satay sticks and 6 longer ones (plus one very short length) some cotton thread, and PVA glue. Start every join with a blob of glue to stop the thread from slipping. Note the amount of overlap when crossing sticks. Finish every thread binding with a good smear of glue to save tying a knot. It's much quicker and creates a stronger join.

Occasionally you may find it hard to hold the frame and bind the cotton at the same time. A second person may be of great help if they hold it for you when it is tricky.

Note the triangle sides are to "mirror" themselves. You might have to actually make one just to get it right the next time around. Peter certainly had to do that a number of times till he settled on this version here.

Note the movable (throwing) part has a critical 'axle' measurement so that it keeps in its place when assembled later with the rubber band.

Slip on the rubber band over the top of the catapult frame before or after positioning the throwing part. This rubber band should keep the moving part from coming loose. To shoot, simply place a small object just above the short stick on the throwing part and pull back, holding the catapult base with the other hand, and then let go the end. The catapult is not designed to be dangerous and should throw a small object over a distance of one or two metres. A heavier throwing object will travel only a short distance due to its weight.

Cross Country Care

Peter was positioned in his school's cross country as a marshal along the course. Most of the kids gave it their very best effort. Then Peter noticed something very special happen. One of the year 5 boy became distressed and disorientated. Immediately a year 6 boy stopped running and walked the course with him. Peter took the snap and felt that this act of care was greater than the glory of getting a place at the regionals the following week.

Goodwill Wallets

It is about time Peter shared about his goodwill wallets and how to make them. The wallet count is up past 180 and there is still a demand for them. He patiently makes a little pile of about a dozen to bring to school the next day. The kids are patient because each knows that eventually s/he will have one too. They are never sure what colour they will get because Peter alternates those. Sometimes the colour of the ribbons changes as well. They don't mind. They also love the miniature $10 note that comes with each wallet.

You start with cut straw board and black display board. These have their corners cut for a nicer finish. There are four ribbons with the cross ribbons slightly longer. They are placed accurately on top of one of the black cards and the other black card is placed 'flush' on top to sandwich the ribbons. Spot glue just four ribbon ends to the top surface of the card, making sure to glue different sets on either side (two from the cross and two from the parallel).

Press the ribbon ends down well so that the PVA glue is squeezed flat and begins its setting quickly. Then carefully "flip" the black card sandwich and glue the four remaining ribbon ends to the other black surface. Again squish the glue so that it sets quicker. Set this (main) part of the wallet aside and work on the separate covers for both sides. Any paper can be chosen for this part. In this demonstration red paper was used to go with the ribbon. It does not have to match the ribbon though. The cut straw board is carefully positioned on this paper. The paper is cut (or has been cut) to allow easy fold-over-gluing.

Keep folding over the exposed paper till it is all neatly glued over. Again it is good to press down the glue so that it will set faster. With one cover ready, run a thin bead of glue close to the edge of the black card outer surface. Then carefully place the prepared cover over this making sure that it lines up (with a slight overhang all round). Perfect!

The cover paper for the other side is also wrapped around the other straw board card in the same way and glued to the black card on the other side of the wallet, again with a thin bead of glue close to the edge. Line it up carefully before giving this cover a good press down. Once heavy pressure is given to the PVA glue (in combination with these paper and card materials) it will be hard to shift from then on. You can gently test the ribbon "hinges" for a moment but it will be better to put the wallet under a few books for a good half hour. The moisture of the glue sometimes caused the cards to curl and pull away from each other so being held down for a time will stop that from happening. And that's it. Give it a shot.

Jasper Four

We had a wonderful visit to celebrate Jasper's fourth birthday. We arrived early enough to catch Gord before he left for work. So we were all with Jaz for the candle blowing.

Actually, we came two days before Jasper's real birthday so he probably had a second party, and even a third. Happy Birthday Jaz!

A rocket was just the gift for Jaz. It can go up 100 feet but is pretty safe really. Jaz found that he could sit on the 'pressure ball', or stamp on it, for a good amount of air for each take off.

Gord ready to hit the town looking all business like (with a hat like that he is ready for anything) and Jet looking a little older for each time we come.

Piper and Jaz managed their blasting off turns very well, sometimes even having two turns in succession before the other resumed. These were all well negotiated. Barb had bought spare rockets just in case both original ones were lost quickly so they both had their "own" rockets to shoot.

Notice the ladder nearby. This was used on numerous occasions when a rocket happened to land on the roof. We even had attempts at catching them as they came to earth - all great fun.

One of the other gifts was an oil and water "hour glass" and Jethro loved watching the red and blue dribbling to the bottom. He knew he could turn it over again to watch it dribble back.

Jaz coloured this rocket drawing for us. We forgot to take it with us when we left at the end of the day. We will have to remember on our next visit. He was very pleased with his effort.

Piper held up Sparkle, the only chook willing to be carried about. It was one of those nice early winter days when we could still do things outside.

World Wedding

This was a wedding for the world. Certainly there was a world TV coverage. The Bible reading of parts of Romans 12 was also a gift to the world - a fine choice for so many hearers.

And there were do dramas. It went like clockwork. The bride seemed to become a light on top of the long red candle when she joined her prince. Very large scale symbolism.

Easter Family Fun

We hope everybody had a happy Easter. Ours was very special because Barb's sister Madonna and our niece, her daughter, Kelli came and stayed three nights. In that time we (and they) managed to a lot of fun things and still fit in five games of Ticket 2 Ride. Daniel joined us for the last game session on the Sunday night. We had a auto-photo-shoot afterward.

This particular game (above) was an exciting scramble to get those rail links and never quite succeeding, what with lack of the right cards and the opponents' faster moves. For Peter (yellow) it was the big one that got away. Oh well. It was a real fun time, a great way to make Easter different.

This was an Easter without an egg! But we still consumed chocolates (from the bowl above) and the delicious Pan-Forte (some of it below) that Kelli made to mark the occasion.

Tran Marries Jorgandiovski

We attended a special marriage union at Fairfield Park last Saturday. Thuy is a delightful and beautiful Vietnamese and Peter is a dashing Macedonian. The Amphitheater at Fairfield Park was the meeting place between to two cultures, Vietnamese Catholic and Macedonian Orthodox and this made it a thoroughly grand occasion. Parking was a shocker for most people, but once we all made it in, it did not seem to matter just how late we were or how late it started.

There were lots of group photos and these are just a few of them as Peter caught a few randomly. The one above shows Loan and Bonna's family now with three kids and the eldest, Eric, nearly as tall as his mother. Eric gave the Bible reading.

Mo was a very proud mother. She always enjoys seeing us. We have a special affinity with Mo and Ha since the time we first met when they and their girls arrived at Melbourne airport thirty years ago. Thuy was just a baby in Mo's arms, born in the refugee camp.

There was also a small collection of picnic goers watching on. They were treated to a nice spectacle and one of them was moved to share with us that he could see so much love... so clear was love on display. That was nice.

When the Macedonian half got going on the floor the music became particularly powerful so that the vibrations penetrated through to our bones (literally). The Jorgandiovski family had already been cranking up the music in their street for a few days prior to this so this was just a continuation of the festivities. We observed how overpowering the Macedonian culture was on the night, even though it went very well really and Thuy and Peter have wedding memories that they will cherish for the rest of their lives. We are glad. May God bless their marriage like the the flashing colours of the Spirit of light that travelled with the music.

Everyone who came was expected to enter a "free" photo booth especially placed in the foyer of the reception. Three of the six snaps went into a visitor's comment book and the guests kept the other three. These are the ones we kept. A nice idea.