Hi dear friends, rellies and peregrinosWe hope your Christmas and New Year were as good as ours!
Well December started cool enough and we had some wonderful warm days and it finished as hot as can be, but we had escaped the heat by going south to my son John’s for the holiday and coming back just before New Year. Unfortunately the trip back up was on one of the hottest days and the air-conditioning in the van went wrong for the trip just to make it unbearable for us. Still looking back we had a wonderful Christmas and New Year and hope all of you did too.
The trip on the sailing ship started us off and you should have seen the photos of that. But you can see them again by clicking here if you want.
At Lizzy's graduation it was announced that she was the Dux of the school (best student)! Her report was all excellent except for music, for that she received only good chuckle. Well done Lizzy such a report your grandfather never got chuckle. I did get one excellent once for art but never for anything else. We were also shown Emil's report too when we arrived at my son John's house and his too was excellent except for music. I don't think those teachers had listened to their trumpet and uke playing!!!!!! Unfortunately we never attended so have no photos
Next came Tricia's Birthday that was spent with a pleasant party at her son Matthew's house to save them dragging the young children out and we were all able to use his lovely pool too, needless to say we had a great time.
I also started walking much earlier to beat the heat, see these photos of by the river walk I love the ones of the cormorant.
Next was a band concert at Lizzy's school as she plays trumpet. It's great to see the younger ones are taking well to playing instruments, it’s only old granddad now that can't play anything, only the fool!!
He was by now starting painting again, this time a fishing village on the north coast of Spain, see half finished picture. I still haven't found time to start again after the hectic holiday!
Alex was in the school pantomime and joined in as a peasant and one of the seven dwarfs. Strange, as they were all almost two meters tall! See photo album 2 on our web page
Next we fuelled up the Ford Transit and headed down south to the town of Denmark.
John and Silvia made a great fuss of us and the children were so excited about Santa's visit and getting their presents. Great fun was had seeing John stuff the turkey!
This was to be a little different to our normal Christmas as Silvia is of German decent. So on Christmas Eve, we climbed with the children from the carpark up to Monkey Rock and enjoyed the wonderful views.
Finding this group of scrub at the top Benjamin said "House" and had great fun going in and out and we were happy as there are big drops all round this huge rock we were on. A elderly mountaineer lowered himself off with ropes while we were there!!! We came down the easy way chuckle
We returned home to a huge meal, for starters, prawns and yabbies (freshwater lobsters) eaten outside then indoors for turkey and all the trimmings cooked by John and Silvia.
Then presents were given out, a mountain of gifts were taken from under the tree and soon their colourful wrapping's were strewn around the floor!!!
It would take me two or three days to get over the alcohol consumed that day
25th Christmas day
The children were up early and were riding new bikes by the time we emerged from the Ford van where we were sleeping. They were very excited as Santa had been in the night and left more presents under the tree and there was also some more from the family here and Marion and Bill from England there too! Squeals of excitement as these were given out and opened, shouts for joy and wrapping paper filled the room again!
We were still a bit delicate so the planned beach trip was changed to the local one and here we swam or just rested the head, depending on the head! what a crowded beach !
Those waves make a lot of noise I found but it's not frozen chuckle :)
Later in the day when we were feeling more ‘alive’ we played games in the garden – mostly invented by Emil – then went indoors for Pass the Parcel, which was requested by Maya. Wig and glasses on first and then unwrap the parcel!!!!
26th Boxing-day,
Silvia said we would take things easy today and then cooked a huge roast leg of ham and invited friends to join us. The children had great fun as this meant more children to play with and one wonders how the trampoline survived the pounding it received.
Meanwhile we were able to listen to Maisie, John, and John’s friend Dave play their ukulele's, notice in the video this was the day of the Aussie flies!
27th Sunday
Emil and myself climbed the hill in the forest at the back of where John lives, to one of the granite outcrops and here we discovered a cave, to Emil’s delight! I had walked this way to Monkey Rock before and not found it.
The party plans changed after finding the flies had gone to bed at 5pm on Boxing Day. John now phoned all those invited and was able to change the time of the paella that had to be cooked. That solved that problem but the next thing was the big gas ring John had, was far too big to fit the paella pan that I had brought here with us. Had I realised I should have brought a bigger pan! Never mind, with a roll of sticky tape and a roll of tinfoil we managed to save the day without blowing up the paella or ourselves.
The paella might not have looked as yellow as normal as Denmark has no shop that sells the colour we normally use, but fifteen or more friends of John and Silvia's ate all but a few grains of rice, so it couldn't have been that bad, chuckle!
The following day we had to set off for home with Maya coming with us for a few days. We broke the journey for Maya to see the biggest sheep in the world!
Having gingerly walked underneath it she said
"That’s a Boy sheep Nanny!"
As said this was a hot trip and I had to stop to sleep because of the heat that seemed to dry my eyes so badly.
