Start of July

Charlie Holly and Lola spent a few days during the two weeks of the school holidays at our house. Ours also visited them, so me and Marie had some date nights. Would we ever want to cook when it's just us two?

We got out a fair bit, but also found some time for the old WII, left.


Right, even while the others were doing their thing, Ollie and Holly had a wood sword fight.








Left: we also went up again to Gloucester, this time with the cousins. Had an awesome time. Saw a thick blanket of stars and the Milky Way due to good timing and no clouds. Made a set of stairs going up an earth bank out the back. Ripped up some fence around the old chicken coop. Slept well! Boys went on long walks, played soccer, helped out a bit, chopped wood, pulled weeds etc etc. V good.



Lou, Lola, Mikey, David, Anke, Kevin, Charlie, Ollie doing the dab, Holly.









Lou and David do the chess type thing that's a bit like checkers.










 Stop, selfie time. right:















Who's taking the photo? Is that you Ollie?

Footy

The young fella done good. She was a good season.

Left: pretty close to getting a try at Willoughby.








Right: running on at the start at Tunks Park.









Left: making a break.













Right: we got a few great runs in. Big potential for this one! Keep an eye out for this rising star of Loigue.

The Belle of the basketball

Every week Gabrielle plays basketball, almost across the street from us, in the Crows Nest basketball courts. Those things are in use pretty much non stop, meaning they can start late. This game wasn't too bad, finishing around 9.30, some good fun for our two boys.









I think Belle might have even top scored. Anyways she did very well, and the team won.

Weekend away to Copeland near Gloucester

9,10,11 June long weekend, Queen's birthday (between Max's holy communion and the boys one)
We set out Friday afternoon. Traffic was not too bad weirdly enough. Dinner at the usual fast food place, that is weirdly expensive.

Left: Marie went home by train for Sunday night for Maggie's birthday, except the train wasn't running, so she ended up in a Taree taxi to go to Newcastle. We weren't sure if she'd ever make it, but the buses were running to Sydney from there.




Right: on the way back a cow had a stand off, where she stared at me for a while, and I couldn't pass.

The place up there is hilly, green, mostly forested, some areas for running cattle. Laurens, our host has a 2000m2 area with a home, lots of gardens, lemons, orange, tangellos, limes, chilis, thyme, rosemary, Warugal greens, all organic and all delicious.


Left: Why, why? She seemed to ask. Sorry matey, I was just passing through.







Right: Laurens, Archie, Anke, Bushan, and me at the waterhole.


A nice time had by everyone. We had some bbqing in the fire, delicious Highland Park 16yo whiskey, cow pat collecting, weed pulling. We slept well.






Left: the haul from the chili bush, about 2 kg. You could not see any difference on the bush afterwards. The fruit was so abundant.











Right: pensive Laurens surveys his domain












Left: the house, our car, and rolling hills behind. They're continuing to clear up the garden, plant etc.










Right: Ollie had a great time wood chopping









Left: on the way to the waterhole. A nice bushwalk.










Right: on the way to the waterhole.











Left, Laurens and Anke.











Right: David, Michael, Arush, Rohan, Kevin, Ollie, and Lou in front, from left to right around the table.








Left: Kev, Ollie, Lou, Mikey, Archie, Arush, Bushan, Marie, Laurens and Rohan.











Right: even the punishments were fun, although I think they were doing this work for the fun of it. Ollie, Kevin, David and Lou. Lou says he was not having fun. I was happy he wasn't on a device! Cheeky monkey.

First holy communion central

Max did his first holy communion! The picture of the lunch celebration after.









The burgers are bigger than Lou. Not for the first time. This place is Grazeland, not bad at all.










On the way to work: dozens of white cockatoos.
















The boys before their first holy communion. Lou looking particularly rock star, and Ollie looking very fine in his black jacket.














Lou models the certificate.










Ollie hides behind his cert, Lou just next to him.














Let's zoom in on that.











With the priest.















With Baka.
We then went to Borusso's pizza place for a 3 course meal with salad, pasta, pizza, and some fancy desserts. Was pretty nice.










After the lunch celebration, with some celebratory WII play with Max.

May days

Marie's kind of late birthday celebration with Evonne, Jackie and Maggie. They went to Prague and Berlin for nearly 2 weeks, while me and the boys did our best. They had an awesome time.












One morning, the boys got up, fired up the WII game thing, and made themselves breakfast. They said, we figured you wouldn't mind. I cut them a deal, if they got changed and brushed their teeth, they could play some more. We got out of the house extremely early thanks to their high speed. Nice one guys, well played!





One of Lou's favourites is pathfinder. He's getting a bit fiendish with his mazes, and put one over me with this game.



















Seems our boys aren't big on fake milk, but I love it.








We won't be winning this argument quickly.












Off to a nearby park to get some fresh air, and kick the ball for a bit. 








Lou's birthday. Me and Ollie have the pleasure of sitting near and watching. Marie supplied the breakfast in bed.










Johnno turned 50 as well. People flew in from London, N.Z., W.A., Melbourne and Brisbane. They made a whole weekend of it. Kim organised to perfection. Need to lay off for a while.






For Lou's b'day, we all went to Lasertag at Chatswood, then had cake at home. Marie made a baseball from a pair of regular sponges, with some icing, and smarties or M&Ms.







Seems everyone had a pretty nice time of it. Happy birthday to our littlest one.

Home again... April.

The long drive home. First stop Warwick QLD.











Glen Innes NSW.











Imagining the tunes in Tamworth.










The cat was very happy to have us at home again. She's always getting that bit more comfortable.









Assembling cupboards at Tone and Evonne's.











A spot of dinner.









And a movie.