This Sunday strolling is tough stuff

Here are the boys, both looking a little tuckered out after a spot of off-track Mt Coot-tha action. One has the advantage of a nice, soft place to just have a little nap along the way "Keep on walking, Daddy, not far to go now. I'll be quite hungry by the time I wake up!"

Someones 40th!!

Yes T has reached a special time in Life's Big Adventure - 40!!
Friday starts with the very important present opening... done by our little mate of course - a very serious business is deciding which piece of paper to play with! His little top read 'Happy 40th Birthday - love you mummy!! In french of course 'cause his english is rubbish still...

A special surprise was Jeremy being able to come down from Rockhampton. It was a big effort and absolutely tremendous to see him.






...Saturday and off to Nanna and Grumps to drop the little fella off for only the 2nd time we have been without him... he was very keen to get some gardening in and keep his skillset up to date...

Another present opening ceremony... woohoo!!

The Birthday Bash was at Ciao Baby and we had the entire upper floor to ourselves! The outside balcony was a brilliant space for everyone to just hang before heading inside...

Teresa, Dan, Debbie and Sarah before the duck pizza arrived! (Sarah won the 'the longest journey to be here' award - she flew from Mackay and brought little Amelie to play with us as well!)

Jeremy and Craigie being ever so 'cool and sporty' as the French like to say ....

It was a brilliant night... so easy to move around and chat .... the food was excellent... it was great to catch up to everyone ... Megan bunked study to be there, Sandra was looking just brill, Tash aka Aunty Boof had to put another bloke straight on priorities, so good to see Craig, Mr and Mrs Jeffy and Andrea lent some respectability, The Book crew sauntered along with Marcia in tow (who stayed up late - obviously a party grrl in the making), The Younger Winfields dumped the kids and showed up to party as usual, Tim and Jen wouldn't miss a night out... and a big, big thankyou to the Lodges for making a huge effort to come down it was just great to see you.

Thanks everyone for making it a brilliant night!! Love you all!!

Uncle Vince and Jandowae!

The long overdue trip to Jandowae happened on the wettest weekend I think have ever seen out there. Jandowae is about 4hrs west of Brisvegas and where the Healy family originates. Being on the very flat black soil plains of the Darling Downs when it rains the water forms great sheets a few inches deep and hundreds of acres across and moves across the landscape like a muddy, stubbly milkshake. So the numerous floodways between Dalby and Jandowae kept T's interest up!

Eventually though we got to Uncle Vince's place at Jandowae (after a stop at Toowoomba for 2nd breakfast - love the country!) ... and the most amazing thing happened... Nicholas was lifted out of the car and with a quick look snuggled straight into Uncle Vince's shoulder! Maybe it was the honest country boy looks?! It's a rare thing for him to lunge for a cuddle without much of an introduction! The little fella was even going to him for consolation after a few wayward adventures into coffee tables, door posts etc!

Seeing the home town was great - and it sure is looking good with all that rain! Loved the hospitality and we'll be back soon!

A new Winfield!

Marcia is the latest addition to Winfield clan and isn't Zoe a proud sister! Dad is hanging around in the background while Mum is having a rest! Congratualtions Winfields!!

Sunday Training - family style!

We love our Sunday outings... our little mate likes to see new stuff and here a cockatoo is saying good morning to him while dad takes a break from the carrying duties!

And Tress loves to get pack fit by carrying a pack loaded with tents and water to get the weight up!!

Bit of a drizzly start to our Sunday walk the other week... lovely to be out though and we discovered a new track at Mt Cootha that seems to be for a research project as there is tape and information on a lot of the trees which had all the humus cleared from around their bases... The WE Wildchild showed its true pedigree with its heavy duty raincover that extends over the entire pack... important stuff to keep the pack dryish when child carrying – not only to have a dry pack being dragged into the tent but the drier you can keep the pack fabric the less it wicks onto the little bloke and the happier he is...

Cutting sexy code?!

The little fella loves bottles with lids, blenders with lids are especially cool cause they make a good noise and mum and dad use it... but best of all is mum's keyboard! 'cutting code' is a software writer speak and 'sexy code' is very elegant code.. and I am sure that is what he is doing ... honest :)

An old friend came in from out of town

Look who was in town from London! Not Jeffy - although we need to see more of he and Andrea, too! Jeff, Anne and I went to uni together and here we are looking not too much older and having just as much fun. Anne, so lovely to meet Matteo in person and to see you and Mario again.

- Teresa