A lesson from Tom

The last week of the Whomsley's visit was spent in Sydney doing various activities and swimming at least once a day in the pool.  

We went to the Wakes-Millers for an amazing paella and to celebrate Barney's 10th birthday.  It was a lot of fun having 8 cousins together over here.  

Andy, Kristie and Jules took the kids into the city to visit the Sydney Aquarium and afterwards headed to Manly where to everyone's excitement there were shark warning signs along the beach and the shark alarm sounded whilst they were on the beach.  They stood and looked out to sea for a long time but unfortunately didn't spot any fins!  

We spent a lovely day at the Basin taking the Palm Beach ferry across and meeting up with the Rumbolds for a spot of lunch and a swim.  Charlie had been given a kayak for Christmas which the 4 cousins quickly hijacked.  

One evening we ditched the kids and went for a drink at Manly Wharf Bar to enjoy the evening sun followed by a fantastic meal at Garfish.  

All too quickly Saturday came and the Whomsleys left and on Sunday John and Rae left too.  Sunday evening was a very sober affair for us with the house feeling incredibly empty and all of us trying to hold back tears with varying degrees of success.  Tom was particularly distressed by Tess' crying and said to her: "I'm very sad that Granny and Grandad left too but I don't fear it as I always have them in my heart."