Roses

Cyndi's veggie patch - yummy tomatoes, strawberries, potatoes etc.

These are the roses in Chris & Cyndi's garden, they are very old roses and absolutely beautiful

5 Minutes in the car

This is what happens when you leave your lunch for 5 minutes in the car (in the shade). Apple baked and was hot, banana black !

Country Music Festival in Tamworth

This was taken around 7.00pm, no rubbish in the streets

Murrurundi - a town we passed through, buildings old with lots of 'brookie lace'

metal rhinos outside entrance to a vineyard

lots of wide open spaces

Like I mentioned earlier we only had the camera on the mobile phone. Here are some pics of the countryside as well

Letterboxes

Christmas Ham ??

Benda from Futurama

Our favourite one

all in a row, at the end is a washing machine steel drum and then a fridge

fridge with a slot cut out

We decided to drive 5 hours north of Sydney for the Tamworth Country Music Festival, we arrived Sunday afternoon, stayed overnight and then Monday afternoon drove back to Sydney.

We spent Sunday walking around all the stalls, which were spread over 4 streets. The roads were closed off to traffic and every block there were buskers and live event, a great vibe and well worth the trip. Most restaurants had live acts as well. It was too hot for boots, and stetsons were a bit pricy, so we did not conform to the dress code. Still it was a good time.

Only problem was we forgot the camera at home and had to use the camera on the phone, which is very limited.

We took the 'scenic' route driving down (off the motorways) and came across some very funky letterboxes, here are a few.

Tranquility at the scone place

Dragon flies

Kian watching the ducks on the stream in Kevin's back garden

roses

Another part of his garden

Fiona & Keith

Kian, Chris & Cyndi

We always go here for tea and scones, they are divine and freshed baked, served with jam and cream. Kevin (the owner) has his house and beautiful garden on the premises. These pics were taken in his garden.

New Year's in Kapiti Coast

Chris enjoying chasing Kian

three generations

Gramps also had a go

having fun on big boys flying fox

Cyndi and Sarah

Cyndi, Sarah, Richard & Chris

Christmas was a quiet family lunch. New Year's day we were invited to Sarah & Richard's, unfortunately weather was 'iffy' so no beach, but we did get to go to Kaitawa Reserve. Even the
bigger kids had fun.

Kian's gifts

helping, I just need to make sure it is safe for when my mates come over

Gramps and Daddy tightening the final screws

wooden block tower from Uncle G - very cool

I love my new crayons, I really needed them, good idea for the paper as well (behind me)

one of the four dinosaurs from Yumayumas

my quilt looks perfect on my bed - thank you Yumayuma

Well, he must have been a very good boy as he got lots.

Yumayumas' gave him, dinosaur quilt, dinosaur suncatchers for his window, books, t-shirts and cash for his bank.

His parents got him new crayons, his own ream of paper for his writing and drawing, bubbles, a torch, books, clothes and of course a swing and slide set -he got more, but I cannot list everything.

From friends he got a frog beanbag chair, skittles, dragon mask and eye piece, specially baked cookies etc. Uncle Graeme gave him a wooden block tower with numbers, colours etc. He cannot wait for Uncle Wayne to arrive next week to see what he is bringing.

It was such fun watching him on Christmas morning.

Christmas 2009 in NZ

Gramps, let me show you how to unwrap your gift

Yumayuma, let me do that for you

Mummy, just pull it right here, quick I want to see what you got !

let me help you dad, I am quite good at doing this now

Wow, new bottle of bubbles, my favourite (look at his face)

We spent Christmas 2009 with Chris, Cyndi and Kian in Wellington. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed being there when Kian opened his presents, he was just so excited about unwrapping gifts and could not help himself, he just had to help everyone unwrap their gifts.

Keith & I are called "Yumayuma" (gramps & grandma), same name for both of us.

Needless to say WE WERE ALL spoilt by Santa this year.