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| The 'Buffy' crew and Zoe, a reaper from 'Supernatural' enjoying ourselves at our annual Halloween party! |
2013 has been a year of learning and growing for the Barlow family, but also a year punctuated by sporting accidents and the all too common age related ill health issues. So, tough for us at times but a year defined by the saying, "whatever doesn't kill you, makes you stronger!" :)
I guess we have to start the year by rewinding to November 2012 when Grant fracture his knee during a Futsal match. Uncertain till late January as to how serious the injury was, it meant he was unable to take part in the Futsal nationals and missed out on the ACTAS (ACT Academy of Sport) football trials later in the month. Grant was lucky there was no major ligament damage but he would be out for half the season. Fortune favoured the brave, in this case, a brave young boy who had his greatest drive wrenched away in a crippling tackle, when he was offered a medical scholarship with ACTAS. They took over his recovery program when he was ready to start his comeback in April and gradually he was introduced into the team.
For Grant, the highlights of his year are all football related. Taking part in two overseas trips; the first was a tournament in Korea where the highlight was playing against the Barcelona youth team as well as many national sides, and meeting players from all over the globe. Then later in the year the team had a tour of China playing against some local teams in Beijing and Tianjin. Maria and Spike's mum Helen were lucky enough to tag along on this tour! Climbing the Great wall, visiting the Forbidden City and Tienanmen Square and shopping at the Adidas outlet being major non football highlights for Grant. Then the last major tournament was The NTC challenge. Spanning 5 days, the ACTAS boys played diligently while adapting to a scorcher one day and freezing temperatures and rain the next. Grant didn't play the first game. However when placed on the field, fired up and played with an intensity not seen before. Ploughing though the smaller, even some of the larger boys, the tackle related injury from last year seemed forgotten. With this level of football, new horizons have been opened. We look forward to seeing the opportunities that unfold in 2014.
Zoe also started her year recovering from an injury. She had broken a bone in the top of her foot the year before and had been out for a full season in 2012. As it happens she also ended 2013 recovering from a soccer related injury! In the last game of the season, Zoe fell badly and dislocated her knee. This resulted in her having completely torn her ACL and in October was rushed in to have it reconstructed. The operation was a major one and will require months of rehabilitation, and will unfortunately mean that she will miss another season of soccer.
I guess we have to start the year by rewinding to November 2012 when Grant fracture his knee during a Futsal match. Uncertain till late January as to how serious the injury was, it meant he was unable to take part in the Futsal nationals and missed out on the ACTAS (ACT Academy of Sport) football trials later in the month. Grant was lucky there was no major ligament damage but he would be out for half the season. Fortune favoured the brave, in this case, a brave young boy who had his greatest drive wrenched away in a crippling tackle, when he was offered a medical scholarship with ACTAS. They took over his recovery program when he was ready to start his comeback in April and gradually he was introduced into the team.
For Grant, the highlights of his year are all football related. Taking part in two overseas trips; the first was a tournament in Korea where the highlight was playing against the Barcelona youth team as well as many national sides, and meeting players from all over the globe. Then later in the year the team had a tour of China playing against some local teams in Beijing and Tianjin. Maria and Spike's mum Helen were lucky enough to tag along on this tour! Climbing the Great wall, visiting the Forbidden City and Tienanmen Square and shopping at the Adidas outlet being major non football highlights for Grant. Then the last major tournament was The NTC challenge. Spanning 5 days, the ACTAS boys played diligently while adapting to a scorcher one day and freezing temperatures and rain the next. Grant didn't play the first game. However when placed on the field, fired up and played with an intensity not seen before. Ploughing though the smaller, even some of the larger boys, the tackle related injury from last year seemed forgotten. With this level of football, new horizons have been opened. We look forward to seeing the opportunities that unfold in 2014.
Zoe also started her year recovering from an injury. She had broken a bone in the top of her foot the year before and had been out for a full season in 2012. As it happens she also ended 2013 recovering from a soccer related injury! In the last game of the season, Zoe fell badly and dislocated her knee. This resulted in her having completely torn her ACL and in October was rushed in to have it reconstructed. The operation was a major one and will require months of rehabilitation, and will unfortunately mean that she will miss another season of soccer.
