Hi Everyone

So on Friday I went to Canberra with Pam and Bill, thanks to Nan and John who paid for the petrol to get there.  Canberra is the capital of Australia for those of you who don’t know!!! On the way there the scenery was amazing and I just couldn’t shut my eyes.  The trees where just spectacular as that’s all you could see in the distance for miles and miles, as you can see in the photos.

We first went to see Parliament House the new one!! Then on to see Old Parliament House.  Next to the Old Parliament House was a little café called the Rose Garden Café, and when you walked passed it you could see why, the garden was full and I mean full of roses of all different colours it was beautiful!!!

After seeing the Old and New Parliament House we went on to see Blundells’ Cottage which is the first building that started off in Canberra, they wanted to build something where it was standing so what they did is move it brick by brick to another location….its a lovely little cottage and I manages to get a photo of the inside (don’t know if I was allowed but never mind!!!)  From the cottage you could basically see the whole of Canberra, it has been so well planned out and is really clean and tidy.  Also I could see this huge fountain which Pam and Bill told me it was given to Australia by the queen of England.  Well bloody hell it is the biggest fountain I have and will ever see in my life (just take a look at the pictures)

Next we went to St John’s Church, as we walked into the grounds of the church there was the most gorgeous parrot, it was blue and red and was having a bird bath.  As we walked into the church it was really emotional as it was where Pam and Bill got married and where my mum was a bridesmaid at 7 years old it think she was.  Pam had to hold the tears back and Bill got a big lump in his throat.  Who would have thought I would be standing in the same spot as all my family, they where all there and it was great to see.  What a beautiful church!!

Next we went on to the War Memorial, we just looked around the outside of the building, because if you want to go there for a visit it will take you nearly all day in itself.  It was magnificent to see.  Also the reason that I took a picture of Simpson and his donkey is because I know john would have liked to see it.

Then it was on to have a coffee and we didn’t just go to any old place, we went to one of the poshest hotels in Canberra called the Hyatt Hotel Canberra.  It was sooooo posh and I would love to have stayed the night there if I had an extra $1000 or so!!!  My cousin Stewart has stayed there and I am so jealous.  Well I had to take a picture of one of the Bell Boys as I was in stitches when I walked in, the outfits they have to where are hilarious and I can’t see anyone in Bournemouth/Poole being seen dead in an outfit like that!!!

So we drove back form Canberra and it had been such a wonderful day, Bill had planned the whole thing so we could fit it all in in a few hours, he did such a great job.  But the day hadn’t ended it was Bill’s 70th Birthday and we were all going out for dinner to the bowling club near them.  Bill had a great time, but dud make me laugh as when we got there he said “it’s a real lively atmosphere in here tonight how great” so I had a look around and all I could see where OAP’s.  Me and Pam where in stitches, bless Bill!!!  I had a great time anyway and Bill definitely did after all the wine he drank ha ha!!!

Saturday I had a bit of a lazy day and then went for a walk later on (what an adventure that was for those of you who know what happened!!) Put it this way I have learnt my lesson not to walk off with strangers!!

Sunday Pam and Bill took me to this little place just down the road from them but I can’t remember what it’s called.  It is where kangaroos just run wild around the houses which is very unusual even for Australia.  It was amazing to see and they were just lazing in front of this one house in the shade.

Monday I went down the beach for a walk again, its really hilly where Pam and Bill live so hopefully I am getting nice and fit!!  It was so peaceful and such a nice day I walked up and down the beach about 20 times with my feet in the clear blue sea, then I went and sat on some rocks to have a rest and just watched the world go by, thinking of all my friends and family back home and missing them lots!!

Tuesday I went down the beach again but this time I took a towel and some (bathers as they call them in Oz) so I could have a swim and sun bath.  It hit 36 degrees and the wind was even hotter so I spent most of the time reading a book under a tree in the shade.  But I am still getting a tan even when I am in the shade wearing factor 30 sun cream.  I had a great day just lazing by the beach and watching the world go by.

So my next plans of action are to go to a little town called Mogo while I am here, great for little goodies to buy.  I also hope to go horse riding sometime, and to see Birdlife Sanctuary (a bit like Healesville). I am also going to Moruya market on Saturday morning.

I will be leaving Bateman’s Bay on the 1st December to head back to Melbourne, its an over night journey on a coach and when I get into Melbourne City I will then be catching the train into Narree Warren to see Sue, Lachlan and the kids.  Then I don’t know what I will be doing on my lead up to X-Mas.

Bobby my mums sister and Ross my uncle are going away at X-Mas so I am hoping to be staying at theirs, as they have a swimming pool.  I will then be able to use Ross’ car over X-Mas to get to Sue and Lachlan’s, that’s if it all goes to plan.

Hope you are all well and I love receiving your messages……it makes my day!!!

Love you all xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx