Surfer dude hair

Surfer dude hair
Originally uploaded by b boy.

Finally the mother unit has found something to put a bit of body into my oh so straight locks - Marriott pool water!
As you can see, I am a bit perplexed by the new do.
We spent the weekend down the coast at some conference for mummy - so Daddy and I got to swim in this big pool with lots of fish and lizards (ok, the lizards weren't in the pool)
Daddy bought me an inflatable boat to play with - now all I have to do is work out how to get a pool for home too.
Plotting, plotting plotting
Mwah!
G

Dinosaur birthday cake

Dinosaur birthday cake
Originally uploaded by b boy.

Here I present to you the father unit's latest birthday cake creation. It only took three days to make in total, which was enough to drive mummy nuts (or at least nuttier) and declare that this was the last time daddy was allowed to make a birthday cake...
Hmmm don't know about that.
Anyway, I had a great party yesterday, and got to spread green icing over all my friends, and mummy, and the red shag pile carpet, and the tiled floor.
And did I mention all the balloons? I like balloons!
Mummy and MIchael started deflating the balloons and singing in silly voices. Not sure if it was just because of the helium or if it was due to the amount of champagne imbibed.
Heh heh heh
I declare this week GRAYSON BIRTHDAY WEEK - as I am not officially 3 until Wednesday. Hopefully I can get some more cake mileage out of this birthday thing.
More updates soon
Love
G

Goodbye Bugs - Agnes Julia Wale 27/03/1923 - 26/07/2009

Breast cancer affects about one in eight women in Australia. I treat patients every day with the disease, and always have hope that together we will win the battle, and life will continue as close to normal as possible.

It has been hard for all of us to watch someone you love suffer from this disease, bravely struggle through the treatment options available but slowly succumb. The inevitable occurred today, but it does not make her passing any less painful. We will miss the adventurer who travelled overseas less than 3 years ago. We will miss our walks to Tallebudgera creek and back again, visits which usually involved a plate of pikies, friands and trying to stop Grayson destroying her Wedgewood collection. Mostly, we will miss her unconditional love.

It is with a heavy heart that we write this. We are glad you are out of pain now Bugs, Mama Pikies, Agnes - but we are going to miss you. We cannot live forever, but you will always be in our hearts.

Love always
Ben, Melinda and Grayson

Long time no blog - so here is a man in a funny hat...

"Things that mummy, daddy and Grayson have done this year" by Grayson A Cook (2years and 10 months - give or take a day)

Stalked Lance Armstrong and got his autograph
Watched Wendy get married (well, mummy and daddy did)
Go to a fancy champagne dinner and stupidly agree to photo being taken which ends up in a rather prominent place in the social pages of the Courier Fail, whoops Mail. And also ends up in prominent places where mummy and daddy work...
See Coldplay and have them play less than 2 metres away from where we were sitting, even though we were well towards the back of Boondall.
Say hello to baby Clara.
Try and eat as much chocolate cake at a party as possible before being thwarted by the parental units.
Get swine flu - well, it was probably swine flu... (responded to Tamiflu)
Recover from swine flu
Watch Daddy get dressed up in a silly hat and gown, go up on stage and then come back down again. At least there were cake options available afterwards (and the blue of the Masters matched Daddy's and my eyes rather nicely).
Get up early every morning for the past few weeks to watch Tour de France highlights on the SBS website - and start planning another trip to France next year (BIG maybe)

To be continued

Waiheke Island

Waiheke Island
Originally uploaded by b boy.

Waiting in the Qantas Club lounge to fly back to Aus from NZ. For those that don't know we came over (without G) for 2 nights so we could attend Wendy's wedding. We stayed on Waiheke Island which was very nice if not hotter than we expected. Felt guilty about leaving G at home so bought him the usual guilt presents to take home. Not long now and we will be back in familiar surroundings. Oh and from photos that Paul emailed from London, it definitely looks colder we he is compared to where we are now. I thought NZ was supposed to cooler than Qld!!

