Thredbo

Another reason I love October is that it means it's time for our weekend together at Thredbo. This year we were allowed to take the girls up with us, in our new car - on Friday afternoon (taking an early mark from school). The weather forecast for the weekend was not good so we were glad to get a good session in at the park with them before the wild weather started.

That night, with everyone feeling hungry we had to brave really heavy rain navigating the short distance from "Snowgoose" through the village square and down the stairs to the Alpine Hotel Bistro.

Abi just attacked her cheeseburger that night - losing a tooth in the process (it was already VERY loose) - a dramatic start to the meal!

They both ate well on Friday night.

Saturday dawned cold wet and windy, as predicted. Josh and Jody had arrived well after 9.00pm the previous night but they were both up for an active day with the girls. Even with all the strict COVID precautions in place Joshy was able to swim some laps with the girls and then we were able to book the whole of the beautiful Sports Hall at the Thredbo Leisure Centre for our own use - for HOURS.

Late Saturday we had Claire and Pete C. join us for drinks in number 3. Claire is a regular in Thredbo now and Pete is a resident so it was great to be able to spend this time with them and hear all their insider stories. Abi loves taking over as family photographer these days too......

That night Abi enjoyed teaching Claire how to play the Monopoly card game. I was amazed at how much Abi knew as we had only just taught her the game the day before!

The girls enjoy playing the game but sometimes I wonder if it is the best thing for their respective competitive streaks (and sibling rivalries). Thankfully the game with Claire was very smooth sailing......

Meanwhile, outside the weather was doing this.................

Luckily, the pouring rain didn't stop us enjoying a meal together that night at Cascades Restaurant at the Alpine Hotel.

Despite predictions, a weakish sun came out this morning, and no rain in sight. The girls voted to spend the morning in the park, for more time on their beloved trampolines.

Rob captured a lot of amazing moves on video....

And we could only admire ........

Lunch on the last day of our October weekend at Thredbo is always at Wild Brumby - the Schnapps Gin and Vodka Distillery and German inspired Cafe just 20 minutes drive out of Thredbo.

Abi loves coming here and always makes a beeline for this poor old "horse" - it's looking more weather beaten every time we visit, but Abi doesn't mind.

Then it's a run around the property to find...........

.... the resident bulls. Abi has them all named.

She calls this big boy "Airspacer" .........

He's truly MASSIVE (and that fence looked very flimsy when he stood up at full height) ......

With all the animals accounted for it's time for lunch ......

Once again Abi attacked her meal, and her Dad's dessert too (but no teeth were lost this time) ....

While this beautiful girl remains the quiet achiever, as always ..........

 

A good month

This (birthday) month is a good one for me, with so many nice things happening. Just for fun Rob booked us in to lunch at the famous The Sir George (hotel) at Jugiong last Sunday. The old hotel was completely renovated and reopened from the end of 2016, and being only a 90 minute drive from Canberra along the Hume Highway, is proving a very popular stopover in the tiny riverside village of Jugiong.

On this beautiful Spring day we sat outside under the Snow Pears...........

It felt very "country French" - and the food was great too - very locavore - and a big step up from the usual bistro fare.

This was our view to the grassed area of the beer garden .........

... complete with domesticated goat ..........

The Sir George offers stylish accommodation too - for those people who want to make a night of it. It would be fun to stay with a group of people and enjoy a big night out with live music? at the Sir George - but there really wouldn't be much else to do in this tiny village, other than check out the lovely Long Track Pantry (cafe and providore) and the local Wine Cellar & Bottleshop..... (Jugiong is one of the gateways to the Hilltops Wine Region)

Part of the fun of lunching in Jugiong was trying out our new car. I had my first drive and managed to use most of the simpler technologies without stuffing anything up. The really high tech stuff will take a while for me to get used to!

While we were lunching on Sunday Abi was achieving her dream horse ride experience - on Pumpkin, Forest Park's most beautiful pony........

This is a picture of Canberra's happiest girl!

Her Daddy was also happy this week - to finally have delivery of his new toy ..... an original condition 1985 Holden Commodore VK. It only has 70,000klms on the clock and is in mint condition for its age (but very dusty, on its long awaited arrival from Bundaberg). This car will be pampered, pumped and brought to its full potential over the next year or so - and bring Joshy and the family a lot of joy in the process!

To round off a happy week my lovely friends organised a celebratory lunch for me today at "Raku" in the city. Judy booked us the private dining room and we were able to enjoy a very long lunch session together savouring the wonderful, refined Japanese food prepared by the well trained chefs at Raku.

The past year since my last birthday has been a very hard (shitty) one for all of us. These wonderful people with their love, support and friendship have made it survivable - and happy too, with all the good times (and not good times) we have been able to share. Thank you everyone!
 

Another birthday

My birthday this year coincided with the delivery of our new car - great timing for Rob - what a present!

We were struck by the fuss they make of a new car delivery these days - very social media focussed (and just a bit cheesy?).

And here it is... woohoo!

It's going to be our road trip car - higher off the road, plenty of room for us and our gear, and all the new gizmos to make long trips more effortless. This will be our new COVID normal - travelling by car to see this wide brown land of ours (well NSW at least!).

Our first test drive last Sunday was out to Collector on the Federal Highway to the Fedra Olive Grove - for lunch. So far Rob has most of the car's basic functions worked out, but it may take us years to get our heads around all the high tech features.

This was our view from the cafe - a stunning Spring day with everything looking so green, and the canola crop in the background of this picture looking like a splash of sunshine in the distant paddock........

Cars have been quite the theme around here for a while - our friend David has got himself a "new" Mercedes convertible. It makes quite a splash when he parks it at the Fyshwick Markets for our weekly marketing and coffee catch up. I was lucky to score a ride home from the markets in it last week. I was wishing I had my Grace Kelly scarf for the occasion.

It's school holiday time here and we've loved having Ella and Abi over at the apartment with us for a few days. Abi did some cooking - while sitting on the kitchen bench (the rules are different here!!).

And Ella worked with me in creating some beautiful new art work for her bedroom decor makeover.....

Abi is still madly in love with everything horse related and when she can't be on or with the real thing she is drawing/painting them, reading about them, watching TV shows about them ...or visiting the magnificent Light Horsemen of the Boer War Memorial over the road from us.......

or riding "Polly" in her backyard while dreaming of Romeo, Wally, Sparkles, Tinker, Alice or Pumpkin back at Forest Park.......

It's been a pretty special birthday week for me!