Dad's 70th

It's important to celebrate those milestone birthdays.  Especially when you reach the age of 70.  I missed out on my Dad's 60th birthday due to being heavily pregnant with Milly and unable to travel.  I wasn't missing this one.

There aren't many direct flights from Newcastle to Coffs Harbour and it turned out they were booked full for the trip up.  My wonderful Dad came to the rescue.  He drove all the way to collect me.  My brother also came up from Sydney to take advantage of the lift to Coffs and make it a family road trip.   

It's approximately a 4 1/2 hour drive from Newcastle to Coffs, but it's amazing how quick the time flies when you are cruising in a super comfortable car and there are no kids to placate.  I sat in the back, stared out the windows and daydreamed.

Being the first weekend of the Easter school holidays there were plenty of police patrolling the roads.

Once we arrived in Coffs, it was nice to sit down with a cup of tea and then time to get ready for the party.  Dad only wanted an intimate affair of close friends and family, with the instruction of no balloons or a birthday cake.

Tracey had put together a delicious spread of canapes.  The ones picture below are Beetroot, Candied Walnuts and Goats Cheese Cream cones.  Seriously yum.

It was lovely to catch up with lots of old family friends and meet some of Dad's new ones.  There was a lot of love for the old man, which was touching to see.

The morning after.  Neither myself or Corin drink anymore, so no hangovers for us.  Dad did ok too.

Corin had to catch a flight back to Sydney, so on the way to the airport we did a drive by of old haunts.  I love Coffs beaches.

With Corin flying home, we headed out to lunch.  Dad and Tracey's favourite spot is in Urunga called Anchors Wharf Cafe.  Food is good.  Very good.

The following day was my turn to head home.  I'd secured a flight for my return on a very tiny plane.  It was an 18 seater.  My Dad calls them Buzz Boxes because they're noisy and shake.

So it was farewell to Coffs Harbour with her beautiful blue skies and sun, and hello Newcastle where it was overcast and windy.

Two out of four to welcome me home.  Look at her smile.  My smile was just as big.

Henry and Minnie

Henry has longed for a dog for many years.  I'm not sure who is luckier.  Henry for finally having Minnie, or Minnie for getting Henry.

Four eyes

Another family member has poor eye sight.  After complaining of having trouble seeing the board in class, I took Milly in for an eye test.  She had one 18 months ago, but her eye sight wasn't significantly poor enough to need glasses then.  This time the optometrist said Milly's vision had doubled in deterioration since that prior visit.  Plus she has two astigmatisms in her eyes.

She's the first of our kids to need glasses, and she's short sighted like me.

Olde worlde excursion

It's always a pleasure accompanying your child on a school excursion.  It's an opportunity to get to know the kids and teachers better, and in this instance, learn a bit about some local history.  

Buster's excursion was to the Tocal Homestead, which is a collection of colonial farm buildings dating from the 1830s.  It gave the kids a chance to see and experience life on a working farm, and discuss the differences and changes over the years in people's lives.

The famous bushranger Thunderbolt worked at the Tocal homestead in the stables.  He ended up stealing a horse from the stables (taking his pick of the best stead) and his legend began.

Discovering the importance of horse power on a farm.

Visiting the main house and learning how the owner of the property liked his table set in the old days.  He also spent some time in the original kitchen and learnt how things were made and all the jobs done (eg butter churning).

The most amazing Banyan tree on the property.

Washing clothes with a washboard, brush and soap.  Then having to use old fashioned pegs to hang them up.  Buster loved it.  I'll have to get him to help with the washing at home.

Fetching water buckets and carrying them on a yoke.  All the kids were obsessed with this activity.

Dress ups.

Life skills or child labour?

Meet Minnie

Introducing Minnie the pug.  At last we have a family pet and the kids and us big kids are head over heels.  She is adorable.

Minnie is seven weeks old.  Her dad is a pure bred pug and her mother is a jug (half pug, half jack russell).  After weeks of looking, we found her on the Trading Post and when we went to view her we knew weren't leaving empty handed.

She is already adjusting to life with us.  She is very playful and loves to chase and pounce.  She is a very bouncy pup.  Her favourite spots to snuggle are either in Henry's lap, or at the feet of me and Michael.  Milly, who has never really had any affection for animals, is doing a great job of playing and looking after her.  She's also the disciplinarian, telling Minnie the rules of where she can and can't go.

Minnie's first night in the house was spent downstairs in her bed in the kitchen.  Henry and Michael set up camp with her so she wouldn't be alone.  It wasn't a very successful nights sleep.  Minnie would sleep and then wake, and then wake Michael up by licking or clawing at his face.  Michael even found her nestled in under his arm sleeping, rather than in her bed.  She is certainly a pup who likes to snuggle.

It's only been 24 hours since we brought Minnie home but she is already a well-loved member of the family.