In a little over a week my castle will be invaded by Queenslanders! You think I'd defend it with all my might, but this invasion is different to others so instead of shooting arrows and crossbow bolts, firing catapults and hurling rocks and pouring boiling oil down upon the foe, I'll be lowering the drawbridge, raising the portcullis and inviting the invasion inside.
The invading Queenslanders are my brother, his wife and my nephew, the four year-old little boy I call Mr. Bonkers.
They're not really invading to be honest, they're invited guests coming to spend a few weeks with me over the festive season. I'm really looking forward to it but it's also going to be a challenge from a catering perspective and also just because my house is a really private place for me, somewhere I allow few to come, and having people here constantly for a few weeks will be quite strange for me, even though they're my family. It'll not be awkward though, just that I'm reasonably house-proud, have things set up in a way that suits me and my girl-person and to have others here, especially a little boisterous lad, means things will be thrown into a degree of chaos; hopefully organised chaos.
Over the last couple weeks I've been getting things prepared for their invasion arrival including their bedroom and ensuite, and have been ensuring my outdoor entertaining areas are ready to go; we will eat most of our meals outside considering it's summer here. I've also illuminated the front of the house with Christmas lights which look really nice. I've lit up a tree in the front yard with fairy-lights also; it's all very tasteful and looks quite magical really. My whole street lights up their houses which looks nice at Christmas time and I like to join in; I'd show you but I don't really want pictures of the front of my house on the internet.
I'm fortunate to have a fairly generously-sized house and it'll accommodate my guests easily, although I think my nephew will give it a good workout. I plan not to run around after him fixing things though, I want him to think of it as his, but it'll be a little stressful for me I guess.
This weekend I'll be finishing things off and making sure I'm completely ready which means a weekend spent cleaning and tidying inside and out; I like to have a neat and tidy home and to present it well when people come here, rare that that is though. When my family arive I want them to feel at home and comfortable; I don't see them much due to the distance between where we live, so want to make the most of the time. I think it'll be a really cool time for all of us and provided my nephew doesn't tear the place apart I think my castle might survive their visit.
Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default - Tomorrow isn't promised so be humble and kind
Any images in this post are my own
I was gonna say is it actually invading if you invite them in XD
Your house will likely not stay neat and tidy with a toddler in the area. Though hopefully he's not as whirling dervish as my youngest was at that age, there were some people's houses I deliberately didn't go to for reasons XD
My nephew is well mannered and behaved, he has been raised correctly in that way and I think it's part of his nature. I embellished the post in that way somewhat, because I can and it was more fun for me to do so. He'll be fine.
That sounds like some wonderful times ahead of you. And stressful. When you're used to living alone a sudden invasion of a group of people is quite the event, no matter how much love and understanding is in the air. But somehow I'm still sure that you'll have a great time. Having read the stories about when you visited them and the time spent especially with your nephew up north, I think all you need to do is get your Legos or other tinkering stuff and hang out with Mr. Bonkers and everything will be fine.
Yeah, Lego is one way to keep him occupied, that's for sure.
He's a good kid really, and doesn't destroy things. He's smart, funny and has a good nature...a really good little kid, and I'm looking forward to seeing him soon.
You stay up there? Wow, that's huge.
The invasion is indeed something you should open the castle gate for and I believe it will be a fun moment for you and the visitors. You have been preparing for the little coming, I remembered you bought a gun toy and painting material as well, I might as well be coming over.
You have a good memory. Yeah, I have a lot of stuff for my nephew as you've mentioned and some Lego too, plus a bike and some other things. It'll be a lot of fun!
You have really prepared a lot and I believe it's going to be a beautiful holiday for the young man.
Yeah I think so. I'm looking forward to spending some time with him. We're planning to search for treasure in the beach (I plant $1 coins for him to find), go kayaking, the St Kilda adventure park, the zoo and all sorts of things. He's going to wear me out.
Should I say, he will be having the best holiday in the world? I wish I can become a kid again so I can be part of the fun not as an adult.
You tagged an Hiver to let her daughter join you guys, did he or she agreed?
That was Matt yeah, I think we might be heading over to his side of the city (he lives in the same city as me). We'll see what time permits I guess.
Okay
How beautiful everything will be with your family Galen I wish from my heart that every day counts and that you can recharge your batteries with the beautiful energy of the embrace family and celebrate your Christmas 🎄 from the true essence; that of giving and receiving love with everyone around you..... Congratulations to you, your wife, and your family..... Happy holidays in your magical castle.
I've got some work to do first, but yeah it'll be a good time. I hope my castle survives the onslaught of that little bonkers nephew of mine.
This is a high level of caution and is often overlooked by many. I admire your privacy protection.
It would be great fun to get an "invasion" from those who come full of kinship.
You are right, sir. It would really be troubling if your aggressive nephew showed you some cruelty. LOL
I guess since it's a castle, everything should be fine. Can you imagine if it was a house in a residential complex with neighbors around?
I have experienced that when my neighbor's family visited some of his nephews, some things became unpleasant, but I really understand that they are children who should be happy with their childhood.
One can't be too careful.
He's not really aggressive, just boisterous, a typical lad if Four years old, like I was. He will keep me busy though.
My castle is well-situated in an ideal location...any neighbours are allies, if they were not I'd have to obliterate or annexe them, make them my vassals.
I'm glad to hear that; it means everything will be fine. It will be very fun, and you can't wait for their arrival.
Exactly like 18th century life, sir. !LOL
It's nice to have kind neighbors, right?
Have a nice life.
I have the occasional border skirmish, sometimes pitched battles, but my army is trained and well-equipped and easily capable of dealing with a few peasants with pitchforks and clubs. Once the battle ends, I make a few examples of key instigators, raise taxes and ride off back to my castle happy with the days' work.
