PAGE 17 -  2008
This is the website for Samuel Richard Glenn Stone, known to his mates as Sam Stone, from Yarram, Australia.

Thankyou John for showing me around the dive boat and trying on the helmet. It was awesome.

Hello Catherine, Pete, Sienna and Indigo - I had a great time with you. Thankyou for the birthday party. I wish I could have stayed at your place longer. And hi Georgi, Gemma and Hannah - great to see you. Thanks for a great time at Nanna Stevie's birthday party. 

That's Dad as Pancho Vanilla, the great Mexican ice-cream bandit!!!, and his Mum, my Nanna Stevie. 

Of course, I had to get into the act with the hat! And thats me with Hannah in her awesome bedroom.

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That's Mum with Uncle Greg and Aunty Nita on the beach right outside their house. Thats their place you can see in the photo. All we have to do is walk over the road and we are at the beach. 
 

From Dad: Well, even the Mighty Jesaulenko had to start somewhere! On Sunday 20 April 2008, Sam had his first football match. He is with the Yallies, a combined initiative between the Yarram Football club and DWWW (know as the Allies), in an Under 12 grade within the Sale District League -not th Alberton Leage where the two aforementioned clubs play as they do not have an Under 12 competition. The team has been established by Sydney Swan's (ex) star Andrew Dunkley and officials from the two clubs, with Andrew as coach. About forty kids have signed up, some as young as seven. Sam was delighted to play in the first ever game of the club - even though the score was not exactly memorable. The Maffra boys kicked 127 points to - one. Well, as Andrew said, we can only imrpove. But it was great to see th kids out there doing their best, and without taking anything away from the Maffra boys, they had been playing for several years. Andrew has a way to go with the Yallies (Yall-eyes), but if keeness counts, the team will grow in stature. Besides, it more about having fun and learning the skills of the game, than th scoreboard. I must say Sam is so keen. He knows his limitations but just wants to have a go, nd I am so proud of him for that. 

Like a loveable pet that had been so much a part of the family for twelve years, dear Leanne had to be let go, hopefully to a more careing family - or enthusiast. She had served us well, but now that Sam was growing so fast, he had in the back seat like Easy-Rider, a far from comfortable position. And she was starting to show her age. It was time to come to our senses and buy somthing a bit more realistic for our family needs. We were all sad to see her go, but thats the way it is. So, welcome to - well, we havn't named it yet - but we have already fallen in love with our Mitsubishi Outlander. I am sure she will give us many years of comfortable driving - and at least Sam will emerge not looking like a distorted pretzel. 
 

But there's something I can't quite figure out. Leanne was really Dad's car, as Mum drove the Mazda to school. Now, we trade in Leanne on a Mitsubishi (which I call the Silver Baron). But - Mum now drives the Silver Baron to work, and Dad gets the old Mazda. I can't figure that out, but who cares - I get to go to school in a car where the my door actually opens from the inside and the heater works! Wow!!! 

Anyway, Dad said that the Mitsubishi Outlander is the smoothest drive he has ever had in a car - and he should know - he used to work for Nissan. But then Dad never speaks highly of Nissan except for the sports cars. And Dad said that because the Outlander is more 'nippy' than dear old Leanne, it is easier and more comfortable to drive. Thats all very well, but Mum said that had we kept Leanne it would be a real chick magnet when I get my license. I don't know what that means but Mum's always looking after me!! 

This is my new cousin Lewis. He is great and as you can see, he is a Carlton supporter, just like his Dad. And he's a great footballer too and plays in a team that his Dad coaches called the Sharks. I have been looking forward to meeting Lewis for months and months and months, and finally I got to meet him and my other cousins. Actually Lewis is my fourth-cousin. Let's see if I can get this straight. His Mum is the daughter of my Dad's first-cousin. So, Dad's cousin Marie is my second-cousin, and Marie's daughter Janelle is my third-cousin, and so Lewis is my fourth-cousin. I don't care what the numbers are - he is my cousin, and he's great. 

And below is another photo of Dad and his two cousins. 

I don't normally dress like this for school but we have Dag Day or Nerd Day once a year to raise some money to pay the teachers because Mum should earn much more - according to her anyway. 

AND THE EISTEDFODD
where I did Woody's song from Toy Story, "You've Got  a Friend in Me". 

And of course, Mum had to get into the act. Actually, she was organising with Fev to have the club do a motivation workshop at the school after the end of the season. Hey, that may be in just a few weeks if we don't win the next three matches. Mum said he is a really nice guy.
 

Uncle Greg and Aunty Nita came down from Safety Beach to see us and have a birthday lunch for Mum at the Tom's Cap winery. Everyone said it was a great meal - Uncle Greg especially as he said it was first class and better value than anything in Melbourne. The next day Mum, Dad and I had a quiet birthday for Mum, with a cake. Here I am celebrating with Mum - and waiting for her to cut the cake!

Enough of the pictures Dad, cut the bleedin' cake!