A few days in the Mid West

Here I am blogging again. I have to be in the mood to write and lately I have been distracted with other things. One reason being a jigsaw puzzle which is now finally completed. It's amazing you can spend hours looking for one piece, you give it a break for a day or so come back and pick up the piece you found so hard to find.

Also we had a break in Mudgee this week which was very relaxing. The accommodation was brilliant and worth 5 stars. We went with our friends we met on our New Zealand trip, Peter and Gina and we all got on fabulously. Only don't go there on a Monday or Tuesday as everything is closed those days. Despite this, we found a couple of wineries and attractions open and managed to polish off a couple of tasty cheese platters.

The great granddaughter of the original owner Dr Lester, who built the Federation house where we stayed, had purchased this house about 10 years ago when it came up for auction. Apparently it had been sold some years back and had been doctor's surgeries and when the previous owner purchased it she spent quite a lot of money turning it into a B & B but never completed it as she was charged with embezzlement and the bank put the house up for auction. Hence, Robbie the granddaughter, who had her eye on the place for some time and wanted it in back in the family. They certainly did a good job of restoring it to its original condition. We were in the East Wing and had the Red Queen Room and our friends had the Blue Queen Room. Our hosts, Robbie and Errol, were magnificent and made us feel welcome with all the comforts we could ask for.

About 16 kms away was a town called Gulgong. It looked like one of the towns out west in the US. This town is famous and is called the Ten Dollar Town as its picture was featured on the original Ten Dollar Note. But of course, being Tuesday, there was not some many things open. So we carried on to another winery with magnificent views. Our next couple of days away will most likely be Wollongong or Orange.

Last Sunday Kerry-Ann, Felise, Jake and myself took a trip to Thirlmere Heritage Railway for a Day out with Thomas the Tank Engine. However we did not ride on Thomas but another one of his friends, called Donald and boarded this on a heritage-listed 1880s railway station called Sodar. There were over 40 locomotives and 80 carriages on display in the Museum. Our favourite was the goal train. After a picnic lunch and some serious fun on the jumping castle we took 2 tired little bunnies home but not forgetting to stop and play for 5 minutes at Grandma's as Felise had wanted to do.

I have had a couple of weeks off Tebbut Lodge ...reason being first week I looked after Felise and Jake and second week I was in Mudgee. Will have to prepare my trivia tomorrow as I know they will all be looking forwarded to it. Especially the newly engaged couple, Diane and John who are my no 1 fans. Their wedding will be a first at the Lodge.

Tony has gone to the footy today and taken a Warriors supporter in my place and this has allowed me to catch up on some important "me time". I will be watching the tigers play in a moment and if they can beat Manly they will be in second place on the ladder.