May 13, 2013 - A lovely week

We've had a great but hectic week catching up with family and friends and preparing for our flight to New York. Mum is turning 90 in a week's time and dad is 92 so we're taking them to New York. They live in Ontario so only 1.1/2 hrs away from the Big Apple, but they've never been there before so we're really looking forward to the week. I think mum's conquering her fears of going to New York as they hear so many stories, but they're both great adventurers, so this is it.

May 5, 2013 - A grandson visits

Bridge Church's newly opened East Campus is attune cinemas at Doncaster shopping town and We went there for the very first time. It was a great service and very full with few seats left. It was good to see friends again and catch up. We met up with Dario and Mel for breakfast beforehand and it was lovely to see them. Our grandson Seth came to us after lunch as a friend of Lily's brought him over. He slept for a good while and then had a good time with us watching a nature show. He is only two but speaks a mixture of Spanish and English and...

May 4, 2013 - Pancake Parlour

Today we had a relaxing breakfast with our daughter Louise & son in law Aaron and then headed off for a short drive before meeting up with The rest of the family for lunch at the Pancake Parlour in Doncaster. How lovely to catch up together again and little Seth is speaking half English and half Spanish.

May 2, 2013 - Melbourne here we come!

An early morning taxi ride with a belligerent taxi driver is not the way to start the day but nevertheless nothing could damp our spirits as we headed home via plane to Melbourne to see family and friends before leaving for overseas. Daughter Louise met us at the airport and we dropped her back to church before heading to her place to drop our things. We met up with Evi and Martin and Alma before they head off for a new life in Queensland. We'll certainly miss them. We had lunch together in Tunstall Square and our numbers grew as Daughter...

Apr 13, 2013 - Easter in Melbourne

Ahhh, there's nothing quite like being up early on a crisp morning, standing outside in the dark, rubbing one’s hands together with the promise of a beautiful day . . . taking a deep breath . . . full of diesel fumes, cough splutter. Mmmm, yes, I’m standing at the Albury station, RAIL ticket to Melbourne in hand, waiting to get on one of the smelly idling BUSES – don’t ask, I’d been really looking forward to the train trip! On the plus side though, a fellow passenger said that by going by road we might actually be on time. Hmmm, Vic. Rail's...

Apr 7, 2013 - Leaving Home

Wow. I was so emotional leaving home. I even surprised myself. And it was all because of the cats. I know, logically, that they’ll be fine but emotionally, I just felt so, so guilty. It was so nice to have some friends and family see me off at the airport. Very much appreciated! I loved the Saint Christopher pendant my Godfather Michael gave me to protect me on my travels, and also the very funny photo key chain that Nadia gave me so I wouldn’t forget my friends. As if I would!

Apr 4, 2013 - In panic-mode

Well, it is Thursday today - although I have spent the day convinced it was Friday. And in fact, as I was typing that first sentence, I typed "it is Friday today". My brain is running at a million miles an hour. Unfortunately, it isn't running in any specific direction - it is all over the place. Tasks are being ticked off the 'to do' list, but I also have List B in my brain. So, that's pretty much a guarantee that nothing on List B will get done and I will spend the next 3 days with a furrowed brow, continually mumbling to myself "I'm sure...

Apr 3, 2013 - Preparations officially commence!

Good Evening Europe! This is a message from the Eee-Vee-You, wishing you an ah-may-zing Eurovision 2013. Hello, Gavin here, sending out our first official journal blog entry for their Eurovision 2013 trip. Only 35 days to go and so much to organise. For example, we haven't done our first test suitcase pack yet!! The pressure's on for sure now. We're hoping to do the travel blog again for this trip, and hoping to add in all sorts of fun photos and stories of how we endured standing for 5 hours in the Arena, or unable to see the show because...

Apr 3, 2013 - Wentworth

We said goodbye to Rohan and Maxine, Deanne and John. We must remember to take photos in future. We found out that going out of the riverina area of Mildura and surrounds and going into New South Wales we have to give up certain fruit and vegetables before travelling north as there is a big risk of fruit fly. So this morning I have been busy cooking up the tomatoes and squeezing the lemons and limes whilst David packed up the motorhome. They are some of the produce not allowed to be taken over the border. We have arrived in Wentworth,...

Apr 2, 2013 - Last day in Mildura

Sitting outside of the motorhome this morning a lady named Deanne came past with her dog so we got talking and of course she wanted to know about the boat and the winch etc.and said she would bring her husband John around later to look at it. Our other neighbours Loreen and Brian came round to say goodbye before the trek back to Melbourne. We went out for a bike ride to the town and ended up cycling 17 kilometres. We found a McDonalds as we like their USA Texan and New York burgers. I suppose you've never eaten McD's with a knife and fork...

Apr 1, 2013 - The loch

This morning early we walked four kilometres alongside the river and back. (Gill aren't you proud of us? Thanks for the encouragement.) The big power water skiing boats have all gone home. They were mostly all around 300 horse power against our five horse power. We put our boat up when we arrived but haven't yet been out in it yet. It has been power boat jam at the boat ramp but most have gone home today. We wheeled our boat from the site and down the long boat ramp. David took the wheels off once we got it in the water and as we were...

Mar 31, 2013 - Easter Sunday & Our first visitors from home

We've been getting fit with cycling and we cycled eight kilometres to Riveredge church for the Easter Sunday morning service. We are getting plenty of exercise and hopefully getting fit. The simple message was "We must forgive others as Jesus forgave." The people were very friendly and we had some morning tea afterwards. (More hot cross buns!) Our first visitors from home are Kym and Gill and we waited with great anticipation to see them. They arrived in late afternoon and we had a great reunion. There was lots to talk about and after a...