Wednesday 30th January 2013

It has been a big mix of weather this week with some very heavy rain on Sunday and Monday but thankfully not enough to do any damage. It was very inconvenient for anyone wanting to celebrate Australia Day outside. There is flooding up the North Coast so we were happy that we opted not to have our regular Byron Bay holiday this year - we would have been stuck there again in the rain & flood waters which happened to us last time.

Thursday 24th January 2013 I dedicated to the back rose gardens getting them weeded, fertilized and treated the soil so that I will have a nice show of roses come March and April.  It took me all day but I was determined to finish.

Friday 25th January 2013 we babysat Joel and Emily from 6.15 am to 5.30 while Anne was at work.  We made pancakes for breakfast and then went down to the Gosford waterfront so Joel & Emily could have a swim.  It was a lovely day and the Gosford waterfront is a perfect place for little ones like Joel and Emily.  The water is shallow so they could paddle around and it was also partly shaded which made it comfortable. There was a playground right next door in the park where the kids could play & we had morning tea at the picnic tables.  Peter bought them a chocolate paddle pop which was a big treat.  We stayed there for a couple of hours until it was time to bring Emily home for a sleep. The kids loved it and were happy to come home for a quiet time in the afternoon.  Joel is getting very good at playing games on my iPad and Emily loves it too.  Anne fed and bathed the kids before taking them home about 5.30.  We went over to the Golf Club for dinner and the raffles and ended up staying until about 11.00pm.  We won a baked dinner in the raffles (leg of lamb & vegetables) which was a good bonus.

Saturday 26th January 2013 we went household shopping in the morning & then had a catch up rest before driving the Graham & Anne's house to celebrate Matthew's 30th birthday.  It was good to catch up with all the family and to congratulate Matthew on his 30th birthday and engagement to Jana and also to have a cuddle of Nicholas & Carla's new son Hamish.  Anne & Graham are looking forward to a month in Europe where they hope to enjoy some skiing in France.  Graham hurt his knee while holidaying at Copacabana over the holidays and is doing physio to get himself fit enough to ski.  Heather & Matt are house sitting for them.
It was a hot afternoon with storms brewing.  We left at a reasonable time because we were booked to play golf on Sunday, and we had a good run home along the highway.

Sunday 27th January 2013 it rained for most of the day - very heavily at times.  Our golf was cancelled but Anne came over with Joel and Emily as Rod was at a mates 40th birthday party at Avoca.  The kids were able to get out on the front verandah & play in the sand pit but the rain was very heavy.  Thank heavens for the iPad which kept them amused.  Anne left late afternoon to pick Rod up from Avoca & we had a slow cooker on for dinner.  Mark Stimpson rang to see if we wanted to go over & have a game of cards as golf had been washed out and they were bored.  We went over to Mark & Anne's after dinner & played cards between watching the final of the tennis.

Monday 28th January 2013 we were up early for F-Troop.  It had rained overnight but was overcast when we were ready to leave.  I had a look at the forecast and it showed very heavy rain coming.  I baled out of F-Troop & Peter went over for a few hours until the rain got too heavy.  I have been managing to get a bit of work done on my travel blog in stops and starts during the week and spent the day doing a bit more.  Anne rang to say that their microwave had blown up so Anne & Joel came over & picked me up and we went out to K-Mart at Erina and got another one.  Thankfully they are not expensive items to buy anymore and are best to replace once they start getting old which prompted me to consider buying a new one for us as we have had our old one for quiet some time and it is a little dog eared.

Tuesday 29th January 2013 the rain had continued over night so the Golf Course was closed and my golf was cancelled.  We decided to go to the movies at Erina as it seemed to be a good rainy day thing to do and we had been recommended a movie to see - Django unchained.  It was a long movie so we had a late lunch afterwards at Erina & I picked up another microwave for us to replace our old one. I got some more photos done and caught up with the ironing in the afternoon & the watched the Mission Impossible movie to finish up the day.

Wednesday 30th January 2013 (today) the weather had cleared so I was out in the garden early dead heading the roses that were ruined in the rain and weeded a bit more of the garden that I did not get to last time..  I got my fertilizing done at the exact right time as the roses will shoot well now that the gardens have got a good drenching.  I will do some more photo editing this afternoon so that I can post my next part of our USA holiday photos.  I am currently up to Zion National Park which was a beautiful place.

Tomorrow is Rod's 40th birthday and they are coming here for a Mum's Lamb Roast (the one I won in the raffle). I will have a birthday cake so the kids can help to blow out the candles.  Rod is having his formal party on Friday night at the Golf Club with his mates which I am sure he will enjoy.