All these years

 Round 17: June 2028

Ryland and Jackie Whitfield are 77, Rianna Midlock is 58, Anthony is 54 and Jesse is 15.

(Ross is 17.)

Narrated by Jesse

Grandma and grandpa moved in with us a few weeks ago. Mom and aunt Denise were starting to worry about them living on their own because they are kinda old. Denise's house is full of kids, Dawn and Finn live in a really small house and Zach lives in a tiny apartment so our house was the natural choice since Emily and Sara are at college. It's been nice having them here. Despite being old they're pretty cool about everything - even though I could probably live without seeing them kiss each other all the time.

Happy Birthday, June 2026

Eve and her boyfriend Gabriel are ready to welcome their baby into the world. Eve is feeling surprisingly well considering that she's been in labour for a few hours now. Maybe the torture she puts her body through as a ballet dancer helps with the labour pains. Gabriel just tries to support his girlfriend the best he can.

Everything we touch

Round 16: April 2026

Rianna Midlock is 56, Anthony is 52, Sara is 17 and Jesse is 13.

(Gabriel is 26, Eve is 25, Emily is 18 and Freddie is 16.)

Narrated by Sara.

I love weekends. I get to sleep in, I don't have ballet lessons and I can just unwind. Jesse and I both usually sleep late and then drag ourselves downstairs to have breakfast in our pajamas.

School days, April 2026

Round 16: April 2026

Principal: Rianna Midlock

Teachers: Patsy Greene, Quinn Hayes and Lilly Fielding (student teacher)

Students: James Cooper, Connor and Dane Harper and Lina Marlowe are 10, Paloma Lind is 9, Bridget Greene-Cooper and Minka Harris are 8, Brady Cooper and Lucas Greene-Cooper are 7, Jena Harper and Nick and Shea Harris are 6, Tate Cooper, Hanna and Jared Greene, Molly Greene-Cooper, Jasper and Tessa Lind and Emma and Tim Robinson are 5.

Narrated by Rianna Midlock.

We had to renovate the pre-school class room to make room for all our new pre-schoolers. We have eight this year! Luckily Patsy has a lot of experience so she can handle the situation just fine. The kids have gotten used to school by now and she's even able to get them to sit down to do some work from time to time.

Georgia

Round 16: March 2026

Lilly Fielding is 21.

(Eve is 25.)

Narrated by Lilly.

It's my senior year and I feel like I live and breath classes, assignments and term papers. The professors warned us about the work load and they were right! We're swamped but at the same time I really enjoy it because I know that next year I'll be qualified to teach - in case I actually get a job.

Bed peace

Round 16: September 2025

Dawn Whitfield is 21, Finn Harris is 20 and Shea is 5.

(Rianna is 55, Denise is 39, Josh and Lilly are 20.)

Narrated by Dawn.

Unfortunately it turned out that Finn is allergic to birds. Soon after we bought Polly he started sneezing and coughing. One morning he woke up with both his eyes swollen shut. He got tested and he's allergic to birds and rodents which rules out getting a guinea pig as well.

Dark paradise

Round 15: February 2024

Rianna Midlock is 54, Anthony is 50, Emily is 16, Sara is 15 and Jesse is 11.

Narrated by Anthony Midlock.

We thought that the worst was over with Emily grieving over Ethan's death but it seems that she has just scratched the surface. She started school with everyone else and we haven't heard anything from the teachers so apparently she's doing well there. She got a couple of weeks off work but she's been back there for months now and says it's going fine. But in the evenings she just sulks in her room and only comes downstairs for dinner and that's just because we order her to join us. She's not even spending time with her sister anymore which is really worrying.

Every night we hear her listen to the same song with really haunting lyrics over and over again.

"Every time I close my eyes
It's like a dark paradise
No one compares to you
I'm scared that you won't be waiting on the other side"

(Grant/Nowels)

School days, February 2024

Round 15: February 2024

Principal: Rianna Midlock

Teachers: Patsy Greene, Quinn Hayes

Students: Jesse Midlock is 11, Jett and Kyra Marlowe and Mia Greene are 10, James Cooper, Connor and Dane Harper and Lina Marlowe are 8, Paloma Lind is 7, Bridget Greene-Cooper and Minka Harris are 6, Brady Cooper and Lucas Greene-Cooper are 5, Jena Harper, Nick Harris and Shea Harris are 4.

Narrated by Patsy Greene

It's always so exciting for new students to start school work and I just love to see those little faces light up when they see the class room. This year I have 3 students but next year there will be eight. I'm already dreading the idea of a class full of kids!

No cars go

Round 15: November 2023

Kaitlyn Brennan and Eve Midlock are 22.

(Anthony is 49, Jack is 40 and Stephen is 22.)

Narrated by Eve Midlock.

It still feels a bit weird to participate in all family gatherings but I do enjoy it. Just the other week we celebrated Father's Day and also dad's promotion to lieutenant.

School days, Autumn 2022

Round 14: Autumn 2022

Principal: Rianna Midlock
Teachers: Patsy Greene, Quinn Hayes
Students: Jeremy Hayes and Ross and Madelyn Cooper are 11, Liam Cooper, Iona Fielding, Skye Marlowe and Todd Robinson are 10, Jesse Midlock is 9, Mia Greene and Jett and Kyra Marlowe are 8, James Cooper, Connor and Dane Harper and Lina Marlowe are 6, Paloma Lind is 5 and Bridget Greene-Cooper is 4.

