I began the time with a week in Brisbane so I could catch up with the Masons and the Knights and meet
Ange and Zane's little Ella, our newest grandchild, at last. She is every bit as adorable as what they all said she is. Here we are getting aquainted.
After Rick, Kerrie, Sophie and Toby picked me up from the airport we joined Ange, Zane, Liam, James and Ella for lunch. I was treated by being driven in the Mason's newest family addition - the new car. Lovely.
Rick and James showing us the back
....and Kerrie showing the front.
The Brisbane grandchildren all together posing for me outside the restaurant.
I had a great time staying with the Knights during the working week and it felt like old times doing the day-care and kindy runs, not to mention the Chermside runs.
James holding Court at the day-care centre. (It wasn't officially his day there that day which is why he is set apart.)
Liam organised a puppet show for us all one evening after he and James had spent the day making the puppets. The teddies were a captive audience.
I spent the last couple of nights in Brisbane at the Mason's house and it was nice to be able to be part of their
lives for a little while, too.
I heard Sophie playing her cello. She is doing so well - greatly improved since we were in Brisbane around Oct. last year. It is encouraging me to try harder with my violin.
Then on the Saturday we spent the morning watching Toby's soccer team win their first match of the season. Toby scored one of his team's three goals. Great stuff, Tobes.
Saturday afternoon found Kerrie, Sophie and I at Chermside - wish they had something like that in Whangarei. We all found things to buy! Sunday dawned - my last day and also Toby's birthday. The Knights came over and we all enjoyed a barbecue lunch. There is a pic of Toby below holding his gift from Grandma Linda.
There was time in the afternoon for us to take a drive around the Brighton, Sangate Shorncliffe area - there are changes but it is not greatly different to how it was when we lived there.
Then it was time to drop me off at the airport for my flight to Sydney.
It was getting late by the time I arrived in Sydey and in no time I was at French's Forest and settling in to become part of the O'Dowd household for the next three weeks. Chloe very kindly let me have the use of her room - thank you Chloe. It has a lovely comfortable bed.
It did not take long to establish a sort of routine while there was just myself and the girls. We got out for a walk on most days and we discovered the usefulness of the local buses which got us back and forwards to the Waringal Mall on more than one occasion. There were neighborhood children to play with although at one stage most of them seemed to be away somewhere. Chloe went away with a friend and her family to a holiday bach somewhere north of Newcastle so there was just Katie and me for a little bit.
On the first weekend the adults were able to catch up better. John and Leigh took me out and about showing me around the lovely part of Sydney that they live in. They are handy to the coast and the great beaches. Manley is vibrant with people having a good time. Lots of great places to have lunch. Here we are at one of them.
It was a lovely day that day and people were surfing and swimming as if it was still the height of the summer.
Here I am with the girls
There was a lovely 5 day break over Easter which encompassed Anzac Day and Labour Day. John took the girls to the Easter Show and they came back loaded down with Show Bags with all sorts in them. Rather a lot of lollies but they came in useful when Chloe was looking for something to treat her classmates with when her birthday arrived.
I gor rather used to being in a large house during my stay in Sydney - it doesn't take long. One thing I do miss with being on a boat is a nice dining room so it was good to have a family meal in style in John and Leigh's one.
Chloe's birthday was the same day that Prince WIlliam and Kate Middleton got married. Because of the school holidays it was hard to arrange a party for Chloe so we had a family birthday with cup-cake birthday cake and settled down to watching the wedding. Chloe managed to have her party a week later - I had gone home by then but they tell me it was a great success.
I had to be at the airport by 4.30 early Saturday morning. John kindly took me in - we had to set out alarms for 3.30am.
I had a good flight home and having been away for 4 weeks altogether there was a lot to catch up on.
This posting is getting very large so I shall tell you all about being back in Tutukaka next time.
Thank you everyone for making my stay in Australia a great time to remember.
