Fourteen of us gathered at “The Carrington” in Katoomba for a weekend of good company, catching up with each other’s news, wining, dining, pampering, sightseeing, golfing and other outdoor pursuits. It was a great success.

We assembled on Friday evening for a meal and after-dinner drinks and billiards. On Saturday morning most of the group decided on a hike at Wentworth Falls. It was very foggy, but fortunately views were not essential to the enjoyment of the outing! The group split in two, one half to descend deeper and deeper to the valley floor (and therefore, to have to climb all the way back up afterwards!) while the other group took a less vertical but nonetheless challenging and enjoyable nature walk through swathes of rain-soaked bush, past creeks and cliffs and gullies back to Point A. A few members of the party guarded the fort or began their pampering regime the while.

A quiet afternoon was had after this strenuous effort (Pete and Kath went and checked out the spectacular Rhododendron garden at Blackheath) and little was seen of anyone before we gathered for pre-dinner drinks, in one of the luxurious sitting rooms downstairs. Out into the foggy cold night to be transported by taxi to “Silks” Brasserie at Leura. A beautiful meal followed, accompanied by wines, animated conversation and a thunderstorm of major proportions outside. Taxis back to the Carrington, where some of the group played billiards and others sensibly went to bed.

Breakfast the next morning was followed by golf for a few, a walk to Echo Point and back for a few more, some more serious pampering for the pamperees and a visit to the Rhododendron garden for the rest of the group. We reunited at “The Hattery” for coffee and goodbyes (and the buying of an inordinate number of hats, between us!) and headed off in our various directions, via interesting detours. Geoff and Jen enjoyed the Norman Lindsay Gallery and gardens at Faulconbridge, and chanced upon Fred and Judith there for lunch.

Pete and Kath stayed an extra day, visiting some gardens at Mt. Wilson in the afternoon before coming down a notch or five in the accommodation and food stakes that evening. Alas, Monday’s weather was appalling, so we headed home quite early to a wet Canberra and a half-full rainwater tank !

Many thanks go the organisers, Simon, Lenore, Andrew and Joanie for a memorable weekend.

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In June and early July, 2007, Pete and Kath spent almost six weeks travelling around British Columbia and western Alberta in Canada and Montana in the USA.

Our friends Bob and Jane lent us a 1992 Mazda truck whom we affectionately called “GJ”. Loaded up with borrowed camping gear, we headed from Vancouver Island (Nanaimo, to be exact), to Victoria and the wonderful Butchart and Abkhazi Gardens and then to the mainland, driving close to the 49th parallel till we crossed to the USA and headed down to the magnificent Glacier National Park in Montana. Wow!

We followed the Rockies north to Waterton NP in Canada, detoured via Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump (really!) and Calgary and then rejoined the Rockies in Banff National Park, where we walked and drove and marvelled and took many many photos ( a small selection below!) Then along the glorious Icefields Parkway to Jasper National Park after which, reluctantly we had to move on. Through Mt Robson Provincial Park (highest mountain in the Rockies) and NW to Prince George and Prince Rupert. More snowy mountains, green meadows, wildflowers, full rivers and some rainy weather.

East back through Prince George, then southwards to Wells Gray Provincial Park (beautiful waterfalls). Further south to Glacier National Park (British Columbia – not to be confused with the one in Montana) where we had the best weather of our trip and made the most of it . Four half-day walks to as many views as we could get (still too much snow to go all the way, unfortunately!) Finally we headed back to Nanaimo via Lillooet, Whistler (loved it!), Vancouver and Victoria (the Butchart Gardens again).

We had changeable weather in general, but were lucky enough to see most of the mountaintops, the Rockies with lots of snow still on them, lovely wildflowers, green meadows, emerald or aqua rivers and lakes full of water, 12 bears(all from the car window, thankfully!), 2 moose (mooses?), elk, deer and lots of loveable squirrels, ground squirrels and chipmunks, even some hairy marmots and a pica! And we had fine weather for most of the really scenic mountain areas. Our last few days in Nanaimo were real summer at last – almost too hot! Our gratitude goes to Bob and Jane and their family for their great hospitality. What a lovely country! Great people, brilliant scenery! We’ll be back.

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On 18th – 20th May 2007, our band of friends gathered for a “weekend away” in the grand tradition. Most of the group arrived on Friday, dining at night at the Tuileries Restaurant.Four more came on Saturday to join the merry gang for a guided afternoon wine-tasting tour of four vineyards, followed by a magnificent meal at Beaumont’s Cafe.

Photos are from this wonderful repast, and afterwards at the Poacher’s Paradise Pub, from whence we meandered to our beds rather late.

Golf the next day for four keen sportsmen; others headed home (Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne) at various times after fond farewells.

A great time was had by all – we must do this more often!

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To celebrate Kathy’s retirement in November 2006, we decided on a trip to Tasmania. Ange and her friend Carrie joined us (they’d also shared our NZ adventure) and stayed on afterwards, completing the Overland Track from Cradle Mountain to Lake St. Clair after we left.

