Decided not to go for a ride this morning. Char and Evie were first up and in the house. Followed quickly by Layla. Sophie didn’t wake till about 9:30! Such a sleeper! We had scrambled eggs, salmon and bacon for brekkie and Sophie, when she woke up, had hot cross buns..

Lazy morning was had and we went fishing for guppies with a strainer strapped to a stick. Very effective. Got over 30 guppies in about an hour. The kids then kept heading down for more.

Amanda made a great Thai beef salad for lunch then they packed up and headed off around 2pm. So we had a very quite afternoon just us four cuffs.

We went back to the creek and took turns fishing for more guppies. I think we have decimated the local population of small aquatic life.

Sophie wants to return them to the creek tomorrow.

We played jenga and made yellow chicken curry for dinner. Then another quick game of jenga and bed for the girls.

As predicted Charlotte woke up first. Surprisingly she walked past all the eggs at 5:30 and came into our room to get the ipad. After drifting back off we were awoken at 6:30am ( the agreed time ) by Charlotte rallying the troops.

All eggs were collected and dumped on the table in 30 seconds flat. Quite some time was spent sorting and splitting the booty.

Meanwhile toast and buns were on hype menu whilst Bart and I got our selves ready for a ride.

We headed off in the same direction as yesterday and it was a glorious morning. The girls wanted to go for a ride so we only did the Boree track loop. Good ride then tag teamed with the girls and both Belinda’s went for a ride up the end of the valley whilst we had showers and I made eggs and salmon for breakie.

Kids were left to their own devices, fishing for guppies and tadpoles and climbing the tree.

We had unexpected visitors in the afternoon. The previous night Jason and Amanda texted to say hi and we asked them if they wanted to come up.

So they were expected around 2pm. Meanwhile Bart and bel packed the van and headed home about 1:30pm. We had about 15 minutes to clean up and have some lunch and bel made a late round of scones that filled everyone up.

As we tucked into an adhoc rissole and flat bread they came over the hill.

Jason and Amanda with Evie and Layla in tow sat down for tea and coffee.
The girls played very well and Charlotte took the others on a long tour of the place and visited the horses. Kids were very impressed.

I made an eye fillet plus spuds and beans for dinner. The kids had pasta.. Charlotte was a tad devo that she wasn’t getting a baked dinner.

Early night was had after a few glasses of wine and all began again in the morning.

Slow start to the day. Everyone up around 7:30 having toast and coffee in the kitchen. No great fry up today. Bart and I went for a ride around Boree track, once down the steep hill we turned around and headed up it. Just for fun!

Heaps of cars around but a glorious day. When we arrived back Dave was with all the kids in the round yard and as it turned out all the ladies had gone for a walk into fonzies.

Everyone showered and we loaded the cars to head into Wollombi for lunch at the Tav. Was quite by busy and the old duck was stressed when placing our order.

We all sat on the picnic tables and knocked off hamburgers and beer. Dave and Mad headed straight home and us back to yango.

Belinda and Bart started preparing dinner. Slow cooked beef cheeks. Once done Bart and I walked the young ladies over to fairy land. Back to pat the horses then ready for dinner.

Dinner was lovely, kids had pasta then showers and tired little girls went straight to bed. After preparing the house for the arrival of the Easter bunny, we had a quick game of jenga then to bed.

After a restless sleep on a hard bed woke up at 5am with Charlotte sneaking in to get her iPad. No surprises there. Lovely morning and very misty. Down to a low of just under 10. Mist burnt off by now at 8:20. Oven on for hot cross buns.

Hot cross buns and a bit of cleaning. The steels arrived at 1O:15. Unpacked and tea / coffee and more hot cross buns.

Kids have taken off to talk to the horses. Awaiting the arrival of the Hicksons.

Hicksons arrived with caravan in tow. Made it fine down the road and across the creek. After much deliberation it was decided to run the van down the front and up the road. Surprising how maneuverable it was. Locked and loaded. Set up in ten minutes. Very impressive.

Lunch was ready to go with hotdogs for the kids and pizzas for the adults. A few beers had then an afternoon walk. Fire was set down at the yards, this kicked off then I headed back up to the house to finish dinner. Slow roasted lamb shoulder, potatoes and beans.

Meat was ok but I think it was a little old. Never the less it was ok and all enjoyed it.

Left Sydney about 3:30pm. A little later than we had hoped. Traffic wasn’t too bad, busy but moving. Arrived up here about 4:45. Decided that the house paddock needed a mow however the bloody mower didnt want to work. I recon the fuel to oil mix was wrong. Tell you what, says a lot for getting a 4 stroke mower!

