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Greetings from sunny Australia folks! I hope you and your loved ones are hearty and healthy as we hurtle headlong into the festive break. So much has happened since my last blog update, my heard hurts trying to remember it all.
The Chisslets have begun their summer holidays at last and I am counting down the days for Phil to be on annual leave.
It really has been a big year for the Chisslets and so please forgive the indulgent content in this latest post as I wish to share the cheer with close family and grandparents in particular. They cannot be here to participate at these events and so this is the next best thing.
The last two weeks of school are always hectic as you know and I am thrilled to say the Chisslets came home with three great school reports and Olivia achieved a ‘Citizenship Award’ from the School Vice Principal at a Special Award ceremony at the school. Mr Bryant gave the loveliest speech about her achievements throughout the year and remarked at her outstanding leadership skills. She also has a badge which she proudly wears at school. 
Citizenship Award 2013 – Awarded to students who have demonstrated exemplary consideration for peers, teachers and members of the whole school community and have made significant contributions to school life. 
Conor achieved an award the previous week for ‘Excellence in Ancient History’.
He has now completed his final year at primary school and will be moving up to high school at the end of the summer holidays. The occasion was marked by a ‘Graduation Ceremony’ where all the grade 7 students dressed up, formally received a ‘year book’ each from the Principal and hit the light fantastic. The screen behind the students displayed photographs of each of the students on the first day of school and their last. I really choked up at how much our little man has grown up. Where have all the years gone?
He has now completed his final year at primary school and will be moving up to high school at the end of the summer holidays. The occasion was marked by a ‘Graduation Ceremony’ where all the grade 7 students dressed up, formally received a ‘year book’ each from the Principal and hit the light fantastic. The screen behind the students displayed photographs of each of the students on the first day of school and their last. I really choked up at how much our little man has grown up. Where have all the years gone?
Conor having fun with some of his best friends
Singing “The World’s Greatest” by R Kelly. Not a dry eye in the house when they walked down the aisle in a procession and began to sing this song.
The Principal Mrs Dale gave a moving farewell speech and managed to get to the end before sobbing. This was her last week at the school too which made her speech all the more poignant.
Not to be left out, Ryan achieved a variety of merit awards this year for reading and sight word recognition. Olivia also achieved additional merit awards for Mandarin and the French Horn. The Chisslets won the trifecta at the end of year swimming carnivals too.
The children also performed at a variety of events over the final term term such as Arts Alive, Dreams of the World, the final Twilight Concert and the Junior’s Christmas Concert.
\Conor and Olivia performing ‘The Cup Song’ (from the movie ‘Pitch Perfect’) with the singing club called ‘Hot Vibes’.
Olivia (above rear) and the Grade four students performing “It’s ruff ruff life to be a dog” by Lewis Nicole. Below she is performing with the Junior Music Band.
Ryan is above, back row far left
Olivia was a British Soldier transporting convicts to Botany Bay and Ryan played a Leopard in the ‘Africa’ section in the show called ‘Dreams of the World’ – think ‘Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure’ 
. A little boy travels through a magical geography book and meets various characters all across the globe. The song were great and Ryan got to sing lovely ear worm tunes like “It’s A Small World After All”. I know I am biased but it was very good and hopefully my lovely friends Glenda and Brian will give me a copy of the video.
. A little boy travels through a magical geography book and meets various characters all across the globe. The song were great and Ryan got to sing lovely ear worm tunes like “It’s A Small World After All”. I know I am biased but it was very good and hopefully my lovely friends Glenda and Brian will give me a copy of the video.
When the children sang this song, I balled my eyes out. Close your eyes and listen to the lyrics, very anthemic:
Who knew my children would be singing this song as little Aussies?
While I was away at a P&C Area Coordinator’s conference in early December, Phil and the Chisslets attended the P&C (Christmas) end of year disco and the annual Suncorp Christmas Fun Day at the Plantation.
Phil attended his team’s Christmas lunch in the city and I attended the annual MET East Christmas Supper at a super Thai restaurant in Morningside. What an awesome bunch of people they all are! Such a shame not all the usual suspects could attend this year. 
In October we attended the annual Halloween street party in Manly and lots of fun and mayhem ensued. We also joined the Hamilton family for some spooky party fun too. A big thank you to Granny and Grandad from the Chisslets for the Halloween treats. 
There was more dressing-up fun at the Brisbane Supanova event and surprise, surprise Game of Thrones and Dr Who costumes were the most popular among the Cosplay crowd.
Olivia celebrated her 10th birthday with a disco party at Chez Chissell and she had a ball. Thank you for the thoughtful gifts and cards folks. She is a very lucky girl indeed!
I know it is a sensitive subject at the moment but Phil took Conor to his first ever Ashes match at the Gabba in Brisbane. They had a great time despite the overall result……..
Conor has been very busy developing his leadership skills and recently planned and executed a Scout camp at Karingal. He completed all the risk management forms, collated fees, purchased provisions, catered and devised a variety of activities for his patrol. Feedback from all involved was wonderful and Conor earned both his Red and Blue Patrol Activity Badges.
He came home filthy and tired but also very proud of his achievement.
In the September holidays Conor attended a special “Agoonooree” Scout Camp for the disabled where he supported and enabled guests to fully participate in a full week of camp activities. Uncle Tim and Uncle Paul flew over to stay and came with us to Samford to collect Bear ‘Cub’ Grylls on his final day.
Lots of laughter and late nights ensued during your stay, eh boys!
The Von Chisslets meeting the BEE GEES!
Then laughter turned to tears when it came to the sad goodbyes at the airport!
Come back and see us again soon boys, we love you both so very much and the memories of all the fun we had together will be treasured always xxx
So that brings the blog up to date albeit backwards. This year has thrown up some unexpected challenges, but on the whole has proved to be a good year for us down under. I know many of you lovely people have had a much rougher year and are perhaps looking forward to a more settled start to 2014. Others will be beginning new adventurous chapters in their lives either at home or across the pond. We will raise a glass or three to you all over the festive season and together I am sure we will reflect and remember loved ones, friends and favoured work colleagues whose anniversaries occur around this time, may they all R.I.P.
This year has thrown up some unexpected challenges, but on the whole has proved to be a good year for us down under. I know many of you lovely people have had a much rougher year and are perhaps looking forward to a more settled start to 2014. Others will be beginning new adventurous chapters in their lives either at home or across the pond. We will raise a glass or three to you all over the festive season and together I am sure we will reflect and remember loved ones, friends and favoured work colleagues whose anniversaries occur around this time, may they all R.I.P.
Congratulations and birthday wishes to my beloved nephew Joseph and to our dear friend Sue. I am sure you will get very spoiled in the coming days. 
Keep in touch with news about all your shenanigans and family pictures folks! Have a Merry and Joyful Christmas and an amazing 2014 too!
