Snapshots from Holidays

Here's a small sampling of photos showing what we got up to during the past week's holiday...

Murray having a ride on Gunsynd in Goondiwindi

Murray at 'The Dish', Parkes

Three Generations of Harders on Christmas Eve

Our Niece & Nephew on Christmas Day

My Brother in Law singing Barnesy on Singstar Christmas Afternoon

The Church at Bright

Murray checking out the view to the snowfields

Up on the Snowfields at Falls Creek/Rocky Valley

Nephew, Niece and Sister-in-law at their new property

Niece and Nephew at a friend's Winery

We hope that your Christmas season was a lovely time of joy and happiness with family, and that 2010 brings God's richest blessings into your families.

Happy New Year!!!

Home from Holidays!

Word to the wise - it is a LONG way to Wodonga from Brisbane!

We got home last night at around 7pm, and promptly crashed out. We were very fortunate as it didn't rain at all whilst we were away, and the roads were all clear from floodwaters on our journey home. We did go through some rain around Moree, and saw lots of water on either side of the road, but we made it home without any drama.

We had a lovely time away with B's family. We were soundly spoilt with Christmas presents, and it was lovely for B's parents to have both boys there at Christmas for the first time in about 13 years!

B's family is German, so we had our big 'day' on Christmas Eve night, and then journeyed over to B's brother's place for lunch with his family on Christmas Day. It was lots of fun to be with our niece and nephew as they received their presents - the wonder of Christmas through a child's eyes is very special.

We also got to see a lot of the surrounding countryside whilst we were there. Trips to Beechworth, Bright, Falls Creek, Rutherglen, Milawa and Omeo were also included, and B even got to places he'd never been before (despite living in the district for 22 years!). We sampled a lot of the gourmet produce the area is renowned for, and also came home with a supply of Brown Brothers to keep us going through the festive season.

All in all it was a lovely time away, and very special to be with all the family once more.

Christmas Capers

Well we had a lovely time with my parents and Amy last night as we celebrated an early Christmas with them. We were roundly spoilt by all and came back very 'stuffed' with roast lamb dinner and chocolate ripple cake.

Today we start the trek down to B's parents in Wodonga. We'll break in Dubbo tonight, and then hope to be at their place by mid-afternoon tomorrow. And then we have the big Christmas dinner all over again!

If I don't get on again before then, have a WONDERFUL Christmas time, however you are spending it; and I pray your dreams come to fruition in 2010.

Sasch xo

Christmas Tree is Up!

As hard as it is to give into temptation sometimes, I try to stick firmly to the rule of 'tree not up before December 1'. I don't even know the reason for this; I just know that's 'what you do'.

(Playing of 'Carol of the Bells' however, is perfectly acceptable no matter the time of year. This time I even downloaded it!)

Thankfully this year I had December 1 off, so after a particularly wonderful day, Brad and I started the fun but hot task of assembling our tree once more.

I always get Brad to put the beads up and the lights, because no matter how hard I try, it always looks like cat vomit by the time I finish with them. I'm quite happy to do everything else with the tree - just PLEASE keep me away from the beads and lights!

And so here it is. By day and by night.

I think this is the best job we've ever done with it. I think what helped was the fact my parents just came back from Europe and brought with them some new ornaments for us to decorate with.

For added measure, enjoy some close-ups of my favourite ornaments this year.

Purchased during my Cape Town holiday

Our African angel that adorns the top of the tree (found in OxFam two years ago)

And one that seems to embody the whole spirit of Christmas 2009 for us.

I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas season and enter 2010 with joy and happiness.

The bob is back!

Ever since I got my first 'bob', I've loved having one. It feels so much cooler in summer, and without sounding arrogant - I think it suits me better than the long casual look I so often let my hair evolve into over Winter.

So yesterday, off it went, never to be seen again! And geez doesn't it feel better!

Close up - I really really really love this length!

With my hubby (who also likes the cut)

Oh the heat!

Now I may have lived in Queensland for all bar 6 months of my life, but I have never EVER gotten used to our unique mix of heat and humidity.

The past couple of weeks have been particularly awful, so there have been frequent trips to the beach, out for gelati and to mums to avail ourselves of the complex pool. Thankfully our house gets a lovely cross-breeze, but I don't think I'll last too much longer without buying an air conditioning unit!

Anyway, last week it was lovely to spend some times with the Mergards again on one of their visits to the Sunshine State, and hung out with them, the Moores and the Unicombs at Redcliffe Lagoon for lunch.

This is the life!

Bussing about and heading home

With the Muppets having left on Friday morning, I decided to spend the weekend utilising the Hop On/Off sightseeing bus.

It was the best idea I could have ever had. This bus goes all over the cape (Kirstenbosch, Houts Bay, Table Mountain, etc) and over the Atlantic Seaboard (Mouille Point, Bantry Bay, Camps Bay, etc) so it's a great way to get around Cape Town and see what the Cape has to offer.

On Saturday I did both buses - the one down to Houts Bay and then the one that goes through the city and up to Table Mountain. Due to the wind, the Cable Way was closed (it had been closed most of the week due to the extremely high winds), so I was praying that on Sunday the cable way would be open.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

Houts Bay

Atlantic Seaboard - the Twelve Apostles

Another shot of the Twelve Apostles

Inside District Six Museum

View from the Lower cable station of Table Mountain

Saturday night I booked myself onto a sunset champagne cruise around the bay, and had a beautiful time.

View from the sailboat

Amazing sunset!

On the Sunday I had a great sleep in and then headed down to catch the bus back up to Table Mountain. On the way I saw the gondolas going up, so thankfully I was able to go up and spend about three hours on the top of the mountain.

Yours Truly on Table Mountain

Monday was the start of my very long (24 hours) flight home via Singapore, and there was nothing better than going through the arrivals gate and seeing my husband waiting there for me.

I absolutely adored Cape Town, and I can't wait to go back. Not surprising to everyone who knows me - but I was quite mopey for the first couple of weeks I was back in Brisbane. Just like every time I leave Africa!

It was a fantastic time away, and it was such a blessing to be with Bek & Dion and just relax.