We left Tandou Farm 2 weeks ago now.  We called in to see Ali and Gav and the kids on the Saturday morning and let Ali see how Thelma works :)   I think she's convinced but Gav still needs some work hahaha

We headed to Menindee to catch up with everyone for tea at the pub that night.  Our timing is notoriously bad and we got to the only level crossing in Menindee while the train was at the station so the boom gates were down.  We sat and waited for about 5 minutes for the train to start moving, then it took another 5 minutes or so to go past.  Having sat there for another 5-10 minutes after the train was gone.....we realised that there was a problem :))   We were parking the van at Col's place for the night so we rang him to find out whether there was another way around but ended up having to just sneak through the boom gates. We're not sure how many hours it was stuck for but apparently it's not the first time :))

We had a great night at the pub with lots of laughs, it was a lovely way to finish off our time there.  The weather was so cold and pretty windy as well on Sunday so we decided to just head straight home.  We went on the Pooncarie Rd to Wentworth and then on the old Wentworth Rd.  Sooo rough and sooo dusty, the van needed a complete clean inside again when we got home.

Although we would have preferred to get a couple more weeks work at Tandou, there was one positive to finishing up earlier than expected.  We were able to travel to Canberra over the weekend of 19/20th to catch up with all of my family.  Everyone was there to celebrate Belinda's 50th birthday/farewell for Martin and Belinda who will be heading off shortly on their boat.  

There was a real smoke haze over Canberra from the fires in NSW.

We got to meet Lacey for the first time too :))   

And Lindsay is looking so grown up now!

Belinda made a cake replica of their boat, mud cake of course :)

Lacey takes a while to warm up to new people apparently so I think I distracted her with the bling!

 As well as the family stuff, we were able to help Ben and his housemate Sam to move house.  Having shared a house in Gunghalin for the last 2 years, they have now moved back to inner-city apartments that are only a block or so apart.  Ben is in a new building in a studio apartment.  It comes fully-furnished but he decided to move his bed and recliner in rather than use the bed that folds up into the wall.  There is a large balcony and he said that was what sold him on this place.  He has room on it for his covered BBQ and the patio heater as well.  Having spent Saturday afternoon/evening and nearly all of Sunday moving furniture, it was lovely of Belinda to arrive with meals on wheels!  She cooked a roast with all the trimmings and brought it all to Ben's place!!  Mum and Dad came around as well.

Funny story though!  You need a swipe card to get the lift upstairs unless you buzz someone and they let you up.  We're still not quite sure how Mum and Dad got the lift to operate (unless they 'stole' someone else's ride lol).  However they got off on the 4th floor instead of the 3rd.  Dad said it was the wrong floor and then the lift wouldn't operate to take them down a floor.  Mum decided in her wisdom that they could just go down the stairs.  This would have been fine but then the door ( a fire door) wouldn't open and let them out!!!! So.....I got a phone call from them in the stairwell asking to be let out :))))

Mum was laughing as she came in but Dad looked pretty hot under the collar and accepted a beer straight away hahahaha

These photos were taken on the Friday night.  We had tea at the pub/bar where my nephew Stephen works on weekends.  There was live music as well.  Bun and I left with Ben reasonably early as we'd driven all day. However Belinda kicked back and enjoyed herself, apparently deciding much later that it was 'open mike night' and doing some singing to entertain the crowd.  We're not sure if Stephen still has a job there!! LOL

Breakfast Sunday morning was just across the street from Ben's new place.  He said that the best Italian restaurant is downstairs in the same building.

Thelma came on the roadtrip to Canberra at Ben's request.  I made some meals for his freezer and he also requested lamingtons.  Once I'd cooked the sponge though, Bun and Ben decided that it would be better with strawberries and cream!

We ended up staying an extra day with Ben and drove home on Tuesday instead.  We had rain, wind and thunderstorms on the way home yay!  

We got a very early morning call on Thursday from Josh saying that Kara was crook and he was going to the hospital with her.  Callie ended up going to their place to look after Kasiah and I went done in the morning.  Finally, after numerous doctors visits in the last few days, Kara has an answer and some medication to hopefully fix the problem.  She has a blockage and inflammation behind her ear drum.  It was causing vertigo and some vomiting.  I stayed down to help with Kasiah for a couple of days and now Kara is staying with her mum in Berri.  Fingers crossed that the medication works quickly.

Josh and Kasiah

I loved the chance to enjoy snuggles with this precious little girl, she was so relaxed in her sleep :)

Cuddles!!

Saturday night we caught up with some of the family for Marty's birthday and Jess being home from London.  Kate just loved jumping into this photo.

These girls loved catching up :)

My first attempt at homemade pasties, all made in the magic machine lol.  I think some more work is needed to get the pastry thinner and the seasoning needs work too.

We went to Ron Dolling's funeral yesterday and although funerals are sad occasions, there was a lot of memories being shared and laughs about some of Ron's stories.  People were invited back to Ron's shed for a brandy where I saw this pinned to the door of his 'office' and couldn't resist taking a photo.

Ron's grandchildren all spoke so well about their memories of their Pop.  Our kids remember spending time down at the creek block as well with Ron and the Dolling kids during school holidays. 

At the end of next week, I will be going to Melbourne with Nay for a long weekend, catching up with Marg for a couple of nights as well.  Bun will drop me in Mildura at the airport on Friday and continue on to Canberra to see Ben for a 'family day' for the Defence force, returning to pick me up on Monday afternoon.  Then it will be off to Adelaide for my training days.  I really don't know when we'd fit in a 'real' job at the moment hahaha.

Callie has really 'fallen on her feet' with her job, it sounds like she has a great boss too.  I think she will enjoy the marketing side of things too.  Callie and Steven have booked to go to Bali on Christmas Day and return after New Year.  She is lucky that work has a break over that time, otherwise she wouldn't be getting a holiday until this time next year.  

I think that's all up-to-date now,

Cheers!