On Boxing Day we met other daughter, Carol and SIL, David at the airport. Soon we were all on the way to Melbourne. Two and a half hours later we collected a hire car and drove another 2 hours south to Rye on the Mornington Peninsula. Victoria is famous for having inconsistent weather. You can have 4 seasons in one day. Well we arrived in winter even though it is supposed to be summer. Lucky we had our jackets.
Carol and David got us to our accommodation, which was beautiful cottages in the bush. We didn't have time to explore because we were expected at Bernie's family's beach house for another Christmas Dinner and celebration.
Bill is amazed that we were actually going to taste this exclusive wine.
Peter decanted the wine and is sharing it between 15 of us. Peter and Holly live in the Margaret River wine area of Western Australia and he told us all about the wine we were about to taste.
Careful, careful.
Cheers to the family and to Bernie and Sonya's marriage. (Jason is on the left) It was a beautiful wine.
Time to pull the crackers. Helen (left) and Neville (right) are the wonderful parents of Bernie. They opened their holiday house for Christmas and the garden for the wedding.
The groom and bride to be.
The children help Santa Grandpa Neville give out the presents. Their little cousin Fox was in bed asleep.
What a lovely, big, happy, family gathering :) Our families are scattered all over the world. My parents, sister & her family all live in Australia; my sisters-in-law and their respective families - some in USA, others, the UK and others in New Zealand. Only my own little family (husband and two grown children) and FIL (aged 94) still remain in SA. Our own Christmas gathering was very small, but nevertheless lovely!
ReplyDeleteWishing you all a very, very happy wedding celebration!
Tasting 'Grange' has always been on my Bucket List. It's Australia's Number One Wine. We had 1995 Vintage which sells at present for A$450.00. The 1952 vintage sells for A$12,500.00. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteWhoa!! My man ... here let me help you with that. I am your new best friend ...
ReplyDeleteNoice family ...
It sounds like a long trip but well worth the time. What a lovely family gathering, everyone seems to be having a wonderful time.
ReplyDeleteIt amazes me that liquid can be worth so much ... at work we used to give away a bottle of Grange to sales reps who did million dollar deals.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a happy time with a whole new family and exclusive wine. I never have tasted such an expensive wine, must be exciting.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful time it looks like you all had! Congratulations to everybody.
ReplyDeleteLooks like everyone had a great time, Diane! Congrats to your daughter and new hubby! I wish you and your family all the best in 2011.
ReplyDeleteFamily, friends, food and fun...who could ask for anything more :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to your daughter and new SIL.
A very Happy New Year to you and yours, all the best for 2011.
☼ Sunny a/k/a Sonia (with an i)
That looks like a great atmosphere. What a social whirl you have had this Christmas. xx
ReplyDeleteLooks like a fun-loving family, Diane. As you probably know, we don't celebrate Boxing Day here. Where did it get its name? Also--what do you mean with you say 'Pull the crackers"????
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. I'm sure that Bill was thrilled with that wine.
Happy 2011.
Hugs,
Betsy
What a lovely family gathering, Diane. That table looks so wide. Wonderful! Congratulations to the new bride and groom on their wedding. I look forward to the photos! Has it stopped raining in Oz? We seem to have your rains down here now! Happy New year to you and Bill. Greetings from Jo
ReplyDeleteWonderful post and pics, Diane.... Great you are having such a fabulous time.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Jan
It looks and sounds as if you had a marvelous time with Bernie's family. It certainly looks joyous.
ReplyDeleteSo how did it taste???Is it worth the money????
ReplyDeleteNice to see you had a lovely Christmas Diane and they look like a lovely family...
How lovely to be all together. I think I've been nearly as excited about this wedding as you have!
ReplyDeleteI am so happy you were all together for this time. Congrats! What about wedding pics????
ReplyDeleteI sure missed you and your blog while you were gone.
Cheers to you Diane & Bill!
ReplyDeleteI have only ever been able to taste the Bin 389 (Baby Grange as this wine has been living in the previous Grange's oak barrels)
That shot of the wine "corkscrewing" into the glass was amazing.
May 2011 be adventure filled as all your previous years!
Lots of catching up to do now with all your posts....
Cheers,
Cindy
How lucky you are ! Marieken's mother and partner are kind of strange, very friendly and nice when we are together at Christmas but otherwise, no contact. They are very reserved people. This year we didn't even spend Christmas together.
ReplyDeleteLovely! You two are simply having too much fun and too much good food; it all looks wonderful and I wish I'd been there ;>). Great about the wedding, if I haven't already said that (or even if I have)....
ReplyDeleteHi Diane, I had a lot of pleasure reading and looking at your happy family gatherings. The film Bill made is fabulous (and I cried too) ! all my best wishes for the New Year for you and Bill and your family. Trudi.
ReplyDelete