Ok frannie - you are the only one who will notice the restart of my blog - if jess can do it so can I.
Hopefully a weekly photo capturing life as it is happening

this week a meal with myra in brisbane at the jellyfish restaurant - sashimi  it was - and delicious is was too

A long time between blogs

the kids have gone their own ways

Ant is in Perth learning to be a solicitor and Em is studying medicine in Townsville

We still arent sure what Ian and  I said that upset them both so much that they have travelled to opposite ends of Australia to pursue their dreams

We went and visited Ant and jess earlier this year and had a fun time exploring Perth including a winery tour down the swan river

Em managed to visit Perth for a couple of days as well

We have visited Em as well

Ian has been a couple of times and we met up this past weekend when Ian stopped over in Cairns on his return from Japan visiting the new grandnephew, Tatsuki phonetically Tatts key I think, according to Ian

Last weekend we were in Palm Cove trying to attract some warmth and sunshine - the temps were in the low to mid 20s and we managed sunshine on the saturday and then it was overcast. Em said that she had had blue skies for the past 4 weeks. We did however manage to enjoy the increase in temperature after a miserable damp winter in Melbourne and Ballarat.

We are heading off to Perth this coming weekend- Ian has a conference and Jess invited me as well - so i invited stella and Tony. They need a trip away. Poor Tony has had a horrible episode of ophthalmic shingles which has lasted months and months- hopefully a trip away will improve the spirits of both of them.

Jess and Ant have acquired a new dog - Scout - 1/2 dachie and 1/2 corgie - we get to meet him soon

As Ross has disappeared overseas for 6 months we have had to break in new dog and bird sitters - We have been using the son of one of my nurses and his mate. They have been doing an excellent job and lucy seems to have become quite fond of them. Em's mate Zoe is going to house sit while we are in Perth. We are lucky to have these people around - it makes travelling so much easier.

The birds are continuing to entertain us and produce the occasional egg. The chooks havent done their part over winter but we have had ongoing duck eggs and we are now starting to get goose and chookie eggs again now that the day light hours are starting to extend themselves

Cheers

Kids moving away

Both kids were instructed from birth that they had to leave home at 18. They both dutifully did this with a minimum of fuss so that they could go to uni in Melbourne.


I didn't check the fine print and recently they have temporarily moved home again while they organize their next stage of life.

Ant and Jess head off to Perth WA on February 4th so that ant can start his first job as a graduate lawyer. He is very exicited and has done well to get this opportunity.

Slightly more unexpected is Emily's move. She is off to study medicine at James Cook uni in Townsville in February. Studying medicine has been Em's dream since school and as much as she has really enjoyed her first year out as a physiotherapist when an opportunity beckons you have to follow your dream! Well done Em!!

I don't think they could have travelled further apart and stay in Australia but this means more places for us to visit - so ok you UK rellies come and play

So a 36 hour drive to visit Ant and a 29 hour drive to visit Em. Not that we intend to drive regularly to either. Think that we might be spending a bit on airfares.

Haven't they done well

ant enjoying his music

ant and em at em's 21st

em in South Africa year 10

ant

em being a physio

the proud parents

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