christmas 2011

We have had the family christmas - it was as usual busy noisy fun and full of eating and drinking
We had 19 attend and 3 dogs - noodle and krumm came to visit at well
We missed bethan's presence as she is in france - but she managed to ring and talk to the family
Frannie contacted us on skype

stella and tony

Tony is looking much better following his recent back surgery. He isnt allowed to drive for 2 weeks so I went and picked them up from mt martha and they spent xmas eve with us at the flat.

Ant and jess drove them home today - going back on the ferry - stella says they have arrived home so i assume they all survived the trip

We found my camel lights so they got put up for the night

Em came early and helped with the preparations
peeling veg, moving furniture etc

Thanks Em

Lindsey and Ian were also there - but it is our house and we were doing the food preparations.

 Matt and family were next to arrive. They  were departing for Kaniva on Boxing day but had to head back home to locate Jarrah their Golden Retriever who loses it in thunderstorms and had disappeared from his enclosure overnight
Luckily he was eventually found hiding under the house much to the relief of all.

A 6 foot fence fully reinforced is now the order of the day!

Simon noodle and the kids were next to arrive.

Ant Jess and krumm also came to visit

Christian and Cass turned up after driving through a nasty hailstone storm on the Eastern Freeway where they had had to pull over to wait for the storm to pass.

Sue also got here having driven through the storm.Well done

and Wendy arrived - happy birthday Wendy

Ant is heading off to perth in the new year to start his new job. Jess and Krumm are going with him. Hopefully he will get back to Ballarat for future Christmases.

Em has enjoyed her first year of work as a physio and is waiting to see what her new year brings to her.

The table was set. Luckily we have a big lounge and lots of muscular males to move the furniture around for us.


The table started to fill with people who have ventured into the kitchen to fill their plates

Sage and Belinda arrived at the table

Doesnt Tony look well.

Ian and I finally arrived at the table ready to eat drink and make merry.

Then it was time for Christmas day cricket. The dogs came out to help play.

I think that Noodle also enjoyed herself.


Think that we all had a fun Christmas

See you all again next year for Christmas 2012

early summer gardening projects

the veggie patch is coming along - it would be helped if the chooks hadnt decided that is a good place to get their feed - so todays project is to heighten the fence so that they cant jump over it

the ducks and geese dont fly and so they are prevented from accessing it by a temporary gate

chuckling is growing fast - still thinks she is a chook

Maria helping with the seed planting

Maria still inspecting seed planting

chooks and silverbeet dont mix

Luckily they cant reach the berries

Last years spuds are doing well

i wish i could remember what seeds these are

the peas and beans are doing well

as are the silverbeet away from the chooks

This years spuds are doing ok

As are last years snapdragons

Luckily the snails dont like mint

or bottle brush

noodle is growing

 A spider found in my suitcase, now in the garden