AUSTRALIA DAY 2009

Hi there,

It was Australia Day yesterday so a weekend of celebrations. The Aussies are very patriotic and therefore it is party party party here! We went to 'Australia Live' - Party in the Park on Sunday night which was a live concert in front of Parliament House. It was good, but even though they had all the latest pop divas, we didn't recognise any!!!! It may be that we are just not Aussie enough yet, or perhaps we have just become too old for pop! Anyway, the girls had fun dancing and we had fun drinking.... Yesterday we had a lovely day windsurfing on Lake Burley Griffin and Hols went out for her first time and, like Kate, didn't fall in! Must be in the teaching!! Last night was spent watching some fantastic fireworks over the Lake to music - they do it well here!

Summer Holiday at The Gold Coast - Surfer's Paradise!

Hi again,we have just arrived back from a week on the Gold Coast staying in the middle of Surfer's Paradise. Paul's parents Keith and Jean came with us and seemed to enjoy the week despite the Dorsett pace and Keith's sunstroke on the 4th day! Paul and I were able to run along the beach each morning and actually had a meal out without kids so can't be bad. We visited Sea World, Wet and Wild, the Outback Experience and the Australia Zoo (Steve Urwin fame) and had a hot hot day in Brisbane all which were fantastic and highly recommended. Highlights for all of us were the Dolphins - wow!!!! Girls all want to be Dolphin Trainers or Zoo Keepers now...... Back in lovely Canberra now and actually delighted that we have chosen the right City to live in - no traffic and no humidity!

SEA ZOO

BRISBANE

BRISBANE BOTANICAL GARDENS

THE AUSTRALIA ZOO

Happy New Year 2009

New Year's Eve Kiama Harbour

Happy New Year to everyone. We have just returned from Kiama about an hour south of Sydney where we spent New Year camping in the National Park near the beach. We had lovely weather and went body boarding and swimming for the 3 days. Catherine came with us and seemed to enjoy mucking in with the Dorsetts. We watched fireworks in Kiama Harbour on New Years Eve and had marshmallows and sparklers round the campsite fire... not a bad way to see in 2009. Off to Brisbane and the Gold Coast with Paul's Mum and Dad in a couple of weeks. Miss you all.xxxxxxxx

7 Mile Beach

Hot curry in Kiama Huntsman Spider on the car

Culburra Beach Public School where my sister Sian taught for a year

Tidbinbilla Canberra

Lake Burley Griffin Canberra