A visit from Grandpa Mark and Mandy

We have had a fun filled week with Grandpa Mark and Mandy where, until the last night, the weather played perfectly into our hands.  We spent lots of time visiting different beaches, swimming and going to The Boat House, at both Manly and Balmoral, for lunch.  Highlights included dinner at Bennelong followed by watching a performance of Turandot at the Opera House, dinner at Hugo's on a perfect summer's evening and dinner followed by A Star is Born at the Open Air Cinema which was sadly cut short by a rather large thunderstorm.  Tess found it very funny watching all these people don plastic ponchos at a very fast rate when the first shower hit and then again as we all filed out of the cinema looking like we'd just been to a Klu Klux Klan convention!  Tess was very spoilt as Mandy took her to the Mac make-up counter at David Jones where she was shown how to do a lovely evening look totally appropriate for a 15 year old and Mandy then bought her everything she needs to re-create it at home - what an amazing treat!  

 Pre-Opera dinner at Bennelong - exceptional food!

 Grandpa Mark and Mandy in the Opera House

 Dinner at Hugo's

 Making the most of having Tess with us and being able to get some sneaky photos!

 Beautifully made-up

 At the Open Air Cinema

View from the cinema - looking stormy

We were very grateful for these ponchos!

Pre-dinner drinks on our deck

One morning Grandpa Mark volunteered Mandy to do the Shelly Beach to Manly swim which is about 800m.  Jules and Tom decided to provide water safety assistance, just in case, with Tom on Jules' board and Jules swimming alongside Mandy.  Of course Mandy was absolutely fine and Dad and I were very impressed that she did the swim so easily!  

You can just make out Tom on the board and 2 heads up and to the left on their way into shore

Tom spent a fair amount of time this week fishing.  I think he needed time to himself and to process the busy week he had up in Brisbane.  He did remarkably well and caught lots of little fish including the snapper below.  

There was also time for some surfing of course.  Here he is with Levi and Duncan.  

The kids are back to school this week which always makes me sad.  I can't believe how quickly the holidays have gone!