Both Nick and I were up through the night with the dog and if it hadn't been so cold it would have been quite pleasant watching the stars. As it was we were both desperate to get back in bed to warm up again! Tally is beginning to sleep in a little longer in the mornings and the kids often wake up before her so they take her outside for a wee while Nick and I sleep on. We eventually woke up around 8 and although it was dry outside it was still freezing! I had a hot shower and then sat outside with my morning cup of coffee but although Nick had good intentions it was far too cold for him and he took his back to bed!! We had breakfast and packed up a picnic to spend the day exploring the area. Before we left Nick put the fixed flat tyre back on the van and as he raised the van up on the jack, the jack snapped - bloody Jaycoe!! Our first stop was Parkes, a town made famous by the film The Dish! We called into a bakery and got some bread for lunch then Nick found a hardware store and replaced the jack. The radio telescope was about 20 kms out of town and at its base there was a fantastic information centre with some stunning photographs taken of the stars and planets. I took Katharine and Anna to see them while the boys opted to stay in the car with the dog and both girls loved them. There was also a series of curved mirrors that made you look fat, tall, and skinny and Anna found these hilarious! Outside in the garden were two whispering dishes and while I whispered into one of them the girls could hear me in the dish on the other side of the park. They were both full of excitement by the time we got back to the car so we then had to take the boys and show them everything too - The Dish was well worth the drive! We headed back into town for our picnic and found a playground to eat in, devouring the yummy fresh bread and the jams bought yesterday. We moved on when everyone had had enough, as it was too cold to linger and drove into Forbes, described by the Loney Planet as one of the prettiest towns in NSW. Unfortunately just as we arrived it started to bucket down so we skipped the idea of afternoon tea by the river and after a quick drive around the town centre headed home instead. It continued to rain for the rest of the evening and only the dog seemed upset to be trapped inside. None of the kids wanted very much for dinner so I cooked them up some corn on the cob and then got them ready for bed early. The smaller kids played card games all evening and Katharine was happy to read, so Nick and I had a very pleasant dinner for two at the table with elbow room for the first time in 10 months!! We fell asleep listening to the rain, which should be the end of it as sunshine is promised for the rest of the week - there is only so much wet weather you can cope with in a tin can, especially with a small black sponge running around your legs!!