Good morning Cuties, as you enjoy your lovely Summer in the northern hemisphere we down-under are in Winter, it's 11C here at 8.00am Thursday 17th and I believe where we are going it's about 6C in the mornings!

Trev and I are off to New Zealand for 10 days leaving tomorrow for Sydney and then flying out Saturday morning to Queenstown, in the South Island. We both can't wait to get away for some 'us' time. As some of you know it's been a difficult time with my Mum and we have Amy, Steve, Ophelie, Delphie and Maisie (their dog) living with us whilst they are building their new home, which is looking fabulous - and I'm just tired. Hoping this R&R will rejuvenate my soul a bit.

My dear sister from South Australia arrived on Monday evening and I've been over every day to Mum's place to get things organised for her to go away with Jewls. She is going to take her and Miss Lily (Mum's Maltese Terrier) down to Holbrook about an 8 hour drive, which is near the NSW and Victorian border.

Jewls owns a large property in Holbrook where people fly Ultra light planes and she has a large hangar attached to her home where people rent the space to keep them secure whilst not in use.

I've organised Mum's medication with her chemist and I can imagine Jewls today trying to get clothes packed etc. I have her gardener coming today and then Mum is having her 2nd AstraZeneca needle and they leave tomorrow morning.

We had all the family here for dinner last night and as Jewls doesn't have kids she was amazed at the organisation of getting meals prepared and the noise of the conversations going on all round the tables! I think she will be ready for a quiet time with Mum herself.

Jewls was thinking of even taking Mum and Miss Lily back with her to Tumby Bay down in South Australia where Jewls lives. She has her partner in the Tumby Bay hospital for a 3 week respite whilst she is up here. Charles has stage 3 Vascular Dementia, and at 86 is not doing very well. I think it will be too much for her to have both Charles and Mum to look after, so we will see what happens.

Anyway, I wanted to wish everyone a wonderful week and happy birthday to those I have missed. Time is going by so fast again this year and I can't believe it's almost the middle of June. I'm taking my laptop with me, so hopefully will get a chance at night to post some pictures of the magnificent town of Queenstown and it's surrounding areas. Love Chris