A Few Firsts

A very warm welcome to 2013! Thank you so much for all your wonderful comments and thoughts over the last few days. We are now home and enjoying the comforts thereof.

Let me share a little of our Aussie summer holiday with you. These photos were taken on our first day away, December 28. Miss E "caught" her first ever fish, although she protests she didn't really catch it as Miss N handed her the rod with a fish already on the end - but Miss E was the one to reel it in. Miss E was undecided about this little bream which was carefully released back into the bay after the event was caught in photos.

The little village where my parents-in-love retired to is only one hours drive from home. Filled with tourist, fishermen and retirees, it's mostly a quiet and relaxing place to visit - Christmas/New Year is peak season. These Cassia Fistula(or Golden Shower) trees took my eye as I walked home from the Newsagent. They are native to South Asia yet thrive in Australia also.

Lots of Corellas could be heard and seen flying around, just as they were during our holiday 12 months ago. I spotted this one just two doors from home on our walk back from the bakery.

Late in the afternoon we headed to Main Beach. Some of our older children had ridden their bikes down earlier to go beach fishing.

Here you can see some of them returning. More than half the people on this expansive beach are our family.

While the older ones fished, rode or beach walked, Miss E enjoyed playing around on the sand. I delighted in snapping away.....

Back home by the bay in time to catch the sunset. Most of the photos above, including this sunset shot (but not Miss E at the beach), were taken with my new little pocket camera. My very favourite photo from this beautifully still evening I took with my DSLR and shared that night.

 Just yesterday we packed away our Christmas tree and decorations, we are still catching up on a few odd jobs at home. Three of our teenagers are off playing competition cricket again this afternoon, the fourth teenager has gone to watch and support them. Life continues on. I trust you have had a pleasant start to the year.