EASTER WITHOUT FAMILY

We had a quiet Easter with village friends. It was very pleasant having a BBQ on Caren and Eddie's back patio in the warm Autumn weather.  Although our family were not with us at least they were with each other. Carol and David live in Sydney and Sonya, Bernie and the boys live in Melbourne. However, Carol and David are on the hunt for a rural property either in Victoria or Tasmania. They have had enough of city life. So they drove from Sydney to Victoria and found a place to stay in Macedon about an hour out of Melbourne. While there Sonya and the boys visited them.

The sisters were pleased to see each other again.

After playing at making a fake moustache, Banjo helped Aunty Carol make a Pizza. Sonya and the boys returned home but the next weekend was Easter. They all decided to meet at the bush shack retreat near Gordon and spend Easter together. Bernie and his brothers built the shack out of recycled materials. There is no electricity or water connected. Mobile phone reception is poor. They take their own water and use gas for cooking. They have a composting toilet. However, they love going there as it is back to nature and quite relaxing. The boys can run wild and they cannot use their iPads.

Driving into the property, I think it's about 40 acres.

There are also a few caravans on the property, which are used as bedrooms and storerooms.

It's quite comfortable inside. There are bunks and an open fireplace.

They all love mountain bike riding.

Sonya

Carol

There is a dam nearby.

David, Bernie and Banjo, Carol and Fox.

Riding in the forest.

They stopped to collect chestnuts from an abandoned orchard.

On Easter Sunday too much chocolate.

It is nearly as good as being with them having all these photos sent to us.

 The saddest thing is that Bernie's family received a notice that this property is going to be claimed by Ausnet to put pylons through. The shack and everything will be bulldozed. The family will be compensated but they wouldn't be able to find another property for that price in the same area. So the family went to Melbourne with neighbouring farmers and protested.

TRYING TO POST FROM MY IPAD

Whoops rookie error. Too much chocolate ice cream.

REHEARSING

Fox will be turning 2 on Sunday, so he is rehearsing singing Happy Birthday and blowing out a candle.

 Singing

blowing

 Hooray

Only an actor would get his son to rehearse for the event.

PLAYING WITH FOX

Because we live so far away from our grandson Fox we don't often get time to play with him so we are enjoying doing it now while we are visiting him in LA.

 We go to the park to play everyday.

 Sometimes we play cars on the carpet. Fox just loves emergency vehicles, except he calls them 'Neee Nawww Toot Toots.'

 Sometimes he bumps his head and then only Mummy will do.

When mummy and bubba Banjo are asleep we play quietly with Granddaddy, watching Fireman Sam. Fox's uncle David composed the music for Fireman Sam.

Sometimes we play in the back yard. 

 Sometimes we play on our iPads.

Sometimes we play 'This Little Piggy" on Grandma's bed.

Sometimes we sing and melt Grandma's and Granddaddy's heart.

UP UP AND AWAY

We are off to LA, USA tomorrow morning to baby sit this gorgeous little guy. I'm sorry I haven't had time to visit any of you today. I will try to blog from my iPad and visit you if I can. If not see you in five weeks.

Fox 23 months.

FOX IN THE CUPBOARD

Fox turned ONE this week!

Our gorgeous grandson, Fox lives on the other side of the world. Happy Birthday little one. Love your pants. LA fashion?

BYE BYE BUEBLI

We had both our daughters visit from Sydney this week.

Carol-Ann, Sonya and Fox. (All a bit stripy)

He's so cute....

..even when he's grumpy.

We had the honour of watching him try solids for the very first time. It was funny. We weren't sure who was the most apprehensive, Mum or Fox.

"Never mind the spoon give me the bowl"

"Hey, mum you are supposed to put it in my mouth not up my nose and in my eye."

It was time to say goodbye to Grossvati's Buebli today. No more cuddles and kisses until next month when we visit them.

A PINT SIZED JET SETTER

Our daughter, Sonya and grand son Fox, flew from Sydney to Brisbane. He used his charm to persuade the stewards to give him a spare seat next to his mum. Naturally, she had to hold him strapped in on her lap for take off and landing. At the ripe old age of 4 months he has jetted from Sydney to Brisbane, to Melbourne and to Bali.

GLASSES GRAB

Our grandson, Fox, visits from Sydney.

"I like those glasses ,Grandma."

TWO MONTHS

Sonya and Bernie sent us some iphone photos of our gorgeous little grand "Buebli". Fox is 2 months old today.

Do you think his parents might have a quirky sense of humour?

He is the most gorgeous baby in the world. He is coming to visit us from Sydney on Aug.2.

ONE MONTH OLD

Happy One Month Old Fox

Our darling Grandson, Fox, is one month old today. He is with Mum, Dad, and Aunty. Mum and Dad are looking forward to him sleeping longer between feeds at night.