Queen's birthday

Friends - 

Australia celebrates the Queen's birthday this weekend. Wait - didn't New Zealand celebrate her birthday last weekend? And the Commonwealth her jubilee last week? It's all very confusing.

Anyway, we're up in Soldiers Point, near Port Stephens. About 3 hours by car from Sydney. Lovely spot. We arrived at the house just in time to enjoy Saturday's nice weather. 

It's even nice at dusk.

This Sunday morning was as cruisy as they come. E was up early, and her usual good self. She's such a goer, that one.

We dropped mum off at the spa (a present from dad for her b-day - home is now officially a gerontocracy) and went to the farm. Time for me to get close and personal with the local fauna.

Ducks and geese


Goats. Good looking ones, too. Just look at this youngster here. Blue eyed, white haired, little horns. Could be me, really.


I even got acquainted to Rod the Goat. We shared intimate moments over goat food.


The local transportation park is impressive. From the airliner...


...to the tractor. Proud moments.


Got to feed baby goats milk in a bottle.


Pat midget horses.


Catch up on goss with Albert and Fred.


Give Gilda a nose scratch.


Say hi to Landon the lama...


...until the wretched thing licked my head!! Yuck!!


Play with the Simpsons


I tell you, it's a good thing koalas had no native predator in Australia. These things move at the pace of a Swiss public servant. They have more style, though. And smell of eucalyptus.

Then got to play with Jack and his mates. Furiously nice to pat, them.

Jack taught me how to walk roo-wise. Takes some practising but you soon get the hang of it.

I then introduced Jack to Ella. It was love at first sight. 

Ella had her own private audience with the black swans. I'll be on the lookout for any Odile-like behaviour in the coming days.

We eventually picked up a rejuvenated mum from the spa. Ella was over the moon.

Tomato sauce with fries. Three hats.

Topped by a rainbow ice cream. 

And still, that creeping feeling that I'll grow to regret these dress-like-mummy-outfits. 

Signing off for today. Thanks team for a brilliant day!
Finnou