The Latest Exploits of the Chissell Family

G'day folks, I hope you all had a great and relaxing summer. All is well at Chez Chissell especially now that spring has now sprung! The weather has been so lovely that the children have quickly slipped back into the usual routine of heading down to the beach for an after school swim on the beach. I have also been in touch with my inner child and played in the park and blowing bubbles in the garden with Ryan.

Hey, I have the whole beach and park to myself mum!

You may be aware that the new Narnia film is being filmed in Queensland, Australia and specifically here in Cleveland. They are filming the 'Ship' scenes at a local beauty spot called Cleveland Point and I took the children up to see the film set as it was being set up (following another lazy afternoon on the beach).

We also attended the Suncorp family fun day in the city again this year and there were some unexpected attractions that thrilled the children.

The children petting Pythons, Crocodiles and various weird looking reptiles.






Beppo the Clown entertained us as we queued up for the BBQ feast.


And I joined the children in munching some yummy Candy Floss and drinking Slush Puppies with a variety of dubious flavours and colours - all good fun!

Phil once again did really well on the Bridge to Brisbane run, which had a record number of entrants (over 45 thousand runners) this year. He ran another good time and he has also taken up cycling and is currently in training for the Brisbane to Gold Coast 100k ride in October.

Conor went on his first scout camp last month near Ipswich, Qld. Phil took Olivia and Ryan along on the final day to collect him and they were invited to join in with all the fun. Olivia will be joining scouts as a Joey officially soon as she will be turning six in October - yikes!




Phil and I recently sat the Aussie Citizenship tests last month and passed with flying colours. We celebrated with a glass or two of bubbly and also raised a toast to the England Cricket Team for winning the iconic 'Ashes'.



Olivia has been learning about all the different skills required to be in the Circus. The project ended with her prep class performing 'Perceptual Motor' skills dressed as circus characters. She chose to be a clown and gave herself the name 'Olivia the Tricky Clown'.

Last Saturday we met up with our dear friends Simon, Alison and their daughter Jess to watch the Riverfire Festival begin in the city. You may remember this event where an F1-11 Fighter Jet, flies very fast and low whilst emitting a spectacular (ear splittingly loud) dump and burn along the length of Brisbane River. As they pass over a sensory overload of amazing fire work pyrotechnics (think New Year's Eve in Sydney) begins in time to some classic hits and the scene is set for a surreal and absolutely awesome FUN time! Sadly, however this year was the last ever Dump and Burn sequence as the F1-11 fighter planes have been decomissioned and the replacement jets do not have this capability. To compensate though, this year they sent two jets for the display. Will Riverfire ever be the same without them????

Here are some You Tube links showing a snapshot of the event which is definitely a highlight in the 'Chissell Calendar' each year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwLC3E5nNz0 .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ3HK94C4zs&feature=related

Huge congratulations to our niece Orla for achieving head girl status at school last week and to our niece Alanna for receiving a school commendation on her first fews days of the new school year! Wow girls, we are so proud of you both and we are confident that you will achieve great things in life. Sheelagh thank you for the wonderful photographs of the children, Joseph is growing up so quickly. We are so glad that he is enjoying his new playgroup. We love and miss you all so very much. xxx

Well that is all our news and exploits to date folks, do not forget to keep in touch with all your news. Have fun planning events for the forthcoming silly season like Halloween and Christmas Parties! Best wishes for a mild autumn in Blighty and a big hug, from all of us!

Mrs & Mr C xxxxx