Narrated by Rianna Midlock

I've taken the habit of meeting with Quinn and Patsy once a week in my teeny tiny office so we can discuss what's going on in the school. It's also refreshing to hear their ideas about how to develop the school.

Dancehall queen

Round 14: Autumn 2022


Rianna Midlock is 52, Anthony is 48, Emily is 14, Sara is 13 and Jesse is 9.
(Regan is 58, Eve is 21 and Ethan is 14.)

Narrated by Sara Midlock

I've been working really hard for good grades lately. Mom and dad finally allowed me to start proper dance lessons this autumn but I can only continue them if I manage to keep my grades up. It's not exactly ballet but it's a good start.

Breathe slow

Round 14: Spring 2021


Patrick Marlowe is 74, Alexandra Hayes is 47, Quinn is 45, Aaron and Ethan are 13 and Jeremy is 10.
(Stephen is 20, Emily is 13 and Sara is 12.)

Narrated by Ethan Hayes.

Mom's been really worried about grandpa ever since grandma died last summer. At first he barely got out of the house and most days he wouldn't have gotten out of bed if one of us didn't tell him to get up.

Diving for hearts

Round 14: Spring 2021


Stephen Marlowe, Eve Midlock and Kaitlyn Brennan are 20.

Narrated by Eve Midlock.

Last year was a real rollercoaster for me. My mom revealed information about my father just before she died so I came to Wellington looking for him. I was surprised and relieved how well Anthony took the news of a 19-year-old daughter. I've been seeing him and his family quite a lot lately.

Mercy

Round 13: Summer 2020


Rianna Midlock is 50, Anthony is 46, Emily is 12, Sara is 11 and Jesse is 7.
(Eve is 19.)

Narrated by Anthony Midlock.

I've been working all summer so Rianna spends the days with the kids. We can't afford to travel anywhere so she usually takes them to the park. Emily's all grown-up now, at least that's what she thinks, and she says she's too old to play in the park but she goes there anyway.

School days, Spring 2020

Round 13: Spring 2020

Principal Rianna Midlock is 50, Quinn Hayes is 44 and Patsy Greene is 29.
Students: Sara Midlock is 11, Riley Cooper is 10, Madelyn and Ross Cooper and Jeremy Hayes are 9, Todd Robinson, Liam Cooper, Skye Marlowe and Iona Fielding are 8, Jesse Midlock is 7, Mia Greene and Jett and Kyra Marlowe are 6, James Cooper, Lina Marlowe and Connor and Dane Harper are 4.

Summer is getting close and the kids are getting more and more restless. Rianna finds it hard to get them to work at all. She's teaching Grades 1-3 this year and has the largest group with 8 kids and she's completely knackered every day when the classes are over.

In the middle of the night

Round 12: Spring 2018


Rianna Midlock is 48, Anthony is 44, Emily is 10, Sara is 9 and Jesse is 5. 
(Denise is 32 and Dawn is 14.)

Narrated by Rianna Midlock

It's easy to tell that Emily and Sara are getting closer to puberty. They are always whispering about something.

School days, Spring 2018

Round 12: Spring 2018

Principal Rianna Midlock is 48, Quinn Hayes is 42 and Patsy Greene is 27.
Students: Aaron and Ethan Hayes, Emily Midlock and Frieda Robinson are 10, Sara Midlock is 9, Riley Cooper is 8, Madelyn and Ross Cooper and Jeremy Hayes are 7, Iona Fielding, Skye Marlowe, Liam Cooper and Todd Robinson are 6, Jesse Midlock is 5, Jett and Kyra Marlowe and Mia Greene are 4.

The school has bought some digital cameras and Quinn's class is the first to try them out. Ethan and Frieda get to work right away while Emily gets some advice from Quinn.

Is it like today?

Round 11: Autumn 2016

Principal Rianna Midlock is 46, Quinn Hayes is 40 and Patsy Greene is 25.
Students: Finn Harris, Lilly Fielding and Josh Cooper are 11, Frieda Robinson, Aaron and Ethan Hayes and Emily Midlock are 8, Sara Midlock is 7, Riley Cooper is 6, Jeremy Hayes and Madelyn and Ross Cooper are 5.

The school has gone through some renovations during the summer. There are new desks for all students, a new computer class room and more instruments for the music class room. Patsy teaches all kids from preschool to grade 2 and has 5 students this year. The girls are already waiting for the class to begin so Patsy tells them what to expect this year. The boys on the other hand have to be dragged to the class, they would much rather stay outside because it's so warm and sunny.

All that matters

Round 11: Winter 2016


Rianna Midlock is 46, Anthony is 42, Emily is 8, Sara is 7 and Jesse is 3.
(Ryland and Jackie are 65, Quinn is 40, Denise is 30 and Zach and Dawn are 12 .)

Narrated by Rianna Midlock

Anthony has been feeling quite discontent with his job lately. He says that it feels like he's not getting anywhere. He's stuck in the studio all the time.

Only happy when it rains

Round 11: Autumn 2015

Principal Rianna Midlock is 45 and Patsy Greene is 24.
Students: Zach and Dawn Whitfield are 11, Finn Harris, Lilly Fielding and Josh Cooper are 10, Aaron and Ethan Hayes, Frieda Robinson and Emily Midlock are 7, Sara Midlock is 6 and Riley Cooper is 5.

Patsy has one new student in her class this semester as Riley Cooper starts pre-school. The kids seem quite enthusiastic about school after their summer vacation so Patsy puts them straight to work.