"Surprise, We're Home"'

My apologies for not updating the blog for the past couple of days but as you read on you will understand why.

Wednesday morning the 19th of September and we woke for the last time on our catamaran, "Seawindow."

Richard and I went for a walk to the caravan park to pick up the car and drive it back to the Marina so we could begin packing up.

By 9 o'clock, thanks to a joint effort by all, we were done and in the car heading back to the caravan park to unpack all the clothes and food. An hour or so later we were on our way to Townsville.

Along the way we started to enter big territory... Bowen was home to the BIG MANGO...

The kids under the Big Mango, Bowen

The boys would be back in Bowen the following day to compete in a fishing competition which they we very excited about.

Bowen is also where much of the movie "Australia" was shot. It's a big old town which has some beautiful old buildings.

Ayr, where we stopped for lunch, was home to the BIG SNAKE...

The kids climb the Big Snake

We arrived in Townsville about 2:30 and set up camp in a caravan park where the boys would stay for the night.

We made it!

Nina and I packed our bags and the boys took us to the airport where we hugged and cried.
I haven't left my family's side in 9 months, I felt so emotional to be leaving them.
I cried again when I saw Nina hugging Harry and both boys in tears. Pathetic I know, but emotional all the same. 

I haven't told you yet where we were going because it was a surprise!

Firstly, we would surprise or shock Mum and Dad by ringing the doorbell at midnight (Nina and I had been planning it for days) then we would surprise my Harvey mates and Nina's best friend Tia, by rocking up on their doorsteps and staying the night on the farm.  

The next surprise would be for my longtime girlfriend Liz's 40th in Dunsborough on Friday night and the last surprise would be to rock up at my beautiful little cousin and god daughter Gioia's house, for her 18th birthday party. 

It was going to be a big few days!

Nina and I boarded the plane, sad to leaving our boys in Townsville, but excited about the next few days filled with surprises.

The milk-run plane trip from Townsville to Perth was long and tiresome.

At one point we eyed each other when an air hostess gave us a packet of nuts each (because  of Jack's nut allergy Nina and Harry have never had the opportunity to try nuts)... we could be really naughty and have some. But, it would please Jack to know that his little sister "opted out of the nuts", in support of her big brother.
Of course after that, I was left with little choice but to give both of our nut packets back to the hostess (albeit a little hesitantly - they looked yummy)

We arrived back in Perth around midnight, picked up a car that had been left for us (thanks Karl - you're a champion) and drove to Mum & Dad's in Pickering Brook.

It felt weird to be home after all this time and to be driving on roads where I  knew where  I was going. 

We arrived and rang the front doorbell at Mum & Dad's several times but no answer. Nina and I decided that we would have to call.
Mum picked up the phone in a daze, concerned to be hearing from us in the middle of the night. When I told her we were down stairs she told me I'd be in trouble if it was a practical joke. 

She opened the door and it was hugs and surprises all round.
A cup of tea and a chat and we all retired to bed.

Thursday the 20th of September was filled with more surprises, first Leon, Uncle Mario and Aunty Lucy & my cousin Michael. 

Nina and I then left for Harvey... surprising Rob & Minnie, then Domenica and arriving at Angela and Nick's by late afternoon. It was great to see everyone!

Angela then arranged for Tara, Carmel and their respective families to meet them at their Amana Inn for dinner, telling the girls that she had a surprise for them.

In the meantime, Nina and I went home to the farm.
It was nice to be home, even though it was wet and miserable weather wise. 

We had a quick shower and got ready, but forgetting how far the trek into the farm was and back, we were running a little late.

Angela  decided to stall the girls who had all arrived before me - by telling them the surprise was that she was pregnant, of course she's not - but it did stall for a few minutes until I walked in the door with Nina. 

There were big smiles lots of hugs & kisses. A beautiful dinner and 9 months of catching up.

Angela, Me, Carmel & Tara

Exhausted after a long day... Nina & I said goodnight and headed home to the farm. 

Nina in bed, I began to unpack some bags I had brought home filled with extras from the caravan.
I retired to bed,  traumatized when I saw a dead bat under Harry's bed and mouse poo in his bed. 

After letting out a shriek - I closed the kids bedroom door and went to bed. That night I had nightmares about having to clean it up and what other surprises I might find in our abandoned farmhouse.

