Back to Sydney from Canberra

Lake George. Lots of wind turbines in the background.

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More Canberra

Hi Readers,

On Sunday we visited Matt Dodds and his girlfriend Alison at their very comfy Defence Housing villa/apartment in Nicholls a suburb of Canberra. The place is terrific.A single level, 3 bedroom, 2 car garage in a complex like Mums. They have it looking very nice and as neat as a pin. We had a lovely time with them and certainly if we come this way again we will call in. He has settled into his life a ADFA ( Australian Defence Force Academy) and enjoys living off site with Alison.She is a first year nursing student at the Catholic Uni of Canberra, and works part time as a carer in and Aged care facility.So they are both pretty busy with their careers.
Monday we spent a very long time at the War Memorial. Fantastic building and displays. Made me feel quite emotional and proud. There were 78 Army recruits on a tour. They were half way through their basic training (which is 80 days) all dressed in suits and regulation very short haircut. had a chat with some of them, all excited about their careers. Such good kids. I even had to administer first aid to a girlfriend of one of the boys. She fainted and was out for a shirt time, but I saved the day!!!!!!! we had lunch in the cafe which was also a speccie building. Huge high cement columns, glass on three walls so fab view over the city and loads of room. nice white chairs and tables...all very smart.Something to be said about designing a city where you can have loads of space, plenty of parking at every venue, well signed and easy to get around.
So today we have been to the Mint where we saw coins being made. All the paper money is made in Melbourne. fantastic for the tourists as they have created viewing platforms to see the whole working of the factory. A lot of robots are used in the making of the coins. Then on to the National Library where we went to the Australian Treasures. This was great. Old maps, Captain Cooks diaries, his desk, some jewellery. It was a variety of early Australia. While I was outside catching some sunshine waiting for Reece he bumped into Val and Rob French. They were off to lunch there. He is High Court Judge. I was sorry to miss them. Then to the wool shop at Manuka for knitting needles as I had broken one. Very nice shopping centre/village with swish shops such as Zampatti, Perri Cuttin etc. Nice coz it was outside and not like a big shopping mall.
I then went to the Turner Exhibition, which was very impressive and a really big collection. Honestly cant say that I would want any on my walls, butI appreciate the art.
Now happy to be home in the van at the EPIC (Exhibition Park in Canberra) sounds posh but it is the Showgrounds. So convenient, only 5 km from the city .
Reece is sitting opposite me doing his art, which he is getting such pleasure from. Fantastic. I have just been playing words with friends on the ipad. oh it is nearly 1700hrs.
Tomorrow we return to Sydney. Such and easy drive along the M7 then onto the M2 freeway all the way, then turn left into the Park at Lane Cove. lots of love to everyone. Pen

Buckets of money at the Mint.

On the staircase you can see old money. Sixpence and threepence

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War memorial Canberra

Reece reading the brass plaque dedications along the path.

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Memorial to the Bomber Command

This was just erected very recently.

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Cockpit of Lancaster that Dad flew in WW2

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Canberra War Memorial

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Canberra

Arrived Canberra and set up at 1630hrs. Staying at the Showgrounds which has. Very adequate area for campers and caravanners. $30 per night with reasonable amenities ..... Which we hardly use coz we have shower and loo here. Early today Reece went off to Villawood with Richard to take a look at a car with a plan to trade the red Barina.
Have just arranged to meet up with Matt Dodds tomorrow. He is here at the ADF.
Plan to go to the Vietnam war memorial tomorrow and some other museum stuff, then back to Sydney on Wednesday.
Love pen

trip to Perth

We are enjoying the life here in Sydney and the longer we are here we can see what a great place it is. yesterday we had a lovely walk around Balmain and remembered fondly the times we had visited Deirdre Cocks who lived in Balmain. Last night we had dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant in Mosman with Rob and Denise Campbell. Rob was a Christ Church boy. we had seen them earlier on this year so it was good to catch up again.He is a director of Screentime which makes TV series . Off in a few minutes to join John and Bron from Adelaide for a drink. He was having trouble with his TV  aerial not getting a reception,so I suggested he put it down and not use it. we were told this trick last visit here and now we have great TV reception.

I have booked my ticket and will be arriving Perth October 9 and return to Sydney Oct 22. Keith Bowden will be joining Reece after he has played in the Masters Bowl comp in Melbourne ...help somehow i have made it bold and cant change it.

Babysitting tomorrow. swimming lesson for Lucas then a play in the park. Bye for now

Love Pen

Enjoying Sydney

We have been exploring Balmain today.

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Lucas

Nice day in Manly

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Caravan comfort

Lucas and Emily visited Lally and Pappy at the caravan. We all had fish and chips then into pajamas after a shower.

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Lane cove river walk

Just strolling along the river in the lane cove park. Beautiful lazy sunny Sunday.

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Superman

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We are in the car while Lucas and Pappy are buying art supplies.

