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| Turning a Pensioner at Marq Wines |
We have come to Australia for a couple of major events. Firstly there was Rocky's birthday and the next one was mine. Mine being a very special one this year, as I became a Pensioner 😊. We started celebrating with a function at Nick's work - The Beer Farm, where they certainly know how to light a bonfire! The next day the sun shone for my birthday, making it very pleasant for wine tastings at a couple of wineries, and lunch at Marq's winery. A very enjoyable day, just sad the All Blacks lost to Ireland in front of Nick's Aussie In-laws.
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The Granddads supervising future Dad & new pram.
Note the Beer in the Coffee Cup holder 😂 |
The week flew buy with trialling loaves of bread in the new maker - Aussie flour is so different to ours. After 3 not great loaves, I found a tasty German bread mix in a box - all I have to do is add water & yeast. Finally success. Now to master a gluten free one for Rocky - the last one wasn't bad but still needs a wee tweak!
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| Quite technical bread making. |
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Blazing Brews - The Beer Farm
With Em's parents & Daniel |
We've been getting out walking a few of the local trails in the area and hoping to complete the Cape to Cape trail (123 km total) in small sections at a time. The local Meelup Trail gave us a taste of the bush in this area - how much it can change in a small area. They had a bush fire through here earlier this year and it is amazing to see the recovery of the trees (especially the Gums) and grasses. This time of year, it is pretty wet which has really encouraged the greenery in the region. Last time we were out here it was summer and everything was pretty dried up and brown. This time it is looking very much like NZ scenery. (except for the kangaroos 😊)
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Castle Rock on the Meeling Trail
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| Bit different to New Zealand bush |
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| Lovely coastline - not quite swimming season!😅 |
Then at the end of that week, we celebrated the third birthday - Em's Dad Stephen (only a young one at 63!) and Em's Mum's retirement from her job. Of course that meant a few more beers and local wines had to be consumed. We have managed to find an Aldi here in Busselton which sells NZ Storm beer cheaper than anything locally produced. So Bill is happy. And Rocky made a delicious chocolate gluten free and vegan cake. Don't screw your noses up Readers - it was delicious.
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| Em, Bill, Nick, Me, Daniel, Rocky, Steve & Leanne |
As Nick & Em's baby is getting closer to her/his arrival, N&E had a celebration with some of their friends (particularly a big group of Em's school friends from Perth) - not a baby shower but a baby sprinkle as they put it.😂.
This was held at the Beer Farm as they had an area that was perfect for a small group to be able to socialise together and keep dry from the weather that day.
Nice being able to put faces to names now. It was a lovely way to spend a wet Saturday afternoon. Even if the All Blacks did loose again to Ireland 😏
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| It was a big day - relaxing (Sleeping??) at the end of the day 😴 |
