Back to previous page
The camping in a state park on Mount Buffalo was probably the most beautiful Jan had seen so far in Australia. It was located in a gumtree forest at an artificial lake on Mount Buffalo. We were allowed to light a fire, which always keeps the kids entertained. They light fire sticks and as parents we only need to make sure they don't set anybody or anything else on fire (or extinguish our fire). We had sausages, potatoes and pumpkin from the fire that night.
The Chalwell Galleries Track
The next morning, we went for a
walk that started at the camp site. After a short climb, the path became too
narrow for Juliana in the backpack. We had a
break, during which we had a
close look at some
skinks that were happy to come really close - they might live off the scraps from all walkers that pass through. After the break, dad and Juliana stayed behind and Piet and Emma continued the journey with mum. After some tigh climbing which helping hands from mum, they got out on the other side and had a beautiful view. We returned to the campsite together.
That afternoon, Piet and Emma wanted to go for the same walk once more! Will we ever experience that again? Leaving Juliana with mum, Piet and Emma were able to show dad what they had climbed that morning - pretty impressive - and we tried to follow another narrow path until only Emma wanted to continue. Emma led the way back and this time nobody needed a helping hand.
As it was a very windy day, a total fire ban had been declared and we could not light a fire. It did not matter too much for our dinner of spagetti bolognaise, but the next morning when we woke at a chilly 6 degrees, the inability to light a fire was a bigger handicap. We had to put the kids in the car for a ride to warm them up. We packed up quickly and drove three hours to Kyneton where we stayed a night with one of Sarah's old high school friends.
The next day we drove the final hour to Melbourne where we stayed with Callum and Campbell. Amazingly, even after 15 months the kids still got on very well together, although the group dynamics had slightly changed. Emma was able to fend completely for herself and Piet was best friends with the younger Callum, while in the past he was more into the older Campbell. Even Juliana was happy. This was all a great relief to their parents, which had a great time going to the zoo (with aunt Penny and cousin Benji) while dad went to work, to a park near Eltham (with lots of old friends), to the old Eltham church (which Piet did not like because of something he did not want to name, we presume Will's funeral service) and for lunch at great aunty Jo and great uncle Pete's place.
On Monday, we continued to Bendoc. We were reminded that the drive from Melbourne takes slightly longer than from Sydney. In addition we had a flat tire on the windy Bonang highway - we must have run over a branch - so it took even longer. On top of that, we lost a wheel nut lock key - a European invention to prevent theft of wheels, rather unnecessary in Australia - so it took us two days to get the repaired wheel back on the car, something we really could have done without.
Juultje had her bath in one of the laundry tubs, which used to fit Piet and Emma, an amusing thought. On Christmas Eve, we went on the hunt for a gum tree branch for use as a christmas tree. Juliana joined us; there were a dozen flies on her backpack, but she did not seem too fussed about them. Opa cut a suitable gum tree branch near the bridge, which he carried back with mum. Meanwhile, Piet and Emma rushed to get the mail with grannybunts. Juliana had some tears - she probably did not get something her way. Piet and Emma helped decorate the ginger bread house.
The next morning, Piet and Emma got up at 5am to see Santa's presents. They were allowed to open one (or two, dad forgot) until grannybunts, mum and Juliana got up - we certainly couldn't wait for opa. Emma was very happy with her queen Elsa dress from the movie Frozen, and Piet was also happy with his presents. Grannybunts prepared the traditional christmas pudding for the equally traditional christmas barbecue lunch.
Two days later we drove home, where another present awaited Piet and Emma in their bedroom. Santa had explained in a letter that it was too big to fit in a car and therefore he had asked his elves to leave it in Manly. The present was a loft bed in the shape of a tree (designed by mum). Piet and Emma were delighted and now we have more space to store lego.
The main reason for going back home (and to work) was to celebrate New Year's eve in Manly. At 6pm we cycled and walked to the harbour beach near the ferry wharf, where we met many other friends from school. We had a swim, a bit to eat, a play in the sand and followed a few jazz musicians up and down the beach. At 9pm we watched the fireworks nearby. In the distance we could see the 9pm family fireworks at various other locations, including the harbour bridge. The main fireworks at the harbour bridge at midnight were watched by 1.6 million people along the harbour shore. To our surprise, Juliana was not tired at all. She had been enjoying herself crawling around in the sand among all the people. When the fireworks began, she stood up and started raving.
Juliana walks
On the 5th January, Juliana started proper walking. She had already been able to stand firmly for months and had been able to shuffle her feet while standing - Piet and Emma observed seven steps on 1 December - but now Juliana was moving her feet to get somewhere instead of crawling. See these videos of her walking
inside and
outside (each 3Mb). At nearly thirteen months, she is about a month slower than Piet.
Some other videos have been uploaded to this page as well (scroll to the bottom).
The first full week of January, Emma went to Bendoc on her own, while it was Piet's turn in the second week. They were showered with attention. Dad picked Piet up in Canberra at the end of his stay. In Goulburn, they went to a pizzeria together - Piet's choice - and Piet drew some beautiful dinosaur pictures on the paper table cloth. We arrived home when it was dark, as desired by Piet.
On the Thursday before Australia day, we went camping with our camper trailer in Killalea State Park, two hours drive south of Sydney. On the beaches, we had fun with our friends and sister and the mud. On the campsite we had fun on the grass with mum and dad. We had fun in the tree and with roasting marsh mellows. All in all, a very good weekend, like last year. For more pictures, see
