Stop desire

Round 17: May 2027

Josh Cooper is 22.

(Cal and Elissa are 65, Nyah is 41, Brooke is 35 and Lilly is 22.)

Narrated by Josh.

I moved to Exmoor after graduation. Lilly used to live in this building too but she bought herself a little house in Allerdale right after graduation. Can you believe it, a 22-year-old with their own house! Not that I blame her. It's close to her workplace and to be honest, this part of the neighbourhood is not very nice or safe. I don't mind so much though. It's not like I'm planning to stay here forever either. I'm just trying to save up money so that I can't get my own studio some day. The apartment is really tiny and there's not much entertainment apart from reading books.

Dancing in the moonlight

Round 17: April 2027

Nyah Marlowe is 41, Thomas is 40, Skye is 15, Jett and Kyra are 13 and Lina is 11.

(Iona is 15.)

Narrated by Jett

Skye has a real job now because grandma gave her a job in her lab. She mainly cleans up the place and assists grandma's assistant researcher and I'm insanely jealous. I'm the only of us kids who's interested in science so I should be the one working there. Skye having a job also means that more of the household chores fall on to me and Kyra. It's not too bad, just cleaning the house once a week and cooking a meal here and there. The only thing I just barely manage is mac & cheese but no-one's complained so far.

We rule the school, April 2027

Round 17: April 2027

Principal Nyah Marlowe, teachers Phoebe Lind and Quinn Hayes.
Students: Riley Cooper (17), Ross Cooper (16), Madelyn Cooper (16), Jeremy Hayes (16), Skye Marlowe (15), Todd Robinson (15), Liam Cooper (15), Iona Fielding (15), Jesse Midlock (14), Jett Marlowe (13), Kyra Marlowe (13) and Mia Greene (13).

Teachers and students of Wellington High School are thrilled about the new school building. It took the construction company twice the time they initially thought but the building is finally finished and school is in session. There's so much more space than in the old school and the class rooms are better equipped as well. Skye and Todd are just thrilled that they get to sit next to each other. Not that Mrs. Lind allows them to interact much during the class.

Christmas lights, 2026

Round 16: December 2026

Toby Parker is 34, Erin is 31, Naomi is 3 and Iona Fielding is 14.

Narrated by Erin.

We found out I was pregnant just a few days ago and so far this pregnancy has been terrible! I feel sick and tired almost all day long.

Heart of gold

Round 16: January 2025

Nyah Marlowe is 39, Thomas is 38, Skye is 13, Kyra and Jett are 11 and Lina is 9.

(Iona and Todd are 13.)

Narrated by Skye.

I should have known that mom would interrogate me about Todd after Mrs Lind saw us kissing when we were waiting for the bus after school. I told her that we've kissed a few times but we're not officially dating or anything. I know mom's pretty cool when it comes to boys but it's dad's reaction that I'm worried about.

It's not like I haven't been out with Todd before but it's always been a group of friends going bowling or just hanging out at Generation X. Todd's really nice and sometimes I'd like to hang out with just him.

We rule the school, January 2025

Round 16: January 2025

Principal Nyah Marlowe and teacher Phoebe Lind.

Students: Frieda Robinson, Aaron Hayes and Emily Midlock are 17, Sara Midlock is 16, Riley Cooper is 15, Ross and Madelyn Cooper and Jeremy Hayes are 14, Liam Cooper, Skye Marlowe, Todd Robinson and Iona Fielding are 13 and Jesse Midlock is 12.

Narrated by Nyah Marlowe.

We're finally getting a new high school this year. The construction workers are currently tearing down the old one so we're stuck with this temporary lot with a couple of barracks working as class rooms and other necessary buildings. It's not ideal but it would have been impossible to tear down the old building and get a new one up and running during the summer holiday. At least this way we'll hopefully get to start the autumn semester in a brand new school building.

We rule the school, October 2023

Round 15: October 2023

Principal Nyah Marlowe is 37 and teacher Phoebe Lind is 29.

Students: Aaron Hayes, Frieda Robinson and Emily Midlock are 15, Sara Midlock is 14, Riley Cooper is 13 and Madelyn and Ross Cooper and Jeremy Hayes are 12.

Narrated by Phoebe Lind.

This semester's start couldn't have been worse. Ethan Hayes passed away just two weeks before school started and it really changed the whole school. Nyah immediately arranged a counsellor to stay at the school for the first month so that students could get some help in this crisis. Ethan was such an outgoing person and loved to joke around. I've never seen the students so quiet especially after summer.

Wonderful life

Round 15: October 2023

Nyah Marlowe is 37, Thomas is 36, Skye is 11, Jett and Kyra are 9 and Lina is 7.

(Alexandra is 49, Quinn is 47 and Iona is 11.)

Narrated by Nyah Marlowe

We've been trying to spend even more time with the kids than usual since Ethan's death in August.It was such a shock for everyone but it's especially hard for the children to understand how a young person could die so suddenly.

Disciple of the sun

Round 15: June 2023


Max Fielding is 67 and Regan is 59.
(Nyah is 37, Erin is 28 and Lilly is 18.)

