Dear Olive,
Happy birthday to our team captain.
Happy birthday to our team captain.
13
Birthday Boy
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Dear Olive,
Bondi put on the most brilliant blue day for Shanes birthday on Sunday. The sort of day that seeps into your bones and energises you and puts you in a fantastic mood just by looking outside. We took a walk in the crisp sunshine in the morning, and then went for a big lunch with a (magnificent) view with about 20 friends. It was the kind of celebration where you go for lunch and are still there for dinner. So fun! And Shane felt very loved, which is always a great thing on your birthday. I was having far too much fun to take any photos at the party. But just look at the amazing day we had! I will never tire of looking out over Bondi.
We love you, Shane.
Bondi put on the most brilliant blue day for Shanes birthday on Sunday. The sort of day that seeps into your bones and energises you and puts you in a fantastic mood just by looking outside. We took a walk in the crisp sunshine in the morning, and then went for a big lunch with a (magnificent) view with about 20 friends. It was the kind of celebration where you go for lunch and are still there for dinner. So fun! And Shane felt very loved, which is always a great thing on your birthday. I was having far too much fun to take any photos at the party. But just look at the amazing day we had! I will never tire of looking out over Bondi.
We love you, Shane.
4
Date Day
Friday, April 12, 2013
Dear Olive,
Shane and I picked you up from preschool one day last week, and you asked us how was work today? We didn't go to work, I answered. But what did you do? You asked. Well, we hung out, we went to the art gallery, we had lunch, and a swim. It was great. Oh.
We're both starting full time jobs in two weeks (holy crap!) which means it's going to get entirely hectic around here real soon, so we're making the most of these date days while we can.
Shane and I picked you up from preschool one day last week, and you asked us how was work today? We didn't go to work, I answered. But what did you do? You asked. Well, we hung out, we went to the art gallery, we had lunch, and a swim. It was great. Oh.
We're both starting full time jobs in two weeks (holy crap!) which means it's going to get entirely hectic around here real soon, so we're making the most of these date days while we can.
22
Man Down
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Dear Olive,
We learnt a big lesson this week. And that is, that whilst being a super fun Dad is excellent, wearing rings while showing off monkey bars skills, is not. And while the injury to Shane's finger is easy to see, the trauma you sustained seeing your Dad almost lose a digit (with it's fair share of blood), is harder to identify. You stayed extremely quiet on the drive to hospital, and in the hospital waiting room, and back at home. Eerily, uncharacteristically so. When I tried to get you to talk about how you felt by telling you how scary it was for me, you'd snap your head away, and pretend that I said nothing at all. For about a day, you seemed terrified of Shane, too. When he spoke to you, you would look only upon his bandaged hand. To poor Shane, this rejection-of-sorts was far worse a wound than the actual injury. After a day or so, came a landslide of tantrums and crying.
Knowing it was a lot for you to process, we consulted our families personal child psychologist, your Aunty Sarah, who said that it sounded like you had been confronted with the (very frightening) realisation that your parents are not, in fact, immortal. She suggested we remind you that accidents happen and that when hurt, bodies are designed to heal. And she said we should validate that you must have felt scared and shaken, and tell you how normal your reaction was.
We're doing all that, and cuddling you through it, too.
(As for Shane, he will heal. It was a deep, nasty cut, and obviously extremely painful, but he was stitched back up and we're hopeful that a big scar will be the only permanent damage. He'll be off work for a while - and, unfortunately for me, off washing up duties, too. But rest assured, he did manage to buy a small condom-like device to go over his bandage so he can still enjoy a swim. It ain't all bad.)
We learnt a big lesson this week. And that is, that whilst being a super fun Dad is excellent, wearing rings while showing off monkey bars skills, is not. And while the injury to Shane's finger is easy to see, the trauma you sustained seeing your Dad almost lose a digit (with it's fair share of blood), is harder to identify. You stayed extremely quiet on the drive to hospital, and in the hospital waiting room, and back at home. Eerily, uncharacteristically so. When I tried to get you to talk about how you felt by telling you how scary it was for me, you'd snap your head away, and pretend that I said nothing at all. For about a day, you seemed terrified of Shane, too. When he spoke to you, you would look only upon his bandaged hand. To poor Shane, this rejection-of-sorts was far worse a wound than the actual injury. After a day or so, came a landslide of tantrums and crying.
Knowing it was a lot for you to process, we consulted our families personal child psychologist, your Aunty Sarah, who said that it sounded like you had been confronted with the (very frightening) realisation that your parents are not, in fact, immortal. She suggested we remind you that accidents happen and that when hurt, bodies are designed to heal. And she said we should validate that you must have felt scared and shaken, and tell you how normal your reaction was.
