We are now on the road again after 8 weeks at Coolah and Gunnedah. We have had the best time, playing with the grandchildren and have had lots of cuddles, especially with baby Ruby.
Ruby Irene is now 9 weeks old and is growing so fast, changing every day. She was born nearly 3 weeks early by caesarean on the 22/9, weighing in at 2.7 kgs. Now she has about doubled that weight and is the spitting image of Olivia at the same age.
While we were staying with Jo and Phil at Coolah, Chris was doing the cooking and with me in charge of the washing machine, I'm sure we have been of some help to them. We also had a few days at Gunnedah, helping out there a bit too.
We've made the Library visits with Olivia, Mulberry picking with Josh and Ellie, Swimming. We've spent hours at the swings. We had a day at Coonabarabran to check out the big space telescope and planets with Olivia and her other grandparents (Grandfather and Ma Ma) while Ruby had a girl's day with her mum and Great Grandma Irene, who she was named after. We had family dinners at Tambar Springs pub, the halfway point between Coolah and Gunnedah. Night time baths and story times. Lastly, and every bit as importantly, I need to mention that the Cronulla Sharks won the Grand Final this year. After 50 years in the making, we were all together to support the team, watch them win and celebrate. All wonderful memories!
It's was great to have had so much time with the family but now it's also a good feeling to be back on the road again with our little home rolling along behind us.
We spent last night at Guyra "Mother of ducks" free camp. It's a lovely little spot that we have stayed at a few times now, next to a small lagoon and a golf course which Chris always makes good use of. He played golf yesterday as we got there and again this morning before we left. We had an early dinner at the golf/bowls club last night and that was to be recommended. Friendly people, great meals, good value and big portions.
Today we will go as far as Grafton and stop but haven't decided where yet. It's Jacaranda blossom time and as Grafton has a lot of Jacaranda trees it should be a wonderful sight. Last time we came through was at this time of year but the blossoms were past their best so here's hoping!
We're heading to Tweed before starting a house sit in a weeks time. We will be housesitting until mid January and will see the kids again over Christmas and New Year as they are all holidaying up the coast too.
This year seems to have gone by so quickly and we feel like we have spent most of it with and around family. We don't know yet what our plans are for next year but hopefully we can get in more travelling and exploring new places again.
As Christmas is speeding ever closer I will take this opportunity to wish everyone (if anyone!) reading this blog a merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2017.
Once again I can only say how fortunate we are to be able to be doing what we are doing, living in our van, roaming the country and making plans at the drop of a hat. After 4 and a half years, this is still the best life. This "homeless and unemployed" business is definitely to be recommended. Next year though, Chris will be 65 so the old man can officially retire at last!!