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Monday 22nd:

Driving. Started at 4am (after 2hrs sleep). Finally arrived at camp grounds at 3pm. Set up tents, then flopped onto our little roll out mats for the night.

The world and I awake, bleary-eyed.

I love dawn, but I'm a night owl by nature.
Alas, I feel I'm always awake at the wrong end of the day.

Others, however, do not share such sentiments.

Baby G enacting the age-old ritual of working off steam at the park,
like her brothers and sister did before her.

On the road again...

...with a worn-out 'Puddy' in back.

Amidst cane seas and blue skies, we arrive.

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Tuesday 23rd:

Hot, windy day. Grete's aunt and cousin came and spent the day with us, out in the alternate town of Bangalow. We browsed the local offerings, picked up some treasures, did lunch, breezed through the park, then said goodbyes. Back at camp we wandered the beach, then met the boys for stirfry done on the gas stove for dinner.

My precious little car, alongside its big sister, and our camp.

The boys went & did their own thing for the day.

Obligatory 'rolling green farmland hills' shot.

Main street, Bangalow.

The alternate & mixed culture of Bangalow is beautiful.

Each store has its own charm & decorative style.

Store window with enticing pile of books.

A small cottage on the park edge, by the creek.

"To the beach, Batman!"

"Come, Boy Wonder!"

Picturesque, much?

Grete opts for a more "hands on"approach to traversing the beachside.

I do not have a preoccupation with feet. Honest.

Here, have a sunset.

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Wednesday 24th:

Overcast this morning. Went to the beach (again) with the boys and the girls. Afterwards, hit Bangalow again (me and Ma had unfinished business to attend to), then did Lismore. Went to Granmama G's place and chilled a bit and wrapped prezzies. Storm came over from the coast and brought some good rain. Went back to camp and had a bbq for dinner, then snuck out to the beach with a torch - came to the conclusion that "going to the beach after it has been raining" = "bad idea" (based upon a near run-in with a cane toad, 1000+ tiny white crabs scuttling underfoot, and lots of little frogs jumping around camp (and in the shower, as well) - that'd all come out for the rain).

The boys do the beach.

Grete works her magic.

... :^3

"Greteeeeeee~!" "Knoxxieeeeee~!"
*cue slow motion run and romantic scence music*

... it was Mum's idea. Really.

Somer & Dad head up for some chow.

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Thursday 25th:

Many Xmas Happies, my friends. We did xmas at camp, beside our decorated tree. A humble, quiet affair, with nothing extravagant being exchanged, just nice basics and needs with a few treats in between. The jolly fat (diabetic) man left me some motor oil - just what I needed, considering my poor little car ate its way through a whole litre of it on the way up, and had since guzzled up the rest of it. So, with some tasty new oil in the car, we went and spent the day at Granma G's house. Perfect baked potatoes & yams & onion & pumpkin, chilled chicken, steamed greens, and a generous drizzle of gravy made my day. A brief intermission involving present giving and receiving and some backyard cricket, was leisurely followed by fruit trifle with custard and ice cream, straight from Gran's skilled hands. Back out onto the cricket pitch for most of the evening, then me and the boys made for Granma H's house on the hill for the traditional family dinner. Drove back to camp, and called it a night.

Mum decorated our tree.

Our x-mas offerings, in the tent.

Mum got me a pretty black sheer blouse. Muchos loves.

Mum has trouble on the doorways with her antlers.

Gran's tidy little house is lovely and cool.

Knox's new thongs are good at festive colour-coordination.

Grandfather walks out onto the pitch to show off his none-too-rusty skills.

"It's to the wrong person!"

Knox and Paul warm up.

Knox in bat, getting out of bat.

The windmill Granfather built, over the water tank.

Mum in bat, Uncle Terry bowling, Grandfather fielding and Somer umpiring.

... Oops.

Secret ninja technique: Stealthy snapshotting no jutsu!

The view of the valley below from Granma H's farm.

Me and Somer played in the grass.

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Friday 26th:

We decided to head off today. The boys opted to stay another few days at Granma H's house, so we went our separate ways - the green car bidding the north coast adieu. It was a hard trip back home, but with Mum's amazing driving stamina, we made it back by midnight.

And home we went.