In this quick update, our twin granddaughters who arrived earth-side at 28 weeks make excellent progress, our son Ben has a birthday, preparations for the delivery of our modular house are moving along, Lucy our grand dog improves and we take a break to visit our yachtie friends Sue and John. Oh and we begin to get ready for the arrival of our daughter Hannah, husband Pieter and our beautiful eight month old granddaughter!
Twin cuddles with mama
Our two tiny identical twin granddaughters continue to amaze us by growing bigger by the day and getting stronger as each week goes by.
Eva in the open crib but still with breathing apparatus onThe helmet won’t stay on for much longerPutting on weight but still needing help to breatheEva now on high flow oxygen and looking positively chubby
Of course, there have been many ups and downs and some anxious times but our son Ben, and daughter-in-law Sarah, have remained strong and devoted, spending every single day from morning until night with their tiny daughters.
Matilda still in her incubator Matilda has a moment’s respite from her helmetAnother brief spell without her breathing apparatus Matilda looking comfortable in her open cribEva loves sucking her thumbTwin cuddles with DaddyEva enjoying a cuddle with MumSo wonderful to pick up Eva without having to wait for a nurse to assistGreat to get rid of that helmet! The dummy (pacifier) looks massive but Eva is still very tiny
Meanwhile things have been moving along with the preparations for the delivery of our modular house. Water tanks were installed, the driveway widened, a pad cut for the house, retaining walls built and footings were installed.
The truck carrying one of our water tanks drove past our driveway Jonathan helping the driver turn roundThe tanks are installed!The house pad being prepared Jonathan looking at the work done so farWhat a transformation! And only two trees needed to be cut down (one was dead!)The car port will be at the right of the picture and our “front” door will open from there straight into the houseThe retaining walls are built and the footings are inExciting to see the footings installedLooking at the site from the driveway Chatting about getting power to our bush cottage Soon there will be a house at the end of this driveway
Ben’s birthday came and went quietly but we did manage a celebration lunch in the pub near the Mater Hospital while the twins were sleeping.
Happy birthday to BenIndie likes helping to open presents Lucy still bandaged from paw to shoulder but gradually getting betterShe even feels up to a tug of war with IndieWe try to take the dogs for a big run most daysIndie looking like a champion
At the beginning of July we had a lovely few days with our boat buddies Sue and John, who were house sitting for friends in their lovely house on the Sunshine Coast (Sue and Reg, who we met when they stayed aboard Catabella – Sue and John’s catamaran – in Turkey and then Greece during 2023).
Cheers to being together againThe house we stayed in was very close to the beachGorgeous golden sand
We had a wonderful catch up and a really relaxing break. It was also lovely to catch up with other yachtie friends, Jill and Shelley, who we first met in Turkey and who were now in the midst of a big caravan trip.
Lovely to catch up with Jill and Shelley too
We had a great catch up with Sue and John’s friends Kim and Robert who we met when they stayed aboard Catabella at the same time as Sue and Reg.
Learning to cook with Sue’s birthday gift from JohnSue (left), Kim and meMorning tea at Kim and Robert’s A beautiful home ….……with fabulous viewsSue and John at the beachCoolum Beach in a Brisbane winter – perfect!We found a plaque that had become unstuck so J and J decided to fix it upFortunately John had a drill in his carFixed!
We have also been making preparations for the arrival from The Netherlands of our daughter and son-in-law and their eight-month old daughter. Such an exciting time coming up!
We have bought a few books, blocks and some toysCot at the readyTeddy bears drying after a good clean in the washing machine
Salty tales from Bali Hai on Sunday 
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