Happy 99th Birthday Nan

Happy Birthday Nan, we were thinking of you all day whilst having a great day at the beach.
All our Love XXxxx

Snow and Surf - Part 2

Just finished her hot chocolate, happy girl.

Enjoyed the beach walks, picnics, rock pools and finished the week with fish and chips, after seeing the Whales swimming north up the coast....a lovely week.

another busy beach

Hols and her smelly collection of shells

Always dancing!

Winter Break - Snow and Surf - Part 1

Hi Folks, just returned from a fantastic week away in the caravan.

First half of the week was spent in the Snow Mountains (Jindabyne), with this year’s first skiing at Thredbo. Snow cover was good, but the wind and weather made for poor pictures so nothing much to show you.

Immi enjoyed Thredboland and was turning/stopping and wanting to go too fast by the end of day three. Katie and Holly are both skiing with us, and skiing far too well – I don’t think there was a single lump or bump on the Piste that they didn’t both try and jump off.

To avoid the weather, we made best use of the cafe facilities dotted across the mountains, where we all sat enjoying our hot chocolate and scoring the Aus apres-ski fashion wear – 4/10 was the highest score, with many failing the register a positive mark......most would be banned from the French Alps!

The Caravan was a nice warm base to return to, hardly surprising as we had 2 plug in heaters running constantly, with occasional bursts from the gas hob to get the place “glowing”...I think the entire site electrics dimmed when the Dorsett’s returned each day. The last morning at Jindabyne felt a little cool (below 22c in the van), but seeing the frost outside and the people camping in tents, we had nothing to complain about.....don’t want to appear soft, I’d obviously be happy to use the tent, but it’s the kids that might struggle. J

Mid week we moved to the coast, Narooma. Going from a site that was 90% full, to one on a beautify beach, with clear blue skies and oh, a choice of any one of 73 powered camping pitches!! The site was empty all bar 1 old couple...in addition to us.

Had a great display from a bird of prey on the beach, he had his eyes on a piece of fish and dived to pick it up ahead of the hungry guys....he actually missed, so we offered up Immi, but he wasn't brave enough.


I took to the water in a very optimistic spring wetsuit... proper surfers paddle to the best spot and wait for the right wave, I just paddled and paddled doing large circles to keep warm...mad dogs and Englishmen.

More in Part 2...

Canberra Raiders Rugby Match & Katie's Dance

Raider's Mascot (Note: its the chap with the viking hat on, not the women wearing her entire household's bedding)

Hi Folks, we went to our first NRL (National Rugby League) Match today- not 'real' rugby, but still a great day out. The Canberra Raiders were playing the Gold Coast's Titans and the Game was broadcast on Foxtel (Sky) with T.V. Cameras all around the grounds.

Despite the cold weather, there was a lovely warm family atmostphere and Canberra defied all odds to win the match much to the crowds delight, However, the high point for us was when the players walked off at half-time ......

Katie's Jazz dance group had been asked to perform for the crowd, so with music booming the girls took to the field in front of the cameras. The photos don't really show how good they were..... trust me, I've never seen a good shot of me dancing..... but they were great and their well practiced routine went down a storm with the crowd.

Katie loved it and whilst watching the second half with us in the stands, received text messages from here friends who were watching the match at home. Saying ' OMG! just seen you on TV, you were great'.

Just one thing to add, given the choice I would have made her wear something a little more practical, maybe a jute sack?!!! Paul

Queen's Birthday Long Weekend

First weekend of Winter and it’s a public holiday to celebrate the Queen’s Birthday, any excuse for a day off work. We took the Caravan to the seaside (Durras – 12K north of Batemans Bay) to explore another part of the NSW coast.   Very cool in Canberra at the moment (5c in the morning with low teens PM) but the coast was a difference story with blue skies and warm temperatures. 

The Gypsy Wagon  Caravan is proving just ideal for us, plenty of room, comfort and convenience and a different location every time we take it out.  The campsite was also home to some very friendly Roos that spent their days grazing around the tents and caravans. They look nice, but each one comes with its own flea colony - they spend every spare second scratching.   

Mt Durras - V large roos, the male in the background was about 6' when it stood up.  

Published as local viewpoint with “spectacular views”, we decided to climb Durras Mountain, although “mountain” seems a bit grand as it hardly justified a change in  the map contour lines. Anyhow, reached the top only to be greeted by a fantastic view completely obscured by trees and foliage, even the large Roos at the top appeared be completely underwhelmed. 

The Durras beaches were empty and the water still fairy warm, so we took the chance to get out surfing again. Sal did exceptionally well considering how challenging the waves were and the girls cruised the shallow white water.  

I could have just left the above photo and said here is Sal catching a wave, but take a good look at the next photo... it was taken about 2 seconds later....yes, its Sal going through the rinse cycle!...good on her, she went straight back out. 

   

2 big girls chatting

Another top quality weekend away, but probably the last warm one for a while as I think we were lucky to get such beautiful weather. So for the next few months we are planning to use the caravan as our base for skiing, this will test how keen we are…..I remember the trip to snow covered Avemore in my parent’s Sprite caravan …..and how we stayed in a hotel the following Winter!