Last lot of catch ups we had were with 'The McKays'. We turned up to Nelly's big smiling face and the boys all excited to see the girls. We had a great time during our days with them all. We relaxed, ate, drank, swam whilst the kids spent time playing each other on the Wii. The girls loved it seeing they don't get a chance to play it on the road. Ethan, Reece, Boo and Meg also had a ball playing dress ups and was cute to watch, we all got a giggle for it. The Legos were also a big hit with Boo and we will be making sure that we buy some along the way for both the girls. The kids also had a great time chasing each other around the back yard with a hose, we all kacked ourselves laughing, was hilarious.
It felt like old times catching up with Nelly, had missed our conversations, didn't feel the same doing it over the phone. Marty and Trev enjoyed a few beers and bourbons together, which Trev had the right idea by putting more In Marty's, made him 'drink a personality' (lol)..... We had some great laughs and time to really catch up which was brilliant.
Nelly and Trev were so generous with letting us use their home as our base while we got some errands done and sort the caravan out. We ended up taking at least 3 big bags (Marty reckons about 100kg) of clothes and other useless stuff out to the shipping container. Now we have more room in the caravan which is great and less crap to cart around. We have left the van their while we head to Tasmania, deciding to tent it due to being so costly to take the can over on the boat. As it was it has cost us $1200 return to take us and the car over, was going to be another $600-800 to take the bloody caravan over. Hence why it was left behind.

A few quick catch ups were with:

Awesome to be able to see Aunty Cheree and Uncle Andrew and all the kids, except Liss :( who couldn't make it. They had been great to us in the past and they were always on the list of people to see whilst home so was great to spend a few hours with them.

We also ventured up to Yackandandah for the day, calling into Beechworth bakery for a bee sting along the way. Was great to see Aunty Brenda, Uncle David, Aunty Neeny and of course Nanna Sullivan. The drive was fantastic, was great to see the old country side again and also to see the family.

The last real thing that we did was see our much missed Labrador, Harvey. When we saw him the first time l was scared that he would have forgotten us. Thank god it seemed he hadn't and we enjoyed several little play catchups whilst in Shepparton. The girls enjoyed playing with him again throwing his tyre and playing fetch. Meg couldn't stop hugging and kissing him, l think she has missed him terribly. Marty did say after seeing him for the first time again 'that we should just get a house and keep Harvey with us'. I felt the same but we again had to say goodbye for a short time. Alissa seems to be enjoying his company and Harvey adores her. It's comforting to know that he is being cared for so well and he seems happy.

All in all, although felt like we hadn't left Shepparton and we were glad to head off again, it was awesome to see al out great mates. We have missed them like crazy and love them all dearly. Cheers, here's to the most amazing mates anyone could have, hip hip hooray.
See you all on our way back from Tassie for a last hoorah...
Bell Xx