More awesome visitors...

Cathe and Emma came to visit us and to learn to snowboard...
we had a fantabulous time with them...


lots of laughs and good times.

playing card games, going out for dinner, a few itty bitty falls...

how is your arm now Cathe? and your special bruise Em?

Thanks for coming by and seeing our life... we had a wonderful time!

So you want to go for a drive off the Mountain?

Going on a daytrip is a little trickier than just jumping in the car and taking off...

just follow these simple instructions..

1 - you need to put all your warmest waterproof clothes on
(make sure u have your "real cothes" with you)

2 - you need to get down to the car park
if your lucky you might get a shuttle otherwise 10 minute walk - downhill in ankle deep snow

3 - find the car in the carpark....
not as easy as it sounds... if you can't remember exactly where it's parked - you have to find the right "shaped" snowmound, uncover the numberplate, repeat this until you find your car.

4 - Remove snow....
it is recommended that you remember to bring your gloves with you... otherwise, brrrr! If you are lucky you will have a scraper to do this... if you are even luckier your husband tells you to wait in the car once you uncover the door.

5- Start car
AND TURN THE HEATERS ON FULL SPEED!!!!

6- If you had forgotten to take your handbrake off when you originally parked,
wait several minutes while the car/brakes warm up, then reverse backwards and then forwards, until the brake warms up enough that you can take it off.... none of this is recommended really.

7 - phew

8 - Get in car and take off all wet weather gear
without getting too much snow on your seat, and try to keep dry as you put on all your normal clothes for "down hill"

9 - Slowly drive off out of your car's "cuccoon" and depart the mountain

10 - Take it easy
the mountain is 25km from the bottom and it takes approximately 40 - 45 minutes to drive.. it can be a little icy or snow covered at the top and it's extremely windy, lets hope your passenger doesn't get carsick easily...

11- Remember stuff...
that you should have bought with you; like sunglasses, or stuff that you shouldn't have left in the car; frozen jellybeans :(

12 - Enjoy your day trip
try not to think of all the things that are required to get back home to the lodge (uphill, in the snow, at night, with all the stuff u bought)

Snowmen I have known....

These are likely to be the only snowmen I will get to pose with -as it is far too much work to make one!

See....
This is my pathetic attempt...



I call it an artistic sculpture... maybe its a ghostly lady?? maybe a seal balancing a snowball on its nose?? hmm, you decide..
....UPDATE... Walking about last week we found one last snowman... well snowlady actually, her neighbours (and creators) call her Rhonda. Considering how hot it had been we were quite impressed with her size. A week and a half later and she is now completely melted! As is everything around her...

LAST UPDATE SEPT 09
I made this last little guy on our very last day in Falls Creek - After the heaviest fall of snow of the season!!.. Smart looking little chap isn't he?

Bairnsdale - with the Walkers

We met this great family when we were in Esperance, and caught up with them again in Streaky Bay. Dave and Pete have a mutual interest in surfing.
We were so very lucky to be invited to stop with them when we got to Victoria - so on our way up to Falls Creek to work, we called in and spent a week with them all.

They took us to the coolest event I have ever been to - Lawnmower Racing... IT WAS BRILLIANT.. Now Dad can get some inspiration for his ride on mower...


and then took us out on their speed boat (she's a ripper) We learnt the valuable lesson of remembering to put the BUNG in! Exciting times!


Here we are in Paynesville about to get on the boat after lunch... "it's the done thing around here" (and I like it!)

Mandy and Pete have been so good to us, they even let us leave our van in one of their sheds while we are away.
I know when we go back - Dave is looking forward to catching up with Pete and hitting the surf!!
(and to feeding their cows again- ha ha)

Mick n Mel visit us at Falls Creek

We had some visitors - LUCKY US!!

Mel and I got some great catch up time!

Dave and Isaac (above) disagreeing about dropping things onto the floor... just love the expressions.

We got to spend lots of lovely time with little Isaac, who has gotten cuter and more adorable and, if I might mention it, a little heavier! He is just the cheekiest little monkey! He charmed everyone here at the lodge with his gorgeous little smile.

Such a cute face even when miserable...

and look at him 5 minutes later - he is the cutest teddy on the mountain....

ohh just to give you a giggle...

So I found this website.....




Yes - that was me (without my glasses on)








ok - knock yourself out...