Dooze and Michelle married

Our neice Michelle Ezzy married Stuart Duncanson today.  Was a beautiful day - I did the photos with help from Tania Ezzy and Melody Fleming (and my wife!).  Photos can be seen at http://wildfoto.smugmug.com/Weddings/Michelle-and-Dooze

It was great to have Shannon along also in Darwin at the time to attend with us.

Rosanna leaves home!

Rosanna has arrived safely in Ipswich with her boyfriend Shannon and cousin Rochelle.  Hew new little car did the job no problems except for a flat tyre somewhere near the Black Stump. :)

Fishing Trips

We've done a few fishing trips in the boat.   During the school holidays we planned a big trip of a few days over to the Tiwi Islands but we had a few technical issues just leaving Darwin so we just overnighted near Charles Point and came back the next day.   The autopilot wasn't working, the toilet broke down and then we had saltwater pumping into the bilge from a broken hose on the cooling system!

The first trip therefore wasn't a great success in getting my wife and son keen to do trips on the boat!   We did do a couple of overnight trips in Darwin Harbour (see photo) which were much more pleasant.  A trip to Sail City wasn't so great with Gwenny, Daniel and his friend Rowan.  We tried to go too far on limited time and spent all our time travelling!  Combined with the fact that I didn't seek out a sheltered anchorage and we were tossed about all night when trying to sleep.

 

 The best trip was with Peter and Nikki and the kids (Shania brought a school friend too) for a couple of nights into Bynoe Harbour.  Was really nice except I wish I turned on the airconditioner earlier!   Didn't sleep much because it was so hot and found out how well the aircon worked at around 5am on the last morning we were out!

Coomalie Creek Church Camp 2012

Was a good time although the kids were a bit slack and didn't go with Paul and Gwenny.  We camped in our tent near the water and it was beautiful listening to the water all night whilst sleeping.

One memorable part was Paul taking Naree and Isaac Possingham to the clinic at Batchelor to get a fishing hook removed from Isaac's thumb!

Bought a boat!

I have bought a 35' (11m) boat called Condamine and we (Cousin Peter and Brother-in-law Rob and I) are going to motor her from Gove to Darwin.   Check out http://thomsensboat.blogspot.com.au/ to view information about the boat and the trip.

Craig and Lyn's wedding

We left for Perth on the 14th of December to celebrate Craig and Lyns wedding on the 18th.  We got back home on the 20th.

The wedding was beautiful and we had a great time.  The were married in an amazing old church near the city and the reception was up in the Perth Hills at a Winery.  Paul was one of the groomsmen and Monica and Toby were also able to make it with us (was great to meet Toby for the first time).  Peterboy also flew down from Darwin.

A lot of us stayed together in a caravan park near the airport which was a handy place.  Craig and Lyn, Troy, Graham and Denise, Monica, Toby and Peter, and Dave and Leisha also stayed there.

Mum and Dad, Nadine, Aunty Kris, Aunty Shirl and Adam also came and they stayed in a hi-rise with amazing views closer to the city but not too far from us.

The wedding day had a unique start in all the boys going to swim in the surf at sun up at the beach - the water was a bit cold - but the hot breakfast at the beach cafe warmed us up.

Paul loses his Gallbladder

Paul went to Adelaide to get his Gallbladder removed this week (operation was on the 7th of December).  He stayed at Craigs the 1st night and at the hospital the next 3 nights.  Operation went well although he didn't enjoy going under very much...   and had a few issues afterwards that he hoped was just the medication!

Was just keyhole surgery so fairly minor although Paul was suprised how much it knocked him around..  took him a month or so to feel somewhat "normal"....

One bonus of the trip was that he met his brother Craig's fiance Lyn for the first time!