1997
31 Dec 97 - Tamagotchi winners
Yesterday a Tamagotchi turned up in the post. It was from Uncle Toby for sending in the requisite number of boxtops of one of their products. To-day a second one turned up. This was from an on-line survey Chris had completed for Nestles. So now both Cath and Sarah have virtual pets to look after for the summer.
19 Dec 97 - Dreaded Chris 
Chris has further reduced his slim chances of summer employment by having his hair put in dread-locks. Photo soon. (if the camera survives).He has been laminating skateboard decks in the garage, but they do not seem quite as good as the bought ones. Meanwhile excitement builds as it is only five more sleeps till Christmas. Liz is back from Qld, Peter returned from camp dishevelled and fishless. The girls christmas tap dance show has come and gone to much applause. Dave has been working most week-ends lately and there is not much under the tree yet, although it is up and looking festive.
7 Dec 97 - Hills Away
Well... summer is here now, Lizz is off to Queensland for a week in the sun with a friend to make use of the tickets Denise won earlier in the year. Peter is off on school camp up to the "Lakes" for a fishing trip. Smoked trout for tea next week? (some hopes).
21 Nov 97 - Girls Flat Out
The girls (Sarah, Catherine, Liz and Denise) had a great time going to see Michael Flatley in "Lord of the Dance" this evening. It might spur their tap dancin to even greater heights.
1 Nov 1997 - They're Off !
The plugs from the Tvs that is. Following a draconian tradition dating way back to 1994, the Hills spend November without TV. Lots of withdrawal symptoms in the first week, with protest marchs banners and bribes, settling down to something approaching normality by the end of the month. Hope the weather stays fine so the kids can play outside. Why don't you drop around for a game of Scrabble or Monopoly one evening.
19 Oct 1997 - Roll on Summer.
Well it was time to roll on a new coat of paint for the swimming pool this week-end. Funny how everyone finds friends to visit and important things to do at such times. Its finished now, looks good, all we need is a bit of sunshine to warm up the water a bit.
21 Sept 1997 - Brief Winter Sunshine.
Leaving Launcestons dreary weather and Liz at home to feed the animals, the rest of the hills spent a week at the gold coast for a bit of fun in the sun. We visited the dolphins at Sea-world and survived the Tower of terror at Dreamworld. Chris spent a couple of days at a friends place in Brisbane. Now its back to work and school for us :-( as Liz has her mid-semester break.
24 Aug 1997 - The earth moved for us
The light sleepers of the family were woken up last night by a mild earth tremor which had all the windows and ornaments rattling. (So they tell me)
23 Aug 1997 - Penny for them :-)
Read the visitors book Penny. We have set up a hotmail account for you.
15 Aug 1997 - Surprize Package :-)
Liz got a call to-day to say that she has won a package holiday for two to Queensland. She did not even know she had entered the competition! Denise had done it in her name. Who is she going to take with her? Why is everyone being nice to her?
13 Aug 1997 - Sarah's dribbling success!
The primary school had a dribble-a-thon recently in which Cath and Sarah took part. How many laps of the school yard can you run dribbling a basketball. Sarah may not have done the most laps or raised the most money, but did win the basketball in the draw! Well done Sarah.
30 Jul 1997 - Honda Recovered :-)
Well we have got the bike back, its a bit the worse for wear, but should be back to rights before too long. We have also bought a "snake lock" which is supposed to be bolt-cutter proof.
28 Jul 1997 - Honda Walks :-(
A sad day, our nice shiny red Honda motorbike was stolen from the local multistory car-park at the weekend. A real bummer. If someone offers you a cheap '95 XL185 with 6000km on the clock and "No Fear" stickers on the front guard give us a call.
26 Jul 1997 - Distinquished Liz :-)
Liz returned from 3 weeks in Sydney to find her first semester exam results waiting for her. Two high distinctions and one distinction! More marks than Dave got in his entire university career. 'Onyer Liz, keep it up.
19 July 1997 - Skate bored broke again :-(
Its not the only thing thats broke, at $80 a go, just as well Chris has started a part-time cleaning job , it may just keep him in decks!