We're doing all that, and cuddling you through it, too.
(As for Shane, he will heal. It was a deep, nasty cut, and obviously extremely painful, but he was stitched back up and we're hopeful that a big scar will be the only permanent damage. He'll be off work for a while - and, unfortunately for me, off washing up duties, too. But rest assured, he did manage to buy a small condom-like device to go over his bandage so he can still enjoy a swim. It ain't all bad.)
16
Duane Mellon
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Dear Olive,
An enlightening conversation took place recently between myself and another member of our household. It went along a little something like this ...
S: You never say anything about me on the blog, it's just all about you and olive.
Me: What do you want me to say?
S: You could have mentioned my one-two down the middle of the field with Brett Kirk at my football match? Actually, maybe no one will know what a one-two* is! Maybe no one will know who Brett Kirk** is! Well, you could mention more about my music. Or things that Olive and I do together.
Me: Um, ok. You know, if you want to be in a blog so much, why don't you just write your own?
But after some consideration, I thought, perhaps he's right. The whole purpose of these letters are to give you something to reflect back on when Shane and I are old and grey and too diddery to remember anything. So maybe there are some things I should be teaching you about your Dad. Here are the first random things which spring to mind.
1. His love for you is ginormous times infinity. He has the hugest, most impressive attention span for being in the moment with you and just playing.
2. He was the cutest little kid. And shy, apparently. And a very snappy dresser.
3. He was the most handsome young man. And a hit with the ladies, apparently. Not so shy after all, as it turns out. But still a snappy dresser.
4. The first thing everyone describes him as is funny. Really, really, funny.
5. He told me the reason he declined to speak at his fathers funeral last year was because he cries really easily since you've been born. Being your Dad has unleashed the emotions within!
6. In his own words, he is semi-professional at most sports.
7. He's a drummer, and has recorded over 20 albums. With some great, and some not so great, bands. His all Sri Lankan covers band Dark Crystal sits toward the not so great end of the scale. Think Girls Just Wanna Have Fun sung by a man with a thick Sri Lankan accent. (Shane was 13 at the time.) I'm sure he'll put a copy of each cd in your hope chest.
8. When you were 10 weeks old I left you with Hayes and Sarah and went to watch Shane play a gig at the opera house. I felt so proud, but of course that was mostly overrided by sheer panic as my phone had no reception in the theatre. You woke up as I was on my way home, such terrific timing.
9. Shane recently starred in a couple of commercials for hahn beer. He was also the chicken drumming in an old chicken in a biscuit ad.
10. Shane can not stand it when things don't work the way they're meant to. Or are dirty. (Don't mention the tennis court around my family for at least another year.)
11. His alter ego is called Duane Mellon, after he won a prize at a drum clinic when he was a teenager and the person misread his name. If you don't know Duane Mellon, you probably don't know Shane.
And I think that's about it - for now. It's by no means an exhaustive list of who your Dad is, to me or to you. Stay tuned for more vital and exciting Shane information coming your way soon!
*AFL term for a super duper move between two highly skilled players.
**Former AFL player who captained Sydney Swans to premiership victory.
Shane, in a tiny, shiny suit. With Aunty Bry and your great grandparents.
Play it again, Shane. Shane's Mum used to make him perform at the pub they ran. In suits.
Is this what you're going to look like?
Playing the BDO with the Hummingbirds.
An enlightening conversation took place recently between myself and another member of our household. It went along a little something like this ...
S: You never say anything about me on the blog, it's just all about you and olive.
Me: What do you want me to say?
S: You could have mentioned my one-two down the middle of the field with Brett Kirk at my football match? Actually, maybe no one will know what a one-two* is! Maybe no one will know who Brett Kirk** is! Well, you could mention more about my music. Or things that Olive and I do together.
Me: Um, ok. You know, if you want to be in a blog so much, why don't you just write your own?
But after some consideration, I thought, perhaps he's right. The whole purpose of these letters are to give you something to reflect back on when Shane and I are old and grey and too diddery to remember anything. So maybe there are some things I should be teaching you about your Dad. Here are the first random things which spring to mind.
1. His love for you is ginormous times infinity. He has the hugest, most impressive attention span for being in the moment with you and just playing.
2. He was the cutest little kid. And shy, apparently. And a very snappy dresser.
3. He was the most handsome young man. And a hit with the ladies, apparently. Not so shy after all, as it turns out. But still a snappy dresser.
4. The first thing everyone describes him as is funny. Really, really, funny.
5. He told me the reason he declined to speak at his fathers funeral last year was because he cries really easily since you've been born. Being your Dad has unleashed the emotions within!