Unpacked and then sat down for a quick beer before dinner. Made rissoles and flat bread. One of the girls favorites. Everyone was very tired so all three ladies went to bed quite early.

Expecting the arrival of the Steels around 9am on Good Friday (tomorrow) and the Hicksons with their camper about midday. Should be a great few days.

The adults, Dave, Mad, me and Bel headed off in the gator to collect fire wood for the evenings marshmellow roasting. The kids helped out by doing nothing and barking orders from the verandah.

The Hicksons arrived around 2pm. Needless to say I was getting a tad peckish. We decided to cook pizzas for lunch and the kids had hot dogs.

After a few beers and in depth conversation the older ladies decided to go for a walk and climb the climbing tree! Just how far they got up I don’t know albeit there were branches flapping here and there.

Kids were off playing with ropes in the holding yard. Seem to entertain them for ages. At this stage I had had a roast shoulder of lamb in the oven for 3 hours.

We set the fire and the kids hang out whilst I went back to the house to make hamburgers for the kids and finished off the roast potatoes and beans for us.

Well that was it for the night. The Hicksons camped out in the van and the steels in the first room. Charlotte and Sophie in the far room.

Mike and I were banished last night into the main house as we were going for a ride in the morning. Mike slept in front of the fire and I in mum and dads bed. Just a little creepy.

Woke up at 5:30 am and was bloody cold. About 3 degrees. Got up and got on the bike at 6:30. Decided to head into Wollombi. Very cold and mist everywhere. Could not seein front of your face. Got to wollombi and there were cars everywhere. At 7 am??? Remembered it was ANZAC day and everyone at the tav for dawn service.

Went a few Kms on the broke road then turned around. When we hit the front gate the fog cleared.

Scrambled eggs and bacon for brekkie. Buggered around for a few hours then headed off in the cars to Finchly lookout. All very impressed. On the way back I decided to find the spot where we can see the house from the road. Picked the wrong spot but managed to stumble on a echidna. Everyone jumped out of the cars for photos. Very cute.

Headed home and made pizza for lunch as mike was teaching Ben to drive on the flat. After a long lunch I headed off to fairy land with all kids as bel made Anzac bikkies. Tea a bikkies as they packed the car then they headed off after a few games of catch.

Made yellow chicken curry for the ladies and gave them a early night. And here we are. 8:30, two bottles of wine done and the fire on. About to watch a movie then catch tadpoles with the morts in the morning.

Made brekkie for the kids and then mike and I headed off for a ride around 9:30am around the yango track. Lovely morning and was a good ride.

Came across a few blokes on trail bikes at the trig station. Did the loop in 1:34 ish.

Home and showered. He girls and the kids had walked to the eerie and the yurt. Came back to mikes chicken hamburgers. Very tasty.

Lazy afternoon. Reading mags. Bel and Ben went for a ride up the valley and Mike and Ann went for a walk. Meanwhile the kids and i collected firewood and made a fire.

Marshmallows were had whilst Ting was a pain in the butt hanging around, eating marshmallows and tipping over drinks.

Dinner was Mikes Salmon and chips. Then uno and early to bed.

Lazy start to the day. Nothing much of note. Helped mum and dad clear branches from the creek crossing and gate. Mowed the strip to the left if the gate as well as the right.

Cut down a few black wattles and threw them in the bongo fire. Earlier we also cleared a few dead wattles from across the creek near the old sheds. Charlotte helped here.

Mike, Ann and the kids arrived up around 7:30pm. Had shanks in the slow cooker with mash and broc.

Good feed and early to bed as off for a ride in the AM with mike.

Raining last night. Stopped around 6am. Didn’t go for a ride but got pushed out of the bed from my three girls.

Made pancakes for brekkie. Easy recipe. 1 cup flour, 1 cup milk and one egg. Had with bacon and maple syrup. Now wish I had gone for a ride.

Buggered around all morning. Nothin really done. Mum made a warm spicy quail salad. Had planned to go for a ride this arvo but three bottles of wine later though best not too.

Girls have been doing each others hair. God help us!

Now what to do? 3:35? Maybe a bottle of bubbles or take the chain saw to the fallen tree. Who knows.

What’s been going on here?

Decided that the front lawn needed a mow. Cracked out the mower and knocked it off.

Made dinner. Tonight was a Greek chicken and couscous salad. Work out ok but buggered up the capsicums. Not to worry, did the rest by hand.

On a side note. What do you recon was going on here?

Lovely sound after the rain.