We had a nice day yesterday.  The day of my daughter's Kung Fu demonstration at one of the city movie cinemas was finally here.  It was meant to be in honour of the opening of the movie Kung Fu Panda but was really badly organised so actually coincided with the movie start time so a) nobody coming to watch the movie actually watched the demo and b) the kids didn't get to go to the movie afterwards as it was too long to wait until the next session. 

The kids had a great time and didn't seem to click that the majority of their "audience" were actually family and friends who had been dragged along for the occasion.  Their teacher (who is very much like a big kid himself!) was also very pleased with how it all went and offered to take the kids all out to McDonalds for lunch afterwards. 

We all (ie, kids, instructors and parents) went and invaded Darling Harbour McDonalds and all the kids got a Happy Meal and a Kung Fu Panda viper so they were happy.  Afterwards, a few of us went over to the playground and hung out there for an hour or so.  It is a really nice playground and was a beautiful day for it.  My one (minor) problem with it is all the water features around the place.  These are like a magnet to my son who of course managed to get himself a bit wet (although not absolutely soaking like he did last time we went to Manly corso!).  One the way home, we passed another group of Kung Fu students doing their training in the park.  The kids enjoyed watching this as it was quite a different style of Kung Fu to what they do.  All in all it was a very fun day. 

Here are a couple of photos I took at Darling Harbour (I can't post any of the Kung Fu demo photos as they have other people's kids in them): 

J darling harbour

V Darling Harbour

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

It was a very wet and cold weekend in Sydney so we spent quite a bit more time than usual indoors.  On Saturday afternoon, the kids and I watched Danny Kaye in Hans Christian Anderson.  My mum had found the dvd cheap somewhere and sent it up.  We hadn't yet watched it as my daughter had thought it looked "BOR-ing".  Both kids were hooked by the end of the first story/song ("the King is in the Altogether" about the Emperor's New Clothes) though.  I still remembered all the words from watching this movie numerous times on tv in the 1970's so enjoyed singing along to everything. 

Danny Kaye : I'm Hans Christian Andersen

On Sunday a friend and I took them to a free art exhibition to get them out of the house for a while.  There was also plenty of time at home to watch movies so we got out Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.  It is quite long so we spread it over a couple of sittings and sped through a few of the gory bits though (eg, Jade Dragon getting punctured by the needles).  We watched the dubbed version for the kids sake.  It probably wouldn't have mattered though as it was the fight scenes that held their attention the most.  They are so well done - like magical dances.  There is also some fantastic flying action in it, such as this scene where the two main characters are fighting in the tree tops. 

Film Scoring Project - "Battle in the Trees"

(My daughter still has a long way to go with her Kung Fu before she is at this standard!)

Next weekend we will be time travelling back to the 1980s (assuming my copy of Pretty in Pink has arrived by then). 

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

1. Not stay at work too late tonight (although this may be difficult as I am waiting on things from a few different people before I can go home).
2. Eat pizza made by the kids for dinner (kids are insistent that Friday night is Pizza Night).
3. Go to bed early as I have had a hell of a week.
4. Get up early to go to yoga.
5. Send husband grocery shopping (or do it myself).
6. Tidy the house while the kids are at Kung Fu.
7. Sort through the kids clothes and toys with a view to making more space in their bedroom.
8. Go bunk bed shopping (my son has started sleeping in the food end of his sister's bed - I suspect because his toddler bed not as comfortable).
9. Watch Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon on dvd (with finger on remote to speed through any sexy bits).
10. Try and think of something fun to do with my son on Sunday while his sister off at the movies with her schoolfriend. 
11. Do some baking - maybe a birthday cake for the Queen!  (this might be the fun thing I do with my son - he loves cracking eggs and sticking his hands in the mixture).
12. Babysit for a friend.
13. Get meals, uniforms etc organised for the week ahead.

Such an exciting life I lead!

Ziyi Zhang vs. Michelle Yeoh best fight scene ever

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

My son taking a beating from one of the "big kid" instructors at Kung Fu on the weekend:

Kung Fu boy

He has only just "officially" started although has been watching from the sidelines and occasionally joining in the warm up and "form" since his sister started last year.  

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Someone recommended this Kung Fu spoof movie to me:

Kung Pow Enter The Fist - You Go That Way... I Go Home!

Has anyone seen the movie?  Would it be any good for two Kung Fu loving kids (5 and 9yo)? 

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Translation please

Is anyone here able to tell me what these Chinese characters translate to in English?  It is my daughter's Kung Fu t-shirt and I have noticed she gets funny looks from people when wearing it out and about in Chinatown.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

My daughter is turning 9 soon.  I have been telling her since last year's extravaganza that 2008 would be a 'non-party' year.  Was thinking we could do something special with a few close friends (having been at her new school for just over a year, she now has a better idea of who her close friends are).  I was thinking maybe a movie so had a look at the local cinema's website to try and get an idea of what will be on next month and only saw this:

http://www.greaterunion.com.au/movies/hannahmontana/

I'm sure the girls would love it but could I BEAR it???

Would much prefer this: 

http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/whatson/KATHLifeboat.aspx

but maybe a bit dark for a 9yo's birthday celebration?

Thinking the movie, Kung Fu Panda, would be a good one for everyone (daughter currently up to her purple sash in Kung Fu) but don't think it starts in Australia till later in the year.   

Read and post comments | Send to a friend