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.

Last days in Bris

I did a couple of more runs into town first thing in the morning, to burn off some energy and to see the place a bit more, all v nice.

On the Saturday, me and Ray rode to Fortitude valley. It's about 8 kms, and he did really well. It was the first time he'd done a serious ride. Seems him, Neerav and Johan now go for a ride every weekend. It's a real treat as the paths around near their home are fantastic.

Anyway, we did some indoor golf and had a beer. Good fun for everyone. Except on the last hole, the "ass hole", your ball gets swallowed by the machine. Louis was not very happy. "I lost my ball to the ass hole! I wished the asshole didn't take my ball." Marie tried not to giggle.




















Beware of the 9th hole.





He steals your ball.



























On Saturday night, we met up with Bill Sharn, Tom, Millie and Evie, plus Chap, Jeanie and Emma, and Zareena, Neerav, Ray, Yohan, at the bowling club. Great to catch up again after some years.

Sunday was a long drive home via the New England highway inland route. Way more scenic, some lovely towns.

18-19 April

Did a test ride into town. Got lost, went along a main drag, which was ugly but with an amazing view over Brisbane. Managed to make it onto the big main bike path along the river, then back home via next to the cemetary and up over the hill.

It was a bit rainy so we went to the movies and saw Ready Player One. Pretty good!

Next day, me and the boys went into town to the main museum. There was a special show Perception Deception with tricks on the eyes. For example, holding your head up, but having the vision bent to the ground and following a line. A bit disorientating. V good.



In the arvo, we rolled out to Sandgate to walk around at low tide. Interesting crabs, nice walk out on the mud flats to the shallow sea.