THERE'S A POOL AT THE INN

There are some upsides to living at the Inn! There is a pool, spa and sauna and the girls are just loving it!! The chance to improve "the dive"!

Floating for 112 seconds!!!

Lessons from big sister.

Perfecting the butterfly stroke?

Just too much fun I think!

ADAM & BRON'S HOUSE NEARS COMPLETION

It's been three months that stretched out to almost twelve months but the end is almost here and the house is about 2 weeks from completion. It just occurred to me that I hadn't posted any house news for a looooooooooooooong time! So here it is, in reverse order, but you should get the idea :) It's looking really nice and Bron's brother David came in with the John Deere to straighten things out a little.

The front feature of warm brown mini orb sets the house off nicely.

Nash always on hand to help - always happy outside OR on Pa's tractor.

The safest spot was in Aba's arms.

And a chance for a snuggle too.

More to come when I down load from my camera.

WHAT IS AUSTRALIA DAY FOR NAN?

On our way to the Australia Day celebrations at the Cave Gardens Baie asked, "What do we have Australia Day for Nan?"

Answer: "It's the day that we celebrate the English settlement of Australia. We celebrate being Australian and that we live in a free and safe country - but while we celebrate, it is a day of mourning for the Aboriginal people because the English settling in their land meant the end of the way of life as they knew it then - a double edged sword really."

Baie: "Hmmm, I think I know what you mean" - as her thoughtful little face looked at me :)

It was beautiful in the gardens sitting amongs the big trees.

Steve presented a citizenship award to his old high school teacher Garry Costello, and commented after his speech that it was a much easier job understanding what he had just said in his speech, compared to the Shakespear Gary made him read in Year 10!!

After the ceremony Steve was interviewed by the ABC.

Then home for lunch, as Aussie as the bbq, fish and chips, or for Nash "pippies and obama". Translation - chips and kabana!!

Accompanied by another Aussie icon - good old Rosella Tomato Sauce :)

The Great Southland of The Holy Spirit - Steve Grace

One of my favourite songs of ALL TIME!

If this song doesn't stir you about about our wonderful country - nothing will.

Take five minutes and listen to the amazing Steve Grace sing about our awesome south land.

We often sing this at opening worship at the start of our new school year - I think this year this video should accompany the song!

AUSSIE! AUSSIE! AUSSIE!

HAVE A GREAT AUSTRALIA DAY

THAT'S OUR PLAN!

I love our sunburnt country
A land of sweeping plains
A land of mountain ranges
Of drought and flooding rains
I love her far horizons
I love her jeweled seas
Her beauty and her terror
This wide brown land for me

Dorothea MacKellar (1906) - my favourite verse!

SOME MORE QUEENSTOWN FAVOURITES

From our balcony we were constantly entertained by one thing or another in our view.

Queenstown nestled against the mountain, hiding behind the pines.

Allan, Dave and beautiful Lake Wakitipu or should it be Lake Wakitipu and beautiful Allan and Dave!!

Me and Dave on the pebble beach on the edge of the lake - we paddled our toes in the 8 degree water, the guy in the water didn't stay long.

The duck did - didn't seem to mind the cold at all!

A gorgeous view greeted us at every turn.

Queenstown 'beach'