Ballina Breakfast

Big Brekky

Dining Room finished

Ret & Clairie: Carpet Angels

Almost fully settled into the new house now. The dining room is completed and our spare bedroom is fully set up and has been officially used as a guest room (apart from Benn sleeping there on the first night). We expect to get rid of all the packing boxes this week, then we can reclaim the full use of the back patio. I had a skype with daughter Kim (Copenhagen) and was able to walk her around and through the house with the laptop's webcam giving her a bird's eye view. Mind you she will get to see it in person when she comes home in April for a few weeks, in time to attend my nephew's wedding in Sydney in early May.

My sister Ret from the Gold Coast and my niece from Brisbane (and their families) provided us with wonderful company and more pleasant memories this weekend. Ret & Pete were the bearers of chilled champagne (among other appreciated house-warming gifts) and we duly christened the back patio before my other sister Gemma arrived with her daughter Claire with her 2 year old son Billy and step-daughter Jordan. Claire & co were staying with us for the night, as Gemma & Bill had a visiting priest, Father Joseph from Tanzania, staying with them for a few days. Yet another very enjoyable evening was spent at the RSL (we should get a frequent user discount for our family) where Father Joseph enjoyed his grilled barramundi, one of Australia's good eating fish. Back home for some shenanigans. Claire & Ret tried doing snow angels, only they were on carpet - NOT quite as much fun as doing it in the snow, but I don't think they cared!

This morning we walked to Church for the first time - only 1.5 blocks from our gate - how convenient. Afterwards everyone (10 of us in all) was invited back to our place for a big brekkie - orange juice, bacon, eggs, sausages & tomatoes, croissants, toast & coffee. Murray did a great job on the BBQ and Ret, Clairie & Jordan's clean-up job was appreciated by the hosts!