It seems absolutely ages since I was able to log onto the forum. I have felt like I've been missing my 'family' of friends even though I had my blood family with me. We have done the Christmas trek - 9 hours north and 9 hours back again and then we were invaded by the family who all love being together 'at our house'. It's not the beach they come for even though it is only 8 minutes away - it's just the 'being together'. I guess that's special. It was a week of mess, noise, endless meals and chatter. As I wave goodbye to each one of them, the tears well up as I clean the house (took 7 hrs this year) and restore calm. Suddenly the house seems larger. But do I miss the toys on the floor and the bodies playing XBox or watching a DVD? Just for a few hours on that first day...then finally, I'm used to it being just us two again - and I can get to my computer at last. (I must remember to re-locate it next year and not have it in the same room as the baby grandson's cot!) It's good to be back and catch up with all your news. I was especially keen to see if our members in Tassie were OK during the fires.
Welcome back to the forum Neil and Ruth, I thought you must have been busy with all the Festive Season activities etc. I could always post the address of that 'Free Camp' in your street if you want, that will take that quiet feeling away for you.
There has been quite a few newbies pop up while you have been as busy as those bees down the back. There were also 2 locals went into hiding in readiness for the 21st December (End of the world) and have forgotten to come out again, come on BG and Bigw, time to come out again, the new world is the same as the old one.
Again, welcome back N&R.
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Your description sounds just like my sisters house at Tin Can Bay over Christmas/New Year. They had their 3 kids, partners and 3 littlies, then we arrived the day after Boxing Day. We being me, my son and family, the next day other son arrived with a new girlfriend we knew nothing about, daughter and hubby, and a ring-in! All camped in their front yard! And she was having the 6 year old for 2 more weeks on his own! Luckily they love it!
All the young ones were great though.. organising meals, cleaning bathrooms etc. She hardly had to enter the kitchen!
Thanks for the welcome back. Yes, it's nice to have them but it's nice to have our own space and do what we want and eat when we want (and what we want to eat).