Put on your High Heel Sneakers

My grand-daughter came home from her school trip to the US wearing this footwear that reminded me of an old song from the Rolling Stones.

High Heel Sneakers

Nothing to cry about

A little boy was very happy today when he discovered he had lost something.

A Sweet Christmas

It was a sweet Christmas at our house

Hoping that your Festive Season was similarly sweet

Paw parade

 Our four-legged houseguest has left his mark on our white floor tiles.

Healthy Footware

At Sydney's Wynyard Railway Station. 

A Date with my Baby

We enjoyed a Fish and Chips dinner at Circular Quay prior to the Australian Ballet's performance of Cinderella at Sydney Opera House.

Grease

 We had a fun night out at Star city with a Thai dinner followed by  Grease - the musical in the Lyric Theatre. 

Big Screen

Grandson and the Campanellas Choir entertaining us at his school's  Speech Day. The big screen is a boon for proud grandparents to identify the grandchildren.

Grandson on the big screen

Some R&R for Freddo

 9 December 2013

Freddo, our house guest for the next three weeks, seems to have settled in and is enjoying our big backyard.

Overwhelmed

 Our two little granddaughters were slightly overwhelmed at their childcare centre's Christmas event at Waitara.

Their grandparents were thrilled to join in the fun at the party.

The staff did a great job organising the kids on stage

After some initial tears big sister enjoyed herself

Little sister was happy to observe from the safety of Mum's lap. 

Please call me Madam

Although Oxford Dictionaries Online (http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/guy) defines Guys as "people of either sex" they define a Guy as "a Man". How contradictory is that?

I am not a Man. 

The common usage of the plural "Guys" is another Americanism that has crept into our Australian language over the last ten years and its use annoys me intensely. Someone close to me, when I objected to her use of guys said "Well, what should I say?" That depends on the context, there are many alternatives one can use: buddies, chaps, class, colleagues, crew, fellow Australians, fellow ..., friends, gang, girls and boys, ladies and gentlemen, madam, mates, members, mesdames, sir, sirs, staff, students, supporters, team." There are many alternatives.

I am not alone; after commencing this post I turned to my mate Google to see if I could find others who agreed with me. The first article I read, Fight hamburgerisation; dig up some old Aussie lingo
from  the Sydney Morning Herald of  February 1, 2010 expressed my feelings far more eloquently than I. I give a similar answer to the person quoted in this article when someone asks me where the "Bathroom" is. I go to the bathroom to bathe; in fact many bathrooms in Australia do not even have a toilet.

Would all you guys out there please be a bit more creative with your language and, please, call me Madam.

Definition of guy in English

guy1

Pronunciation: /gʌɪ/

Translate guy | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish

noun

• 1 informal a man:he’s a nice guy
•  (guys) people of either sex:you guys want some coffee?

• 2British a figure representing Guy Fawkes, burnt on a bonfire on Guy Fawkes Night, and often displayed by children begging for money for fireworks.

verb

[with object]

• make fun of; ridicule:she never stopped guying him about his weight

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/guy

Proud old Gummy

Have I mentioned that my grandchildren call me Gummy?

I enjoyed watching two of them sing, play and collect a prize today at their school's end of year celebration.

Opening Ceremony

We enjoyed the Opening Ceremony of the Asia Pacific Special Olympics at the McDonald Jones Stadium.

Governor General, Quentin Bryce, opened the Special Olympics

 

Marcia Hines performed

That's our granddaughter - furthest yellow t-shirt to the right.

Australia's team enters the Stadium at the Asia Pacific Special Olympics