Final day of the TDU

Well we have made it to the final day of the TDU. We won't be watching the action today as we will be heading to the airport. But I will be getting updates on the iPhone :)
So it looks like Alan Davis will be the winner of this years race (barring any disasters). Lance of course has been doing his bit to keep the fans happy.
So what other things have happened this week? Highlights, or lowlights depending on your point of view include:
The PM gatecrashing the Hilton wearing lycra (just kidding ...... About the lycra)
Running into Stuart O'Grady's family in the lobby and his boy telling us his daddy's name is Stuie!
Grayson feeling up Mattie White's butt in the lift
Running into Phil Ligget and having a chat ....... well it was more like "Hi Phil!" to which he said "Hi, how you going?". I think that qualifies as a chat!
Getting one of the Astana team water bottles from one of the mechanics. As far as I know it could have been Lances ...... No, it must have been Lances!!!!!
Stalking Johan Bruyneel and taking his photo at every opportunity .......... I think I started to freak him out :)
And various other cycling related adventures.

I am blogging from the tram from Glenelg and when we get back will head out to the airport.
See you all back is Brisbane.

What a week!

IMG_0495
Originally uploaded by b boy.

Hello again, Grayson doing blog duty this time.
Things I have learned this week
- How to say the word "peloton"
- Ditto "Go Lance!"
- How to wack mummy/daddy/innocent bystanders with blue inflatable sticks that are just given to people standing by the road (provided bikes are coming soon after)
- One gets a much better view of things if one is seated on top of the father unit's shoulders
- I like motorbikes! (mummy edit - meep)
- When mummy and daddy go down to the bar in the evening for a glass or two of champagne, I like to keep them on their toes by running around the Hilton foyer, and up the stairs, and around the first level, narrowly missing (famous) cyclists and their entourages
Tonight I excelled myself by going to the bar's pool of water, splashing all the people around the pool with some water (well, it has been hot) and then repeating what daddy said upon picking me up and taking me away from previously noted soggy mess (freak, freak, freak)
It has been a lot of fun in Adelaide this week.
Back to Brisvegas tomorrow!

Detour to the Barossa Valley

Day 5 of Lance watch and we decided to take a different approach today. We hired a car and drove to the Barossa Valley leaving behind our tour buddies on the bus. Today was also the challenge race which means 7500 amateur cyclists hit the road to ride the tour route ahead of the pros. Let me tell you .... there is a reason some of these guys are not riding professionally!!!! I was surprised there was only reports of 4 people being taken to hospital by ambulance. Anyway after narrowly avoiding running down a few superfluous riders we made it to our first stop, Menglers Hill lookout. This is where the king of the mountain points would be won today (we weren't hanging around for that one as it was 3 hours away and we wanted to go to Maggie Beer's for lunch).
We then made our way past what was left of the challenge riders and found ourselves at Pheasant Farm for lunch.
It is very relaxing eating farm house food for the gourmand with such a pleasant view out over the pond. Grayson got to feed the resident turtles and ducks before running amuck in the gardens.
From here we visited a few wineries and found time to catch the professional peleton race by on their way into Angaston. Very convenient route they had planned ........ right past all the cellar doors we had anticipated visiting :)
And yes, we did spot Lance in the group. I mean it wouldn't be a very good "Lance watch" without seeing Lance.
Well the Aussie boys seem to be doing themselves proud so far but everyone is expecting Lance to do something impressive on the Willunga Hill climbs tomorrow so we are back on the bus for more TDU fun in the morning!

TDU 2009

Day 4 of Lance watch......
Today we took a more leisurely approach after our rather successful day yesterday. We sat back, drank coffee and acted like we had all seen it before :)
Of course there were a few opportunities to snap a few of the big name riders along the way.
The bus couldn't get to the KOM in time so we diverted to the sprint point instead. But after the sprint our bus driver snuck in behind the back of the peleton and we felt like part of the action ....... until a cop came and made us pull over :( Oh well if was fun while it lasted.
As you can see Grayson found a good vantage point and got a decent view at the start line.
Tomorrow we take a day off and head to the Barossa for a sensible lunch at Maggie Beers. Of course by some coincidence the TDU seems to ride past her farm so I guess we will get to see some of the race after all!

