Punch-up in the park

Our time in New South Wales has at last come to an end and we have moved on to our family in Perth. However, before we left NSW we travelled down south of Sydney with Jean's cousin to collect their camping trailer. This meant we had to spend time on some campsites down there. On one of these sites we had visiting Kangaroos, two of these decided they needed to establish who was the boss! Saying goodbye to Jean's cousin John and Anne was sad but we were getting excited as we were going to see our girls again soon - or so we thought.

Our plane from Sydney was delayed by 3 hours due to a severe thunder storm at Melbourne airport (where our plane was stuck). Anyway we eventually got to Perth late in the evening to be met by Suz. Nic and Pete, the children were waiting for us when we arrived at their home - great excitement all round! The temperature here is about 36 degrees C which is a fraction warmer than it is back home!! At least we an cool off in the pool! So far we have helped the children do their paper rounds, been to their church and visited a couple of shopping centres - where it is nice and cool! On Friday we are off to Lynne and Aldo's for a couple of nights and then staying with Mike and Mary for 5 nights (this is where Suz spent her first 5 months). Its a bit of a squash here as there are 9 of us in the house (there is also a young guy here from Sidcup working with Pete for the next year!!)

Family in New South Wales

This is the house my cousin John and Anne live in on the edge of the MaraMara National Park. He has a lot of land and buildings surrounding it and a lot of frogs at night!! Today we are up at Anna Bay in the Port Stephens area 2 hours train ride from John's at cousin David and Jenny's house. They have 13 six day old chicks in a box in the lounge so they are causing plenty of interest. Internet coverage here is great and Stephen re-installed our skype for us as we have been having trouble. It is a beautiful area with lots of great beaches and coves. Yesterday evening we spent in Nelson Bay. Tomorrow we are off to see friends the other side of the Blue Mountains for a couple of days and then on Sunday plan to go and visit Jean's aunt again in her dementia home. Time is going quickly so it won't be long now before we reach Perth!!! Isaac has recently changed schools and seems much happier so that is good - had a quick chat with him this morning. We are enjoying the warm weather - gloat, gloat! It's dinner time so must go!

OZ - the beginning of our stay here.

Well we have at last recovered from all our driving and sicknesses and are enjoying our stay here with Jean's cousin north of Sydney. The weather has been contrary to the forcast and been very warm and sunny which is very nice. We have been to visit Jean's aunt in her care home and found her looking very well which was a great encouragement. Yesterday we all went down to Sydney to see some of the sights including some sculptures by the sea at Bondi Beach. These were a mixed bunch of artwork some of which we did not begin to understand and others were very good and entertaining, well you can't please everybody can you? After that we returned to the city and saw the sun setting over the harbour just before we caught our ferry back up the river on our way home. Tomorrow eve we are going to the Sydney NFI church where, we understand, Terry Virgo is preaching which will be nice. Then next week we are going to visit Jean's other cousin near Newcastle for a couple of nights. Will keep you posted on what we get up to etc.

Catch-up on New Zealand

I know you have all missed me so much so I have put a picture of an old geyser here to remind you. This was taken in Rotarua on our way down North Island in New Zealand. Although it is a spectacular sight, so is the smell!! We saw some amazing sights all over NZ and we will try and get some of our photographs where you can see them - will let you know later where they are. South Island is very mountainous and there was snow on the top of a lot of the peaks. We went on some high and windy passes through St Josef and the Fox Glacier and then on to Lake Wanaka and Milford Sound. We came back via Queenstown which was a very sports orientated city where we went up the Gondola to the top of the mountain.

We then travelled across country to the sea at Timaru and then inland again across the area where the epicentre of the big earthquake was, to Christchurch. A lot of the roads were being rebuilt. They even had a small tremor on the day we were there - apparently it happens most days. We went on a tram ride round the city getting off and on at various locations. Unfortunately Jean had to visit the Dr for an antibiotic to fight an infection which had caused a bad shaking fit the previous night.

Friday we flew to Sydney to stay with Jean's cousin 1hr north of the city. It had been very wet there but cleared up the next day - just as Jean had to spend another 2 hours in the Dr's surgery getting another antibiotic as the first one did not suit! 2 thunder storms have already stopped the posting of this blog so we will get on with it quick while we are still on line!!

Leaving NZ

We are currently at Christchurch airport waiting to be called for our flight to Sydney. Sorry there has been no blog for 10 days but we have tried since last Sat but both times the internet was so slow we could not post it! Will fill you in when we get to my cousin's in Sydney. Hoping to go to Sydney NFI Church on Sunday where Terry Virgo is preaching = he has just spent 5 days with Pete and Nic,

So we are both still alive and have seen some fantastic sights!