PAGE 18 -  2009
This is the website for Samuel Richard Glenn Stone, known to his mates as Sam, from Yarram, Australia.

Please note: Dad bought a new 21-inch wide flat screen monitor so the layout on a smaller screen may look a bit cramped. 

We started the year with a few days holiday at Point Lonsdale, staying in a camping ground with Mum's old friends Robyn and Robert, and their two sons Josh and Mat. We slelpt in alarge tent which was fun, and even Dad enjoyed it - Dad's not one for camping, especially heading off to the loo in the early hours of the morning. Mat and Josh were great - we played cricket and I hung around with the fellas. Dad disappeared on a few walks and took photos of the reef and Mum talked and talked and talked wih Robyn. Mum used to come down here to this exact same camp site with Robyn and her family when they were both young girls.

And on the way home we stopped at Ted and Iris's home in Nunawading and had lunch. Ted is an old friend of Dad's and they used to go diving together. Dad said that Ted iss like the old man of the sea and was a very good diver. 

From Dad:
It is claimed to be "The ultimate must-do Melbourne experience", but I am not so sure. It was fun, but at $77.00 for the three of us (thats with my Seniors card also), its not an attraction that all families can afford. But we had to give it a go, and Sam of course was delighted. Wendy, who is not good with heights or anything that moves, lasted out very well. It is an excellent piece of engineering, tthe third highest wheel in the world,  based on the same design concept as the London Eye. It takes half an hour to do one turn, and does not stop whilst operating, so you get on and off whilst it is moving - quite safee of course. The maximum height is 100 metres, and it has 21 airconditioned 

The Observation Wheel is one of the most exciting tourism projects in Melbourne – a stunning addition to the Melbourne landscape that boasts some of the most spectacular views over Melbourne and beyond. The $40 million giant ferris wheel based on the popular London Eye will be 100 metres in diameter featuring 21 airconditioned and enclosed glass cabins that will showcase views stretching as far as Geelong. 
The Observation Wheel features a unique state-of-the-art star-like structure. Rising almost 120m, around 38 storeys into the air, The Southern Star Observation Wheel opened to the public in December 2008.

STOP PRESS:  Just as well we did this. Two weeks later, as Melbourne sweltered with four days of 45 degree heat, the monsster wheel buckled. It is not closed 'indefinately'. It really is a great engineering construcction, but I would have thought it could withstand higher temperaturees, even though the weather we were experiencing was unusual.

Sam is on drums, with Blake on guitar. 
And far right, Brice is on guitar with Bruce leading.

At last - my new room has been completed. Dad has done a great job. I now have an office next to my bedroom, and this has given me enough room to bring in my drum kit from the lounge room. 

Sam and his mates won the Friday-Night Basketball Grandfinal in a great game. He threw the last goal, one of six that led to the win by just one point over the crafty Cats. It was a great game and both teams deserved to win. 

Below: The winning team - Sam, Thomas Jeffs, Ben Matten, Noah Dewyn, James Saliakos,  Alex Jeffs, with our great coach Linda Dewyn. Congratulations to the Hawks and the Cats.

Dad's note: The team spirit attitude at basketball has been excellent, with all the boys, and no doubt the girls, being coached to play as a team, to enjoy the game and respect the opposition. It is wonderful to watch and see the development of the lads over the years. They all obviously enjoy the game. We, as parents, have a lot to thank coach Linda and all the other coaches in the eight-team competition, and the officials who make the game possible. Contrary to the physical atrributes required of the senior players, junior and recreational basketball is great for kids of all shapes and sizes. Some will excell with speed and agility, others with bulk and braun, others with goal-scoring skills - but all contribute in some way, and all will benefit by experiencing team play. 

Well, he is just staying with us for a while during the Easter school holidays, as he is the class pet for Mum's grade at school. He is so cute and I want to make sure that Mum's grade looks after him well. 

On Easter Sunday we drove to Melbourne and stayed at the Mantra on Exhibition Street in the city. Mum and Dad went to see the Irish commedian Dylan Moran whilst I was looked after by a baby-sitter. On the Monday we drove to Mentone to see my cousins. It was great to see my cousin Lewis again, and to meet another cousin Liam. We had a great time especially when Lewi's dad Dale played footy with us.

Thats Mum sharing a joke with Dad's first cousin Marie. And in the other photo, that Darren, Janelle and Michael. 
 

As Dad was brought up in Singapore, I think he would have prefered me to learn how to use chopsticks before I used a spoon but it was a bit difficult eating baby food with chopsticks - but at last, I can use them. We went to a great Japanese restaurant in Melbourne and I managed to get some food in my mouth without dropping it. 

Mum and Dad have been trying to get to the Immigration Museum for many years and this time we succeeded just before we left Melbourne to come home. I enjoyed the displays, especially of the insides of the old soling ships and the immigration passenger liners, and the huge models of some of the ships. Mum got some good ideas for her teaching at school, and Dad spoke to a man about my great-grandfather who was a great chef. 

In May we drove to Melbourne tp go to a social day for the Argentinian community. We met some great people and saw  traditional dancing. My school teachers, which included Mum, were invited to attemd because we have a relationship with a school in Argentina. Dad said it was the weekend from hell but not because of our visit. On the way down Mum became very sick with pains ion her shoulder and we had to spend an afternoon in the Warrigal Hospital emergency section. Mum was not well for the whole weekend but she braved it out. It took mum two weeks to recover fully.

Harry had a sleep over during the school holidays. Here we are in the boat in the front garden.

I sang the very funny song "Hello Mudda, Hello Fadda" at the Yarram Eisteddfod and won first place in the Vocal Solo 10yrs and under. Mum and Dad thought I did a great job. It was a good song and everyone thought it was funny. The judge said I had a great even tone. I came out with the umbrella as it was raining (in the song) and at the end got down on my knees to beg Mum and Dad to take me home (in the song of course). All my school mates were there and congratulated me when I won. Thanks Mum for all your help with the encouragement and choreography of the actions. And thankyou Ms Earle for being my accompanist and your training and encouragement. 

[Dad: Sam also sang that night at the official opening of the Eisteddfod, in two separate choirs. One choir won first place and another an Honorable Mention. Sam loves getting involved in anything interesting and is one of the few boys that put their heart and soul into performing for his school. It is little wonder that we are so proud of him - not for winning, but for participating and giving it a go.]

UPDATE:
Sam participated in several events at the Eisteddfod. He won Third Prize in both the solo and duet, Ten and Under Pianoforte. And his school vocal group won the group vocal event. Little wonder that we are proud of him, not so much for winning but being part of it and having fun doing it. 
 
 

[Dad's note: The choir singing was exceptional, both the Senior Choir (seen here) and the Junior Choir - a real credit to the kids and the cjoir tutor, Principal Penny Earle. There are just the two boys in the Senior Choir. It is voluntary of course and Sam really enjoys it.]