From squishy to chortling and from frosty to steamy

Since I posted my last blog,  Jonathan and I have continued to thoroughly enjoy the amazing new experience of watching our first grandchild go from a squishy, sleepy and snuggly newborn to an alert, smiling, chortling little person who learns something new every day. 

Apart from a couple of trips to England to catch up with family and friends, we had been in the Netherlands since our  darling little granddaughter was born in early November. 

It has not only been a great privilege to see her at a day old and then watch as she has become her own little personality, it has also been so heartwarming to see our daughter and her partner become such wonderful and laidback parents!

As well as the joy of being around for our granddaughter’s start in life, it’s been great to be able to help her busy parents, especially when they had to head back to work in January. 

We were very fortunate to be able to park our camper van close to their house in a field behind the home of friends of theirs – literally ten minutes walk away!

The camper van was very cosy and warm which was just as well as we had some very cold, frosty days. 

Our neighbours were a bit noisy though – the field was full of Canadian Geese and they honked and gobbled throughout the day and some of the night too!

It was amazing that the day-to-day caring for the baby came back to us so easily although I have to admit that I managed to put her nappy on upside down the first time I looked after her on my own!

From taking her out for walks in her pram, to reading her stories, singing songs and playing with her on her mat to taking her swimming at the local pool, it has been a magical time. 

As they say, all good things come to an end and at the end of February – just as spring beginning – it was time to leave Europe for Australia. 

It was sad to be leaving family and friends in England, and it was absolutely heart wrenching to leave our little family in The Netherlands, but we were very excited to be going back to Brisbane to see our son and daughter-in-law and other family and friends there. 

We broke our journey in Bali to give us a chance to adjust to the time and climate differences between the northern and southern hemispheres. 

Even though we only stayed for a few days,  it was a wonderful break!

It was blissful to be in the warm and steamy weather again and we thoroughly enjoyed a couple of days of doing absolutely nothing except for the occasional swim or a wander through the lush gardens of our hotel.

While we were in Bali we had a really special day with my school friend Jackie and her husband Dick who have recently moved into their beautiful new house in Cemagi.

Although their house is only 25 kilometres from where we were staying in Sanur, we had to battle our way through the Denpasar traffic which was literally nose to tail all the way. It took us one and a half hours!

Despite the long trip we were so pleased to see Jackie and Dick’s beautiful new home (designed by themselves!) and had a delightful lunch there. 

Later we went to a local beach bar to watch the sunset before braving the traffic to go back to our hotel. 

The following day we departed Bali for the almost six hour flight from Brisbane. 

It was so exciting and emotional to be reunited with Ben and Sarah again, not to mention the grand doggies who insisted on sleeping in our room on the night of our arrival!