Homecoming & Mmmmmm........

Today I drove to Swan Hill for my Uncle Geoff's 80th Birthday. In the sleepy little town of Nyah West (just a bit smaller than Kerrobert for all you Canadians), I caught up with old neighbours and cousins I haven't seen for years. Its so hard to keep in touch down through the years after grandparents pass away and we all scatter to all points of the compass. In this first photo are the Hills and Pat Dowell. They lived just up the lane from us when I was growing up. I would feed Pat's animals when she was away - my first paid job, and we would always have fresh honey courtesy of Jim Hill's beehives.




In the second photo are my Aunty Marg and cousin Wendy. Marg is the last remaining member of my Dad's family. She has moved back to the area after many years of moving between Queensland and Melbourne. Wendy and I couldn't remember when we saw each other last. We are sure we must have caught up at least once in the past 30 years but apart from a few phone calls we are not sure we have ever been in the same place at the same time. You can probably see the resemblance!

And here is the birthday boy with his family! The Hobsons were always close to us growing up, even though it is actually Aunty Menna and my Dad who are cousins. She was also my Godmother and the origin of my middle name. For a family of all boys they have done well to give Menna and Geoff 10 granddaughters and 2 grandsons!






And now......


The moment you have all been waiting for......



Now be honest, have you read all of this Post before gettig to this part? Mmmmmm.....





Oooooo... What is that I see in the mirror?
















SURPRISE!!!!



I though it would take much longer to guess!
Didn't realise smarty pants Justin would be able to work it out from the type of numberplate!

Bought it secondhand through the salary sacrifice scheme at work which means all the payments go out before tax. A good way to go but a bit of a headache to get organized. We found it in Sydney advertised on the Internet. It had to be exactly right - yep if we were finally going to take the plunge it had to be the exact one we wanted. . So Ross flew to Sydney on Thursday after we had been told everything would be ready to go, only to end up with delays from the finance company. He stayed in a Motel that night and finally took delivery just after Lunch Friday.
I think he "blew out a few cobwebs" on the way home covering over 900 kilometres in 10 hours! With the supercharger and 6 gears he is happy that its much more than a "girls car".

Abd yes, the number plates say it all - a real cutie!