 |
| Fred, Angela, Trish and Murray Byron Bay lighthouse |
The end of our time at home before spending another 6 months in the USA is always exciting yet tinged with regret. We had an especially full-packed 8 months, most of which is already covered in earlier blogs. What wasn't covered was a visit from Daina's parents, Angela & Fred. They flew up from Adelaide and we were able to fit in some wonderful activities. Gemma and Bill invited us over to dinner along with our aunt. We managed a visit to Byron Bay's lighthouse and the Eastern-most point of Australia. Angela and I joined my sister Ret for a life validating Gratitude Seminar that went from 9am-4pm on the Sunday. Meanwhile Murray took Fred for a spin up Mt Tamborine and then to lunch with my brother Tony.
In the last few weeks it is usually a time of farewell lunches and dinners, with the odd farewell breakfast thrown in too - that was great to see you Nadia and hear about your recent trip to Italy. My girlfriends had lunch at the Lighthouse Cafe and posed for the obligatory photo. Jenny, Carol & Julie, I will miss you all. On the Gold Coast it was great for Ret and I to catch up with old nursing mates Jenny and Caren, and had breakfast with Lynne.
 |
| Julie, Carol, Jenny and Trish at Lighthouse Cafe |
 |
| Ret, Caren and Jen |
 |
| Breakfast with Lynne |
 |
| Paw Paws |
I had a lot of fun cooking with my Thermomix, and made my own butter and baked my own bread most of the time. Our home in Ballina is in good hands with friends and family holding the fort while we are away. Thanks to Bev & Keith, Peter & Sam, Brid and Shona (our cousins out from Ireland), and a few others yet to confirm. I wonder who will be there when our pawpaws ripen?
While we were getting ready to leave our summer weather and head to a more cooler USA, Benn, Kim & Daina were dogsledding in Norway. What a life these kids have - our fun didn't really kick off until retirement, but they have got an early start!
 |
| Benn and Kim with dog sled dogs |
 |
| Jackson with cigar - Cuban style |
The saddest occasion was saying goodbye to little Jackson. You may recall I attended his birth back at the end of November. He has grown a lot since then, and just this morning Yudian advised me that Jackson had crawled for the first time. I got to have a few visits with him recently, but the last visit was difficult for me. Thank goodness for Skype!!
 |
| Jackson smiling |
 |
| Last playtime and smiles from Jackson |
 |
| Look at that face…so cute |
 |
| Lunch with Tracy, Ret and Rose |
Last but not least was a very enjoyable St Patricks Day lunch with brother Tracy and sister Rosemary. Then that evening about 16 of us caught up for a farewell dinner. So besides my eldest sister Gemma and her husband Bill, were 2 nieces and 2 nephews and their spouses and some of the kids.
 |
| Gemma with our nephew Mark - eerily looking like our dad! |
 |
| Farewell dinner |
No comments:
Post a Comment