On the Thursday 16th of March I was up and ready to go by 5.00am!

At the airport I checked in, more or less by myself, for seat allocation at what looked like an 'ATM' machine - hadn't seen or used one of these before but I got myself a seat!

Tanya arrived because I was borrowing her camera
She quickly gave me a heap of instructions - none of which really sunk in! (sorry Tanya)

We said our goodbyes with only a small tear - I am truly hopeless!

Headed off into the wild blue yonder
I quite like flying but I do get a little nervous - I keep thinking everyone will be upset if something happens to me!

In Brisbane Airport and a practise shot with the camera!!! (one photo)

There was a three hour layover in Brisbane before the flight to Adelaide
I bought some breakfast and nice coffee and then read the instruction book for the camera and tried to remember the things Tanya told me
I had a practice - seemed to work and felt I knew what I was doing - sort of!
Then I painted my nails a pretty pink and read my book til it was time to leave

Headed off to Adelaide!!
Both flights were nice and smooth and I had no one sitting next to me so I had plenty of room
Arrived in "my old city" at about 2.30pm

Getting off the plane I decided to follow everyone else because I figured they would lead me to the luggage - I couldn't see any sort of a sign!
All the time I was looking out for Lesley
At the top of the escalator I saw her
Gave her a big hug and she said " I'm going to cry" and I said "Me too"
Probably just "welled up" a bit as Brett says - we are such sooks!

From the airport we drove down to 30 Hannay St Largs Bay which is where Aunty Audrey lived
I had spent heaps of time there as a child growing up

(three photos) Deane, Jan and Sharon (three photos)

Her son Deane (my cousin) and his wife Jan bought the house from the family and have made some wonderful changes
They have kept the character of the house but made it more practical to live in
Under the carpets and lino were beautiful timber floors and the stained glass windows in the lounge and bedroom are beautiful
I told them our antique bedroom suite would look perfect in the main bedroom with the beautiful tiled fireplace and the stained glass windows

Erina, Deane's sister, had a play house that we spent many hours playing in and that is still there, sturdy as ever!

It was nice to catch up with Deane and Jan and hear about their families
They told me they cheered very loudly at the MCG (the year Port Power won the Grand Final) when Brett walked around the oval with the Olympians!

We then drove down Military Road til we arrived at the turnoff to 24 Railway Terrace Largs Bay - and this is where we lived as children
Drove down til we found the house
It didn't look that well cared for
And I was actually disappointed it didn't still have the white picket fence - but still it has been thirty-seven years!

We also passed by my old Primary School - which still looks very imposing!

As we drove back down to Semaphore the beautiful old sandstone houses were wonderful to see
They looked old and well cared for and all have such character

We arrived at the Semaphore Baptist Church is now a second hand store!
It wouldn't have been so bad if all the paint hadn't been peeling
We had such great times at that church but 'the old girl' looks a bit sad now

Lesley and Jon's home (three photos)

At about 5.00pm we headed to Uraidla and Lesley's home
This took over an hour but that didn't matter though - Lesley and I had plenty of talking to catch up on!

We rang Jon (Lesley's husband) from the car and suggested it would be a good idea to take us to tea
We went to a little bistro in Stirling
It was just as pretty as I remember driving through the Adelaide Hills

We got home about 7.30pm and Paul and his girlfriend Jemma arrived a little later
She lives there with them

I was starting to fade a bit by then
We had a cup of tea and talked some more and then I went to bed - busy day tomorrow!

Friday 17th March

On the road by 8.35am!

Drove down Greenhill Road and Yarabee Road where we used to live
Our old house is just the same - still a very pretty area

I do remember driving up and down that road in Dad's V8 Falcon - sometimes faster than I should have but it seemed a lot narrower on this particular day!

As we went further down I recognised all the old landmarks including the almond tree

I was horrified to see the beautiful Fernilee Lodge completely bulldozed and not a tree or plant left - a huge vacant block!