6. In his own words, he is semi-professional at most sports.
7. He's a drummer, and has recorded over 20 albums. With some great, and some not so great, bands. His all Sri Lankan covers band Dark Crystal sits toward the not so great end of the scale. Think Girls Just Wanna Have Fun sung by a man with a thick Sri Lankan accent. (Shane was 13 at the time.) I'm sure he'll put a copy of each cd in your hope chest.
8. When you were 10 weeks old I left you with Hayes and Sarah and went to watch Shane play a gig at the opera house. I felt so proud, but of course that was mostly overrided by sheer panic as my phone had no reception in the theatre. You woke up as I was on my way home, such terrific timing.
9. Shane recently starred in a couple of commercials for hahn beer. He was also the chicken drumming in an old chicken in a biscuit ad.
10. Shane can not stand it when things don't work the way they're meant to. Or are dirty. (Don't mention the tennis court around my family for at least another year.)
11. His alter ego is called Duane Mellon, after he won a prize at a drum clinic when he was a teenager and the person misread his name. If you don't know Duane Mellon, you probably don't know Shane.
And I think that's about it - for now. It's by no means an exhaustive list of who your Dad is, to me or to you. Stay tuned for more vital and exciting Shane information coming your way soon!
*AFL term for a super duper move between two highly skilled players.
**Former AFL player who captained Sydney Swans to premiership victory.
Shane, in a tiny, shiny suit. With Aunty Bry and your great grandparents.
More suits! And flares!
Play it again, Shane. Shane's Mum used to make him perform at the pub they ran. In suits.
14
Breathing Out
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Dear Olive,
Things have been very hectic around here. In a good way, mostly*, but I feel as though I'm emerging from a multiple month long work fog (which, in reality, was a measly week and a half). While I've been at work, you and Shane have been having the time of your lives together, so I'm told. It's lovely to see you two so bonded. Today is my first day at home with you in almost two weeks and it's simply marvellous just to hang out. You really are such excellent company.
Photos from last weekend, when your Dad played in a charity afl match (that famous frown got photographed, see here). We got all dressed up in team colours and spent the day in marrickville cheering him on.
*The car breaking down in peak hour on the gladesville bridge was a definite low.
Things have been very hectic around here. In a good way, mostly*, but I feel as though I'm emerging from a multiple month long work fog (which, in reality, was a measly week and a half). While I've been at work, you and Shane have been having the time of your lives together, so I'm told. It's lovely to see you two so bonded. Today is my first day at home with you in almost two weeks and it's simply marvellous just to hang out. You really are such excellent company.
Photos from last weekend, when your Dad played in a charity afl match (that famous frown got photographed, see here). We got all dressed up in team colours and spent the day in marrickville cheering him on.
*The car breaking down in peak hour on the gladesville bridge was a definite low.
29
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Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Dear Olive,
You were so happy last night. Crazy, screaming, beside yourself hyper happy. I said to Shane within your earshot she's so happy! I think it's because we've both been home all day. You said I is happy to see Daddy and gave him an enormous cuddle. Heart meltingly sweet stuff under normal circumstances. But delivered on the day Shane lost his Dad? Damn near broke my heart. What perceptive little fellows you kids are.
You were so happy last night. Crazy, screaming, beside yourself hyper happy. I said to Shane within your earshot she's so happy! I think it's because we've both been home all day. You said I is happy to see Daddy and gave him an enormous cuddle. Heart meltingly sweet stuff under normal circumstances. But delivered on the day Shane lost his Dad? Damn near broke my heart. What perceptive little fellows you kids are.
15
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Monday, October 17, 2011
Dear Olive,
We took that mullet of yours out and showed it how to have some fun in the sand on the weekend. It is seriously out of control, with basically nothing at the front, and long knotty locks cascading down the back. Sweet times with Shane on Sunday was just not enough. We miss him again already.
We took that mullet of yours out and showed it how to have some fun in the sand on the weekend. It is seriously out of control, with basically nothing at the front, and long knotty locks cascading down the back. Sweet times with Shane on Sunday was just not enough. We miss him again already.
11
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Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Dear Olive,
Shane's away in Melbourne for a few days visiting his father, who's elderly and gravely ill in hospital. Shane hasn't seen his Dad in about twenty years and they basically have not had anything to do with each other since Shane was an infant. How does this happen? How does a relationship between a parent and child get to this point where they don't really have a relationship? I never understood this but now that I have you, I don't get it with everything that I am. It's always been the most basic strength for me, knowing my family is in my corner, always supporting me, always loving me. Since you've been born, your Dad has wondered more too. Lately he and his Dad have had a couple of phone conversations. And now Shane's flown down to Melbourne to be by his Dad's bedside. I think it's extremely courageous of him. I've never seen your Dad so vulnerable, but also at the same time so assured.
