Day 10 - Family Fun

Today will be our last full day in New South Wales. Where has the time gone? It feels like we just arrived and now we are getting ready to leave. I imagine that our gracious hosts will probably need a 24 hour sleep just to recover from the "snow storm" from Canada that arrived at their house eight days ago.  Who would have thought that a chance encounter on a 2016 trip to Europe would lead to a visit to Australia with people from that trip hosting us in their home, driving us around in their ute, introducing us to a dog's eye and a dead horse, and letting us use their dunny. It has been a whole lot of fun; and with all the times we've heard, "Next time you come...", I think we might just be allowed to come back.

I started packing up last night after everyone went to bed and I finished the blog (there are advantages to having a light day of activities) so that I would not have as much to do the next day. Laureen was the opposite; she wakes up very early and did some packing before others were awake. So, for the most part we were ready to go, other than the few things we needed for the day and for overnight. 

The morning was relaxed, with us just spending time with Steve and Margaret around their home.  I watched Steve cut some of his grass (longingly - given that my grass has yet to emerge from it's winter slumber). Laureen spent time working on the cross-stitch that she started when we left on this journey as Margaret worked on her throw. I'm not sure why anyone here would need a blanket. If you doubt me, come to Canada in the winter 😜. I must say that they have a stunning yard.

Once these activities stopped, we made a short trip to two grocery stores to pick up items required for the family gathering in the evening.  Margaret and Steve had invited over some family to just get together, meet their crazy Canadian friends and share a meal. I'm still not sure why two grocery stores were required, but two it was.

Margaret & Laureen Making Their Way into the Aldi (store #1)
(I did not take photo's of store #2 - Coles)

We returned with our items and sat down for a light lunch of a few of the leftovers that we had stored up and a couple of new items.  Margaret's pickles are amazing.

After lunch we started doing some prep for the evening event. Let me re-phrase that.  Margaret started doing some pre-work for the evenings events.  When I ask if I can help, she says that she's just getting started and that I'm on vacation so I can't help. I might be on vacation, but I can still help. 

Laureen and I had offered to make potato salad because Margaret had indicated that her mother (who was coming over in the evening), doesn't like the way Margaret makes her potato salad. She say's that it's too crunchy. Funny enough, when that story was relayed this evening, that is exactly what Margaret's mom indicated. So, this time I WAS able to help as Laureen and I worked on it together. Laureen did a bunch of the prep work, I mashed up the egg yokes and made the dressing, and we got the pot of potatoes on the stove so they would cook. I gave Margaret a sample of the dressing to which I think she said it was "yummy". Then she looked at me and made a remark like, "You actually CAN help in the kitchen". Sigh. The real test will come in the evening when Margaret's mom gives our potato salad a try.

After this was done, we basically relaxed in the living room and checked out a movie called "How to Make Gravy". It's an Aussie film, with a great story. I have to admit, I quite enjoyed it. Steve was up and down tending to the pork roast that they purchased for the evening. That took a few hours to get it where he wanted it.  It was interesting to see him remove the now crunchy skin from the surface of the roast, and then put that back into the outdoor oven to crisp it up.  I specifically grabbed a piece of it to see what it was like.  It was tasty, rather hard and chewy, but tasty.

At about 5:30 the family started to show up and we had a chance to meet everyone and chat a little one-on-one.  Their grandkids were so very polite. It's refreshing to have a young person be confident enough to look you in the eye, shake your hand and introduce themselves. Look at me, the old guy, talking about young people. Sigh.

Dinner was the fantastic mayhem you might expect. Plenty of laughter, stories and great food. I took a quick picture and I think I got the whole crew in without them really noticing.

The Family Gathering

Dinner ended and we spent some time around the table just chatting and hearing stories. What a fun evening. Slowly, groups began to leave and before you knew it, things were quiet again as we tidied up the few things left on the table.  

We thanked Steve and Margaret for their incredible hospitality for the week. It was so much fun trekking around the area and just spending some time with them. Time is truly the most valuable resource you have; so make sure you spend it wisely. Once you spend it, you never get it back.

We quickly made plans for the next morning; leaving between 8:00 and 8:30 to get us to the airport for our hour and a half flight to Brisbane. 

Curt and Laureen in Australia.