TDU 2009

Day 3 of Lance watch and today we hit the jackpot! We staked out the Astana team support vehicle just before the start line and waited. Just before the race was due to start Lance showed up. He was very kind to allow us to take his photo ........ Not that he had much choice :)
But the coup de gras was when we managed to get him to sign Grayson's yellow bike shirt that mamma pikies gave him for Christmas!!!
I even got a photo of Lance signing it.
Alan Davis has just won the stage and we are blogging while waiting for the tour bus to take us back to our hotel ........ Or as I like to call it, Lance central ;)
Photos will be added back at the hotel if the dodgy Internet connection permits

TDU 2009

Day 2 of Lance watch started with a bus trip to the start line. Once there we were able to get what we came for ....... Some up close and personal with Lance. Well as close as a zoom lens can get you anyway!
After the start we headed for the first KOM point and got some more views of the riders. After a rather hot bus ride (39 degrees and broken aircon on the bus) we ended up at the last sprint point before finally making our way to the finish line.
Back at the tour village we even managed to get our hands on a Astana team water bottle (used of course!) .... For all we know it might have been the boss's!!!
Hopfully the next few days will be a little cooler ...... Just thinking of the riders :)

Day 1 Lance spotting ... Or TDU 2009

Well we made it to Adelaide and have checked in to the Hilton. It is still an energy zapping 37 degrees C at 6.30 pm! Welcome to the TDU!!
The race starts tomorrow but I have already had my first glimpse of the great man himself. Over a glass of "the widow" we spied him on the mezzanine level of the hotel. Now If I can only work out how to have breakfast with team Astana in the morning we will be set! Tomorrow we head out on the tour bus for the first stage. So stay tuned for updates and some photos.

We're off to Adelaide!

Risky business impersonation
Originally uploaded by b boy.

Ok, I needed a title. G again, trying to update a sadly neglected blog.
Well, ok - we have been a bit stressed lately. And a lot of those reasons I can't really discuss in this entry.

But only three sleeps to go, before we get on a big plane and travel to Adelaide to watch this cyclist that mummy and daddy keep going on and on and on and on and on about. (Apparently they saw him in France four years ago and when they heard he was coming to Australia there were some very rapid transactions made on the credit card....)
I don't really see what the fuss is about. Yet.
As long as there is cake, Peppa Pig DVDs and cuddles I am usually fairly happy.

Other updates?
I have been sleeping in my own bed for the past 4 nights. Daddy is very happy with this but mummy keeps saying she can't sleep without me...
Aaaah. Its nice to know she cares
And that I have hand in this relationship - MWAH

I have been learning how to play cricket - although the bat keeps being taken off me when I inadvertently connect with some vital part of the parent unit's anatomy, or try and hit the ball towards the TV, or a glass of champoo (parental edit - Grayson's word for mummy and daddy's favourite beverage)

We have also been trying to cheer Nanny up a bit. I find that dancing around the room to my favourite song (edit - Metro Station's "Shake Shake" - sigh) usually does the trick. Today, Daddy tried to swap the music to a chill out album or Pink Floyd or something. DADDY!!!! You can't really dance to Pink Floyd!!!

See what I have to put up with?

Now, mummy is on call all weekend, so that means daddy and I need to pack for the tour down Under. What to wear??? When should I bring out the yellow shirt and livestrong armbands?
Decisions, decisions...

Sometimes it is hard being the Grayson

2008 for better or for worse

I have included some photos of our year to date to remind us what has happened. It has been a big year with good and some bad moments.

To living life with no regrets

Goodbye Pa
Originally uploaded by b boy.

Hello, Grayson again - I think I need to blog something.

What I have learned today....

