THE BIG 25!!

Everyone has been teasing Collette for weeks about being 'nearly 25'. The YSA had a joke for her at the convention in Melbourne, introducing her as, 'this is Collette, who is nearly 25'. They even joked about wearing badges that said, have you met Collette - she is nearly 25'.

But on Saturday she certainly did turn 25 yrs old. What a milestone! Collette was the cutest little kid. She had golden ringlets and was nicknamed Shirley Temple. You could not get past those big blue eyes and mass of curls. I am 9yrs older than her so I played the big sister role quite alot. Can you believe I was even mean to her too.

One of our favourite games was in the bath, (Mum always made me have one to look after her) we called it the 'washer game'. We had to sit back at one end of the bath and throw the washer on each of the taps and the shower head. Each tap was worth a certain number of points. We still remember and laugh about it. Aah the things you do as a kid!! Obviously we were devoid of any form of entertainment.

Saturday was a glorious day and we had organised a barbecue at Lisa's to celebrate the occasion. Collette and Jessica had only got back from the YSA convention the night before along with the all the other Young Adults. They all came to the barbecue too.



As it was so hot a heap of us went to Corra Lyn for a swim. There's a path through a paddock just pass the Corra Lyn bridge which people get down to the creek. It was quite warm but the rocks are a bit slimy. So far no-one is sick so it must have been alright. Simon, me and Oliver got there a bit after the others and did not know about the path through the paddock so Simon let me down a rockface to get there and even then we ended up on the wrong side of the creek and Collette and Paul swam over to help get us across. I was like, 'Simon, this is not a Search and Rescue training expedition you know'.




The barbecue was lovely and we had a great time with Jade and Brad Whitchurch, Dale Prebble, Paul Travers, Rachael Rattray, Camilla Mitchell, Danny Polley and Biarta making up the party. The party went until 11.30pm and they played games like pass the parcel but when the music stopped, inside was a note like, 'you get to wash Collette's car for free'. The final note said, 'you have won a date with Collette'. Lisa and Emily made it up so it was a huge crack-up. Part of the night was also spent jumping on the trampoline 5 at a time until yes, someone always gets hurt being too silly Dale.


We did not get to participate in any of the games because we left about 8pm to head down to the hospital because Hallie had a HUGE splinter in her foot, like an inch long that we could not get out. But that's for another post.

In the meantime.....................................

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COLLETTIE

As an editor's note - Jess took these photos - can't you tell! Is there even a photo of Collette?

Fun in the Sun

Jasmine, Gabriel and the kids took advantage of the hot weather to have a waterslide. We put the sprinkler under the trampoline too and let the kids jump on it. They loved it. Can you remember doing that as a kid too?




Oliver was also being a bit too quiet!!

Heres why.........

The day after New Year's

After our eventful New Year's, we got up late and took the dogs for a walk to the dog beach. The weather was still gloriously warm so the kids ran through the waves while we walked. I finally remembered my camera to get some good shots of this magnificent beach.



We had a lunch barby at Collette's and Lisa invited Gordon and Karina Johnson down for the day with their kids Zander and Emma. After lunch we went to the beach again and me and the kids headed off home about 4pm.

When we got home we went over to Allen and Katherine's for some New Year's day pavlova - yummo!!

Mormon Tabernacle Choir - not!!

The last of my New Year's Eve singalong vid clips - we all sang in tune so well!!

Let's not give up our day jobs

Our New Year's Eve singalong - hokey pokey, Father Abraham.

New Year's Eve

After everyone left Collette's house after our glorious day at the beach, we headed up to Bayview, a big property at Bridport that Felicity Polley had booked out for a couple of nights. There were a heap of people staying there and it has this great deck with the most amazing view out over the beach. The view is truly to die for.

the view from the deck - but better in real life

Okay lets see if I can remember all the people - Mick and Bon Reeve, Carolyne Richards, Pauline Roberts, Geraldine Hodgetts, Felicity and Rob Polley, Felicity's sister Rebecca and her husband Mark, the Prebbles who left after midnight, Jason Barnett plus everyone's kids. The Kings and Baileys had already headed off home. I hope I did not miss anyone.

Pauline had kindly bought all these fireworks that Rob and Mark set up for us on the tennis court. Caroline handed out sparklers and the fireworks display began. It was funny to hear everyone comment and go "ooh, aah" after each one was lit.



As midnight approached Mum took my kids and Emily home to bed at Collette's as they were so tired they were starting to look sick. Rohan and Jayme decided to see the new year in with all the other kids.

The adults sat out on the deck and inevitably the singing started. Scott P put on the song, "what about me" and of course we all knew the words. Chris kept singing "working class man" but then the real fun began with the hokey pokey and Father Abraham led by Lisa P and Felicity. If you want a good time and lots of laughs guaranteed, just hang out with Felis. She is the best partyer I have come across!! Honestly I'm sure we had so much more fun than the drunks down at the caravan park.

Scott, Lisa and Lizzie treated us to their rendition of a Queen song they performed at a talent night earlier this year. It was very clever and witty. They had used the tune to Bohemian Rhapsody but had written their own lyrics about Scott's singing ability. I was very impressed!!

Just before midnight we were handed Maison and a plastic champagne glass (these guys were very organised) and we toasted the new year in. Everyone hugged and yelled out Happy New Year.

So that's how the Triffitts saw 2007 go out and 2008 come in.

New Year's Eve Day

On Monday me and the kids headed off to Bridport for the night. I don't know why I went for only one night because you pack just as much stuff for one as for a couple of nights. Simon had to work for the second NYE in a row but that's life in the blue.

Once we got to Collette's, we had lunch and then headed off to the beach. Lisa and Aaron were coming for the day and I told Lisa to text me as they got to Bridport and I would tell her which beach we were at. I told her we were going to Mermaid's Beach. Lisa wrote back and said, "this might be a silly question, but where is that?" Hmm, I thought, I'm not all that good on directions (an understatement) so "follow me".

Well I took them to two beaches (Aaron did not look impressed) before I realised I might ring Lisa (my sister) and ask how to get there. The sad thing was (a) we had only been to Mermaid's 2 days ago but Simon was driving so I did not take any notice and (b) I was relying on my darling 4 yr old who is better with directions than me, to remember how to get there and i was telling her off for not getting it right. In my defence the beach has no signage. Anyway after Lisa giving me directions on the mobile I got us to the right beach.

The beach photos are taken with Lisa's camera - isn't this one just great!!

So not a silly question at all Lisa.

It was a lovely day with the Prebbles (and Hannah Rattray who is going out with Jack), Wheelers, Kings and us. We stayed at the beach until after 5pm. I did not go in the water (not over my mandatory 30degrees) but had fun watching all the adults playing games and having a laugh. It was nice to see them all relax and get away from the hubub of life as a schoolteacher.

Down at the beach we ran into Brenda and Glenn and Sarra was so excited to see her best friend Naomi. Glenn had brought their little boat/dinghy so the kids got to have a turn. Sarra held on pretty tight. It was lovely to see them and the girls have planned yet another giggly sleepover before the end of the holidays.

At the end of the day Corey and Kylie Bailey joined us as the Prebbles had their kids for the day and we all got fish and chips and went back to Collette's house.

at the fish and chip shop

We counted up 27 people and 5 dogs (don't have a heart attack Collette - Collette is at the YSA convention in Melbourne with Jess - shh!!) It was a lovely way to end a glorious beach day.