First Post of 2015

Here we are almost two weeks into the New Year - 2015. Christmas has come and gone for another year. This year instead of hosting Christmas lunch here in Ballina, we drove up to the Gold Coast where my sister Ret hosted for about 13 adults and 3 children. We took my Aunt Dympna up with us and we checked into an apartment for 3 nights. It was a lovely 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment overlooking the water. Between us and the water was a huge green parkland where we could walk our Christmas lunch off. Worked a treat.

The night before Christmas my sister Rose, drove down from Brisbane to stay the night in a nearby motel. She came to our apartment to join us in a pre-arranged Skype with Kim over in Copenhagen. In Denmark they celebrate Christmas on 24th December, so we shared in Kim's Christmas while she opened gifts from home!

Christmas Day was a hot day as usual, so the pool got a workout by the little kids (Jethro, Noah and Jackson) with the big kids (Peter and Peter!). Murray sat on the edge of the pool so that Jackson could kick his feet in the water. As a joke on my older brother Tony, a stuffed toy pink piglet had been placed on the rotisserisie (not turned on). When Tony arrived, he was asked to check and see if the pork was cooking - he is the master of roast pork. He roared laughing. It was quite a sight. My niece put the photo on Facebook and had to put the caveat that it was not a real pig!

Ret, Tony and Peter Gibbs check out the 'pork'

Always a good opportunity to catch up with those who live in other states or others that we don't see often.

Peter Gibbs, Rose (holding Jackson) and Jethro

My brothers Tracy (holding Jackson) and Tony, with Jethro

Noah (left) and Jackson

Jackson and Noah are only a few weeks apart in age, and they were checking each other out. It will be nice when they are a bit older and can play safely in the pool together. When you look at this selection of photos you can see someone is either holding Jackson or playing with him. The 3 boys kept us entertained and were so well behaved.

Ret & I with gift from Chris & Mandy

End of the day - Murray holding a tired Jackson

On Boxing Day we caught up with another aunt who lives in the Gold Coast area. Ret and I had a delightful morning tea with two of our aunts - Dympna and Kath. Also joining us was Caren, a friend from our nursing days. Her family were neighbours of Kath's family for years. Caren's mum Shirl and Kath were best mates. Thanks for taking the photo Caren.

Dympna, Ret, Kath and me at the rear

Less than two weeks after Christmas we returned to the Gold Coast to catch up with Daina's family who were up visiting from Adelaide. Daina's mum Angela, dad Fred, two sisters (Alissa and Lydia), brother in law Rhys and niece Emelia, joined my son Benn, my sister Ret, brother Tony and his wife Yudian, and Murray and I. We had lunch together at the fabulous revolving restaurant at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Surfers Paradise. They don't call the restaurant Four Winds 360° for nothing. From our table, as the floor revolved (very slowly), we had a 360° view of the Gold Coast. The food was a mix of seafood and Asian cuisine. Delicious.

The grey circular bit up the top of this pink building (under the name Crowne Plaza) is the revolving restaurant. Photo taken looking south. Photo courtesy web jet.com.au