Dad and Mother (three photos)---Uncle George and Aunty Audrey (two photos)

Grandpa and Grandma Matheson (six photos)

Headed to the Centennial Park Cemetary where we took pics of the plaques for Mother and Dad's, Audrey and George Hutton and Grandma and Grandpa Mathesons
The grounds were pretty but the roses weren't in bloom

Geoff's Dad and Mum's grave-site (numerous photos and details)

Off next to the Brighton Cemetary to take some pics of Geoff's Mother and Father's grave

(four photos) Terry and Sharon (two photos)

We left there at 10.00am and by 10.37am we were way across the other side of town at the Highlander Hotel at Holden Hill catching up with Terry, Geoff's brother
We were a few minutes late and I asked him if he thought we had stood him up!
We spent about an hour and a half with him and it was good to catch up
He looks very well
I bought him a beer via Geoff!
Lesley took a couple of pics of us for the album

Lesley, Aunty Jessie and Sharon (three photos)

Aunty Jessie, Sharon and Denny (four photos)

Next stop was Aunty Jessie's place for lunch
Aunty Jessie and my Mother were great friends and she looked after me when I was a little girl
Her daughter Denny was there too
Denny looks gorgeous as ever and we had a "my kind of fun" afternoon remincising and talking about our lives!
Because she doesn't have a computer, I always sent Tanya's "Working Holiday Diaries" onto Aunty Jessie via Australia Post!
She had loved them and now I was able to take a selection of pics of both Tanya and Brett for her to look at
By the way, I showed them to everyone!
We were going to meet at Denny's place but Aunty Jessie wanted me to see where she lived
She has a lovely unit and it is full of family photos which look terrific
Our lunch was served on the most beautiful Royal Doulton Dinner set!

Erina, Sharon and Lesley (five photos)

We were at Erina and Peter's (my cousins) place by 3.30pm
We had afternoon tea on more Royal Daulton china!
All very civilized!
Erinas house is full of beautiful old furniture which belonged to Grandma Matheson and her Mother
There is very little room to move around but I loved it all
She has a pair of "colouring" tables that were in her Father's studio (he was a photographer) my mother had used to colour the sepia photos that he took and Erina is happy for me to have one
I just have to organise getting it up here
There is a window blind in Dominic's room (her son) that Erina had made from a photograph that her father took in the 1930's
It is a picture of Semaphore Beach taken from the jetty, in black and white, looking at the beach and it looks absolutely fantastic
Clive, Erina's brother had picked up Dominic from school and he dropped in to say hi as well

Marc, Jon, Paul and James (two photos)-----Jemma (two photos)

Chrissy and Ashleigh (two photos)------Sharon and Samuel (two photos)

Bridget, James and Ashleigh (three photos)----James and Samuel (one photo)

Left there about 5.00pm and back up the hill to Lesley's place
We stopped and bought some cooked chicken and icecreams
Eirona's husband Grant was cooking some pork on the Webber
There were thirteen people for tea!
Lesley and Jon, Eirona and Grant, their daughter Bridget and new baby Samuel, Marc and Chrissy and their children James and Ashleigh, Paul and Jemma
--- and me!

After they had gone and we had cleaned up, Lesley and I did some cooking in the kitchen ready for brunch in the morning and she was having a lunch with friends on Sunday
A nice chatty, sisterly evening!

Saturday 18th March

Set the table up with all the good china again ready for brunch

Sharon, Valerie, Lesley and Samuel (three photos)

Lesley and Samuel, Julianne, Sharon and Erina (one photo)

(two photos) Julianne, Sharon and Erina (two photos)

Valerie arrived first
Her parents were sponsored by my parents when they first came out from England
She and Lesley grew up together
When she came to our place for holidays she had made clothes for my Barbie Doll!

Julianne (another cousin) arrived after getting lost
Her sister Alison couldn't come because her Mother-in-Law had taken ill but she is coming to Cairns in May and we will catch up then

Erina arrived - she too was lost!
She had brought a few "bits" that belonged to Aunty Audrey (her Mother)
It was quite funny because she and Lesley who are both custodians of their Mother's stuff bought bags with all our names on them to give to each of us and`each other as mementos

Again we all spent the time time chatting and catching up - very nice!

They all left about 3.30pm and we then started to get dressed in all our finery for the wedding!

