Travelling for one reason or another.

The worst part about getting older is that the adults of our childhood are getting older too and as nature decrees every now and then one of those adults leaves us. A couple of weeks ago we lost our Uncle Ned. He was my dad's mate for ever and thus he became Uncle. My brother and I headed over to Lakes Entrance on the Wednesday to bid our farewells to this man who had been a huge part of our life and to visit his family. We grew up with the two boys, men now and we all had lots of memories  and stories we had been told of the mischief Dad and Uncle Ned got up to over the years to share. 

 This past weekend, just 10 days after my trip over to see Ned off, our family were back over to Lakes Entrance for my father-in-laws 90th Birthday. I can't remember the last time the whole of his family were together and it was nice to catch up and meet my nieces new babies.

 The best bit was that all of my children manged to get time off and come over as well. The older they get the less time we get to spend together as a family. Mum loved having them all there but I think having so many in  in the house for a weekend was a little overwhelming for her.  It is her birthday the day after my father in laws so we were there to wish her a happy birthday before we headed off home.

Nicky managed to get a little vintage goodness from Nanna. Mum thinks she may have received this for her kitchen tea well over 50 years ago. Nicky is rapt. Nick and I also raided Nanna's garden and brought home bits and pieces for ours.

The trip home was interesting with snow on the road and deer running alongside the car in one spot. I was beginning to wonder if Santa had moved or we had somehow strayed to the North Pole on our journey.

In between all that I have started studying again and it is not progressing very well at all to date. With all the running around and a rotten head cold, I haven't had a chance to just sit and get on with it. I am living in hope that next week life will resume as normal and there will be lots of time to sit and educate myself..

Taking a break

Just over a week ago I headed off to my sisters at Batemans Bay.It was nice to have a week of warm days and being by the sea.

I saw Dolphins in the distance

Spent time with Buzz

 And Dave

 Celebrated my nephew's 18th Birthday

 My husband and daughter came over on Friday and Saturday morning my brother in law took us out fishing

 More Dolphins, much closer this time.

 Pelicans waiting for us when we got back to the boat ramp

 Nick was very proud of one of the fish she caught

 We had a reasonably good few hours fishing. We popped out and bought some Oysters and Prawns to go with the fish and had a seafood banquet for dinner on Saturday night.

Sunday was another beautiful day of sunshine and warmth.

We stopped and checked out the pirate ship 'Notorious' on our way home from the Market.

It was really hard coming home to this. Snow on the mountain near our house, rain and freezing cold. It is enough to make me wonder whether I should be moving to where I was warm for a lovely week!

Living in the 70's

Last night my brother and sister in law, Steph threw a 70's themed party using Steph's birthday last week as an excuse. It was such a fun night and everybody came dressed up. I managed to dig up some gypsy style clothes that were popular in the late part of the 70's and even found some of the beads I bought when I was about 16!, Some were hippies and others wore the more trendier mid 70's garb. Platform shoes, sandals, boots, blue eyeshadow, headbands and afro wigs were in abundance, there was even an original dress or two in there.  All the party food was 70's themed from Pigs in blankets and curried eggs to Fondue.  We drank cocktails and listened to 70's music and we even managed a dance or two. Everyone was pretty reluctant to end the night but I am sure that my son's mate was relieved when I finally rang him to come pick me up at 2 this morning. I am really enjoying the boys picking me up from a party-pay back for all the years I have been doing it for them!