Zoe's memorable moments of the year are: getting her licence, getting her own second hand car (Schmitty), turning 18, graduating from High School (College) and getting a great score to get her into a university course of her choice. Zoe showed, despite going through some tough times during her last year of school, what a natural talent she has for writing, producing some amazing works in her writers workshop course. The other subject she continued to excel in was Japanese. Achieving some class topping marks and showing again, not only hard work and determination, but some very mature writing.
Lastly but definitely not least, Zoe was accepted into Seikei High School in Tokyo on a student exchange scholarship for 1 year!! The year promises to be a very full one with many adventures and connecting with old and new friends! Once the approval came through, the many months of waiting were long gone and suddenly her departure date was well and truly upon us. She flies out on 12 January and is looking forward to spending an amazing year in the country of her birth!
Lastly but definitely not least, Zoe was accepted into Seikei High School in Tokyo on a student exchange scholarship for 1 year!! The year promises to be a very full one with many adventures and connecting with old and new friends! Once the approval came through, the many months of waiting were long gone and suddenly her departure date was well and truly upon us. She flies out on 12 January and is looking forward to spending an amazing year in the country of her birth!
This year, especially toward the end, both Grant and Zoe matured and grew much closer. It is a shame that after so many of the teen years being plagued by bickering, Zoe will now be leaving right after their relationship has finally stabilized! 
With their friendship strengthened, family bonding time became significantly easier. Since bonding was easier we decided to broaden our horizons by including SingStar nights and FIFA football nights to the already practiced Board game nights and Ninja Warrior TV marathons! Also by the end of the year, Zoe and Grant particularly enjoyed spending time at Spike's laboratory, taking part in 'game testing' afternoons on Fridays with Spike's PhD students, which not only included computer games but board games too. One last football highlight for the family was a trip to Melbourne to watch Liverpool play against Melbourne Victory. Being part of the 93,000 fan filled stadium is something we're not likely to forget soon.
With their friendship strengthened, family bonding time became significantly easier. Since bonding was easier we decided to broaden our horizons by including SingStar nights and FIFA football nights to the already practiced Board game nights and Ninja Warrior TV marathons! Also by the end of the year, Zoe and Grant particularly enjoyed spending time at Spike's laboratory, taking part in 'game testing' afternoons on Fridays with Spike's PhD students, which not only included computer games but board games too. One last football highlight for the family was a trip to Melbourne to watch Liverpool play against Melbourne Victory. Being part of the 93,000 fan filled stadium is something we're not likely to forget soon.
2013 was a mixed one for Maria, expanding her knowledge in her field of work by attending several courses, rediscovering her love of tennis, jogging and generally getting fitter and healthier throughout the year. Injury also plagued her though, with a knee injury keeping her out of cycling and running for a couple of months and then a wrist injury almost saw her have to cancel her trip to China with Grant. Fortunately she was able to attend, wrist strapped and in a sling. This didn't hamper her much though and she was still able to climb the Great Wall along with the team and made the most of her time while she was there.
Lastly, we move on to Spike who continued to love and play soccer throughout the year despite having achillies issues, a shoulder injury and a suspected detached retina, though the last turned out to be a false alarm which we were all overjoyed about! Needless to say that with all the injuries our family members suffered throughout the year, our physiotherapist was able to put in an inground pool and go on a cruise around the world thanks to the Barlow family! ;) Just kidding Pete, you're amazing! Spike started 2013 acting as Deputy Head of School for the first six months which was definitely a different role for him to take on and although he enjoyed it, he was glad to do the hand back at the end of the 6 months! :)
Well, that's the year as it was. We're all looking toward the New Year of the Horse with hopes of good health, happy times and many adventures!
By Zoe and Maria
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| Zoe gets dolled up for formal! :) Beautiful! |
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| Grant and Zoe before Formal. |
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| Zoe and her best mates! |
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Proud Mum!
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