A card "handcrafted" by Sharon (one photo)

Venue - The Tapestry Winery (one photo)---and the views (two photos)

Took about an hour to drive down to McLaren Vale - another pretty drive

Knowlton (one photo)---Laurence and Knowlton (three photos)

Knowlton and Sharon (four photos)

(two photos) Chris, Laurence and Sharon (three photos)

Chris, Laurence, Sharon and Lesley (two photos)

Laurence, Sharon, Knowlton and Lesley (two photos)

Arrived at the winery and the first person I recognised was Knowlton
Then Laurence and Chris
Lots of hugs!

Denny and Rex were also there (more cousins!)

I met a few of Knowltons friends who I haven't seen since I was about twelve!

The Wedding Party (four photos)

During the Service (three photos)---The Wedding Rings (one photo)

Signing the Register (one photo)

Mr and Mrs Coudrey (one photo)---CONGRATULATIONS!!! (one photo)

Scott and Shaun and the other Groomsmen all looked very handsome in their suits as they waited for the Bride
The Bride Sarah arrived looking lovely and the Service took place
It was outside under the trees and it was a pretty, peaceful setting!

Laurence and Chris weren't staying at the reception but the time (about an hour) between the wedding service and the reception was well spent catching up with them
It was a beautiful afternoon sitting chatting in the sunshine

(two photos) The Bride and Groom (three photos)

When we were all settled at our tables the Bride and Groom made their grand entrance as Mr & Mrs Coudrey!

The Reception (one photo - and it's a bit blurry)

Knowlton and Shaun (one photo)-----Shaun and Anne (two photos)

Scott (one photo)---------Sharon and Knowlton (three photos)

I was really thrilled to be sitting at the table with the Groom's parents
Lesley and Jon and Denny and Rex were there as well
We had a great time!!

Shaun's speech was very moving - he could barely get the words out - so of course I was a mess!
His Mum and Dad weren't much better!
He also thanked me for coming from Cairns which I thought was nice

Shaun's Best Man's speech was terrific - eloquent and funny

It is obvious Shaun is a well liked and likeable young man

A toast from the Groom's parents (two photos)

......and Knowlton during his speech (one photo - and it's a bit blurry)

Father of the Groom - my brother Knowlton - well, words almost fail me!
It is a long time since I have heard him in full flight and I think the last time was probably when he gave a very credible performance on what the judge would say and do to me when I had to go to Juvenille Court for speeding when I was fifteen!
His speech was very funny and he is also obviously very proud of Shaun

Sharon's Place-marker and The Menu (two photos)

The icecream desert (one photo)

The meal was beautiful
The entree was gazpacho with avoacado served in shot glasses, except I reckon they were the communion glasses from Semaphore Church!
Also couscous with chicken salad and spicy crumbed oysters
Nice beef main course and dessert was a selection of artistically decorated treats including a little carry carton of icecream!

Sharon on the dance floor!!! (two photos)

They played some great music and we all had a bit of a dance - starting with 'The Nut Bush City Limits' which always gets everyone going!!

Could have stayed and danced the night away but we did have an hour to drive home
We arrived home about midnight

Lesley was mucking about on the computer and I sat down at the piano and picked out a few tunes
I picked a few hymns that I knew and played them!
I was a bit slow but I got the notes right!
Lesley was quite surprised that I could still play and quite frankly so was I
It has to be at least twenty-five years since I have even tried to play a piano!

Sunday 19th March

Slept til 9.00am!

Had to wrap and pack all my china into a case so I could carry it on the plane - not in the luggage compartment!!

Lesley and Sharon (one photo)

We left for the airport at about 11.00am and called in to say a quick goodbye to Marc and Chrissy and also Eirona - had to have a look at their lovely homes!

We also called into Philip and Phillipa's place to drop off Lesley and Jon's lunch
They went to Knightsbridge Baptist church when I did
Jon stayed and Lesley drove me to the airport
Jon didn't want to go in case we got "all emotional!"
I did "well up" when it was time to go but that is just me!!

Flying home to Cairns A great shot out the window!!! (one photo)

Then I found out accidently that there was a huge cyclone near Cairns!!
Geoff and Tanya didn't want to worry me so they hadn't told me!
Why would I worry when I found out they were moving us to a bigger plane which gave them more "options" and they could carry more fuel!!
Yikes!
Nevertheless I arrived home safe and sound