New Year
This was to be at Tricia and John’s small farm (casa del campo) in the country at Jarradale, with them and Josie and her family who would have to arrive late as Alex had to work! Maisie and I thought Maya might fall asleep before they got there so plans were made to dress up and perform a pantomime for Tricia and John to make it more exciting for Maya, but we need not have worried. Having sorted out the right costumes and taken them there, she then said she didn't want to do it. Being the producer, director and star of the show we had to cancel it, chuckle! Arriving at the farm the spa was full, hot and ready and Maya was soon enthralled splashing and changing where the bubbles came from and had a great time.
In the meantime our John had phoned that morning to say he wanted the family to be all together so they would drive all the way up just to stay the night!!! Maisie and myself were thrilled but we had such a job not to let the secret out to Maya! While setting out the mattresses in the front room! Maya was jumping from one to the other and asked
“Why there were so many mattresses?”
I, in a moment of not thinking, said to her.
"Those two are for mummy and daddy!"
Maisie saved the day by giving me the sharp point of her elbow in the ribs and said
"Oh you have been with us so long we seem like your Mum and Dad now, he means Nanny and Granddad!!"
With a quick frown she looked at me showing she understood - Granddad is a bit crazy - she then continued with her jumping game!
You should have seen her face later when John’s car pulled up outside. Josie and Simon had by now arrived with Alex and Lizzy it was great to all be together again this year!
A huge Paella with onion in!!!! (chuckle! just a good hearted dig at John as we differ over how to cook a paella!) Yes this was cooked by Tricia's John and enjoyed by all.
Simon informed us that they HAD arranged a performance this year for us at great expense and, in the usual New Year’s Eve style, had sweated hard practising for five minutes. As you can see, spacemen and mime together with dance soon had us laughing.
If you just looked at that video you must realise I'm not the only crazy one in this family!
Emil played the ukulele for us too. Pity his dad was too tired to play after the huge drive up. The Night came to an end with all the traditional dancing, songs and toasting of friends and loved ones past and present as the clock struck 12 o'clock.
Well! not quite. Next a climb up to the top pasture to look at the stars and a wonderful full moon! A blue moon this year Simon informed us as we fooled about in the dry grass in the dark!
Look out for snakes "Snakes !!!!!! WHAT SNAKES!!!!!
Mad dogs and English men go out in the midday sun. Ausies go nuts at new year full moon
Breakfast at midday over, we returned home to our place and John and the family stayed another night here before heading back. Silvia and Maya and Emil went on the train to Perth to shop in the morning while we and their dad, amused Benjamin till he fell asleep and then we took things easy. At lunchtime Silvia and the two children returned laden, so lunch, a quick swim in the pool and soon we were waving goodbye again!
Benjamin Maya
and Emil ready to go
How quiet the house is now!!! The only noise is the aircon – it’s a hot 39c outside!
Love to all
Abrazos
Bye till next month
Mike and Maisie XXX
The trip on the sailing ship started us off and you should have seen the photos of that. But you can see them again by clicking here if you want.
At Lizzy's graduation it was announced that she was the Dux of the school (best student)! Her report was all excellent except for music, for that she received only good chuckle. Well done Lizzy such a report your grandfather never got chuckle. I did get one excellent once for art but never for anything else. We were also shown Emil's report too when we arrived at my son John's house and his too was excellent except for music. I don't think those teachers had listened to their trumpet and uke playing!!!!!! Unfortunately we never attended so have no photos
Next came Tricia's Birthday that was spent with a pleasant party at her son Matthew's house to save them dragging the young children out and we were all able to use his lovely pool too, needless to say we had a great time.
I also started walking much earlier to beat the heat, see these photos of by the river walk I love the ones of the cormorant.
Next was a band concert at Lizzy's school as she plays trumpet. It's great to see the younger ones are taking well to playing instruments, it’s only old granddad now that can't play anything, only the fool!!
He was by now starting painting again, this time a fishing village on the north coast of Spain, see half finished picture. I still haven't found time to start again after the hectic holiday!
Alex was in the school pantomime and joined in as a peasant and one of the seven dwarfs. Strange, as they were all almost two meters tall! See photo album 2 on our web page
Next we fuelled up the Ford Transit and headed down south to the town of Denmark.
John and Silvia made a great fuss of us and the children were so excited about Santa's visit and getting their presents. Great fun was had seeing John stuff the turkey!
This was to be a little different to our normal Christmas as Silvia is of German decent. So on Christmas Eve, we climbed with the children from the carpark up to Monkey Rock and enjoyed the wonderful views.
Finding this group of scrub at the top Benjamin said "House" and had great fun going in and out and we were happy as there are big drops all round this huge rock we were on. A elderly mountaineer lowered himself off with ropes while we were there!!! We came down the easy way chuckle
We returned home to a huge meal, for starters, prawns and yabbies (freshwater lobsters) eaten outside then indoors for turkey and all the trimmings cooked by John and Silvia.
Then presents were given out, a mountain of gifts were taken from under the tree and soon their colourful wrapping's were strewn around the floor!!!
