Thank you, Sarah

Thanks to Sarah (Nicole's work colleague) we were able to celebrate the end of 2007 in style. She came round on Christmas Day with this bottle of Moet et Chandon that we stashed away for later celebration!

Dylan marinated some pork fillets and cooked them for us for dinner and we enjoyed the fruits (vegetables) of Nicole's labour from the garden.

Where is Clint?

Well you might ask what Clint was doing while we were so industriously employed? He was just playing farmer, pulling a few olive trees out, moving a bit of dirt, you know just boy stuff :)

Painting boards and more boards

Nicole and I spent a few hours today painting! An absolutely beautiful day with not many clouds in the sky. The boards are to clad the Andrew Gaze Pump house. The name was bestowed on the pump shed because when I was up in October Clint and Frank were building the shed and used left over framing from the house and the house has high ceilings. I snapped Nicole on the last of the first coat, oh no another one to go, better be off!

How to double your trip

We headed off for Sue's place today. Left at 7:30am and arrived about 12:45pm. I think we got lost somewhere along the way. At least it only took 3 hours to get home.....

Sue has a lovely spot out of Taree. It is in an old volcano and you can see the rim all around. We had lunch and met Sue's new man, Ian. Although not new but I hadn't met him before! Seemed quite a nice guy.

Jim was there and he looks really good, although now a bit tottery and it is hard for him to get around outside at Sue's as it is all up and down.

The house is pretty with a lovely vine along the veranda. We went for a walk around the property and checked out the wine cellar. They have a few vines and get about 1500 bottles out of the harvest. Only for bartering and drinking themselves! The cellar is dug into the side of the hill. Each tube has 7 bottles of wine stashed away in it

Sunsets

Mike took this shot of the sunset over the hills, viewed from the pool deck. He leaves tomorrow to go back to Tassie, getting in a few party nights before going back to work on the 2nd January. Arrived up here on 23rd, he flew into Sydney then hired a car, didn't have much trouble getting here or getting around as he bought up my Navman.

Christmas Day

Where is my present? Why can't I join in the fun?

Ruby looking very sad because she can't join the Christmas party.......it is a dog's life!