Trip down south

<-- enjoying a little snow, with a couple of toys dangling in a Christmassy pine

taking the froth off a couple of cold ones -->

On the 3rd day, we headed to Palomar and ended up in some snow, then headed to the coast for day 4, to get back home.



<-- on the coast at Carlsbad

walking Carlsbad boulevard on our last day (this morning)-->

Trip down south

<-- day 1: way down to Tecate, Mexico, escaping with the other gringos

lovely Anza-Borrego desert park -->

Marie took a day off work, and we went to San Diego for Christmas.


<-- rugged desert boy checks out the cactus

family portrait among the rattlesnakes -->

More shots

<-- missing home, trying on the weight lifters suit


<-- Family shot

Cousin It -->

Mark visits

<-- Ozzie,Marie,Mark and Ollie watch Happy Feet.

I could get used to this! -->

Mark dropped in with mystery buddy Ozzie on their way to work. Nice to see them, and their pirated movies.



<-- Ozzie on Lombard St. Mark is on the left

Ollie me and a local snowman -->

Back up to Date

<-- Ollie the Redeemer

playing with the marvellous butterfly in his cot -->

The reception of the decade

<-- the happy couple

various guests, Marie in the middle -->

The reception was at Cabarita. View was nice, food servings were kiddie size.




<-- fine entertainment at the kiddies table

Hughie, Lib and Ceal -->

The wedding of the decade

<-- the crowd goes wild after the deal is completed.

Getting the contract in writing -->

Fil and David got married. She came all the way from across the street to be there.



<-- note the Birkenstocks on the flower girls.

more of the congregation ->

Sofala ..Oct

<-- Isabelle in the stocks

Must run in the family.. John -->

We did a quick stop at Sofala, formerly a gold rush town. It's bit rough now with some beautiful old buildings, and a few rotting.


<-- Main st

Bring your hard hat; there's heaps of fixer uppers -->

Up to the Creek ..Oct

<-- a creek runs through Cobble Creek

John, Evonne, me, Ollie, Tony and Charlie -->

Marie's brother John took us on a lovely day trip to his property called Cobble Creek, near Mudgee and Sofala.

We set off from Johns near Patrick O'Possum place. Its nice to see eucalypts how they should be, not like bulbous freaks of N.America. A couple of roos hopped right nearby to be sure there's no mistaking it.


<-- a computer generation of Ollie takes an afternoon nap









<-- Ollie, Isabelle, and Charlie packed in the back

Me, John, Isabelle, Tony -->

Meanwhile at the park.. Oct

<-- hanging around

Still hanging. Nothing better to do -->

This is the nearest park to Fils, and has tonnes of great equipment.

Where's my shoe gone? Pete, Pete and Fil. -->

<-- oh there it is. Too bad my older sister is faster.

At Fils house Oct

<-- Aunty Felicity

Julia and Pete with their newest cousin -->

It's not often everyone is in the one place. Ollie got to meet almost all his cousins, aunties and uncles. Pete and Julia were over from Perth for Fils wedding.


<-- overstimulation with Aunt Filly!

Ollie Christening Oct

<-- we celebrated and cut the cake before the christening itself.

Assorted guests and Belle -->

Here's some pics from Ollie's christening. Due to clerical stuff up, we got bumped from the morning slot to the evening. So the celebration happened before the event.


<-- Charlie the strawberry monster

Can we go now? The downside of being a priest -->

Step back in time Oct 07

<-- all Workday and no play makes you look old before your time

Before we left. Am I related to you? -->

Well we got to go home again at last, so we could show off the product to the grandparents, aunties, uncles and cousins.


<-- Ollie dreams of a trip to Oz with Tess.

Willie has fun at Fils -->

December

<-- Mr. Sparkly

Merry Christmas! -->

Not much to report; not sleeping as much as the good old days, & watching way more videos.






<-- Alexandra's brother

checking the mobile -->

<-- Marie makes funny