This last week we drove 12 hrs to Darwin so that Hayley could take her first grade piano exam. We also met up with my parents there as they flew up to be with us for four days. It was a special 40th birthday treat for me.

Mum & Dad gave me two very special presents. Dad bought me a brand new flute! This is lovely because my other one was worn out and I haven't played it for ages. I will now be able to teach Hayley.

Mum made me a lovely photo album of my family history. She put so much work into it and it is very special. One of my great grandfathers married a 19 yr old woman who birthed 5 children, 2 who died at 4 mths old and one who died at 2. Imagine his grief when she died a few weeks before their 2 yr old son died. He then went on to re-marry my great grandmother who birthed 12 children. The third youngest turned out to be my paternal grandfather! Phew!

This is my husband and I in front of the Cockburn Ranges, approx. 1 hr from where we live. These photos are not related to our recent trip, but I thought you might like to see the area in which we live.