Woke up to the sound of the Lorakeets this morning and as we sat outside having our coffee they buzzed our heads looking for food! Before we knew it the kids were raiding the bread bag and were outside with about 20 birds and rabbits all around them. A seven year old boy from the caravan next door came out to watch and soon joined in the fun so the boys are happy they have a new friend (and the girls are happy that the boys leave them in peace!!). The weather forecast for the day was rain and the skies were grey and storming looking but no rain as yet. We decided to go out for a walk while it was dry and do school in the afternoon. We drove out to Tomaree National Park, which was only five minutes away at the end of Shoal Bay and walked to the summit - 161 metres above sea level and 310 steps!! It was 2km to the top and everyone loved it. Tomaree Head is at the mouth of Port Nelson and on the other side is Yacaba Head, and both of them are old volcanoes. When we started the walk we couldn't see the top as the clouds were so low but by the time we had made it to the top the cloud have lifted and we could see way out to sea - no whales though! Fingal Bay looked very impressive with beautiful blue water and a white sandbar leading to the old lighthouse - another day trip planned! On the way back down we walked to the old WW2 gun battery before heading back to the car and going home for lunch. We found a library in Salamander Bay so headed there for the afternoon to do some schoolwork. Unfortunately none of us where really into it and when the librarian told us we would need to move from a little side school room we were in we decided to pack up and finish instead! A big shopping centre with a Woollies was across the road (we can only shop at Woollies now Katharine is collecting the veggie stickers!!) so we did quite a large shop just so she could get more stickers - their marketing plan is working!! On the way home we called into Nelson Bay so I could pick up a few more presents for K and then we headed home. The kids shot out to see the birds while Nick and I wrapped presents (no one has objected to newspaper so far!) and made a card. It didn't start raining until it began to get dark and then it came down really heavy and continued throughout the evening so we were all trapped inside from dinner onwards!