It would take me two or three days to get over the alcohol consumed that day
25th Christmas day
The children were up early and were riding new bikes by the time we emerged from the Ford van where we were sleeping. They were very excited as Santa had been in the night and left more presents under the tree and there was also some more from the family here and Marion and Bill from England there too! Squeals of excitement as these were given out and opened, shouts for joy and wrapping paper filled the room again!
We were still a bit delicate so the planned beach trip was changed to the local one and here we swam or just rested the head, depending on the head! what a crowded beach !
Those waves make a lot of noise I found but it's not frozen chuckle :)
Later in the day when we were feeling more ‘alive’ we played games in the garden – mostly invented by Emil – then went indoors for Pass the Parcel, which was requested by Maya. Wig and glasses on first and then unwrap the parcel!!!!
26th Boxing-day,
Silvia said we would take things easy today and then cooked a huge roast leg of ham and invited friends to join us. The children had great fun as this meant more children to play with and one wonders how the trampoline survived the pounding it received.
Meanwhile we were able to listen to Maisie, John, and John’s friend Dave play their ukulele's, notice in the video this was the day of the Aussie flies!
27th Sunday
Emil and myself climbed the hill in the forest at the back of where John lives, to one of the granite outcrops and here we discovered a cave, to Emil’s delight! I had walked this way to Monkey Rock before and not found it.
The party plans changed after finding the flies had gone to bed at 5pm on Boxing Day. John now phoned all those invited and was able to change the time of the paella that had to be cooked. That solved that problem but the next thing was the big gas ring John had, was far too big to fit the paella pan that I had brought here with us. Had I realised I should have brought a bigger pan! Never mind, with a roll of sticky tape and a roll of tinfoil we managed to save the day without blowing up the paella or ourselves.
The paella might not have looked as yellow as normal as Denmark has no shop that sells the colour we normally use, but fifteen or more friends of John and Silvia's ate all but a few grains of rice, so it couldn't have been that bad, chuckle!
The following day we had to set off for home with Maya coming with us for a few days. We broke the journey for Maya to see the biggest sheep in the world!
Having gingerly walked underneath it she said
"That’s a Boy sheep Nanny!"
As said this was a hot trip and I had to stop to sleep because of the heat that seemed to dry my eyes so badly.
New Year
This was to be at Tricia and John’s small farm (casa del campo) in the country at Jarradale, with them and Josie and her family who would have to arrive late as Alex had to work! Maisie and I thought Maya might fall asleep before they got there so plans were made to dress up and perform a pantomime for Tricia and John to make it more exciting for Maya, but we need not have worried. Having sorted out the right costumes and taken them there, she then said she didn't want to do it. Being the producer, director and star of the show we had to cancel it, chuckle! Arriving at the farm the spa was full, hot and ready and Maya was soon enthralled splashing and changing where the bubbles came from and had a great time.
In the meantime our John had phoned that morning to say he wanted the family to be all together so they would drive all the way up just to stay the night!!! Maisie and myself were thrilled but we had such a job not to let the secret out to Maya! While setting out the mattresses in the front room! Maya was jumping from one to the other and asked
“Why there were so many mattresses?”
I, in a moment of not thinking, said to her.
"Those two are for mummy and daddy!"
Maisie saved the day by giving me the sharp point of her elbow in the ribs and said
"Oh you have been with us so long we seem like your Mum and Dad now, he means Nanny and Granddad!!"
With a quick frown she looked at me showing she understood - Granddad is a bit crazy - she then continued with her jumping game!
You should have seen her face later when John’s car pulled up outside. Josie and Simon had by now arrived with Alex and Lizzy it was great to all be together again this year!
A huge Paella with onion in!!!! (chuckle! just a good hearted dig at John as we differ over how to cook a paella!) Yes this was cooked by Tricia's John and enjoyed by all.
Simon informed us that they HAD arranged a performance this year for us at great expense and, in the usual New Year’s Eve style, had sweated hard practising for five minutes. As you can see, spacemen and mime together with dance soon had us laughing.
If you just looked at that video you must realise I'm not the only crazy one in this family!Emil played the ukulele for us too. Pity his dad was too tired to play after the huge drive up. The Night came to an end with all the traditional dancing, songs and toasting of friends and loved ones past and present as the clock struck 12 o'clock.
Well! not quite. Next a climb up to the top pasture to look at the stars and a wonderful full moon! A blue moon this year Simon informed us as we fooled about in the dry grass in the dark!
Look out for snakes "Snakes !!!!!! WHAT SNAKES!!!!!
Mad dogs and English men go out in the midday sun. Ausies go nuts at new year full moon
Breakfast at midday over, we returned home to our place and John and the family stayed another night here before heading back. Silvia and Maya and Emil went on the train to Perth to shop in the morning while we and their dad, amused Benjamin till he fell asleep and then we took things easy. At lunchtime Silvia and the two children returned laden, so lunch, a quick swim in the pool and soon we were waving goodbye again!
Benjamin Maya
and Emil ready to go
How quiet the house is now!!! The only noise is the aircon – it’s a hot 39c outside!
Love to all
Abrazos
Bye till next month
Mike and Maisie XXX
No comments:
Post a Comment