Charlotte captured a Dragon fly in the veggie patch. Budding Alby Mangles.

On arrival at approx 1:15pm ( Bel was very quick to mention she nearly beat my time) we were greeted by Chootie, Al, Crayden and Ann. Was lovely to see them all again.

It had been some time since they had seen the Blonde Assassins. After a lovely Thai Beef Salad and bangers, the family headed home under the watchful navigators eye.

Grandpa took the girls for a nice long ride on the Gator and then to be climbing tree. After I fixed the gate we came home for a glass of bubbles and dinner.

The girls knocked off Chicken and flat bread whilst mum cooked up a storm with spatchcock and spuds. Very nice.

Things have come a long way since our last visit. Dads a little rounder, Charlottes a little more annoying and Sophie has moved from Dora the Explorer books to Bels trashy mags. Like Mother like daughter.

Well it was a very relaxing last few days. I think the girls got off the couch a sum total of 7 times, 5 of which were to eat or go to the toilet!!

However there were some chores to be done also. Charlotte and i decided to tidy up the new wood pile and stack the wood as “grandpa is getting too old to lift wood”. I did tell her that she had better ask Grandma of that comment is indeed true!

Then there was the final evenings concert. Cost a fortune for tickets but worth the expense…

Here we have Bel and the girls on the Gator. I beleive this is the first time Bel has driven it. They (and the Gator) survived…

Then we had Charlotte and myself on the Gator heading to get some fire wood. However CHARLOTTE FELL OUT!!!!

Very late start to the day. Overcast and zero this morning. Fire was well and truly out. Reset the fire and then fed the horses. Comics chest still looks sore and he is being a bit of a pain to get near him to check on it.

Once I wedged the three girls out of bed I made them pancakes for brekkie. The little ones have spent the whole morning on the couch in front of the fire playing on the iPods then DS.

Bel went for a ride up the valley at 11:30 and girls STILL on the couch. They decided they wanted to stay up another night so will head back Saturday morning.

Mad and Dave headed off home today, leaving around 10:30am. Wasn’t too eventful for us. Lunch was flat bread we then collected more wood in the gator and remade the camp fire.

The earth was still so warm that it started the fire itself, no newspaper just twigs!!

Girls were very tired and looks like Sophie is coming down with Charlottes bug. Had an early dinner of rissoles and flat bread then off to bed. Was a full moon and dam cold. Gauge read about 1 degree when I went to bed. Very bright out side.

Good day today. Dave and I cooked up the Moroccan soup for lunch. Doubled the recipe and work nicely. Once the pot was on the stove we went for a MTB ride up the valley for Daves first trip up. Nice easy ride but at 10 degrees at midday was a bit rude.

Lunch was tops. With a glass of rizza!

The girls went for a ride up the valley whilst Dave and I (with the kids) built the camp fire. Early lighting of the fire was good. Kids had home made chicken nuggets for dinner whilst we howed into the cheese and bubbles.

Bel made a lovely treat of “blondies” which was a recipes of butter, white chocolate and marshmallows. very nice.

Since Dave forgot the pasta maker we had to do with salmon! Salmon was baked in the oven with Dill butter ( mum the rest is in the freezer), then there was some playing. Chilli in one, chilli and preserved Lemon in the other. Served with pumkin mash and broccolini. Very nice.

Dinner was tops and was finished with daves desert. To quote “it’s a, like semi aflredo something or other…. Semifredo al caffe ice cream. ” very nice with bits of coffee in it.

Went quite well with a bucket of baileys.

Dinner over and stories begin.

And then theres us.

Wasn’t the earliest starts to the day, which was a good thing. Very overcast this morning that kept the kids in bed for a few more minutes, however it was 3 degrees!!

Dave got the fire sparked up this morning. Nice to come into a warm house.

Had fried eggs and bacon. The kids are off talking to the horses and I’m on my second cuppa tea.

Frogs released and i decided to go for a ride. Having been told that I should go the finchly track I decided to go into Wollombi. All the creek crossings were full and negotiated with caution on the way in, on the way back was a different story.

Made it into Wollombi in 35min and exactly 14km. Had a quick break and headed home.

Mad and Dave arrived around midday, beat me back. Few chores done……

> fed the horses
> dragged the dead wallaby up the valley.
> filled the veggie patch water tank
> brought up more fire wood

Pizzas for lunch then set a fire down in the fire pit for the kiddies. Dave and I walked the small ones to fairy land. As the sun set it was freezing!!! Once the fire was lit we made hamburgers for the kids to have around the fire. Then marshmallows.

With the kids in bed it was time for adults to eat. Bel bought a large slow cooker for Wollombi so we gave it a run. I put the shanks on at 10am. Sauce included passetta, red wine, beef stock, chillies, garlic, onions and secret ingredient of half cup maple syrup.

Dinner was awesome. Had it with beans and mash potatoes. Very nice. Bel then made a dessert of rhubarb crumble sourced from the veggie patch. Quite nice but not enough filling.

Rob I strained the sauce and put it in the freezer for your future use.

Evening finished with baileys and milk whilst playing pictionary.