Friday 21st of September... and I got up early and faced the dead bat & mouse poo "head on"... I was proud of myself when all the dirty work had been done and I had held my nerve enough not to dry reach.  
I woke Chook  up and although she woke with a head cold (probably from the plane trip) she was excited about getting ready for her one and only day of school for the year, in Harvey. 

It was pirate dress up day, so she got herself dressed to go and packed her school bag - a real novelty!

Pirate Chooky

 We met up with her best mate Tia around 8 o'clock and I took them both to school. 

Tia & Nina, back together again

Nina was in her element back with all of her mates. She didn't bat an eyelid when I told her I was going.

Nina, at school with her friends

I then met up with Michelle (Tia's Mum) for a cuppa,  before dropping in on Shari at her work. .. It was so nice to see everyone.

I then hit the road to Dunsborough for Liz's birthday in the middle of a storm. I was relieved to get there in one piece and caught up with Shamus first in Dunsborough who had kindly offered me a bed for the night. 

I arrived at the Regency Beach Club, where Liz was staying around 5:30.... The door had been left unlocked for me, thanks to numerous conversations with my ground crew - Sherene, who had been my informant on Liz's party. 

When I walked through the door Liz heard and looked downstairs. 

She turned white when she saw my face - It was priceless!! 

Tears and hugs done, minutes later we were celebrating over a champas.  

Once all of Liz's friends had arrived, we went out for dinner at Pour... 

Me and my long time buddy, Lizzie - Happy Birthday, "Surprise."

It was a great night catching up with my all-time longest best friend. 
I love how she hasn't changed a bit and still finds her fine form and sharp tongue after a drink or two.

The girls, and Shamus, at Lizzie's pre-birthday get together

We were home about midnight with the birthday girl ready to be tucked up in bed after a big night.

Goodnight Lizzie

Saturday 22nd of September, I woke quite early ready for another big day.

I said goodbye to Liz and gave her a birthday hug (this was her actual birthday), it had been so nice to spend a little part of her milestone with her.

Lizzie, the morning after

I then met up with my old mate Carts (aka Janine) who drove up from Margaret River to have brekky with me. We didn't come up for air before it was time for me to be on my way back to Harvey to pick up Nina.

Carts and I

Nina had had a sleep over at Tia's house and another of their mates Amelia had also joined them, so the glitter girls were having so much fun when I arrived. 

Shari had also called in for a quick catch up. We watched the girls concert and we were on our way via a couple more stops before arriving back at Mum and Dad's exhausted, by late afternoon. 

Michell & Shari

An afternoon nap and Nina and I got ready for our last surprise, Gioia's 18th.

Mum drove us down to Applecross for the party...again Nina and I were excited about the next surprise.

We walked through the house and Gioia was the first person we saw... She looked at us twice in disbelief and couldn't believe her eyes, the look was priceless! We hugged so tight ... It was gold!

Nina, Gioia & I

The looks on Mark & Lisa's faces (Gioia's parents) was just as priceless. 
It was a great night!! Nina found a friend and watched Tv and played gymnastics while I caught up with everyone over a few champs. 
By 11 o'clock, all the 18 year olds caught a bus to go night clubbing... 

The 18th party bus brings back some memories

....while I stayed a little longer to chat with Mark & Lisa and all of our mates. 
The evening went way too fast and before long a car was there to pick Nina and I up and take us back to the hills.

Gianni and I

Gianni (Gioia's brother) was so cute when he picked a sleeping Nina up to carry her out to the car. It wasn't that long ago I was doing the same for him.... 

Gianni with a sleeping beauty 

We all bid farewell to each other, and we were on our way after another successful surprise.

Even more exhausting than all the surprise parties over the last few days has been  the emotional farewells. 

Sunday the 23rd of September... Nina and I went to church with Mum & Dad before coming back to the traditional family breakfast.

We then went to visit my Cousin Maria who lives up the road from my parents... it was really nice to chat to her for a while, without having to rush off. 

I spoke to the boys, and they were doing well on day two of their fishing competition.

The afternoon was deliberately kept quiet before all of my aunties, uncles and cousins arrived for a late afternoon/evening catch up.

My family xxoo

It was again so good to see everyone.

Tonight Nina & I fly back to Townsville. We have a long trip ahead of us to get back but every mile to get here has been well worth it. 
I am also excited about getting back to my boys and our journey, it has been the longest that we've been apart in 9 months. 

To all of my friends and family reading this, who I didn't get the chance to catch up with, I am so sorry, it really was a full-on whirlwind trip... I'll see you in 3 months!