Swimming Charters Towers Style.

Now to those that think I have finely lost it letting the kids swim in a river with this sign on it....your probably right!!!!!But before you ring child welfare let me explain. The locals said that there are only crocs in after the flooding as that is the only time they get into the river, I would never have done it other wise but the locals know best..

We had the most amazing day just sitting along the river watching the children swimming, running and having so much fun. Big brother David even taught Robbie how to drive the boat and after that he and Cassie were of checking the yabbie pots every couple of minutes.

Fishing was done and even I through in a line...Mind you I was stuck in the boat on the other side with David and Robbie so there wasn't a lot of choice!!!You can see in this picture below just how big the Burdekin River is..This is only a 10 min drive from David and Karen's house....hmmm I'd love to have this at my doorstep.

This was a day of memory building that the kids won't forget in a hurry, lazy relaxed and perfect. Tomorrow we will be heading to Townsvile across to Maggie Island then slowly make our way home..we are going to follow the coast home and camp along the way..I am hoping that we can get some camping sites as it is the holiday season here..We can always camp in National parks if we need to..

I will blog again from the road, until then

HAPPY NEW YEAR....

Mandy

Christmas at Charters Towers....

Christmas Day has been and gone for another 12mths.

This year David played Santa and gave the presents out....things were different with being up here and not having Greg here with us...but life is what you make it......and we made it a nice day. Up at 6 am this year which is late for us normally it's 4.....Lots of ooooooing and aaaaaing as all got what they had been hoping for....David cooked a nice breaky on the bar-b-que...
The rest of the day was spent under the shade of the mango tree sitting, eating and remembering Christmases of past...The weather was so much cooler than what it has been which made the day a delight. When we got a bit warm we jumped in the pool for a swim, most of the day the kids were in the pool and we sat and watched them, relaxing..

I hope you all had an enjoyable Day, I am going to visit some of you and see how you spent the day...

Blessing and Greeting from Charters Towers...

Merry Christmas......

We have made it to Charters Towers!!!!!and it is HOT...

We had a really good trip up here, we had Christmas with Jessica and Lachlan at Roma on Sunday. By the time we got here we had, had three different Christmas's.. We also had Christmas with Chloe before we left. This will be the first time Chloe hasn't been with us at Christmas, and I am missing her like crazy..Chloe is the sane one in the family she is always happy and the life of any party ...She won't be alone though as she is spending Christmas with Damion's family in Brisbane...Merry Christmas Chloe we are all missing you and love ya heaps..

I hope you are all looking forward to tomorrow, as the kids say only one more sleep!!!!!Karen has been busy here cooking up a storm for Christmas Day, I must admit I am enjoying not having to do any cooking...
Blessing to all and a
Very Merry Christmas
Mandy

Getting ready for "THE ROAD TRIP"

We have all been busy packing for our trip away. The trailer is packed and just the Christmas presents to go into the car. We are all getting excited to get on the road...I have finished work for two weeks and have enjoyed not rushing up to the workshop. Speaking of work nearly every photo of Greg I find he is in his work clothes....Always working that's why...The photo above Greg and his little helper William..This was taken only last year.....

Back to the trip.....We are leaving for Charters Towers on Sunday morning, first stop Roma....We are having Christmas with Jessica and Lachlan first...Monday we head to Clermont and stay there the night and will get to the Towers on Tuesday...It is a big trip but it will be so much fun...I imagine National Lampoon's movie road trip with the Griswold's.....I do love this movie only I don't think it will be so funny when I'm stuck in the car with them all!

I will blog while I'm away as Alanah will take her laptop and I can use that...

This photo was taken just a week after Greg was diagnosed with cancer. We all look so happy and care free here I love this photo O.K I love them ALL if Greg is in them...I do miss him so very much, to be honest I miss him more each day...I wonder if that's normal???Well I have never been run of the mill normal so it doesn't matter...Gosh now I'm sitting here blubbering like an idiot, just gotta wipe my eyes.........that's better...

I will see you all on the road.....

Blessings Mandy

The flow of life....

Two weeks into the school holidays already and we are all surviving JUST.....no, things are going well and we are getting into a routine around here now..I am only going to the workshop for a couple of hours from 11am to 1:30pm every day..This is working out well as Alanah is here to mind the younger children and I am not gone for full days. I miss not being a full time Mum and the simple life that I had being here at home..I have realized I have to stop looking back at how it was and start living in the now, this I can do!!!
It is so hot and dry here as it is every where, above you can see my birdhouse is falling down because the ground is all cracked and dry. I have given up on a vege garden until at least March when the weather will start to cool down. All the new fruit trees are doing well as I am putting every bit of water onto these to keep them going. Robbie is out in the garden earning pocket money for holidays by mulching the fruit trees and other gardens..

Above is my new project that I have Handy Andy building. The window above the wheel borrow is the laundry window, this side of the house has always been untidy. I have tried to have a garden here but it is so dry that nothing will grow. The Plan.....I am having a small deck built here with my clothes line on it. This will tidy the whole area up. So here is the before photo and in the new year I will show you the finished deck..

Well I had better go and get some housework done before I head to the work shop.
Blessings

Mandy

Holidays.......

Today I awoke to a thunder storm..summer is finely here when you wake up to the sound of heavy rain on the roof...School holidays have started in the Storey household....Tuesday morning by 8 am there was a full blown pool party happening here...Yep the youngest 3 had the music blaring and were out swimming and yahooing.....thank goodness we don't have real close neighbours. Last night they got out the bunks from the caravan and set up in the cubby house and slept in there. They even have put a clothes line up for there togs and towels....

I was dreading these holidays and not looking forward to Christmas at all without Greg, but seeing the little ones playing and enjoying life makes me realize that amidst all the crap and sadness life does go on...Yes things are going to be different, and there will be some sadness but there will also be joy and the sound of children's laughter, not to mention the screaming and yelling from the pool..We will get through this time together, the children have made me realize this...

Today we will get out the Christmas decorations and start to get into the swing of Christmas. We won't be having Christmas here at home this year....This is the one thing none of us want to do, so we are packing up and driving up to Charters Towers to have Christmas with No 1 son and daughter in-law..We are all looking forward to this even though we won't be together as Chloe and Jessica can't come . Chloe works on Christmas eve and Jess is going to Morvan to Lachlans Grandmas for Christmas. The children are looking forward to the Road trip as they put it....I had better learn to change a tire before we go!!!!!! I am looking forward to getting away and seeing my big boy, one thing I realize is you never stop worrying about them do you?

Blessings to all

Mandy