Best Holiday Ever!

We finally have internet access.  We have a mobile broadband "stick" that we top up with credit like a pre paid mobile phone.  I love it, it's so fast and reliable, almost as good as what we have at home.  Last night when we tried to top it up like we usually do it wouldn't work.  Found out today from the Telstra shop that if you don't use it for a few months they cancel the sim card, so we got a new one, topped up and it's good to go.  There is free Wi-Fi here but true to form, it's crapola.
So we got away a bit later than we planned (as usual) yesterday, took the cats up to the cattery.  I was expecting something different, it was  clean and didn't smell but the cats were in these cages, big and with runs so they could be outside at times, but it isn't home and I wish we'd taken some bedding with us.  They have their cat carrier and the blanket in it and they will snuggle up together.  We were all very quiet as we drove away.  I know they will be safe and fed and as comfy as possible, the people were very nice and I liked the fact that their house was right by the kennels and they even had their outdoor seating right near them.  At least the cats have each other, but I'll very happy to pick them up when we head home. 
I hate the winding, foggy drive over the mountains, hate when I drive it, hate it even more when Phill is driving and it's worse with the boat on but we got here and the park is just lovely, probably the nicest we've ever stayed in.  The cabin is almost new and has quality furnishings, comfy beds and is just really nice.  We have a verandah with table and chairs and a bbq and sink area.  We are right on the creek and the beach is a short walk away, but we're buffered from it by a bit of bushland so we don't get the fierce sea winds that blow up in the afternoons this time of year.

The sweetest surprise was the little drawer dishwasher!  I didn't know we had one in this cabin.  Mummy gets a holiday too!

 

Emmy on the beach.

We saw this pelican out in the surf, He was actually riding the waves, it was so funny.  Don't know if he caught his dinner but he gave us quite a show.

We wasted no time in going to the seafood market and getting a crab for the kids, they love them, some prawns and the freshest oysters I've ever eaten.  We were in seafood heaven, we can't get anything even remotely as fresh at home. 

We have a two person spa, and unlimited hot water.

This morning we got up to find that our two fishing tackle boxes had been stolen from the verandah.  We had our fishing rods out there as well and the tackle boxes were old, one of them was Phill's father's which was the most upsetting thing for all of us.  It made no sense, as the people next door had scooters and bikes and other stuff on their verandah.  We should have known, we knew from the Tripadvisor reviews that there is a problem with theft here, people can access this park from the public beach.  Emily and I went walking all over to look for them but no luck, while Phill went out and bought a new tackle box and new stuff for it, and I told the kids we'd make a new tackle box tradition and they can hand it down to their kids.

We weren't going to let it dampen our spirits, so we cleared everything off the front deck, locked up the cabin and went out for lunch at The Boatshed right on the bay for delicious fish and chips.  It was lovely sitting in the sunshine.

We enjoyed seeing this.  We do love our Slim.

This afternoon we went to "Birdland" which is right next door, across the creek from where we're staying and we got some great photos, that tied into our first visit in 2001 but I might load those tomorrow.

Nope it all loaded, this broadband is amazing.

Birdland is an animal park and sanctuary.  It's really well set out, and the animals are all happy and well cared for and there are lots of rescue animals there that would not have survived due to injury if they hadn't been taken in by Birdland.  We first visited in 2001 when the kids were little.  We have some great photos of the three of them with the snakes, and today we got to take shots of Em and Josh with snakes again.  It was a really nice experience, and when we told the handler, she said as we were leaving that she'd see us back with the grandchildren.

See my nervously hovering hand in the first photo, I needn't have worried, she had NO fear.  Still doesn't.

 

We don't have one of Josh on his own with the snake, he was too little so Katy helped him. 

Emily hugging a wombat.  She was a baby (they get twice as big as that!) and spent the whole show just grazing off the grass oblivious to anyone until the trainer tried to pick her up then she ran, they can move so fast.

We are having such a good time, just relaxing and enjoying being together.  Tomorrow Phill and the kids are taking the boat out on the bay to go fishing, I decided not to go, I get bored and tangle my lines, so I will stay here and clean up a bit and sit in the sun and read, and walk on the beach.