We took the Pajero and crossed (smoothly, thankfully) to Devonport on the Spirit of Tasmania. First we headed west along the northern coastline, visiting some lovely gardens and enjoying some beautiful coastal scenery. No camping here – it was too cold! After a few days we headed east (via some interesting side roads) to Launceston to pick up Carrie.

Our first overnight hike was at Freycinet National Park on the east coast, an absolutely beautiful walk, along beaches, over mountains and through bush full of wildflowers, with views to the spectacular coastline on much of the return journey.

On through Sorrel (visiting friends at their fabulous B&B), and through Hobart south to Cockle Creek (where some really serious hikes begin and end!). Back north to Port Arthur, where we did our second overnight hike from Fortescue Bay along another stunning coastline of precipitous basalt cliffs (or was it dolerite?).

Through Hobart again, visiting friends Liz and Leigh, then to Mt Field and the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Parks. Beautiful weather and lovely scenery. Then west through Queenstown to Strahan, and north to Cradle Mountain. Here we provided moral (and logistical) support as the girls packed and headed off on the Overland Track. We accompanied them as far as Cradle Mountain on a beautiful sunny day, before parting ways.

Back to Canberra for us, and six days of adventure for the girls through all weathers and with interesting companions. I’ve included a few of their photos but if you want more, you’ll have to ask them! Tassie is a lovely place to travel, so compact and so varied in its landscapes, and with a real sense of history as well. We’ll be back!

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“Let’s go camping!” was the cry, so a camping weekend was planned (thanks, Geoff!) For various reasons, numbers of those attending fluctuated wildly until the appointed Friday evening, when the hardy Brown and Ellerman families (with most children attached) and Andrew (Dixon) finally descended upon the appointed site, Bristol Point (what a great spot!)

After an evening of revelry and sleep, alas on Saturday the weather turned arctic (cold and windy but not wet, thankfully). We were not deterred and donned all our layers to frolic on the beach, hike through the bush and visit the headland. Dinner was a highlight as we all got to stand around the fire and warm ourselves up and then to eat yummy food. More revelry before we decided to snuggle into our warm sleeping bags at last.

On Sunday morning after a leisurely breakfast, the group broke camp, split in two, and headed home at different times. The weather had improved markedly (typical!). Some of us went to Cave Beach, walked around Booderee Botanic Gardens and then spent some time on the beach at Greenpatch, where we built a magnificent dam to hold back the surging waters (see photos).

A great time was had by all. We must do it again some time!!

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On 14 January 2006 Mooie and Lloydie celebrated 60 years of marriage at a lunch at the Country Comfort Motel, Greenway.There to help them were friends and relatives representing the many stages of their busy and productive lives, from school friends they have known since the 1920s to their neighbours now in Monash. Family members and friends came from such far-flung places as Adelaide, Byron Bay, Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney, Young, Grenfell, Bombala and the Central Coast and made it a very special occasion.

Muriel and Lloyd organised the whole show just about all by themselves (had no choice — we were in NZ and Michael was in the US!) and it was a memorable party, with messages received from the local MP, Prime Minister, Governor-General and the Queen.

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Pete, Kath, Ange and her best friend Carrie spent a lovely month in New Zealand, revisiting (for some of us) some much-loved places, and seeing many beautiful new ones.Highlights of the trip included the Tongariro Crossing in Tongariro National Park, a spectacular day walk up past volcanoes, still fuming volcanic craters and crater lakes and back down down down through grassland and forest.. It started snowing at the halfway point — glad we brought all our gear!

We visited cousins Uta, Michael and Barbara in Wellington before crossing to the South Island where two beautiful hikes awaited us; the Queen Charlotte Track north of Picton, 71 km over four days along the ridgeline between two sounds, and further south, a week later, the Routeburn and Greenstone Tracks, through the beautiful unspoiled alpine scenery between Lake Wakatipu and the Milford Sound Road.

Another highlight was a helicopter flight from Twizel over the Mt Cook region — NZ’s highest mountain, glaciers, hanging valleys, lakes, mountain ranges, all from above and up close — unforgettable! We finished that day with a walk up to the mouth of the Hooker Glacier in lovely sunshine. Return to Christchurch via the southern end of the South Island, and home just in time for Christmas!

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Kath and Pete spent two and a half fascinating, eye-opening weeks in China, basing ourselves in Beijing with Kym and Sue, but making forays outwards in various directions.Highlights were Chengde where the emperors had a summer palace but also had built many temples in the style of their various subjugated peoples. Pingyao (by overnight train!) and the Wang family mansion, Xian and the Entombed Warriors (another overnight train) were also highlights. We also did a fantastic nine-kilometre walk along the Great Wall from Jinshanling to Simatai with views over the rugged hills and amazing ridge-top battlements on a glorious day.

Naturally we saw many of the highlights of Beijing as well, including the forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace, and we loved the markets, but we may have let the side down on the shopping front! Our last few days were spent in Suzhou with its world-heritage-listed gardens, and Shanghai — what an amazingly dynamic city! The Chinese always made us feel welcome, though we did get our photo taken a few times.

Our trip ended in the comparatively western city of Singapore, where we spent a few pleasant days with Stephan and Catherine and the kids.

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