Inspection at Goughs Bay

 With the Inchleys down  for New Year, there was a special request put in for a visit to Lisa and Mark's development at Goughs Bay.  Although they were soon heading north, they showed us around yesterday. The journey up required coffee at Yarck and lunch at The Delatite in Mansfield.

The building has certainly progressed since our last visit.

With the internal walls all framed up it is now easy to see the layout of what will be a large and very comfortable hideaway in the hills around Lake Eildon.

Christmas Dinner

 Brett and Cathy hosted our Christmas dinner this year but it was a full family affair.  Mitchell, Ebony and Holly assisted with the food preparation and Holly and Ebony set up the music challenge game.

After a magnificent spread with a range of meat, salmon and salads we needed a little rest time.  Holly had set up the music knowledge challenge with music from the 70s on.  We did well and were even leading in the early stages but were relegated to "also rans"as the music moved to the 90s and more recent.  Lisa and Lachlan took line honours.

The Christmas Game was a great success with some very useful, very funny and very weird presents on offer.

This year Cathy took out first prize for the most stolen present and was rewarded with custody of the Christmas Hat for 2024.  I will try to win it back next year.

Then, for those that could manage it, came sweets.  If anyone had any space left, Brett made sure they could occupy it with an enormous trifle.  No one went home hungry.  Boxing Day should be renamed Recovery Day.  It was another Great Christmas.

Christmas Brunch

 The family was meeting at Brett and Cathy's for dinner so Lisa invited us over for a light brunch to get ourselves mentally and physically prepared.

Sophie's Portrait

 With the end of the exam season we had a chance to get Sophie's 16th photo to install in Granny's Gallery.

Lisa's Birthday

 Lisa wanted to celebrate her birthday on the day.  In this time of weird weather we were lucky that it was cool and clear so we were able to use our patio.

Unfortunately, the previous evening Mark received a call from Maryborough that his Aunt was in decline so he had headed to Queensland.

As we are now a family of adults, even our large table has trouble so we are now spreading around the room.

Just Fence Me In

 Lisa and Mark had some problems with the neighbouring builder who knocked their fence down and was refusing to rectify the damage.  It took some time to be sorted out but now Mark and his rear neighbour are putting the new Colourbond fence in Place.

Visiting Cohuna

 We took time around Cohuna to have a look at the town and make a few visits.  The town is developing a more attractive frontage making use of the irrigation channels.

The main street is clean and tidy.  We found the old Fish and Chip Shop that Claire frequented as a schoolgirl 60 years ago.  The interior has not changed that much!

We met up with Bryan Kervin (Claire's cousin). He is getting on and is becoming more fragile. His wife Coral, died recently so we were wondering how he was keeping.  It appears the family is looking to his welfare and his grandson Walter, is staying with him while his daughter Angela is away.

On the way home we met up with Noel and Pam.  Noel was due to be in Melbourne the following day to have some intestinal damage sorted out at the Austin Hospital.  We were pleased to find him in good spirits.

Attending To Unfinished Business

 Claire discovered that her much loved grandfather Nelson was buried in the Cohuna Cemetery with his wife but his position was unmarked.  She consequently arranged for a plaque to be added to the headstone to record his final resting place.  We visited Cohuna to see the result.

We also took the opportunity to see Greg's grave and the plaque that had recently been installed on it.

Into The Wild

 Adam, James and Patrick took a day out in Gippsland to do a little trout fishing - with some success!

Party Time

 Adam and Kate attended the Defentex Christmas dinner.

Clearly, some of the guests went a little over the top with their wardrobe.

Cathy's Birthday

 Better late than never!  The middle of the exam period is always difficult to have a family celebration so with the coast finally being clear, we had a late celebration for Cathy's birthday at the "Living Room"in Templestowe.  A great meal with a clear conscience. 

James - Our Electrician

 James is now a fully qualified electrician having passed his final exam well inside the expected time line.

The Silly Season Is On!

 Lisa and Mark called over last night on their way to  the work Christmas function.

Of course you cannot go in just any car!

Presentation Night

 Lachlan was presented with a Music Award at the Mullauna College Presentation Night

He was a little bemused by the event as he was not entirely sure how he had achieved this result.

Patrick's Portrait

 Exams are over so we caught up with Patrick for his 19th birthday portrait for Granny's Gallery.  Another great addition to the Gallery!

Dinner

 Chancery Lane is a small lane through the heart of the Bendigo CBD and it hosts many trendy cafes and eateries.  For our final dinner we went to "The Dispensary" a tiny but excellent restaurant for their degustation dinner.

The food was excellent, surprising and delicious and all prepared and served in an area not much bigger than our family room.  It was almost worth the trip just for the dinner!