We had been looking so forward to coming to Swan Hill to see Bens Aunty Sandra so when we arrived there were huge hugs and lots of conversations and laughs to be had! It was lovely to meet Aunty Sandra's partner "Licky" and her niece Katie who was a flower girl when Ben was a page boy many years ago. We had a delicious roast lamb dinner and pavlova dessert and it was fantastic to catch up. The next morning we went along to the pioneer settlement with Aunty Sandra and where Licky was volunteering for the day. It was a fantastic place, beautifully set up as an olden day settlement. We called in to all the town shops; the lolly shop, chemist, barbers and the bakery with its underground oven and where they showed how they churned butter. We watched the blacksmith heat up his steel and bang it into shape, went for a ride in a 1926 Dodge and a cart drawn by a beautiful big draught horse. We had some "wanted" signs printed on an old printing press (which unfortunately ended up dropped in the river), played a pianola, got locked in jail and put on detention in the old schoolhouse!! So much fun! To finish the day we went for an afternoon ride up the Murray on the old paddle steamer, the Pyap. It was a great day. The next day we spent looking around the town, taking in the Main Street, the big new sub-division and park, the beautiful golf club and course and the high school where Bens dad went to school. We had afternoon tea at a spectacular cafe overlooking the river and caught up with some old family friends. We had another delicious tea at Aunty Sandra's place and unfortunately said our goodbyes, there were lots of hugs and kisses and see you soons!

(This blog was written by Mum as my blog went missing!)