I'm talking about hide and seek/spotlight in the park. The corner
dairy, hopscotch, four square, go carts, cricket in front of the garbage
bin and inviting everyone on your street to join in, skipping (double
dutch), gutterball, handstands, elastics, bullrush, catch and kiss,
footy on the best lawn in the street, slip'n'slides, the trampoline with
water on it (or a sprinkler under it), hula hoops, jumping in puddles
with gumboots on, mud pies and building dams in the gutter. The smell of
the sun and fresh cut grass or burning rubbish in the weekends.

'Big bubbles no troubles' with Hubba Bubba bubble gum. A topsy. Mr
Whippy cones on a warm summer night after you've chased him round the
block. 20 cents worth of mixed lollies lasted a week and pretending to
smoke "fags" (the lollies) was really cool!.. A dollars' worth of chips
from the corner take-away fed two people (AND the sauce was free!!).

Being upset when you botched putting on the temporary tattoo from the
bubblegum packet, but still wearing it proudly. Watching Saturday
morning cartoons: 'The Smurfs', 'AstroBoy', 'He-man', 'Captain Caveman',
'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles', 'Jem' (trulyoutrageous!!), 'Super d'',
and 'Heeeey heeeeey heeeeeeey it's faaaaaaat Albert'. Or staying up late
and sneaking a look at the "AO" on the second telly, being amazed when
you watched TV right up until the 'Goodnight Kiwi!'

When After School with Jason Gunn & Thingie had a cult following and
What Now was on saturday mornings! When around the corner seemed a long
way, and going into town seemed like going somewhere. Where running away
meant you did laps of the block because you weren't allowed to cross the
road?? A million mozzie bites, wasp and bee stings (stee bings!).

Sticky fingers, goodies & baddies, cops and robbers, cowboys and
indians, riding bikes til the streetlights came on and catching tadpoles
in horse troughs.

Going down to the school swimming pool when you didn't have a key and
your friends letting you in, drawing all over the road and driveway with
chalk.
Climbing trees and building huts out of every sheet your mum had in
the cupboard (and never putting them back folded). Walking to school in
bare feet, no matter what the weather.

When writing 'I love....? on your pencil case, really did mean it was
true love. "he loves me? he loves me not?" and daisy chains on the front
lawn.
Stealing other people's flowers from their gardens and then selling
them back to them...

Running till you were out of breath. Laughing so hard that your stomach
hurt. Pitching the tent in the back/front yard (and never being able to
find all the pegs). Jumping on the bed. Singing into your hair brush in
front of the mirror, making mix tapes...

Sleep overs and ghosts stories with the next door neighbours.

Pillowfights, spinning round, getting dizzy and falling down was cause
for the giggles. The worst embarrassment was being picked last for a
team.
Water balloons were the ultimate weapon. Weetbix cards pegged on the
spokes transformed any bike into a motorcycle. Collecting WWF and
garbage pail kids cards.

Eating raw jelly and raro, making homemade lemonade and sucking on a
Rad, a traffic light popsicle, or a Paddle Pop... blurple, yollange and
prink!

You knew everyone in your street - and so did your parents! It wasn't
odd to have two or three "best friends" and you would ask them by
sending a note asking them to be your best friend.

You didn't sleep a wink on Christmas eve and tried (and failed) to wait
up for the tooth fairy. When nobody owned a pure-bred dog. When 50c was
decent pocket money. When you'd reach into a muddy gutter for 10c.

When nearly everyone's mum was there when the kids got home from
school.

It was magic when dad would "remove" his thumb.

When it was considered a great privilege to be taken out to dinner at
the local Chinese restaurant (or Cobb'n'Co.) with your family.

When any parent could

Hi, its me again. Its been a while since I've written anything on here. I cant believe how many old friends and family I've caught up with since Ive been on Bebo, its awesome. Its great to keep in touch, especially with those over the ditch. Just to see what everyone is doing. I've been so busy in my little circle of friends, I dont realise how Ive slowly lost touch with so many others. Its also great to see pictures of new faces of my cuzzies kids for the first time. Im planning a big family trip over to Brizzy in October (Fingers crossed) I'll keep yous updated on the. Anyway, Im at work right now and I should bee doing some work. So until next time.

Tofa Soifua
Ben (Peni)

Talofa Lava and welcome to my little contribution to the phenomenon called Bebo. Never thought in a million years that I would be exposing myself (legally) to so many people. I've come to realise that its a fair compromise in order to make new friends as well as catch up with old friends and family. As you can see, my life is pretty much full on, I like to live my life to its fullest, taking up any opportunities that arise (but first I've got to identify them. lol) My philosophy on life is that its important to except change in your life to continue to move forward, however, change is hard because people overestimate the value of what they have and underestimate what they may gain by giving that up. So step out of your comfort zone, step up to each new challenge and say to yourself, "What the hell..." and Jump! You'll enjoy the ride (but don't forget to pull the rip-cord) Well, thats me for now. Catch you fellas on the flipside.

Tofa
Ben