Back from holidays

We're both back from our eastern odessey... not without it's dramas. The drive over went reasonably well. Harrison was fabulous in the car for the 4500km trek. We camped all but 2 nights, and he loves the tent. It was a challenge keeping a toddler safe in dusty campsites in the middle of nowhere. There wasn't a blade of grass in sight between Kalgoorlie and Broken Hill. At Broken Hill we had grass, and there was a pool at the van park, plus an excellent airconditioned campers kitchen, so we stayed 2 nights and made that our rest day. We arrived a day or two early in Toowoomba. As usual there was lots of running around trying to catch up with people. Harrison met all of his cousins and loved every one of them. Simon had only a week in Brisbane and then drove back, while I stayed on and flew back on Thursday. A day or so after we crossed the Nullarbor the cyclone aftermath brought several inches of rain to the area, and destruction to Esperance (where we had holidayed in December). And then as Simon was driving back, floods hit South Australia and western NSW. He was a day or so after the roads were cut, so the highways were all open again when he went through. Some of the roads around the national parks he wanted to visit were still closed, though.

Veronica's party was great. She fed the whole family (all 11 kids and all their children made it), and we got some family photos before the party. Her friends arrived a bit later. It was a "wake" - she thought she'd be dead by 40 so decided on the funeral theme. She had a coffin with ice in it for the beer, RIP signs and a wreath, and people gave her condolence cards. Dad did the eulogy. He got a bit preachy so Harrison was on hand to do a loud rendition of "Toot toot chugga chugga big red car" at his feet. Bridget and Jacqui (two nieces 8 and 10 years old) partied almost all night. I think Bridget went to bed just before me at 2:30 in the morning. They were being the fashion police and rating people's outfits (they weren't very harsh judges, because I got top marks)... They told one guy his belt was substandard and he needed to get a new one from Stockwhips for Stock Men (Dad's leather work business), and then they added that he could get a wallet as well. Dad would have been proud.

Harrison and I saw Paul and Anna's house - almost complete . Apparently in about 6 weeks the interior will be finished. It looks really impressive. It has fabulous entertaining areas, a 3 level proper home theatre, and wonderful curved upper deck with water views.