Boomerang Beach with John and Rae

We've just had 2 fantastic weeks with John and Rae.  Jules took the 2 weeks off work so everyone was able to make it to the end of term Recognition Assembly where Tess, as one of the school leaders, was running the assembly, handing out certificates, giving a speech, playing in Concert Band and Tom received a special Science award.  

We drove up to Boomerang Beach on 1 April where we stayed at Boomers Beach House - a fantastic house with a big deck facing north up the beach.  It was my birthday the following day and I had one of the best birthdays ever!  We spent a lovely day on the beach boogie boarding, surfing, doing gymnastics (well the kids did) and in the evening the Watts and the Rivers arrived from Sydney and we had a big dinner with Tom entertaining us on the guitar and a bit of dancing afterwards.  

Hilary and Frank drove down from Queensland to spend a couple of days with us.  Hilary is one of Rae's oldest friends - they were travelling and working in Australia together when Rae met John.  Hilary came over to the UK and helped enormously at Jules and my wedding so it was lovely to catch up with her again.  

The Easter weekend consisted of lots of beach trips, dinners with the Rivers and the Watts who were staying at Moby's Beach Resort just round the corner and of course an obligatory Easter Egg Hunt.  

 Pre Egg Hunting

 Post Egg Hunting - look at that loot!

We spent a lovely morning at Smiths Lake with all the various water craft we had brought with us - the mirror, SUPs, kayak, nipper board etc.  

 Ruby, Sienna and Tess

One day it absolutely poured with the rain the entire day so we dropped the kids at the cinema and retired to the nearby pub for a couple of rounds of pool. 

And of course there was a lot of surfing and splashing around in the waves.  

Jules on a great wave

Tom hanging low

 Tess wave jumping

Although Sydney is only 3 hours south of Boomerang Beach we noticed a real difference in temperature once we got home - autumn is definitely here.  We did a day trip into the City where I persuaded everyone to go to the Museum of Contemporary Art.  I might have been the only one who enjoyed it...........

We caught up with the Wakes-Millers for dinner - Mark and Christine Daniel were over from the UK so that was quite the party.  We went round to the Mennies for a fabulous Mexican dinner.  We did a fair amount of shopping as John and Rae wanted to buy Tess and Tom some Christmas presents.  Tess chose some beautiful earrings and Tom chose a microphone which will work with his guitar and amplifier.  He's now all set to do some busking!  

And before we knew it the 2 weeks was over.  On our last night we took the bus into Manly and had dinner at the Skiff Club overlooking the water as the sun set.  The kids persuaded us to go to Max Brenner for pudding (serious amounts of chocolate) and they hit the jackpot when we agreed they could get a gelato afterwards too! 

Tess and Tom waiting at the bus stop

Gorging on Chocolate Licks at Max Brenner

It's never long enough but what a brilliant time we all had.