Narrated by Regan Fielding.

Two years ago Max and I were going through a particularly rough time. We just somehow lost our ability to communicate with each other and every conversation ended up in a fight. It took an intervention from our daughters to see that we were heading into a divorce.

Make you feel my love

Round 14: Spring 2022


Toby Parker is 30, Erin Fielding is 27 and Iona is 10.
(Nyah is 36, Alexa is 30, Niall is 27 and Liv is 24.)

Narrated by Erin Fielding.

Toby moved in with me and Iona about a year ago and it's been going really great. It was a bit strange at first because I had gotten so used to living alone with Iona but I wouldn't have it any other way now. Iona's excited to have her favorite chess partner living with us all the time.

We rule the school, Spring 2021

Round 14: Spring 2021

Principal Nyah Marlowe is 35 and Phoebe Lind is 27.
Students: Dawn and Zach Whitfield are 17, Josh Cooper, Lilly Fielding and Finn Harris are 16, Aaron and Ethan Hayes, Emily Midlock and Frieda Robinson are 13 and Sara Midlock is 12.

Phoebe has 5 students in her class this year. She has gathered the kids into the library where they are researching the books for information.

Flower

Round 14: Spring 2021


Nyah Marlowe is 35, Thomas is 34, Skye is 9, Jett and Kyra are 7 and Lina is 5.
(Max is 65, Regan is 57, Toby is 29, Erin is 26, Lilly is 16 and Iona is 9.)

Narrated by Nyah Marlowe.

Weekdays are usually pretty crazy in our houses. The kids bring their friends over from school almost every day so there's not a quiet moment there.

Belief

Round 13: Spring 2020


Sam Cooper is 42, Grace is 37, Madelyn and Ross are 9 and James is 4.
(Jack is 37, Paige is 36, Nyah and Denise are 34.)

Narrated by Grace Cooper.

I'm still shocked about dad's new relationship. I'm happy he's found someone but getting a stepmother that's 5 years younger than me is not what I was expecting. And they're having a baby too!

The kids are a bit puzzled as well. The twins don't remember their grandma because they were so little when she died and James wasn't even born then. They keep asking all kinds of questions about grandpa's new lady friend.

We rule the school, Winter 2019

Round 13: Winter 2019

Principal Nyah Marlowe is 33.
Students: Dawn and Zach Whitfield are 15, Josh Cooper, Finn Harris and Lilly Fielding are 14.

Zach decided some time ago that he wants to become a doctor when he grows up. He's been spending most of his time in the school library studying. He's feeling like a third wheel anyway, or maybe like a fifth wheel. There are only five students at Wellington High and the other four have their boyfriends and girlfriends in the same school. Zach's girlfriend lives just outside the city border so she goes to a different school. He prefers to look at the books instead of having to watch the cuddling couples.

Losing heart

Round 13: Winter 2019


Nyah Marlowe is 33, Thomas is 32, Skye is 7, Jett and Kyra are 5 and Lina is 3.
(Tom is 26, Charlie is 25 and Stephen is 18.)

Narrated by Thomas Marlowe

It can be quite challenging to run a household with four kids. Especially mornings can be quite chaotic but we've come up with a working routine. I usually wake up the kids and help them get dressed while Nyah makes breakfast. Then we all sit down to eat. The kids get to the school bus and I go to work.

Save room

Round 12: Autumn 2017


Nyah Marlowe is 31, Thomas is 30, Skye is 5, Jett and Kyra are 3 and Lina is 1. 
(Vicki is 66, Max is 61, Erin is 22 and Iona is 5.)

Narrated by Nyah Marlowe

Thomas came home early from work one day. He had started feeling a bit nauseous and soon after he came home he started coughing really badly.

Optimistic

Round 12: Autumn 2017

Principal Nyah Marlowe is 31.
Students: Stephen Marlowe is 16, Zach and Dawn Whitfield are 13, Finn Harris, Josh Cooper and Lilly Fielding are 12.

Nyah has fewer students and more money this year so she's finally been able to complete the music room. She suggests that maybe they could start a school band and practice some songs. She's never seen the kids move so fast to follow her orders!

Last weekend

Round 11: Autumn 2016

Principal Nyah Marlowe is 30.
Students: Nena Kirby is 16, Stephen Marlowe and Cassie Hooper are 15, Eddie Baldwin and Drake Saunders are 14 and Dawn and Zach Whitfield are 12.

Nyah is happy to see that someone is using the sewing machine. It's stood there unused since Janie Greene left for college but now Dawn is trying her hand in making some pot holders.

Happy Birthday, Spring 2016

Alexa Harper is getting closer to giving birth to her first child with fiancé Will Monroe. She only has a couple of months to go and is already getting a little terrified. She wonders if it'll really hurt as much as she thinks it might.

Winter 2016 birthdays

Alexa Harper and Will Monroe's first child is due in the summer. They've put their wedding plans on hold since Will wants to make sure Alexa doesn't stress too much.