I love being an Aunty….

 We have been in Perth for two weeks and I have been in ‘Aunty heaven’ doing the Aunty things I have done with my UK nieces and nephews and close friends children. I have helped with homework, listened to Ethan’s reading and helping with his tricky words, invited to see Mia’s cello lesson, made cakes and crumbles with Lauren, listening to scale practice from both the girls and plaited their hair many times, sewing dolls and watching Mia’s horse riding lesson. I also had some fantastic mornings in school, attending an assembly and being invited to Lauren and Ethan’s class to help the teacher – I loved it!

A few years ago I learnt from my friend Genty that an ‘Aunt’ is a special role in a persons’ life and you can be an Aunt to far more children than just your blood family. I have pondered on this – for me an Aunty is not just a role as the mothers or fathers’ sibling but a responsibility to show interest, care and love to the child and a willingness to learn from them.

So to all my blood, spiritual and extended family nieces and nephews I thank you for letting me in your lives. UK crew, I miss you so much but I am so happy to have this special time with you Lauren, Mia and Ethan. Love Aunty Hayley x

PS. And thanks to those who are ‘aunties’ to mine… you are an inspiration to me x

The Indian Pacific Railway - Sydney to Perth

As the train meandered through the Blue Mountains the vast landscape shimmering, radiant and brought alive by the rays of sunshine touching and mingling among the tree canopies giving off the famed blue haze. Along the mountain passage I imagine peoples lives on top of this beautiful yet forbidding place, I love being in the mountains but have no longing to live here, perhaps it is too far from the hustle of suburban living that I am used too, perhaps it is the memory of the village life as a teenager and the frustration of being in between towns.

This is simply the longest train, stopping at the longest platform (Broken Hill), on the longest journey (65hrs) I have, and probably, will ever take. This experience had a dizzying effect, after 24hrs we arrived in Adelaide I stood in the waiting area swaying slightly. This was not from any particular beer, at $7 a beer I drank mainly tap water (the tap was next to the toilet and shower that made me wonder), but from the motion of life on board the train (It was like standing on a pontoon at Queen Mary's sailing club). The other queer affect of this was that I saw the lever in the carriage to make an emergency stop….I have seen it pulled in the movies… what if I just?…. I think it was similar to an urge my sister Sara Jane has to open the emergency exit door when she flies! Apart from that I was fine!

The train announcer reminded me of the 80’s TV comedy ‘Heidi Hi’, the xylophonic tune introduced her joyful (but not always appreciated) announcements and sometimes a bit of local history thrown in… ‘prior to arriving in Adelaide we will be serving lunch in Matilda Café, the café will be closed 30 minutes prior to our arrival at Adelaide’ (KJ did a great  impersonation by holding her nose). Just to ammuse myself I got the lady to announce Hayleys' birthday. 'We would like to wish Hayley in Red Service (the cheap seats) a happy birthday, Hayley if you visit the Matilda Cafe you will get a complimentary muffin'.

We met more strange and wonderful people on our journey. We sat and had a brief encounter with a man from Alaska who spent his younger years doing professional Rodeo, because of the distances involved in travelling around Canada he took up flying small aircraft to get to the Rodeo. He was on his way to help a friend in the North of Australia (he flies the float planes). We also stopped at some strange and wonderful places. Cook is a settlement on the Nullarbor Plain its inhabited by 4 people and a million flies, I met two of the people who ran the tourist shop and a million flies…the girls lasted about two minutes before running back to the train.

There is something beautiful about Australia, we ate our evening meals whilst the sunset on this vast and boundless landscape considering these new experiences travelling across a continent.

KJ 'I spy something beginning with T'

Yas 'Tree'

Yas 'I spy something beginning with T'

Asia 'Tree'

Asia 'I spy something beginning with T'
Dad 'Tree'

Happy Birthday Sister and Aunty!

Hi Sara Jane,

We are all missing you and can't wait to see you in a few weeks... have a fun birthday!

Love Mark, Hayley, Lisa, Martin, Lauren, Mia, Ethan, K-J, Yas and Asia XXX

Adios Buenos Aires…G’day Sydney…

Saying goodbye to the Marchants’ and the Vassallis’ was hard. We had such a good time with both families and were privileged to be part of their lives for a few weeks. Was a great encouragement to see the Marchants’ into their new home and by their faith for life in Buenos Aires… we will miss them as we journey on.

The flight to Sydney was spectacular. We flew over the Andes with brilliant views of the mountain range. The peaks and troughs looked like baked Alaska pudding. After a small detour due to a volcano eruption in Chile we flew over the South Pole. Again the pilot alerted us to the views. WOW was all we could say as we clamoured with other passengers to take photos and get every view we could. We flew with the sun all the way and what with the long flight and the time change we were very confused when we arrived in Sydney having lost a day!!!

We are staying with Joy & Phillip Doughty who have been so welcoming and generous to us as we do our whistle stop tour of Sydney. Joy is (for those of you who know the family) Sue Newbury & Pete & David Bignals sister. They have four kids Keziah (20), Joseph (18), Samuel (16) and Micah (13). The Doughtys’ home educate all their children and therefore we have been able to share experiences with them. We have also learnt about Sydney, politics and Judaism from Philip, who also built the house we are staying in (respect!). This meeting of families is one of the things that we wanted our travelling to be about and we feel richer for the experience.

So far we have had a day in the Blue Mountains…stunning views and our first taste of ‘the bush’. Joy and I were very excited to glimpse a Lyre bird. Our first view of Sydney city and harbour was from the river. We took a ferry from Paramatta (about 30 minutes out of the city) and came in through the affluent area housing river mansions, yachts and the Olympic village…then into the harbour under the harbour bridge and alongside the opera house. What a way to experience these iconic sights and we are all still shocked by the colour of the water – beautifully clear and blue! No trip to Sydney is complete without a day at Bondi beach. Sun, sea, sandwiches and POSERS! We had fun but boy were there a lot of people out on show! There was an amazing ‘Sculptures by the sea’ exhibition along the coastal path which we all enjoyed.

K-J and I took a day in the city to shop and go on the Sydney Opera House tour. We were wowed by the venues and design of the building. The use of different timbers both for visual and acoustics were impressive – we learnt tons!

So we have loved visiting Sydney and love the Doughtys and will be sad to say goodbye for now!

Love Hayley X