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News Sydney

Hi readers, I have just checked the log and found the picture has come through but none of the dialogue I had written .... Bummer

So I am now still lying in bed, it is 0730 , just had a cuppa. It has been drizzling most of the night but it is actually very warm and a bit humid. So no need for too many blankies. My wool Donna is perfect. We are settled at the Lane Cove River Tourist Park. It is a national park so we are in lovely bushland right in the middle of Sydney. Very reasonable at $34 per night but if you stay seven nights you get one free. It works out to $210 per week... Not bad. We can afford that!!!!! So it takes 25 mins to Jo house . Turn right at the end of the street then a short way and onto the freeway that goes directly into the Lane Cove Tunnel then straight under the harbour in another tunnel and we pop up in Randwick just near Moore Park. So it is very easy and a straight run. The round trip cost $12 with the tolls. So Jo started work yesterday and our babysitting starts tomorrow . Am doing an extra day as wed girl is stuck in KL with plane problems. Thurs and Fri are work days... No they are fun days with Lucas and Emily... And we will be able to pack up and potter off somewhere. We will stay in Sydney this weekend then the following maybe go to Canberra. See how Reece is feeling. Wee business is all good now, he just looks so pale and pretty tired still. So I must be patient.
We had lunch with Auntie Diney and her friend Bobbie yesterday in Mosman. Four Frogs is a crepe restaurant run by four Frenchmen. Diana is good fun, I enjoy her company . Reece and I are getting pretty good at finding our way around. I like Mosman.... Have spoken with Sal Melloco but she is away next week to Europe for 5 weeks so not sure if we will catch up.
Saw Kelly and Beau with their little baby Mia on the weekend. She is the little one in the photo on the blog. She is a cutie. Lucas and Emily very sweet with her and seem very grown up next to her. We all had a lovely time together. Poor old Rich is recovering from a wog. He was very unwell a couple of weeks ago, the Dr thought he might have pneumonia but X-ray is neg. he is on the mend.
I have the knitting bug.am k it ting a vest for Lucas. And have just done a cute cardi for Mia Riley. Anth I have a couple of very easy and quick patterns I will send you.
Congratulations to Anna and Alistair. Thrilled to hear Max will have a sibling next year.
Wilson.... Fantastic to get a place at the school in Berkshire and do a gap year. Well done. And Conrad we are all very happy the Dockers are doing so well. Shame Pav is out now...
Mama sooooo pleased your knee has clicked back and you will be bale to get to Broome.
Thanks Madgie ... Steph hope you have had fun on hols. Penelope how is the driving.
Lizzie... Great to be playing words..
Vivvie very exciting for Rikki to be off on her adventure it Ireland with Emmett.
Chris. Hope you are not slogging yourself too much at work.
Keith Reece looking forward to his trip with you in October. Chris I will catch up when home
I will be home in Perth mid October for 2 weeks,

Better get up now. Lots of love Pen

Fun in the Park.

Hair

Power station Musswellbrook

Power station near Musswellbrook

Near Musswellbrook

Armidale to Singleton, NSW

We have just arrived in Singleton in time to watch the Dockers.. It has just started. Lovely drive thru Tamworth in the New England Tablelands. Down the hill into Scone, may horse studs. Then Musswellbrook and now Singleton. Ordinary caravanpark and expensive at $38 per night. Fortunately we are away from the permanent sites and on a grassed area. There seem to be a lot of miners here. Again, I was amazed at the coal mining here, both open cut and underground. I took snaps but very hard to see. The mining companies have planted green belt of trees along the road so you can't see the mines. Also came across something that looked like. French nuclear plant , but just a regular power station.

Sorry got go to watch the footy

On our way to Tamworth.

The trees have list their leaves. The New England Tablelands is very dry and brown. Our drainage pipes ere frozen this morning in Armidale. The temp said minus one.

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Tenterfield saddler closed for renovations

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Armidale, NSW

I went on a bus tour of Armidale. It is pretty fresh here with a biting wind. The diesel heater warmed up the van nicely before we showered. Just waiting at the RSL for Reece. We are having lunch here....Armidale the city of churches and schools, education. the university of new England campus is enormous.At last 4 private schools here. All very nice.it is the highest city in Australia just under 1000mtr high. All the trees have lost their leaves and the vegetation all brown from the frosts. One month ago all the autumn colours. I expected it to be bigger. But Tamworth is much bigger than here. Will stay another night at the Highland Van Village costing us $26 a night....so se can afford a big lunch. As with a lot of places the beautiful pedestrian mall is like a ghost town now there is  the Armidale Plaza which has Target and all that.
Just going to check the menu then a few pokes.    Go dockers tomorrow.  Love Pen
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Scenic rim

I have just seen i am a dumb cluck ... This is the scenic rim not the pacific rim..... And we didn't UN hitch so it will be a quick getaway tomorrow. We have a outside Nd it set off the fire alarm in the van!!!!!!

More friends

Reece has a new friend

Moogerah lake.

Arrived at this beautiful lake at lunchtime. So finished off the prawns and now a stroll. Huge variety of birds swan, coot, ducks , cranes , shags and others with long skinny red legs. I must say we were not sad leave Buderim . Really enjoyed the drive. Some speccie hills about. This is called the pacific rim area. We will move on tomorrow and visit the saddler at Tenterfield as we missed him on our trip thru before. Reece coped well with the driving and I made sure he didn't do any of the hitchup etc. We havent hitched here so will just drive off in the morning. Lake Moogerah ( pronounced mogra) is about 40k southwest of Ipswich.    Bye for now Pen

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Leaving Buderim

Mooloolaba prawns

Yummy can't wait for lunch

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Artist at work

Getting better

Hi Family,
Reece improving each day. We saw the doc on Fri and he reassures us that all will be ok. So ha hasn't passed any clots or blood since Friday. We have just been sitting quietly at the caravan, him painting and me knitting. Watched the dockers lose on sat... Pity but would have been tough to win. Yesterday really good and we went for dinner!!!!!! To a nice Malaysian restaurant in Buderim. Early so we could be home for various TV programmes. But it was nice to be out with Reece Nd see him looking better.
Today, more pottering about. It has rained for the past .24 hours but none at the minute.
Hopefully we will be on the road in a few days time. Sydney here we come...

Love
Penelope