Do you want to make your nephew passionate about Lego eh eh! I'm sure it will be a great holiday and you will all have a great time especially your nephew, I read that you have prepared a fun and detailed plan for him 😉
He already loves it, just like me. We are Lego-freaks! 🤣
Sounds like it could be fun! I hope you have a good time with the family!
I'm looking forward to it although it would be good to have @tarazkp's family here too. I miss @smallsteps, my niece. We'll make do though, I'm sure my nephew will keep me occupied. I'll need a week off work after they leave to recover.
😂😂😂
With a 4 year old? On what world are you living? 😂
See you after a few weeks, let's see how you are handling stress 😏
If I survive my nephew's visit I'll need a holiday to recharge. When I went to visit him in May he wore me out. The funny thing is, I think my brother got the most rest he's had in a long time because I was doing all the work!
Seriously though, I'm looking forward to it and think it'll be a nice time.
Also, the organised chaos comment is me trying to be positive; I know it'll just be chaos with no organisation at all. 🤪
I don't know how, but I feel excited for Mr. Bonkers. There was this kind of way I always felt whenever I got to visit my really cool uncles or aunts as a kid.
I was never really the "tear the house apart" kind of nephew, but like you, they usually have their places all set up for my brother and me, with entertainment and good food too.
Mr. Bonkers is a very cool kid and it'll be nice having him here. In truth, he's not the tear the house apart sort of kid either. He is well-mannered and behaved, I was just adding some drama to the post to make it seem more interesting. my brother's and I were raised well and my nephew (and niece) are being raised well also. So, don't read into it too much, it's just how I write.
😄 I see now. Then I was like Mr. Bonkers then.
I should have known by now that's how you write. It does add more energy to the post, and I get...
Most kids, especially boys, were like this I guess. And yeah, if I didn't add an element of poetic license my posts would be even more boring than they already are!
No no...😂 Not all boys are like this in Nigeria. I had one friend that was a pain in the ass to whoever he visited. He wasn't in any way calm.
I have actually learned to be a much better writer by observing closely on how you, your brother, and a few other interesting authors write. So I really don't think they are boring. 😄
Sounds like a prick. I had a few kids like that in school and around the neighbourhood I grew up in. One kid, Andrew Amore was his name, was a fucken terror - He had mental issues though. Used to take scissors off the scissor-board, (where all the scissors were hung), and would throw them like Shuriken (throwing stars) at other kids. This was in grade four. Little fucker. I wonder what happened to him. Prison I'd say, or maybe he's dead.
Thank you, I appreciate the compliment.
Shuriken at people, what?? 😄 Did he think he was in a video game???😂
I am really hoping he didn't become a Samurai. He'd be dangerous.
There are some people. If you know a little bit about them, you realize what a quality character they have. You are definitely one of them, someone who tries to live life to the fullest. I can already see that you are all going to have a good time.
Thanks for saying so, and yes, you're right. Life moved towards an inevitable and predictable end so I figure it's worth making the most of it while I have some left. My opinion is that everyone should do so, but they don't.
I'm really looking forward to having some family around, have a few things planned, and will just do a lot of hanging around with them also. It'll be nice.
yes you are absolutely right. People always think about the future but no one knows how long they will live. We should enjoy today. I hope you have a good time, have fun:)
It looks like a family reunion ☺️ and I'm glad you are inviting your brother and his wife to your castle 🏰, it will increase love and bonding among all of you, your castle is beautiful 😍
I'd need a bigger castle if all my siblings and their families were coming to visit, but they're all over the world so it's not possible. I'll make do with one small group of them.
Looks like you're well prepared for the invasion, G-Dog, also geared up well and tactically ready to take on Mr. Bonkers. Just make sure you keep him busy with the Legos, so that the little man doesn't actually end up tearing the place apart. 😂
Happy holidays man, I hope you have a lovely few weeks ahead with your family. 🥂
I have a good supply of Lego and other things to play with so I think Mr. Bonkers will have enough to do. He likes me reading to him so we'll do that too, it'll keep him still for twenty minutes. 😀
Sounds like a plan haha.
Make sure you keep us updated with your Lego building adventures with the little man. 🎆
There'll be some updates along the way...I might even let him write one on my behalf. That could be interesting! 😁
Oh damnnn, I surely am hyped for that one. 😂
It shows you are preparing your mind for Christmas already and its great to have friends and family around... I guess I am also invited??😄
I don't have family around usually as they all live a long way from here, so it'll be nice to see them and it's a happy time if year as well so I'm sure we'll have a really nice time.
Thanks for commenting.
You are welcome, I hope you have fun and enjoy yourself to the fullest..
This flower looks very wonderful. You can spend your holiday with your family gathering. You can decorate your home for Christmas. Everyone very for Christmas. Me and friends also plan for Christmas. Thanks for sharing your plan.
Yes, the flowers are quite nice and yes, I have some Christmas decorations up, it is the festive season after all. I'm looking forward to it.
It's good to have the ability to adapt to a situation that may not be ideal. Humans have been adapting for a long time, it's why the human race survived, although I think the planet would be better off if we had not.
Humans, through greed, ego and hubris, and their desire for more of everything, have taken so much away from the world and put almost nothing back. Almost a thousand species of animals are extinct because of humans since the year 1500. Humans keep taking more though, and pour waste into waterways and oceans, pump toxicity into the air and covered much of the planet's surface with concrete. Humans have brought wars that have destroyed nature, (nuclear weapons), and deforestation devastates ecosystems.
Humans are the true garbage on this planet, and have not made it better. They haven't even made it better for themselves...Toxic waste, acid rain, melting polar caps, famine, disease, viruses...Yep, humans are the garbage. I feel ashamed to be one to be honest; every human should.
Have you ever asked dtube why they upvote you?