9 July 1997 - Unclean, Unclean
The kids have a few days extra off school this week as the cleaners have gone on strike.
8 July 1997 - Fancy that
Cath turned 10 to-day! To mark the occasion she had a fancy dress party with her friends. We had an elf, a fairy,a bride, a whitch, a nurse and a construction worker. Much fun was had by all.
6 July 1997 - Skate bored brooze
Chris is grounded again :-( The skateboard is not broken this time, but his ankle resembles a football and his current mode of transport is to hop.
29 June 1997 - Post Exam Haze
After finishing all her exams for this semester Lizz set of for Sydney Town with a couple of friends. Too bad the airport was closed by fog nearly all day. They eventually got away about 6 hours late!
28 June 1997 - Classic Winners!
This week-end Peters basketball team played in the under 16 Launceston Classic competiion. After winning all 5 of their games on Saturday they went on to win the final on Sunday. 'Onyer Pete.
9 June 1997 - Ben Elton in Town
To celebrate Daves birthday, Liz took him to see Ben Elton live in Launceston. What a mega-mouth, he must have said "wank" 327 times in the first 27 seconds and never stopped for two hours. A good night thanks liz.
30 May 1997 - School Holidays again.
School broke up for two weeks most of the hill kids this week. Liz still has two weeks to mid term exams, but then gets three weeks off, she is going up to Sydney for most of them. Its pretty cold here at night now brrrrr. Not much else to report... the lounge suite is looking good, recovered in gold velvet corduroy stuff, much better and not before time.
15 May 1997 - Easter Bunny lingers on.
It's well past Easter, but easter bunny and his friends (and their friends) still seem to be hanging around the garden. We haven't needed to mow the grass for several months, but some of the other vegitation is starting to suffer. It must be time for rabbit pie.
30 April 1997 - Sk8 bored bluez :-(
Chris has been very bored and had a very long face this week after snapping the deck of his skate-board in two. Bad luck Chris.
12 Mar 1997 - Cath learns to reed.
Yes, Catherine is currently learning to play the clarinet and Sarah is beginning piano lessons.Peter's under 16 basketball roster has started up again, They have not lost a game yet :-)
17 Feb 1997 - Back to School :-(
Holidays are over and all the kids are back at school. Liz now first year university studying bio-medical science, Chris starting year 11, Peter year 9, Catherine year 4 and Sarah in Prep.
10 Feb 1997 - International chef drops in
After some drama with visas Mike (Daves brother) and Anne arrived from England for a visit bearing gifts for all. The kids thought he was Santa. (If the suit fits Mike) We had a great time catching up with all the news over a few beers and showing them around a bit. They also managed a whirlwind trip around Tassie in 5 days. Mike will long be remembered for the magnificent BBQ'd leg of lamb amongst other culinary delights. Not forgetting the apple charlotte Anne.
21 Jan 1997 - Visit by Guy (Dave's father) and Barbara 
As part of a 3 month 3 continent trip visiting their children and many grandchildren they spent a couple of weeks getting re-aqainted with all the Hills and some interesting outings and hikes. They then spent a week exploring southern Tasmania in a large campervan. It was grand to see them both looking so well as you can see.
19 Jan 1997 - Doug Turns up
Doug Beattie spent a week or so with us and managed to create some imaginative bowls on the lathe from "driftwood" found in the cataract gorge.
10 Jan 1997 - Vote for LizZ
Liz turned 18 to-day and is now legally allowed to drink and vote, as well as being one year older. 'On yer Liz. Chris and Liz are off to see Spiderbait, Automatic and Silverchair to-night.
5 Jan 1997 - L for Launceston
Launceston is in for an "L" of a time as Chris is now learning to drive the car. He is also enrolled for motor-bike lessons which are a requirement before getting a learners bike licence.
3 Jan 1997 - Christmas past
Well... Christmas is over and its 1997 now. All is well. Christmas was an enjoyable family affair at the Hills with cousins from Hobart staying for a week, and many other relations dropping in and being visited. Wonder what '97 has in store for us?