I really do look good in French couture.
A lot of people in my family had leaky eyes today.
I will sit still for a period of time - provided cookies are given at regular intervals.
White pieces of paper with writing on them don't taste very nice (mummy edit - order of service)

But, seriously. Today mummy and daddy told me we were going to say goodbye to Pa for the last time. They said he's not going to be around to chase after me when I want to run around the yard anymore. And he can't do that hearing aid trick with the funny noise or do round and round the gardens with one step, two step - TICKLE me under there (usually my armpit). The last time I saw him, mummy and I fixed his sore arm. (I thought we did an excellent job) Obviously it wasn't too sore as we ran around the back yard after and he told me perhaps it wasn't the best idea to jump in the big haystack as it would go everywhere and Uncle Ron would have to clean it up.

Today I sat down, listened to someone do lots of talking and then there was this funny music with everyone standing up and singing. This was a little different to the music mummy and daddy usually listen to...
I could see a picture of Pa - and he looked very happy.
Unlike the rest of the family around me.
After the talking and singing finished we went into another room where there was lots of cake. I quickly fueled up and then took Grandma Diana for a walk. Daddy joined us soon after.

Eventually we went home. Mummy opened a bottle of "Billy Cart" champagne for Pa (mummy edit - aka Billy) and the family raised their glasses "To living life with no regrets"

I think something really important happened today, but I'm not sure I really understand.
But if that is the last time I get to see Pa, then that's sad.

I'm going to miss him.

Grayson

Vale William Brash Malcolm 26/09/1922 - 13/12/2008

William Brash Malcolm, more simply known as Pa, died suddenly today. Grayson and I only saw him 5 days ago. Pa chased G around the back yard and looked the best he has looked for quite a while, thus today's news came as quite a shock. No more "round and round the gardens", no more triple kisses goodbye and no more hearing people tell him to slow down.

Pa always said he had no regrets about his life, and felt he had lived it to its fullest. Every Saturday night, he and Nan would go out to their local club, share a bottle of wine, play some poker machines and end up coming home later than their children (or grandchildren for that matter). Every day was a day to be lived and enjoyed.

His attitude towards life is one of the best memories I will have of him. I hope that I can live life a bit more by his rules, and pass this on to Grayson as he gets older.

Godspeed Pa. We love you.

Home owners again

Yes, the deed is done, the bottle of champagne (Gosset Celebris blanc de blancs - 4 vintages in one bottle - delicious!) is just about drunk and suddenly the realisation that we can reallly hammer things into walls without asking has taken a hold.
Egad!
But on a small rant point of view - settlement nearly DIDN'T take place as one of the groups of the bank people people nearly couldn't come as they had a steak lunch to go to.

Nice.

A bleeping STEAK LUNCH instead of doing something such as turning up a settlement (of which you had several weeks notice)????

To that nasty bank person who preferred partly cooked bovine to satisfying our dreams of being seriously in debt .....

GRRRRRRRR

A Perfect Storm

Captain G
Originally uploaded by b boy.

This is a tale of what happens when mummy and daddy have a free weekend off, and decide to go out on a big boat. With several of their friends. And a lot of cheese. But only one bottle of champagne....
(Don't worry, it gets a bit more exciting than not having enough champagne to drink!)

It was a beautiful sunny morning when we (4 families in 2 boats) set out for a day on the Broadwater. I was kitted out in the appropriate boating gear for an adventurous toddler who can't yet swim.... and even got to charter the boat for a bit. We stopped off South Stradbroke Island for a paddle and a jump in the waves, then hopped back into the big boat. Emma and Sarah tried to swim all the way back to the big boat with their mummy, but needed rescuing (or at least a pick me up) by their daddy as there was a bit of wash from some other big boats which made things a little tricky.

So there we all were. Sitting around the Riviera. Eating much cheese and bread with meat products and the occasional side serving of salad (BLECH! SALAD!!!!) when....
The mummies brought out CAKE!
Hurrah!
But then they brought out some fruit too....
BOO!
And told all the kids - no fruit, no cake!
How does a Grayson respond when told he needs to eat fruit before cake???
WAAAAAAAAH!
Just kidding - I pretended to have some fruit and instead quickly grabbed one of the cakes before anyone could stop me!
MWAH!

