Yamba Yearnings

Hi guys,

Well after dads 80th we had to pop home to get stitches out - Ross has been getting sun cancers cut out - and then we headed to Yamba so that Kate and her friends could stay for Splendour and not be inhibited by Ross and I hanging around. Plus we both love Yamba - walks, good coffee, cheap seafood and a great van park.



We had lunch at the Pacific Pub and it was a most spectacular day with surfers and boats and sparkling sea  whilst eating a great meal - yum. Also found a great family cottage to rent if we ever go away as a family group - Pilots Cottage.

A trip out to Angourie and then we had a fish - both caught a bream but both were a tad too small. Anyway I would have had to clean them if they were any bigger and that would have been just too messy after a fun arvo fishing on the dock.

On the road again

Hi there family and friends,

We are back on the road again and set off for Newcastle for Pa Burwells 80th birthday celebrations. -all the grand kids  made it down and we had a great dinner at Mick and Donnas where we all cooked stuff - great nibbles from Bibina and Ruby with spinach and cheese spanikopita, yummy salads and barbq, great baklava from Ruby and James and of course a birthday cake.  We had a breakfast on the Sunday at a neat little cafe at Belmont.

Lovely to see all the family together, we may be few but we make up for it with noise and confusion.

Happy Birthday Dad xxxx

Home Stretch

Well we are on the way home up the coast. Stayed at Jimmys Beach, lots of new amenities and very quiet and pretty. Went to Hawkes Nest and Tea Gardens for coffee and a walk around, again very picturesque.

A couple of days at Forster/Tuncurry where we both visited when kids, very quiet out of school holidays. Lots and lots of walking, breakwalls, lookouts, the old sea baths and across the bridge numerous times. Even a late night walk across the bridge where we saw 1,000's of pelicans all feeding in absolute silence under the bridge span. Very cool.

Last stop at Nambucca. Whilst the park is brilliant and the walks are good the town is a bit weary. The break-wall is graffitti'd (all allowed) and is fun to read. A lone piper was playing the bagpipes as we wandered along the seawall. We never found him and it was a bit of a weird experience with the sun going down and the piper playing. A fitting end to our 10 week sojourn.

Home with very mixed feelings. It's been wet and rainy and we both kinda wish we were still on the road. Stay posted for the next trip.

Burwell Business

Further up the coast to Newy and another visit to Villa Valencia with Kerri and Roxie. Caught up with the family at Valentine Chinese, we are such a noisy lot. Lot's of noise and talking and laughter. A fun night.

Did the harbour front walk the next day all around Nobbys and Zara street, some really old buildings, many being renovated. If only we had the money.

Caught up with Ruby n James for home made pizzas at their place. It's looking really lovely at the moment, a real homey home. You would never buy another pizza if you had eaten at their table - yum yum with capital letters. Caught up again with RubenJames for coffee after work at One Penny Black in the Mall - very different vibe from when I was growing up. Great coffee and a great setting in the late afternoon. So nice to see the kids - they are good people and we love seeing them. Mexican at Kerris and watched Gourmet Farmer - Ross and James favourite show.

Chased some stuff for the van, had lunch with ma n pa - again a lovely day of chatter and laughs and home to Villa Valencia to do the washing with Roxie.

Once again took advantage of Kez and her hospitality - she really is a gem to put up with us. Thank you is not enough. Xxxxxxxx

La Familia

Jumped on the M7 and then the M2 and then we were in Eppong to visit Ross' brother - lucky for us a neighbour was away and we parked in their driveway for a few days. Trevor is always hospitable and it was great to catch up with him. We caught a train to Meadowbank and then the Parramatta Cat down to Circular Quay - what a wonderful trip on one of those beautiful autumn days with the Harbour sparkling. Takes your breathe away. We wandered around the Botanical gardens, perved on the lunchtime sunbathers and then a look around the Rocks. No wonder tourists love our city - Sydney on a good day is hard to beat.

The next day was Anzac Day and Trevor had the day off so we slept in, had a big breaks and spent a lazy day chatting and catching up. Always good to see family. The next day we headed to the central coast to catch up with No 1 brother and Laura. Trev came up the next day and the boys had a day fishing on the Brisbane Waters - skunk!!!!!!!!! Laura and I had a lovely day laying around their pool reading, chatting and snacking whilst the boys were

Southern Highlands

Same day just couldn't fit it all in. After lunch we headed up the street and back to see if the Zaffreto pop-up shop was open - full of industrial style furniture etc, makes you wish you had a unit in the city - fabulous pieces. I think James and Rube would like it. Speaking of which we wandered round the back lane for a caffeine fix at the Red Tree Cafe and great conversion of an old miners style cottage to a large and airy cafe with lots of glass and beautiful views - a great combination of styles that just works.

Still wandering around the township and Dirty Janes caught our eye - a huge antique come treasure shop that goes for miles and includes 82 small market style stalls. It gives the old one mans trash is another mans treasure a new meaning. You could spend hours just looking.

Enough of town we then drove to Mittagong, don't like the look of the caravan park there so crossed it out of our book but there is a small lake surrounded by walking tracks, parks and beautiful autumn trees. Had a nice walk so that we could fit in tea. A really lovely day.

Back at request

Hi there guys, been a while, but thought we better round the trip off and let you know what we have been up to.
Woke to a spectacular day. This is the view out of our windows. Too cold and lazy to go outside the van this early.

Our last day in Moss Vale we wandered to Bowral and surrounds, art galleries such as the Milk Factory where we actually bought a piece. We went in to look at the fathers exhibition and bought the daughters. She is a HSC student, very talented and reasonable. We take delivery a couple of weeks after we get home. Richard Morecroft also exhibits there - he is a talented photographer and manages to get for, mid and distance in his shots which gives them an appeal. The Milk Factory is a brilliant art space and even though we couldn't take photos I found this one

Visited a award winning patisserie and stocked up for lunch at Bradman Oval - even put on the gas a had a cuppa with our very exclusive pies and pastries. Ross was quite chuffed. Lots of people visited while we were there of all ages. Lunch with the Don is obviously popular.