Hamish Birthday

It was Hamish's birthday over the weekend. Despite the best on intentions his big present from Mum, Dad, Mollie and Poppet got opened and used before the day itself...although we managed to keep the rest safe...
He has been nagging us for a bigger bike for ages so

a popular choice.
His cake was slightly early - Xanthe has not been eaten she was away at a sleepover honest!

A Tirimaso cake with "lego icing"

On the 11th our proposed lie in was brutally shattered by certain people throwing wrapping paper around the house..

The on going development of the Funnell Band was given further assistance with the kind gift of a guitar

Auntie Jo mistakenly thinks she can dodge the loud and at times painful noises coming from the combined efforts of guitar and drum - she is wrong I will get my revenge when she is over!! All joking aside he loves it and we will sit down and go through the How to Guide that she sent very soon.
Noisy presents from Aunts a long way away was obviously the order of the day with Auntie Sarah deciding that some small balls that make an awful racket would be much appreciated by Mum and Dad - she was wrong and we will be having words!!!
The robotic bubble blower that she sent as well was far more my style and pace

Paronella Park

I realise that it has been a while since my last blog - we have been busy but done very little if that makes sense. What with Tish working most weekends and the children busy with school activities and friends we have not really done too much that. This weekend with Tish off on Sunday we decided to head south to Paronella Park - Tish had been given a family pass as a thank you from one of her Mums so we went to check it out.
I suppose the easiest description is that is a "folly" created by a Spanish immigrant in the 30s and 40s. It was hand made out of very poor concrete which combined with several severe cyclones basically has left it a shell of its former glory. I have to say that it left Tish and I rather cold as it looked like very elaborate crumbling concrete with rusty rebar sticking through...we have a family pass that is valid for another two years but I have to say that we wont be rushing back! The gardens were quite nice but are basically organised rain forest.
Here are a few of the better pics, was having real problems with the camera as it did not want to focus!
One of the most interesting facts about the place is that it was powered by a small hydro electric scheme - the original location was chosen purely because of the waterfall. The hydro has been renovated and powers the park today

A very photogenic site

With a very nice - if croc infested - creek running away from it

There was also a smaller more appealing waterfall as well

There plenty of native fish and turtles to be fed as well

The "castle" was in a very poor state with the concrete crumbling and rusty metal sticking out everywhere. You are n longer able to walk in / on it as it is too unsound so the overall effect was slightly spoiled by dozens of supporting struts

Part of the structure had been used as a restaurant for the locals - the owners had a very strict dress code and should anyone arrive that failed to meet these codes rather than turn them away they provided cubicles and an assortment of clothes for them to change in to

The structures were at two different levels with a stone stair case of 47 hand made and uneven steps connecting the two

The grounds were I felt the best part
An avenue of Kauri Pines

Plenty of little clearings

After we had walked round we decided to go down to the beach for a picnic - great in theory but it was sooo cold that Tish and I having sat there shivering for about half an hour dragged everyone back to the car and we headed home!
The only other excitement has been that Allan took Hamish fishing late last week and he caught his first proper fish

unfortunately the water it came out of was of such a poor quality that the fish was not edible but never mind!

Winter has certainly arrived - down to about 14 degrees last night so no fans on but duvets are the order of the day!