We two have been enjoying the mellowest of autumns – trees turning old gold and merlot red overnight, the satisfaction of crunching crisp leaves underfoot, and the still warm sun (21-23 degrees) lingering lazily in the endless cornflower blue of the Australian sky.. All this in the company of our three youngest grandchildren, and thanks to the wonderful hospitality and kindness of Jenny and our long-suffering and extremely nice son-in-law.
We are left with a kaleidescope of memories, which flash back into the mind randomly, in happy confusion. An endless variety of beautiful beaches, with miles of almost deserted golden-orange sand. Rolling white surf and clear, warm blue water. Katy and William trying to teach their 70 -year old Granna to boogie board, and succeeding in curing her lifelong fear of ‘going under’. Frolicking in the surf with Jenny – and coming up from under a huge wave to see her almost collapsed with laughter as I cleared my eyes and ears, to find one bosom had escaped my swimsuit!
We are left with a kaleidescope of memories, which flash back into the mind randomly, in happy confusion. An endless variety of beautiful beaches, with miles of almost deserted golden-orange sand. Rolling white surf and clear, warm blue water. Katy and William trying to teach their 70 -year old Granna to boogie board, and succeeding in curing her lifelong fear of ‘going under’. Frolicking in the surf with Jenny – and coming up from under a huge wave to see her almost collapsed with laughter as I cleared my eyes and ears, to find one bosom had escaped my swimsuit!
Chilly mornings, and darkness falling at 5.30pm, but the rest glorious sunshine. A trip by local train into Sydney with Katy and William whilst their parents took a couple of much-needed days away in the Blue Mountains., with a ferry trip for a picnic at Darling Harbour by Darwin’s Endeavour.
The fabulous play-park there with everything free …… and choosing gooey cakes for tea on our return to Wahroonga. 
A day at a local community fair – acrobats, bouncy castle,dog show,bands, dancers …… again all free ……where Jenny bought chinese dim sum which I had never had before (delicious). Picnics and barbecues at National Parks, beautiful gardens still full of colour in late autumn, a walk through a mangrove swamp, superb playgrounds for the children everywhere with paths for them to go full throttle on their scooters.-
Then grown-up days out in Sydney, with lunch by the Opera House, and viewing the interesting small exhibitions at the Library of NSW, where for instance part of the original Schindler’s List was on show, and Captain Cook’s logbook. A chance evening at David Jones (their Harrods) to find ourselves dropping in on a special event for card-customers, being given champagne and luxury sandwiches … and a cookery demonstration by a TV/Sydney chef, Luke Mangan, where we got to eat bowls of the delicious recipes he cooked (large prawns, salmon steaks no less!) A trip to the Hawkesbury River where our train
in pulled up right by the river’s edge, and visits to local Malls for a bit of retail therapy. And Jenny so kindly letting us have the 4x4 (necessitating her walking some considerable way to collect the children from school) so that we could spend what she was rightly sure would to be the hottest day at Palm Beach by ourselves. Paradise …. Utter bliss…..swimming, sunbathing, enjoying the picnic Jenny also provided….. exploring the harbour just the otherside of the peninsular ….. and returning home to a super spag.bol. which Jenny had prepared (and with second helpings, polishing off what she had apparently hoped to save for the children next day!).
in pulled up right by the river’s edge, and visits to local Malls for a bit of retail therapy. And Jenny so kindly letting us have the 4x4 (necessitating her walking some considerable way to collect the children from school) so that we could spend what she was rightly sure would to be the hottest day at Palm Beach by ourselves. Paradise …. Utter bliss…..swimming, sunbathing, enjoying the picnic Jenny also provided….. exploring the harbour just the otherside of the peninsular ….. and returning home to a super spag.bol. which Jenny had prepared (and with second helpings, polishing off what she had apparently hoped to save for the children next day!). 
Not only was this a fantastic holiday, but also a lovely warm family time as well- we even got to meet up with our two Oz-based nieces. Being with our three youngest grandchildren was magic, lots of chances to put each of them to bed and read them stories …… and to sing songs with Katy (I had typed out the words to lots of old favourites – I even taught her to sing, and do, the Lambeth Walk). We played endless games of UNO, and we taught them Newmarket, using pebbles from the driveway as money, the winner and runner-up getting ‘sticky snakes’ William won almost every time, and Katy was nearly always second …… Granna with remarkable regularity was always last! We watched William play football for his local team, and sat in (perhaps not the right choice of words) on their swimming lessons, visited their school, and nursery, and chatted to their teachers. Katy helping us around the house whilst her parents were away, William’s amazing navigational skills when out and about, and playing games of ‘Wheeeeeeeeee!’ in the back of the car with Tom are all memories we will cherish.
Nothing could have been done to make us feel more loved and welcome ……. Jenny and Ally even gave up their own bedroom with its own private staircase and super luxury bathroom, to sleep makeshift in the study. Jenny put herself at our disposal for the whole three weeks, which made for a great deal of extra work and inconvenience, but she juggled husband, children and guests with cheerful aplomb.
THANK YOU ALL!! WE HAD A BALL!!