We made some monsters for him.
Shane's away in Melbourne for a few days visiting his father, who's elderly and gravely ill in hospital. Shane hasn't seen his Dad in about twenty years and they basically have not had anything to do with each other since Shane was an infant. How does this happen? How does a relationship between a parent and child get to this point where they don't really have a relationship? I never understood this but now that I have you, I don't get it with everything that I am. It's always been the most basic strength for me, knowing my family is in my corner, always supporting me, always loving me. Since you've been born, your Dad has wondered more too. Lately he and his Dad have had a couple of phone conversations. And now Shane's flown down to Melbourne to be by his Dad's bedside. I think it's extremely courageous of him. I've never seen your Dad so vulnerable, but also at the same time so assured.
We made some monsters for him.
11
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Monday, September 5, 2011
Dear Olive,
It was Fathers Day on the weekend and what better way for you and Shane to celebrate than with a spot of good old road side shopping*. It's one of Shane's favourite past times (he's most excellent at it), how special for him to know you're just a chip off the old block. Your new shape sorter (all original pieces included!) comes with us everywhere now. (How handy are handles?) You're a bargain seeker from way back. You picked up your favourite orange teddy** "Juan", for a song at a garage sale once. Happy Fathers Day to all the Dads, especially mine and yours, because they're both so wonderful.
*also celebrated with a new pair of shorts and lots of cuddles
**ugly and not necessarily endorsed by Shane and I. You saw it at a garage sale and what can we say, you had to have him.
PS I wore mustard pants and a purple top. Fucking colourful bunch aren't we, Shane said as we left the house.
It was Fathers Day on the weekend and what better way for you and Shane to celebrate than with a spot of good old road side shopping*. It's one of Shane's favourite past times (he's most excellent at it), how special for him to know you're just a chip off the old block. Your new shape sorter (all original pieces included!) comes with us everywhere now. (How handy are handles?) You're a bargain seeker from way back. You picked up your favourite orange teddy** "Juan", for a song at a garage sale once. Happy Fathers Day to all the Dads, especially mine and yours, because they're both so wonderful.
*also celebrated with a new pair of shorts and lots of cuddles
**ugly and not necessarily endorsed by Shane and I. You saw it at a garage sale and what can we say, you had to have him.
PS I wore mustard pants and a purple top. Fucking colourful bunch aren't we, Shane said as we left the house.
8
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Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Dear Olive,
Shane finished up his job last week so he's home with you now. Even though I'm a bit jealous of all the fun you'll be having together, I'm really glad you get to have this time, just the two of you. It's usually reserved for the weekend early morning, when I demand more time in bed and you get taken out for a coffee, if you're lucky a croissant. But now you have until halfway through next week together, after which I finish my job and then we're both unemployed and home with you. Hello, mini break somewhere. It's going to be excellent.
PS You gotta be quick around here ... whipped this new cardi of yours away right under the nose of this international style icon who had it in her sights!
Shane finished up his job last week so he's home with you now. Even though I'm a bit jealous of all the fun you'll be having together, I'm really glad you get to have this time, just the two of you. It's usually reserved for the weekend early morning, when I demand more time in bed and you get taken out for a coffee, if you're lucky a croissant. But now you have until halfway through next week together, after which I finish my job and then we're both unemployed and home with you. Hello, mini break somewhere. It's going to be excellent.
PS You gotta be quick around here ... whipped this new cardi of yours away right under the nose of this international style icon who had it in her sights!
16
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Saturday, June 11, 2011
Dear Olive,
Quite a few lovely things have recently found their way into our home.
1. Dinner plate. Couldn't afford the whole set so just bought one. Perfect for all those times I'm dining solo.
2. Cushion.
3. A couple of these map letters. No idea what to do with them or where to put them yet.
4. Globe lamp Shane found at Vinnies.
5. Tony Mott photo of your Dads old band. (He's the handsome one second from the right.)
Not only that, but it's a long weekend. What lucky ducks we are.
Quite a few lovely things have recently found their way into our home.
1. Dinner plate. Couldn't afford the whole set so just bought one. Perfect for all those times I'm dining solo.
2. Cushion.
3. A couple of these map letters. No idea what to do with them or where to put them yet.
4. Globe lamp Shane found at Vinnies.
5. Tony Mott photo of your Dads old band. (He's the handsome one second from the right.)
Not only that, but it's a long weekend. What lucky ducks we are.
