Reconnecting with family......

I had forgotten to mention something special that has happened to me in the last couple of weeks, with everything that is going on I still cannot believe that I haven't blogged about it.

My cousin Anthony made contact with me!!

It was a nice surprise when opening my email one morning there was an email from Anthony. I have to say that it pleasantly made my day. I have been emailing with his mam, my aunty Marea, for awhile now so I thank her for passing on my email addy forward. Anthony is my cousin, on my mam's side of the family - one of the Lewis brood!!

Anthony and I haven't spoken since we were 18 when I went back to Wales (which I actually don't remember but he does) and before that my last memory of contact was when we were 8. So we will have a lot of catching up to do, that's for sure!!

Anthony is currently serving in the British Army and based in Muscat, Oman. He has done really well with his career in the army, serving for just over 20 years now, and is currently a Training Advisor for the Omani Armed Forces. I have always been proud of him, although we haven't had any personal contact. We have always heard about his adventures on the family grapevine. His wife Rachel and their two children, Ellis(8) and Ffion(6) are there also. Rachel is a Teaching Assistant at the British School in Muscat.

Then came the next surprise - they are coming to Australia!!!

They will be over here for 5 weeks, arriving at the end of July. In fact the flights have been booked and I must say circled on my calendar. This is brilliant. They are flying into Melbourne, want to visit Sydney and Brisbane during their stay here also.

Speaking of visitors, Rhian and James are meant to be in Melbourne next weekend. I have known about their upcoming visit Down Under since New Years, so it will be great to see them also. We last saw Rhian (my second cousin from the Davies side) and her husband James when they visited us maybe 7 years ago now. Oliver vaguely remembers them but Alexandria was too young. They are only planning to stay with us for a few nights but that doesn't matter as it will be great just to catch up.

A little birdy has told me that Dennis and Pam are looking at coming for a visit in September but it hasn't been confirmed.... they are wanting to go to Brisbane as well as Melbourne. Dennis is my cousin from the Davies clan and actually Rhian's dad. It's been quite awhile since we saw them also... Oliver was only a baby when they visited Australia last time.

Needless to say I will have to keep the linen clean at the Hotel da Murray for when we have reservations.... LOL!!!!


My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

Time flies when you're having fun.....

Cannot believe it has been nearly another month since I last sat down and posted. Wow where does all the time go?

For me, it is working full time, spending as much of my spare time with the kids and doing the occassion bit of house work, shopping, cooking, etc, etc. I am sure everyone knows where I am coming from.

Work at the moment is very busy with a new manager on site, training off site up in the country quarries and with the warmer weather approaching more work is being done so the trucks and the weighbridge are getting busier. I made a few trips to Carisbrook, near Bendigo, for training where I stayed a few nights. I have a few more similar trips in the pipeline prior to Christmas so I will well and truely need a New Years Break.

The kids are getting excited with the fact that Christmas is coming... not long now. I still get amazed every year at how early the Christmas decorations are put out in the shops. You nearly spend half the year looking at Christmas stuff and then celebrate it for just one day!!

Alex lost her first tooth on Melbourne Cup Day and was pleased when the tooth fairy left $10 in exchange for her little tooth. She looks really cute without her tooth and I think she is wobbling every other tooth now.

We all went to the Melbourne city a couple of weekends ago when Noel's sister Clare and her boyfriend came down from Sydney. It was great to see Clare again and to meet Ray for the first time - hopefully as a family we didn't scare him too much. The day was spent at AFL Hall of Fame, a really great place to go even if you are not a mad footy supporter. It is a musuem as well as an interactive environment, similar to Scienceworks, and it kept both the adults and the kids interest all day.

Claire, my sister, is due to have her 4th child on 14th December. I wish my relationship with her was better but I need to remember that it is a two way street. There is no closeness that I feel sisters should have which upsets me and I know it upsets my Mam. I have to be honest and say that I have given up ringing in hope of normality and actually being like sisters as my calls often go unanswered and not returned. Just when I think all is lost she rings me out of the blue. It made my day to actually think she was thinking of me. I appreciated the fact that for once she has made an effort. That was last Tuesday - suspiciously I am going to wait to see how long it takes for the next phonecall to happen. I hate myself for thinking like this!

Mam is due to arrive in Melbourne soon. She flies in on the 12th December and I am really looking forward to seeing her again. My uncle Griff and his partner Julie will be with her as they are coming out from Wales for a holiday. I haven't seen Griff since I was 18 which is 17 years ago now. Needless to say I think this Christmas will be really good with both families and the added overseas relations.

Well as you can see we have been busy and I am sure it won't slow down this side of Christmas..... oh well!!