Darwin and Caversham Park

Good Morning (especially to those people in Russia, Turkey and Germany that have read the blog in the last month, not sure who you are, but welcome :) ),

Well its just about winter.  we have had about 100mm of rain in the last month or so, most of it in one or two days and we now have to wear trousers as it is actually a little chilly at times.  I hate myself for saying that...its still low to mid 20'Cs but it does feel a lot cooler.  Very bizarre but hey ho. 

We are all generally doing well, Anna is more or less fixed after the shunt in the car, the boys are growing quickly and are making friends and getting stuck into nursery (sorry Finley...Daycare).  Marcus has moved up into the toddler room and so is coming home shattered after running with the big boys all day.  Just need to teach him to share a little better with other kids but he'll get there.

Anna and I had good birthdays and are now celebrating with a few days off, yesterday we trailed round a few schools to enrol Finley into Pre-primary, can't believe that he will be at big boy school in February.  Very Bizarre.  We are off horse riding today for a few hours so that should be a whole lot of fun, just hope my back stands up to it but I'm sure it will be fine.....

I have been sent to Darwin in the Northern Territory for a few days and will be spending more time up there soon which should be fun.  Specifically I'll be working around the mangroves, see the pictures below:

It should be interesting, if hard working in the above in mid 30'C and 90% humidity...still should get me fit at any rate :p

While I was up in Darwin (well Palmerston but tis close to Darwin) We had a day off for ANZAC day.  Which is the Oz equivalent of Armistice Day in the UK.  I went to the Dawn service and it was really moving, it is a huge day here and so many people turn out to remember and observe the past and current service personnel.  Twas a nice service and it was a good opportunity to think and remember those we have lost but are still with us and know how proud they would be of us.  Also it gives the quiet time we usually don't get to think about those loved ones still with us but a long way away who give us so much support and love and back us to the hilt even if it means we are thousands of miles away.  We certainly couldn't do this without them.  Thank you.

Meanwhile, Anna and the boys and some friends from work went to Caversham Wildlife park in Perth.  Everybody had a wonderful time and they got to stroke kangaroos and wombats (which are surprisingly big!) and they saw many other weird and wonderful creatures from this giant land of Australia.  However, I think the highlight for Finley was having a ride in one of those supermarket car things while being chased by dinosaurs (amply provided by our friends little girl :p )

Off for horse riding soon and then hopefully a nice walk or two tomorrow at a big lake up in the Darling Hills above Perth.