Christmas - Part 3 of 4

Next stop on our itinerary was Inverell to visit Michael's parents Janet and Peter.  There's not much to do in Inverell, so it was the perfect place to relax.  I even managed to read a book (can't remember the last time I did that).

Henry and Milly lived in the pool.  Their swimming lessons have paid off and it was great to see their confidence in the water.  Buster on the other hand did not want to venture in.  Instead we were all on red alert as he walked around the edges of the pool throwing in pool toys, or leaned over the pool edges to grab pool toys so he could throw them in again.

Ta-da!

A rare moment in the water with GrandJan.

Al fresco.

Just outside Inverell is a place called Green Valley Farm.  Michael had always described it to me as a small farm with freakish animals.  And when I say freakish, I mean cows with two heads, sheeps with five legs, deformed dead animals in jars and the like.  Not the type of place I've ever been keen to visit.  Janet and Peter said it had improved a lot and had plenty of things for the kids to see and play on, including water slides.  A quick look at their website confirmed it wasn't as scary as I had imagined, so we ventured out for the day.





Entering Green Valley Farm you need to walk through a small museum. The museum was actually quite interesting and had historical bits and pieces from the 1800s from the early gold miners and fossikers. Then I came across the dead animals in jars, and what looked like home done taxidermy gone wrong in the way of a two-headed lamb, a calf that looked like a pig, and siamese wolves - the freakish bit. With my face cringing I managed to make my way through the entrance and to the gardens and play area of the farm. Phew!

There was heaps of things for the kids and us big kids to play on. Old fashioned rocking horses, huge slippery dips, huge swings, gardens and a lake to walk around, farm animals, and a giant trampoline. But we were all really waiting for the water slide to open, and when it did it was a tonne of fun!

They have a shaded water park for the toddlers, and mini water slide for the under 6s.  Then there was the big water slide.  There was just the one, but it was long and curled down the hill it was set on.  Henry loved it and surprised us by showing no fear and going down on his own many times.

Only time Buster got in.

Milly was happy and loving this water slide until another girl landed on her, bringing an end to Milly's water slide adventures.

The big water slide.

My ice cream Grandad!

Aside from all the time spent in the pool and relaxing another event happened in Inverell.  Henry lost his second tooth.  It had been on the wobbles for a long time and we were convinced it would come out before Christmas.  The tooth fairy found him in Inverell and he was a happy chappy.

Mind the gap.

And just before we left Inverell for our next stop, it was time for another attempt at a family photo and this one was more successful.....eventually.  Thanks to Janet and Peter for letting us disturb their quiet life with our excited children and for their gracious hosting.  I'll be trying to work off that Mangomisu dessert for weeks to come.

Buster sit down, it's time for a family photo.

Everyone smile.

The Hobsons.