Our trip started off quite interestingly.We couldn’t leave until 1pm because I had to work in the morning, so we left in the heat of the day and it happened to be 43 degrees,whooo very hot! especially when the 4wd’s air-conditioning decided that it was not going to work. From Corowa to Mildura is a 6 hour drive and you only pass through 6 towns the whole way.I sat on 95- 100kms/hr (which killed me) so the car wouldn’t over heat. Lucky Gwynfor wasn’t with us , I don’t think he would have coped with how hot the car got , it was the kids and I, and Mum decided to come along at the last minute (I think she was regreting it an hour in).We ended up stopping for icey poles and wet the beach towels and draped them over us ,to keep a bit cool at 2 towns along the way. We did make it but very sweaty and red faced. The next day I booked the 4wd  into the auto electricians and had it re gassed, they said it was probably because it had been sitting while we were away for the 12 months.Our journey home was much cooler and un eventful.

Mum stayed with some friends and we stayed with my very good friend Kate and Mitch and their children Lucy and Will. Kates house has the most amazing garden and surrounds,in the house yard there are beautiful gardens and great shading trees. Mitch has also recently finished a great tree house. They also have a wonderful verandah that we have relaxed and had many a beverage on.

Around the house they have 100 avocado trees, orange, lemon, peach, nectarine,apples,mandarine,apricots,and mango trees.They have a nice little veggie patch with cherry tomatoes that are growing out of control,  chickens and the girls lay quite well.Kate had to work Fri, Sat and Sunday so on the Saturday we went around to another friends house and caught up with them.

Our 4 days were over quickly, not that the kids wanted to come home, but I had to get back to work and Gwynfor was finding it a little too quiet with out us there….

After quickly packing up our camping gear, we unloaded at home, then showered, made a salad and we were off ,again. Petrea is one of my dearest, closest friends in the world, and we have been since high school. She now lives in Adelaide (9hr drive from us) with her husband Calum and gorgeous little girl Isobelle. They were home for a couple of weeks over Christmas.They were staying on her brothers farm, so thats where we were for lunch. Calum had organised a motorbike for the boys to ride. As you could imagine the boys were in their element….

Leah, Petrea and me

Jack looking like Evil Canevil

The girls didn’t miss out, Calum took the girls out on quad.

Rhys’ turn, they made a track in and out and around the trees.

Keeh enjoyed the bike as well.

Boxing day morning, we got up and got all our camping gear together.We camped with 2 other families, but others came for day visits and some came for over night stays. Unfortunately Gwynfor was at work most of the time, but he would drive in and out to work, because it is not too far out of town, although it feels like you are, which is perfect.We all had our own tents and camper trailers, but we had a great common area and common kitchen where everyone had their chairs ,tables etc. Blacky built a great bar that had the best view in the place,the big truck tarp was also great for shade and on the odd time ,shelter from the rain.

As you can see, it’s a pretty hard life, all the relaxing. But with relaxing comes drinkies, and drink o’clock comes around fairly early while camping. I think that’s what makes it exhausting, is the drinks and late nights, and the fact that no one has told the birds, that we want to sleep in…….those kookaburras are quite loud.

As you can see the kids have a ball ,and just go all day long, needless to say they sleep very well and are ready for bed early.Which leaves us adults lots of adult time. We had a few really cool board games that we played, usually girls against boys, which as you can imagine turned out to be quite competitive, and lots of joyful abuse was being hurled at each other.

My 3 little nephews came down to camp and loved the water. Their older brother Keeh came and stayed with us for  about 4 nights, he enjoyed doing things that he doesn’t get to do in the city (where he lives).

These are some other common sites that you see cruising down the river in front of our camp, as well as skiers and wakeboarders, and some pretty dam hot boats.

Always great times, and good to get back to basics.

Well the day went in a few different stages.

Firstly was Santa has been! I heard the kids wake about 6:30 am, (not too bad really), although we were feeling a little seedy and hadn’t got to sleep until about 2:30 am from the night before.The kids were very happy with their gifts and the boys were certainly not expecting a wii.

 

Secondly was the breakfast.We did things a little differently this year, Gwynfor had to go work at 10:30am and Evan (brother) and his girlfriend were going to her Mum and Dads for lunch ,so we thought we would have  a full breakfast and present unwrapping at our house before they went off. It was nice actually because the we didn’t have to rush off anywhere during the day, so the kids just played and enjoyed.

 

Thirdly was Tea at Mum and Dads ,once Gwynfor had finished work and Evan and Tan came back from her family. We had a lovely meal and a few cocktails, then it all ended in as very funny singstar session.

After a hectic lead up to Christmas it was nice to catch up and unwind with some friends. As usual a few people for dinner became quite a few gathering in our backyard and having quite a few drinkies. A very good friend of mine and her husband and little girl Belle stayed the night as well, lovely to catch up.

Tanya gave Aislin and Ella these cowgirl Christmas hats, so with that inspiration, Aislin had to go and dress accordingly, a Christmas cowgirl of course!

Before the kids went off to bed, they put out some food and drinks for Santa and the reindeers.A friend of mine at work made some special reindeer food, oats with sparkling stars in it.