Our visit to Melbourne

Lauren with Findlay

Suzi, Katelyn and I flew to Melbourne to stay with Lauren and Findlay. Steven was working away in Orange, but he joined us on the Thursday, along with Brian, who had flown in for the weekend from New Zealand. Katelyn and Findlay hit it off immediately, and it was great to see the two cousins playing together (or should that be "first cousins once removed", as Lauren and Suzi are first cousins).

Katelyn loved playing with Rigs, Lauren's Rhodesian Ridgeback.

 

Children play while the Mums drink coffee

Lauren introduced us to the Melbourne coffee culture. Many cafés in Melbourne have playgrounds attached so that the children can play while the mothers socialise.

Findlay enjoyed the sandpit...

 

...while Katelyn played on the slide.

After coffee, we went to a book shop where they regularly have entertainment for children in the form of songs and readings from books.

The story book lady.

Suzi and Katelyn at story-time

 

Findlay is such a happy little boy!

Lauren looked after us very well and I knew Suzi was in good hands as I left to fly to Mt Gambier to visit an old school friend, but more of that in my next post.

This Week in Ellerston

 

Emily's Christening at the Anglican Church in Moonan

The day after the Ellerston Carnival, we went to Emily's Christening, which was held in the Anglian Church in Moonan, and afterwards at Alice and Matt's home. The tiny church was filled with Ellerston families, there to celebrate this happy occasion. Katelyn was an angel and behaved so beautifully throughout the service, that I was a very proud granny.

Neil and Katelyn

Katelyn enjoyed playing in Emily's Wendy House

Every morning, Suzi goes to feed some of the mares with foals at Ellerston, then checks others to make sure they are OK, and haven't come to grief somewhere. This take about two hours as there are lots of horses spread over a large number of paddocks.

Suzi feeding two foals

There is some stunning scenery at Ellerston

This week, we also watched Neil play polo for Ellerston in The Kerry Packer Challenge Cup; the final is on Sunday. It was a great game and there was lots of cheering and encouragement for Neil from us, and from his fellow Ellerstonians.

 

Neil is white number two in this scrum

Neil rides off his opponent

Katelyn wants to ride like Daddy

Carnival Night at Ellerston.

 Katelyn had lots of fun on the babies' Bouncy Castle!

The Kerry Packer Challenge Cup is being played at Ellerston at the moment, and while the tournament is going on there are all sorts of entertainment events to keep the participants and spectators amused. On Saturday, we had great fun at the Carnival Night, followed by a delicious BBQ. There were Dodgem Cars, two Bouncy Castles, a sheer drop of a slide, and a Bucking Bull, so there was plenty to keep everyone amused.

Suzi had lots of fun too. Here she is lining up with the children for a turn on the  terrifyingly high slide. If you look really carefully, you can see Katelyn on the Bouncy Castle behind, being watched by her beloved Daddy.

Yes, that's Suzi on the right.

 

Suzi also rode on the dodgem cars while 

Granny and Katelyn cheered her on from the side.

...and then she took a turn on the Bucking Bull, 

while Neil and Katelyn watched.

Jack found the secret to staying on was to hook your feet
under the bull's horns!

The food was cooked on an enormous outdoor BBQ

Katelyn loved the Bouncy Castle, but even she got off eventually!