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"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Ella and Leila playing the new Plants Vs Zombies 2.

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"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Ella    Our beautiful girl, with her big brown eyes and flawless skin.
Leila   Our energetic, playful one, the one constantly holding your hand.

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Our girls are really very good, loving towards each other for the most part, not unkind.  Today though, they were bugging each other and as a result bugging me.  Fresh air was called for.

The large park and oval near us, sun shining, we had water and fruit, a basketball and our badminton set.  As per usual we ended up spending most of our time at the Hansel & Gretel tree.  Leila trying to make smoke with her sticks, Ella preparing the teepee wood.  Wouldn't it be fun if we could REALLY make a fire Mum.  I tried to make smoke in the wildnerness way, a stick into a softer piece of bark, Indian style, rubbing the stick between your hands, waiting for smoke to appear in the part where it was spinning. It did get hot, but alas no flame.

We watched a dog playing chasey with a swallow.  The bird could have easily flown away, but instead dipped and wove in and so close to the dog, he shaking his tail like crazy, both of them engaged in a good half hour of fun, I assume for both.

I watched a mother I know distantly from kinder watching her three young school age sons playing kick to kick footy.  At one point her middle son pushed over the younger brother and kicked him, hard, in the back.  You little s**t she screamed at the top of her voice.  You do that again and I'll lock you in the car.  The girls and I agreed that boys, gosh, what would you do with boys, particularly that boy.

Two hours later, having snoozed in the sun, played house, toasted fictional mashmallows, danced the tango, played basketball and badminton, we walked home again.  Squabbles long forgotten, fresh air having blown away all the antsy feelings.  Sometimes, actually most of the time, you always feel better with a little fresh air.

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We went to stock up on supplies with my folks.  The Medi Deli called and we went.

I have gotten out of the habit of taking the camera with me when we go out.  When the girls were younger it was always in my bag with nappies and snacks, now I'm out of the habit.  Perhaps because it's holidays I remembered to throw it in.

Ella and I walked the aisles, same as they always are, her snapping on her dad's old iphone, me on the camera.  We had such fun, oblivious for the most part to the signs saying "No photography or video recording without express permission of the management".  We'd already taken many snaps by then and really, What??!!

I said to Ella that I would love to come back when the store is empty, there's something about the orderly presentation, but also the monotony of the aisles that I find really appealing.  I feel that would only be increased if the place were empty, perhaps only emergency lights on ...  These images put me in mind of the supermarket scene from Fantastic Mr Fox and also of a photograph Jo took for her first portfolio.  The most mundane things can sometimes be so pleasing.

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"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Ella    Bubblegum girl.  Such a young lady in my eyes.
Leila   With beloved cousin Tess.  Not a great photo but so captures her feelings about her cousins.  She plays hard to get - big time - but is really always delighted in their presence.

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I will remember your small room, the feel of you, the light in the window, your records, your books, our morning coffee, our noons, our nights, our bodies spilled together, sleeping, the tiny flowing currents, immediate and forever. Your leg, my leg, your arm, my arm, your smile and the warmth of you who made me laugh again. 

~Charles Bukowski