Suddenly, several of the mummy and daddy's mobile phones started to ring. I could only hear snippets of the conversation.
50 knot winds
Get back into the marina - NOW
There is black on the bom radar - we haven't seen that much black in years....

The seven kids were kept on the big boat and we were ushered downstairs with a Peppa Pig DVD and lifejackets in place. Two of the daddy's took the smaller boat and the rest stayed on the big boat, which went full throttle back to Sanctuary Cove.

I was getting a bit bored with Peppa (well, I do get to watch it at home) so I came upstairs to be with mummy and daddy. I got LOTS of snuggly mummy cuddles and saw lots of big dark clouds and bright flashes of light. Fortunately by the time the rain really started pelting down we were well up the river heading back to the cove. Everything was REALLY wet, but this just made it more interesting....

So to summarise the day - mummy and daddy went out on a big boat with a group of friends. Unfortunately they happened to pick a day when one of the biggest storms to hit South East QLD in years occurred. Fortunately we all arrived safely home. And still had a home to go to - unlike some of mummy's patients :(

Fireman G

Fireman G
Originally uploaded by b boy.

Well the mother unit keeps telling me I need to be careful around fires and all that sort of stuff. Now I have my own FIRETRUCK I can hopefully be USEFUL in the event of something nasty like that happening.
The firetruck was a late birthday present from Mama Diana but presents are always very much appreciated in the Grayson household. Presents or cake (or champagne - mummy and daddy edit) I am trying to set a new trend by wearing matching PJs!

Other news to tell? Well, it looks like mummy and daddy will have to rein in their champagne buying habits a little bit as we have bought the unit we have been renting for the last year and a half. Well, the contract is just about unconditional.
So what exactly does this mean for me?
Well, I finally get my name up on my room's door again, and my dotti stickers are up on the mirrored doors AND the parents are talking about converting the spare bedroom into my playroom so they can reclaim their lounge room again.
Yeah mum and dad - I love your optimism with that.
After all, Christmas is just around the corner - MWAH!

Grayson turns.... CAKE! No... TWO! No.... TWO CAKE

Cake number 1
Originally uploaded by b boy.

Well, for the past few weeks, mummy and daddy have been asking me "Grayson, how old are you going to be this birthday?"
Now, whenever I hear the word BIRTHDAY, the next word that comes naturally to me is CAKE!
So I try and say...."Cake! Cake! Cake! CAAAAAAAAAAAKE!!!!" Then I do a little dance and this seems to make everybody laugh.
It is all about keeping people happy you see.
So last weekend, I threw a little soiree at chez cook. We had balloons, pinatas and lots of colourful lanterns hanging off the walls.
Mummy and daddy had their friends over to drink some bubbly stuff, whilst I had my friends over and we ate lots of CAKE!
As you can see, Daddy really came through this year - not that I didn't appreciate last year's pirate ship. But this cake was a bit more technically challenging owing to him having to work with three colours of fondant, not to mention having to do some detailed work making Ferrari badges and such. The black wheels were made entirely of black fondant icing - which I found out about after picking one up and taking a large chunk out of with my teeth....
Fortunately Daddy managed to cut me a piece of real cake (and some for everyone else too)!
On Tuesday (the actual birthday) I had a cake made with more fondant icing and race cars on top which I took to day care and then in the evening we had this delightful chocolate and raspberry concoction which went down very quickly, as all the grown ups ate all of their pieces (I had to act fast to get mine and another piece down).
Mummy and Daddy bought me a lovely train set and I also got a table to put the train on too. I got lots of cars and books and even some items of clothing too!
All up it was quite a satisfying birthday week. Three cakes, 2 pinatas (because mummy internet shops and gets impatient when things don't arrive), two parties and several bottles of champagne for mummies and daddies (mummy and daddy monster edit - We opened a bottle of 2000 Dom Perignon at 3pm to celebrate our favourite little monster's day of birth).
But the main question is.... what on earth is daddy going to make for me next year???