A weekend at Old Bar

I hopped on the train at Oak Flats on Friday morning at 8.45am and arrived at Taree at 5.10pm. It was a 'cool' ride and I read, slept, did word puzzles and did some revision on chorus songs. What a way to spend the day! I arrived rested and ready to spend a couple of days with the family. Here's a new photo of the boys.

This is a nice one with Henry the Lab which Katrina took in December last year.
Ben the eldest is holding Harry and Sam is standing at the back while Nick is on the back of the bike.
This morning, Nick and I set off into Taree armed with the newspaper and the GPS.
Not too much on offer but we managed a few toys for Harry and some clothes for Zara. We stopped for a drink at Maccas on the way home and Nicks comment was - 'we spent more on two drinks that we did at the garage sales!'
Oh well that's the way of it sometimes.

Brad and Katrina have gone out for dinner and a movie while Nick, Sam and Mardie are Harry sitting. Then tomorrow morning - the train epic again.
It's been a short but nice visit.

Happy Australia Day

 

We had breakfast in the Park at 7am on the foreshores of Lake Illawarra.
It was a nice cloudy morning, good music and a tasty $3 breakfast which was put on by Shellharbour Council.
Then home for 'Cockies Joy' - damper (cooked by Maureen)and golden syrup - YUMMO.
I even found some TOY boys! Everyone was having fun.
Now off to have a 'nanna nap' before heading off to sing at an Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony with Wollongong Council.
Happy Australia Day to you!

Strutting our stuff ...

 

Here we all are
singing up a storm.

Maybe we should recruit these
transient visitors to become members
of the Chorus?

Congratulations Cobie and Joseph

 

Wishing them health and happiness
in their lives together


Here they are
Mr and Mrs Harradine

A very special 'sing-out'

 

This afternoon, under the trees at Jamberoo Valley Lodge, members of Wollongong Harmony Chorus were priviledged to be able to sing at the wedding of one of our special members.
Cobie was the 'baby' on the risers until recently and we have watched her as she has developed into a beautiful young lady and a confident member of the front row.

Look ...... Magic!

 

It is time to 'thin' the carrots.
We pulled one out - washed it in the dogs water bucket and presto - crunch.
Zara thinks it was worth the wait.
When to we pull some more Mardie?

Who remembers 'Curly Pet'?

 

Mardie had fun curling up Zara's hair when she was looking after her last week.
I thought it looked cute - mother was not too sure though. LOL
Here she is sitting with Tammy our Siamese who is becoming quite tolerant of her (most of the time)and enjoys a gentle pat.
They were sitting quietly watching Iggle Piggle and 'The Night Garden'
What do they see in it I wonder?????

New Year at Old Bar

 

New Year at Old Bar was a quiet one with the family having to come to terms with the death of James, Katrina's ex husband and father of the three boys Ben, Sam and Nick. He was killed in an accident on his motor bike on the 22nd of December.
The family took comfort in watching Zara and Harry playing together and opening their Christmas parcels - Zara managed to put on four or five pairs of undies while Harry put his on his head - how often children can 'normalise' our feelings.
Nick was sporting his 'shark' bite - it was really caused by the fin of his surf board but he likes the shark story better. Here is a picture of his suture line the day that he had the stitches out. Then it was only two more days and he could get in the pool!
Sam looks a bit like Al Capone in his 2nd hand hat from Mardie and there are the 'kissin' cousins' - cute eh?
Harry enjoyed sharing Aunty Leelee's icy pole but wasn't too keen on staying onshore with Mardie while big brother Nick and Daddy Brad went off in the kayaks to set some crab traps.

Memories of Christmas 2008

 

Here are a few images of Christmas at the 'Rail' 2008.
Zara enjoyed opening her presents and we all enjoyed watching her.
Bailey thought the pink tent was pretty good too.