downuder 09

I travelled to Australia for 2 weeks in June/July to catch up with family and do some wedding planning with daughter Kate who is getting married in May next year. Here's some pics from the trip...

On Saturday night Ben, Heather, Kate & her fiancee Troy went to watch the new Gold Coast Titans football (rugby) team play against the Auckland Warriors (from New Zealand). The Titans won 28-12 (yay!)

On Sunday, Heather's mother held a family get-together as a pre-birthday celebration for those who wouldn't be able to join us in Hawaii in September.

Catching up with sister Margaret (middle) and sister-in-law Maria.

My nephew Angus and his lovely wife Anna.

View from the 11th floor of the Mantra building at Coolangatta looking north along the coast to Surfers Paradise. Mum (who lives 4 hours north of the coast in the town of Gympie) rented the unit for a few days so we could all get together. It was mid-winter in Australia so the beach looked inviting but the water was too cold for swimming!

On July 1st I met up with my dear friend Lorraine, whom I hadn't seen in about 10 years. We got together with some friends and family to celebrate a special birthday for her. Lorraine & I are seated, with friends Barbara & Lee behind.

The following Sunday Kate & I drove to Byron Bay with her bridesmaids to have lunch and discuss menus, seating plans, decorations etc at Fig Tree Restaurant where Kate & Troy are planning to have their wedding reception. Here are Kate & bridesmaid Michelle underneath the 100 year old fig tree that gives the restaurant its name.

The restaurant has beautiful grounds and this lovely pool area which will make a nice spot for having finger food and drinks while waiting for the bridal party to have their photos done.

I also spent a day with my dear friend Cathy, shopping, lunching and catching up on the all the "gossip"!

All to soon it was time to say goodbye to Kate (and her sweet puppy Emma). We got a lot of shopping and planning done for the wedding, including finding the "perfect" wedding dress. (No preview pictures of the dress - stay tuned for the real thing next May!)