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Bankfield House
The hotel where the party was held! As Doug's Grandma Winnie was 100 years old on 7th May we were certainly not going to miss out on the party and seeing her on this special occassion so we planned and schemed along with my dad, Doug's mum Ann and Dad John (poor Ann nearly had a breakdown trying to keep our visit a secret!) for the past 6 months that we were going to go home and join in and surprise everyone at the same time!!!
We arranged for my dad's friend Paula to come out to Oz along with her husband Andy and little girl Lulu for a holiday to look after the dogs (after the effects of quarantine on the dogs could never put them in kennels again!) so that we could fly home and we set off on 30th April so excited I could hardly sleep the night before we flew! We landed in Manchester on Thursday 1st May and could hardly believe it when I saw my dad, my brother Chris and Doug's mum and dad at the airport - I could have hugged my dad all day I have missed him that much (and he had brought a bacon butty for me!!!)
We spent the first day just catching up with the parents and trying to avoid all the rest of the family as they didn't know we had flown home! We also went to Tescos, Morrisons and Asda as I have missed shopping there so much!!! I went a bit mad and bought loads of clothes and things to bring back to Perth. We bought so much we had to buy new cases to bring back out everything with us! On the Friday, I also had a much needed trip to the hairdressers as I hadn't had my hair done all the time we have been in Oz - so went for a complete change and for the first time in nearly 10 years have gone back to my own hair colour!
We drove to to the Lakes on the Friday afternoon on route to Bankfield House where Winnies party would take place the next day. We have always loved visiting the Lakes and this time was no exception as it was absolutely stunning. After 6 months of living in Perth where everything is relatively flat .. to suddenly see all the rolling hills and fantastic scenary was breathtaking
and for once the weather was on our side!
On the Saturday morning we woke up really early (jetlag is great!!!) and just filled time until the party started at 1.00 pm ... Doug mentioned that he didn't feel very well and had a bit of a cough .. but we just put it down to jetlag etc .. so we waited until all the family had arrived and sneaked downstairs to the reception area and scared the hell out of every one who was there by just appearing in the doorway!!! A local photograher was there to mark the occasision and he gathered all the family together for a group photo and then we had a lovely meal and caught up with the rest of the family and Doug's gran.
After watching Winnie cut her cake and then some speeches .. we all made our way back to Winnie's house and then went to the beach at Haverrig to play a game of cricket! We have been coming down to Winnies for her birthday party for 10 years now and always finished the day (weather permitting!!) on the beach playing cricket so it has become a tradition!
The next day we woke up at the hotel and Doug said he didn't feel like breakfast as he felt too poorly (really started to worry at this point as Doug was looking forward to cumberland sausages and loves his food!) we then drove from the hotel to Doug's grandmas to say hello before she went to church and also the pick up our neice Jenny as we were supposed to stay with Doug's sister Sally and family that night to have a catch up. By the time we got to Sally's house Doug was really not well and had started to look very poorly indeed ... Sally decided that he should get to the local hospital Barrow In Furness General as he looked so bad .. when Doug agreed to this this I knew he wasn't well at all .. so we drove him to the hospital and couldn't believe it when they told us he had pneumonia and his temperature was sky high and they were going to keep him in the hospital for the next few days .... as we only had 1 more week in the UK ;0(
After 3 days in the hopsital
Doug was finally discharged as his temperature was under control but he still wasn't very well .. at this time I started to feel not well with the same symptoms .. I went to doctor and was told I had a chest infection and a virus .. I felt like crap and spent the rest of my time in the UK in bed .. feeling like crap :0( I did manage to get myself together enough to go into Applied Bio to see all the girls in work and also for a italian meal with my mates and had a lovely night .. even between the hot flushes and the cold sweats - really miss you girlies - it was so nice to see you all again!
On a plus note Doug's Dad John had worked like a demon to get Doug's Porsche finally finished, Taxed and MOT'd so we did get to drive round in style whilst back in the UK .... now remains the question .... do we ship to Oz or do we sell in the UK ............... we just don't know what do to with it.
We flew back to Australia on the Sunday
Doug and His Grandma!!
3 hours later Doug was in hospital with pneumonia :0((( morning and after a tearfull parting at Manchester with our family the journey back was uneventful as we slept nearly all the way home (probably due to the antibiotics and painkillers!!!) Coming back to Oz was awful as it was the first time that homesickness set in and the house here in Kallaroo seemed very quiet. After getting back I was really poorly and my old problem with my ears flared up again and I ended up with another chest infection and also glue ear ..... so after missing work for a few days and feeling sorry for mysef .... was really miserable :0(((
The trip home was great to see everyone and to see Doug's gran but it makes you realise how far away from everyone you are living and I just wish I could grab everyone up with one swoop and bring them here to show them where we live and what our life is like in Australia.
So now nearly a month later we have settled back down again to daily life again in Perth now and are looking forward for getting back into our routine again. We at least we feel better again and
Me and Doug's Porsche!
Doug's Porsche finally finished!!! are looking forward to our first winter in Perth to see what it brings but saying that sat here now on the first official day for winter in Perth ... I realise how different life is .. waking up, getting a coffee and then sitting in the back garden reading a book in 22 degree heat is certainly better than the winters back in the UK so it is not all bad!
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Jayne
non-member comment
It was so lovely to see you too, even though you were poorly, we had a good night and although it is a long time until our next get together, we are looking forward to it. Keep the e mails coming and so sure you both made the right decision, enjoy yourselves!