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We all went back 'home' to HK for a week during the girl's Oct half term holidays.

It was pretty stressful leading up to it also when we arrived, as we were there to obtain my UK Settlement Visa.  No easy task.  Red tape galore, don't get me started.  
Saying that, HK lived up to it's true nature of professionalism and speed and I received it within the week.  You could all agree that if I had to go back to Oz, then I'd still be sitting there for another few months at least waiting for it.

So with that tucked neatly away in my passport, it's a huge relief.   To top it off, it was SUCH a fantastic holiday.  It was the girl's first time back there since we left.  They had loads of sleepovers and playdates with their besties, it truly was a fabulous holiday, though it felt like we never left really, like we were there only yesterday!  

Massive thanks to you all for looking after us, especially Chateau Lipton, the service was amazing!!

With Phil and Cally hiking the dreaded Twins (over 1000 steps!)

Stunning scenery of Stanley

Cheesy Phil and JP

The hikers

With Zoe and Tia at the HKFC

Bouganvillia

BFF's, Grace & Taylor enjoying a day out at Ocean Park

Fly Jaimie!

Kisses with Tanzin & Ella

What's 2 more girls?

Meet our latest members of the family.  Holly and Twiglet, the guinnea pigs!

Jaimie's belated birthday present.  Normally the nagging dies off after a few days, or give a week or two, but Jaimie has been persistent since before her birthday.
JP and I always found a good excuse as to why we can't get them "just yet".  But yesterday, we went for 'only looking' to Pets At Home and well, yep, we came home with these two, dare I say, a teeny bit cute guinnea pigs!

Jaimie woke up at 4am this morning to play with them.  She is beyond in love and can't wait to show her sisters (who are at a sleepover right now!)

So without further ado, here they are...

Holly

Twiglet

Hockey and Hunts

Tanzin & Taylor have begun to play hockey with the Harelston Magpies each Friday night.
Tanzin was selected to play in the under 10's first hockey tournament of the season.
She wasn't afraid of getting in there to have a go!

On Saturday morning (after ballet), we went to a hunt.  Steeped in tradition, it was the club's first hunt of the season.  Fox hunting has now been banned, so the hounds set off in search for hares.  It's a very sociable and prestige occasion.  The horses and their riders are immaculately groomed.

Love the driving down our driveway when the trees are alive with colour.

Jam drops - now a firm favourite after school snack!

I thought this was sweet!  

From the grapevine.  20 litres was eventually juiced and bottled!

The hounds at ready

JP, Max, friend and Ann chatting with a glass of port

Aunty Sam.  (Tom's fiance) 

Huntsman and his hounds

Birthday Girl

Our baby girl Jaimie turned 6 today!

It's been a long party weekend, starting with her friends from her class coming over on Saturday morning, after ballet, to her jewellery making party.  It was all going smoothly until they all ran outside, so that was that...and thankfully, it was perfect weather for us all to enjoy it.

On her wish list this year was a metal detector, and good ol' G&G came up trumps with one, so she is now walking around with it buzzing away in the hopes to find gold! Good luck with that one!  Also on the list were guinea pigs, which I've finally surrended to.., yeah good luck with that one too!!

Friends from Cairns, Scott and Dina arrived in their campervan to stay with us for the weekend, so they had the pleasure of joining in on the birthday celebrations.   After a very lazy Sunday in the sun, G&G came over for a Sunday roast.

It's all worth it when you're 6 and well actually any age at all!

Getting started to make the jewellery

Jaimie's party buddies

Bright and cheerful

With Phoebe & Thalia

6!

Harvest Festival

I've been quick to love this busy time of year.  The vibrant colours of autumn, along with the abundance of apples and pears falling from the heavy branches of the old trees and the dewy spider webs that you see early in the morning.  Ahhh yes, but then there's the shorter days, the brisk air....

Many of my days are spent peeling, washing, cutting the fruit as I can't stand for it going to waste, but it's all worth it when you get to sit down at the table to enjoy it.
Being a new AGA lover, I've loved experimenting in the kitchen with stewing, compoting, juicing, baking and jamming in every which way I can!

Girls at our play park just behind our house

Conkers, crab apples, pears and apples

Squirrels love, acorns

I always feel like I'm in heaven when I visit the green house with these fat, juicy red grapes

New School Year

Back into the new school year.   Tanzin is now in Year 5, Taylor in Year 3 and Jaimie is in Kinder.  Somehow, homework has exploded this year and that's times 3!  

Tanzin & Taylor have started hockey on Friday night, playing for the Harelston Magpies.

They are really getting into it and Tanzin came home tonight proudly saying she was picked for the school team (which she will play this Friday against another school).

Saturday mornings are now taken up with ballet in Eye.  

They have been dancing at the HKFC since they were two, but the ballet they're doing now is very proper and although serious, the girls are genuinely loving it and actually doing really well.

For Taylor, it's about her pretty teacher, the gorgeous costume and 'clip clop' shoes she gets to wear during a couple of routines.

For Tanzin, she is with a close friend of hers and is in Grade 3 and lordy knows how she is keeping up, but my word it's astonishing at how grown up and beautiful she looks.

For Jaimie, it's all about flying through the air and desperately wanting to dance on her tippy toes. (just like Barbie of course!)  She doesn't stop smiling.   

I must get some photos for next week's post, I know you'll love them!