DECEMBER 2021 : CANBERRA : CHRISTMAS

A very happy Christmas at home with my mum, Ash and her enthusiastic bunch.

Our Sydney family celebrated with their Fitzgerald cousins.

M&M

DECEMBER 2021 : CANBERRA : Archer’s 4th birthday

Every family needs a superhero. We have Spider-Man!

Happy 4th birthday, Archer.

M&M

PS Archer’s last day of childcare and first day of Trinity Pre-school

NOVEMBER 2021 : CANBERRA : More birthdays

Mark and I turned 69 within three weeks of each other.

Celebrations included cake with family

Lunch at a Japanese cafe in Braddon

We were so impressed with some of the recent architecture in Lonsdale Street

Lunch at JJs at the Marina, Batemans Bay on a blustery day

A weekend with family and drinks with friends in our courtyard



Special cards and presents from our grandchildren



Meanwhile we keep pedalling on…

M&M

OCTOBER 2021 : SYDNEY : Harriet’s 6th birthday

Lockdown is over and we can celebrate birthdays! Harrie is 6! She lost her first tooth to mark the occasion.

She is our cartwheeling queen!

A party picnic at Clareville for Sydney family and friends

She was reported be ‘over the moon’ all day! Such a special delight!

M&M

OCTOBER 2021 : CANBERRA : Another COVID lockdown birthday

Our youngest granddaughter is one! A special day in our family calendar!

What a special gift she is!

Despite the restrictions of time and distance she had a wonderful day celebrating with her family!

Fortunately we could be included too!

M&M

SEPTEMBER 2021 : CANBERRA : Ashley’s 40th birthday

Our beautiful daughter is 40. 

Super mum

She had big ideas for her 40th birthday and planned to combine three significant family celebrations - her 40th, Dakota’s 10th birthday and Indi’s 1st birthday.

Unfortunately with our Covid lockdown, this was not to be. She has put the party on hold and we had a early morning get together at a local park for a simple breakfast and cake.

 M&M

SEPTEMBER 2021 : MELBOURNE and CANBERRA : An on-line master cooking class for our nephew’s birthday

Another year of birthdays in lockdown. Families and friends are getting very creative. Ros, my sister, discovered a cooking master class for the family to celebrate the 32nd  birthday of her son, James.

Boxes delivered to door to door the day before

The participants in all their Qantas pyjamas ready for action..

Here we go!

A very convivial Neil Perry took us through the menu with helpful tips along the way. Chatting and wanting a regular  update of the  Rugby test score.

A very excited crew after an intensive hour of cooking and creating. Extremely replete after such a rich feast with such delicious ingredients. Thanks to Ros for such an imaginative gift and celebration!.

Then the washing up…

M&M

JUNE / JULY 2010 : CROATIA : MEMORIES OF A FAMILY HOLIDAY ON HVAR

My sister, Ros, and husband Phil had always dreamt of a family holiday on the island of HVAR, where his father, Bert, was born. In the European summer of 2010 they rented a lovely home on the harbour of the small port town of Stari Gradand generously invited us all to share in the wonderful experience.

TRIESTE

We flew into Milan at 6am and caught an express train at 9.30 to Trieste. (6 hour journey)

A beautiful port city on the Adriatic Coast, Trieste is sophisticated, created during the Austro- Hapsburg era Home of the first coffee house, refuge of the Irish author, James Joyce, major trading port, home of  700,000 Triestans who lost their lives in WW2. One of the architectural highlights, situated on the northern coast, is the White Castle, Miramar, built in the 1850s for the Austrian Archduke Maximilian. We really enjoyed our time there, wandering the streets, dining at outdoor restaurants, watching the activity along the port.

Stayed at the Nuovo Albergo Centro, which was excellent.

ZADAR

We caught a bus from Trieste, changing at Rijeka to travel to Zadar. Zadar suffered during the war during the 90s but has emergered as another attractive port. The highlight was the restaurants along the foreshore and the Sea Organ. It was designed in 2005 and is a sound and music extravaganza. Pipes under the pier produce musical notes as waves push air up through the pipes, with corresponding light panels beaming out the notes.

The only thing that really reminded us of the war was our accommodation in the outer regions of the city. It was as dark as a bunker and we detected bullet holes in the external walls. * (1 star to Hotel Venera)

On to the bus..

SPLIT

A port with so much life. The old town is the Palace of the Roman Emperor Diocletian (284- 305 AD). It has become the organic heart of Split, with additions and renovations creating a modern take on its ancient foundations. Party central. Ferries and cruises for all the Adriatic destinations.

STARI GRAD, HVAR

Acknowledged as the oldest town in the Adriatic. It was originally colonised by the citizens of the Greek island of Paros, chosen for its safe harbour and fertile soil.

A great summer holiday destination but in winter residents move to their homes in Split and Albania, leaving their fertile gardens and vineyards to the cold, stormy winds.

Every meal a celebration!

Special attractions all over the island

A walk to the port of Jesna

Franetoviches unite! The Croatian branch still holiday on Hvar every summer, maintaining their original family properties.

Adventures…

Perfect, perfect, perfect!

DUBROVNIK

Dubrovnik is the ultimate walled city and has been occupied by civilisations throughout the Mediterranean, from 966AD when it was first besieged by the Saracens. Like Trieste it was also part of the Austro-Hapsburg monarchy from 1814. Latterly it featured in the 1990s conflict, with many museums and photographic galleries recording the atrocities and terror of the time. 

We found accommodation with a difference - a small apartment tucked into the outer walls of this fortress. Through the skylight you could see tourists circumnavigating the walls.

Delicious seafood, convenient beaches, interesting galleries and lots of summer concerts and music.

ABU DHABI and DUBAI

Good friends, Robyn and Doug and their 8 year old son, Hugh, were on posting in Abu Dhabi at this time so we had a stopover on the way home and spent a few days with them.

We visited the Sheikh Zayed Mosque and the 7 star Emirates Palace Hotel.

We also did a day  bus trip to Dubai in 50oC heat where we investigated the spice and gold souks, enjoyed all the contrasts of ancient and modern around the harbour.

Wonderful reconnecting with Robyn and Doug and experiencing a little of their life in the Middle East.

M&M