Thanks Val

Just a big thanks to Val, for letting me visit her for a couple of days in Brisbane and being kind enough to take me to the Australian zoo, seems funny to think that we didn't really know each other before the trip, the age gap we have of nearly 20yrs meant she was off at uni and getting married when I was born, and then she left to start a new life in Oz.
I really enjoyed my time with her, sharing family memories and swapping family photos as my dad was the last link to the past for us all, we are both very fond of our aunts husband...... dear Uncle Ray...who neither of us write to often enough ..haha something he seems to tell both of us. Anyway I think we had a good time and a fun time, just a few tears for me when she showed me an old cine clip of my Grampy who I adored but died when I was 5 I wasn't expecting to see him and it certainly was a lovely lovely moment

My dad and his brother Tom (Val's dad)

thank you once again for the photo frame, when I look at the photo you gave me of me stroking my kangaroo, I shall always remember a good time... xx

ps ...ironic that we found this picture of Val's Dad and his/my Dad's sister Floss on their visit to Val 20 yrs ago. (they were well into their 70's already)

Tom & Floss

Phillip Island

Went to Phillip Island, unsure how far away it is from Emma's as I snoozed on the way there and again on the way back, thats something I've noticed, as it's sunny in the morn you get up earlier and by the time you go to bed your shattered, I could sleep for England at the moment.

At Phillip Island there are penguins but we didnt see any and the penguin parade was later in the evening so we gave that a miss, however we did go to the Koala sanctuary and saw lots of koalas in natural habitat.

Shannon fell in a rock pool and got wet, and Paul broke his flipflop trying to save her ( they call em thongs in Oz) poor lad continued to walk around as best he could,but we couldnt stop laughing at him. Still no sign of the babys arrival yet, it better get a shift on !!! I leave the state of Victoria in 6 days time. However, at last I have found someone who wears bigger knickers than me hahhah

(fridge pickers wear bigger knickers)

Got a nice email from Jo, apparently she's been shown the blog, so hello you lot and g'day :) Dunno if my brother is reading it? got a lovely text that brought a tear to my eye as I was leaving heathrow, but noting since. The girls at work are, well some anyway cos I've had texts etc, not sure if I'm returing home ....hahah....Emma and Paul want me to stay and claim asylum. I think they mean I need to be committed to one!!