30 January 2011

Today, at Josh and Jackie's house

Maddie teaches Miro to play the recorder

Though he prefers just to toot! ear-splittingly,

Over and over again!

Later we go to the beach,

Where Miro finds a dinosaur he names "RAR" (complete with clawing motions)

And RAR, and only RAR, can tempt him into returning to the beach

When he decides he's had enough, and starts walking home on his own.

29 January 2011

Searching for gold in the Hill End gully.

Splitting open quartz rocks with great cracking smacks.

28 January 2011

While Miro slumbers, Mummy captures

His perfectly dirty "poot", and mouth just moments

After nounoucar falls from it.

Later, when he awakens, he loves yelling at the kangaroos...

Is disappointed and stages a sit-down protest

When he cannot enter a house he falls in love with...

And is finally tempted into a backsling ride

Where we walk through the peaceful goldrush streets

And taste mulberries from the tree.

27 January 2011

Miro braves the leeches ("nakes") to pan some river gold

And later delights in some tomfoolery with his brother and a beach ball.

But still, the car beckons, or rather, the Nounoucar...

26 January 2011

On Australia Day, we head to the outback,

Where Mudgee is a meat-cook 42 degrees, and we are forced

Into a petrol detour of 60km to the Black Stump.

Luckily, orange iceblocks improve all moods,

Enough for the singing and playing with Bandoo in the back,

And finally, at Mudgee, a dusk walk before dinner.

After tea, we walk the insect-studded shut shop windows

Watching bug haloes around the street lights,

And retreating into the moist mug of our pub room.

25 January 2011

Great Gran and Pierre come for a roast lamb lunch

And read books and bring passionfruit sponge.

Trop bon!

24 January 2011

Miro's first Sunnyboy sees him a true Randall boy~

While Nanny's party table, chocolate cake, custard and creaming soda

Is trumped only by a verandah drenching, delicious fish

And even more iceblocks!

23 January 2011

Playtime... couches and not much else.

22 January 2011

Miro, found on the kitchen floor,

Book open, practicing the lotus position...

Later, he finds relaxation of a different kind

In the backyard hammock with Daddy...

21 January 2011

Whenever these two boys are together

Someone is bound to get licked or trodden upon.

20 January 2011

The boys' latest obsession is the remote control for the car.

Here Miro operates Matai. Up, down!

19 January 2011

Today, Maman asks Miro if Matai is his best friend

And Miro says "yes, Matai."

18 January 2011

After spectacularly refusing to play soccer in any way, shape or form

Din and Nanny nonetheless come back to Miro's house

To eat lasagne and gallette, and have some proper sport!

17 January 2011

After a bath, Miro often runs unbidden into his bedroom

To retrieve a stashed nounou

And lay dormant, caressing his hair.

16 January 2011

On a late-afternoon walk around Maitland Bay

Miro dances along the cliff-face, giving fleurs to Maman,

But once meeting the beach, cannot contain the boy within him

And must runs incessantly,

Wildly, strongly,

Into the bold whitewash.

15 January 2011

A whole glorious afternoon at the beach

Where seaweed is dragged around like a wet dog

And castles studiously mantled, and adorned.

14 January 2011

A dusk swim in the cool ocean,

Where sand is ripe to be rolled upon,

And whitewash to be braved, upside-down!

13 January 2011

Hawaiian pizzas, cordial, cakes and bread roll buns;

And running a remote control up the legs of everyone!

12 January 2011

Miro is usually happier to direct the drawings

("Houfe!" "Car!" "Truck!")

But when asked to, draws his own car very nicely.

11 January 2011

Miro helping prepare the dinner vegetables;

Watching earnestly each "coupe", and hurrying his chair around

To stand upon, and throw green stalks into the saucepan.

10 January 2011

Hijinks and hugs in the afternoon backyard.

9 January 2011

An enchanted stroll around Patonga after a fishy lunch,

Where we find swings for giants (with very skinny bottoms),

And, when asked by a new friend what his name is,

Miro replies, for the first time "My Mio".

8 January 2011

Monsieur Miro Poulbot

Planting seedlings with Papa.

7 January 2011

Having a little goutez

After afternoon naps.

6 January 2011

Stretching his legs

And getting his sillies out

At Tah-ree Hungry Jacks.

5 January 2011

The best day ever

Riding the warm waves

With Din, Daddy and Angus.

4 January 2011

Miro spends the day convincing Din and the cousins

To give him ever more icypoles, by making a licky motion,

Complete with a smile that leaves no doubt as to his desires!

Later, he conquers his usual shyness,

Riding two rounds in the skid bike rally

While everybody looks on.

We're all really proud,

None more than himself!

(Just look at the crowd he faced!)

3 January 2011

First day at the Point Plomer camping ground.

2 January 2011

Miro getting all silly with Bandoo

After a well-behaved 4.5 hours of driving.

1 January 2011

A heatwave day

Followed by a blissful two hours at Ocean Beach,

Riding boogie boards in the lap-slap horizontal

Of a warm, waveless sea.