Tuesday Girls Adventure - Junee

 The Tuesday girls were on the road again. This time we had two nights in Junee then headed to Rutherglen for two nights. Kerrie has been trying hard to get the Junee Chocolate and Licorice Factory. She thought we were going there on our trip to Tumbarumba last year and was disappointed to find out it wasn't on the plan ( as it was not on the route). So Junee was on the list this year.

We like to take the road less travelled so instead of going straight down the Hume to Gundagai and across to Junee we turned off onto the Burley Griffin Way and went through Binalong. I always love it when I get to go on a road I have never been on.

We found this cute little cafe called The Two Pigs, so stopped for a drink and a cookie and a little explore around the town.

Binalong was the home of Banjo Paterson and and an area know for bushrangers being close to the goldfields at Young

Next it was on to Harden-Murrumburrah

Lovely old church in Murrumburah

Silo Art- pretty impressive

 

This is a statue of Bill the Bastard- a horse that carried wounded soldiers to safety in WW1 and his rider as well

Then we continued on to Cootamundra with all the blossom trees in flower. It was such a lovely day with blue skies, green countryside, canola fields in flower and the blossoms.

The Tuesday Girls enjoyed a nice lunch in the Olde General Store

On the road again to Junee- another road not travelled- excitement!

Kerrie finally made it to the Junee Licorice Factory and fortunately it did not disappoint.

The tours have restarted but we had just missed the afternoon tour so the plan is to go back tomorrow afternoon. We had a look around the factory, enjoyed some free samples in the shop, brought a few things,

Then it was time to head to our Airbnb- only a 2 minute walk from the Licorice Factory!

It was a very comfortable space, with breakfast supplies provided, milk, bread, bacon, eggs etc. 

It was a good find.

We went into the town, chatted to the ladies at the Visitors Centre. Deb and I walked back to stretch our legs, we settled in and headed out to the pub for dinner.

Sydney Zoo and Capybaras

 Amy has been fascinated by Capybaras for a long time now and month we went to the Sydney Zoo at Eastern Creek in Western Sydney for a Capybara encounter- Amy was in Capybara heaven. I was heading up to Sydney for my monthly Saturday shift at the temple, so we left on the Thursday night and stayed overnight out the Novotel Rooty Hill. The next morning after checking out we arrived at the Sydney Zoo around 11:30m, signed in for our encounter, and had a bit of time to check out the Zoo before meeting out Zoo Keeper at 12:15pm.

It was a cold day for Sydney, around 15 degrees, rain was forecast, and being out of school holidays the zoo was pretty quiet which suited us. We enjoyed checking out the animals and they were quite active so we were lucky. Then it was finally time for the encounter. There were 4 of us and we had about 20 minutes with the capybaras, they were very friendly and just wanted to eat the celery and bamboo we were given for them.

We had a fun time, checked out a few more animals, left the zoo around 3:30pm and it started to rain just as we were arriving at the temple accommodation and then just pretty much rained that night and the next day, so we were very lucky. It was a fun encounter.

Amy caught up with her cousins the next day and then met us at the Big Fat Greek for a late lunch before heading back to Canberra. A fun weekend.

Getting Up to Date

 

I suggested that Bill should join up a Men's Kitchen Cooking Group that has just started up in Woden. He has gone along 3 times now and is really enjoying it. It is aimed at men who don't have cooking skills, are retired, and aims to teach them about nutrition and teach them how to cook. They cook a main meal and dessert in their group, sit down and enjoy the meal together, once a month. Maybe I will get some meals cooked at home for me!

Went out to lunch recently at Le Monsoon in Woden, one of the waiters was a robot that brought out our food!

Today was our 37th wedding anniversary, fortunately Bill remembered, pretty sure I will keep him as long as he remembers the Haigh's chocolates each year.

While in the US, I purchased these Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants journal editions. They have a wide margin on each side where you can write notes, put sticky notes etc. I brought this little lap desk from Aldi which is just perfect for putting my study bits and pieces. Am really enjoying my little set up.

I also brought this Christus Statue which I have set up in my room.

I have really enjoyed spending time in my room and using my study desk.

Baby Christening

  I got home from my US trip on the Wednesday and Saturday afternoon Amy and I had to head up to Sydney. It was the Christening for Chris and Siobhan's baby Evelyn. Amy and I drove up Saturday afternoon, staying in Parramatta. The Christening was at the Catholic Church in Merrylands and afterwards we gathered at the Parramatta Club. It was so good to catch up with Chris and Siobhan, met baby Evelyn. We also got to see Jos and Steve which was lovely, and we also got to catch up with Lachlan and Abby. Chris had asked Lachlan to be one of the godparents.

The baby in question- Evelyn with her dad, Christopher James

Lachlan, Chris and Evelyn

Lachlan, Evelyn, Chris, Amy

Me, Lachlan, Siobhain, Evelyn, Chris and Amy

Abby and Lachlan

Rare chance to get some family photos

Enjoyed a couple of walks through Parramatta and Parramatta Park

We had a good couple of days away, called in at the Big Fat Greek on the way up Gumnut Patisserie on the way home.