Family Surprise

L-R Benn, Ret, Daina, Mark, Sarah, Kim

Mark entertaining Ret & Yudian

Dinner at Chinese Restaurant

Murray, Ret & Tony dancing

Kim & Sarah at Byron Bay

Moet with dinner

Coffee on their last morning...

Rose & Mark share a few last words

Unpacking the tree and decorations

A tree emerges...

Kim & Sarah finish decorating the tree

Few things give me more pleasure than time with my family and friends. Following hot on the heels of our time with Murray's kids and two grandsons in Melbourne, we got to enjoy a visit from my three kids. Benn flew up from Sydney with his girlfriend Daina, Kim flew in from Denmark along with Sarah, her housemate friend from Canada days, and Mark flew down from Darwin. I was just lucky it was their dad's 60th birthday with Kim being the big surprise. She wanted her make her appearance a surprise to Murray too, as a belated 60th birthday present. Needless to say she was a very pleasant surprise to many people.

My brother & sister (and their spouses) from the Gold Coast were part of the elaborate ruse to transport the 5 visitors to Ballina and so we celebrated their arrival with a lovely family dinner for 12 at our local Chinese restaurant. Later we had a demonstration by traditional aussie dancers aka Murray, Ret & Tony on our kitchen floor! Sarah was privy to some primitive downunder dancing styles.

Benn & Mark made their mark on the local surf, and the next day Benn got Murray kitted out with flippers, goggles & snorkel and they both checked out the fish in the local river. Benn wished he had his spear gun with him as they saw some nice big fish passing by - would have gone down well on the BBQ! A day later Benn & I drove Mark up to the Brisbane airport for his flight back to Darwin - my sister Rose was able to catch up with us there for a coffee.

Many local eateries and businesses were better off after their visit, not to mention a dent in the holdings of local oysters and white wines. Gem & Bill did the honours once again and hosted Kim & Sarah to a delicious roast chicken dinner. Murray had promised Kim a bottle of Moet to celebrate her Professorship, and we enjoyed every last drop of it on Kim & Sarah's last night - along with the request for Murray's home made sausage rolls.

December 1st, our first day of summer coincided with their visit, so Murray helped Kim & Sarah erect the Christmas tree, and the girls then decorated it to the accompaniment of Christmas carols. Alas, all good things come to an end, and Murray & I are now sitting alone with just the Christmas tree lights flashing to remind us of the kids' whirlwind & thoroughly enjoyable visit to Ballina.