Eating, Drinking and Long Lost Relatives

Another weekend of socialising - I'm almost wishing we were on the road!!

Went to an Indian Restaurant in Balmain on Friday night. Johann wasn't there as she had a School Governors meeting although she turned up later for a drink. The meal was very good, well up to Itihass standards (for those in Dalkeith) but have you noticed - where ever you are in the world the basic Indian menu and the food is pretty much the same all over - except that is in India!! Strange. After the meal it was back to a friends house for drinks and to watch a short film their son had produced, directed, starred in and had probably made the coffee! Photo shows the troops.

On Saturday, after a hard days vehicle shopping, we all went round to Steven's (our son's) house for a meal.

Sunday continued the mad social whirl with a lunch time barbecue at which the food was superb - huge prawns, oysters and of course sausages on the barbie - with sweets to follow. It's going to be a hard job to keep up this standard when I'm trying to produce meals in the bush on a campfire!

The photo on the right is of our host and to me he just epitomises the Australian BBQ host!

The lower picture is at the same BBQ and shows Sandra in typical pose with her sister Johann (in black) behind her and Stretch, her partner, towering over everyone on the right

On Monday morning we had a visit from a long lost Douglas relative whom I had never met before. It turns out I have lots of "cousins" in New South Wales and Queensland who are all very keen to meet Sandra and I and to provide hospitality. Sandra let slip that I have my kilt with me so I suspect it might get one or two airings!

Monday pm was spent in the city centre making sure that everything was in place for getting the car tomorrow especially insurance. I was also going to join the NRMA, which is the Australian equivalent of the AA/RAC, only to find that my UK AA membership gives me reciprocal rights so I was able to join free of charge - nice one. As a new member they also gave me a free set of maps covering the whole of Australia.

All for now - I expect the next posting will have photographs of our new big white tank - the Nissan Patrol Turbo Diesel - can't wait!