Sunday, 17 November 2013

Visits to family in Sydney and Melbourne

We flew back to Sydney from Christchurch on Jetstar. The seats were very cramped and the long-limbed young woman beside me was having real difficulty just getting her thighs in-between the seats. How uncomfortable for her. We were relieved to disembark at Sydney International and made our way to the Underground International train station for a run to Glenfield on the Campbelltown line.
The new trains and the new stations on this line made for a pleasant 25min. We only stopped at Wooli Creek, Hollsworthy and then Glenfield.
Robyn came to meet us with her young Lincoln Benjamin Clark at Glenfield Station.
 
Grandma with Lincoln
The first couple of days the older girls were on holidays from school so Charlotte helped Grandpa to dig the front garden and plant some new plants
The Clark's Place

During the next week Robbie and I went to Bunnings to get grout to redo the shower recess. They suggested we buy the little tool that is used to remove the grout. ( A Grout Remover) This was hard work but did a good job, then Ben finished the grouting off very neatly even though it involved at lot of bending for a big person.
Remember Youtube <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuIQReUykqw> will help with ideas.




On the Sunday young Lincoln was dedicated to the Lord at Liberty Hill Christian Centre by Pastors Grant and Michelle Hobbs. Many of Robbie's teaching colleagues were there.

Abby, Roobie, Charchar, Ben and Linc.

The following Monday we flew to Melbourne to see Jen and Steve and their two children. Brooke has such a sweet voice with a lovely quality for a young girl. She just might get it from Grandma and Great Grandma Smith.
Brooke singing for Grandpa.
Steve and Jenny took us all to the Dandenong Mountains for a Picnic and coffee.
Jenny and Brookie weaving Daisy-Chains at the Picnic

Ethan is a very special boy. He loves running, is wiry, and tall. he can really play basketball at 11 years of age. He loves to drum is quick and intelligent and he has caught the 'Cap' craze from his Dad. He is not such 
a Big tease as his sister who put THINGS in Poppies bed more than once. Anyway I got her back.

Brookie and her Prince Charlie
We flew back to Sydney domestic with Virgin Australia. 

Boeing B737 Melbourne to Sydney

Much of the flight we were catching up time but there was congestion at Sydney according to ATControl and we had to waste some time. We eventually arrived at the gate on-time and we were soon on the train to Glenfield again.
Ningana Motel MudgeeNo18
Our Honda Accord Vti 2005
After a lovely liver and potato lunch prepared by Robbie, we loaded the Honda and headed for Mudgee in the Mid-West of NSW.Robbie had filled our Esky with all sorts of foods and nibblies. Thanks Rob.
Here we spent the night at the Ningana Motel in Town Mudgee. We were ready for bed early as we were up at five am in Melbourne and had driven 4 hours through the Blue Mountains Peak Hour traffic. This guy doesn't like traffic at high speed. Too much STRESSSSSSSS!

The Border Bridge over the MacIntyre River at Goondiwindi

Next Morning we left early and headed for Auntie Audrey's in Toowoomba. 833km via Coonabarabran, Moree and Goondiwindi.. Ozzieland is a BIG country. But we enjoyed just sticking to the Speed Limit with the Cruze Control on and listening to Esther practising for her Sunday Concert in Gympie with the Gympie Choral Group lead by Mary Devlin.
The road from Gundi to Toowoomba was rough and needs a resurfacing. Still we arrived at Jack St by 3:30pm. We, by this stage,were really wacked. After supper it was shower and bed. Next Morning we visited Jackie Bishop unexpectedly and then after buying some cards at Koorong Bookshop we were soon heading for Gympie the back way via Nanango and Goomeri. another 297kms. Home sweet home at 2pm. 1297km from Sydney.
km

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