Life – Page 60 – Life is a Journey

Friends for dinner

Posted on April 26, 2009October 15, 2026 by Libby Withnall

As my regular readers know I love to entertain, and after the Christmas/Summer busy season I’m ready to get back into it again. The key is planning your meal…

I planned and shopped yesterday and before heading out today I made a mexi-bake for dinner and got the girls to help tidy the house.

Next step is having a clean, tidy home….

the table set…

and everything organised BEFORE your guests arrive…

so that you can enjoy the time with your friends…

And be sure to serve dessert (tonight we had caramel coconut tart) and something yummy with tea & coffee.

It makes me sad to hear people say they’d like to entertain but it’s too hard. It really doesn’t have to be and a little planning goes a long way. Keep the meal simple (things that can be made in advance if you prefer) so that you can relax and enjoy the company of your friends – that’s what it’s really all about. When we got back from Jamberoo I had about 1.5 hours till our guests arrived. I got Kevin to vacuum, while I made a simple salad and the dessert, set the table and got the kitchen cleaned up. I even had time to get changed , put on some make-up, and check my e-mail before our friends rang the front door 🙂

25th April – Anzac Day

Posted on April 26, 2009October 14, 2026 by Libby Withnall

Here in the Withnall family we’ve never done much to commemerate Anzac Day – mainly because you’re more often than not away. It’s been around 5 years since we were home. If I had been feeling better we might have done more – watched the march on TV or gone to a dawn service (we’re up early enough anyway). I did have my own little quiet time thinking about our Anzac soldiers and it dawned on my that every Australian generation for quite some time has had a war to deal with – WW1, WW2, Vietnam and now the Iraq war – when will it ever end. So many lives lost.

On a more positive note, since we were home we were able to make Anzac Biscuits on Anzac Day.

Later in the day we packed up some lunch…

and headed to Jamberoo Recreation Park (it closes for Winter tomorrow)

It was a little on the cool side so only the girls went in the water.

When they got too cold, they got dressed and went on the toboggan and played putt putt golf – things they’re usually too busy to do.

I drank tea and read some magazines…notice how busy the park is :-).

Kevin listended to an audio book and played Dr. Kev when Christy fell over…

I also enjoyed the flowers…so sad the place shuts tomorrow and no-one will get to enjoy them – beside people who get married here I guess.

So it’s farewell to Jamberoo until next season. It truely feels like Summer is over now.

We headed home just afte 3pm to prepare for our dinner guests…. stay tuned….

School holidays so far

Posted on April 22, 2009October 13, 2026 by Libby Withnall

Well, since getting back from our Easter vacation I did get a start on the “spring’ clean of the house. I got both the girls bedrooms done. Since then I’ve a cold/flu whatever you call it and haven’t felt real great. It’s the worst I’ve felt in years so I can’t complain too much. This week has seen a trip to the movies – to see Race to Witch Mountain (which we all enjoyed) and friends over to play with the girls, and me not doing very much at all.

Last Thurs the girls went to the science center (I went shopping but didn’t buy much). In the afternoon Hannah came over for a sleepover. Then next morning the girls had breakfast by the pool.

On Saturday we managed to get to dog training.

Sunday we took Emerson to the movies with us and she spent the afternoon.

Monday Taliegha came for a sleepover and the girls played hostages :-). Kids imaginations!!!!

Yesterday morning they were into music…. The bottle with the knob on top is supposed to be a microphone!!

Christy must have stayed up way too late with Taleigha because after being awake from 6.30am – 7.30am I found her like this…and she didn’t wake again until 11am.

Amy is currently at a sleepover at Emerson’s and later today we’re off to the meet the Powell’s at the bike track.

Burrill Lake – Day 5

Posted on April 14, 2009October 14, 2026 by Libby Withnall

Woke up to rain this morning. After a slow start we decided to drive into Bateman’s Bay for some shopping and lunch out. After stocking up on craft supplies to occupy the girls this afternoon, we had lunch at a cafe that I’d been to before.

I had a delicious vegetable burger. I ordered it without the bun to have a hope of finishing it – still didn’t make it.

Noel also had a burger – but a meat one.

Leanne & Kevin had pancakes.

The girls shared shakes and everyone enjoyed their meals.

Back at the caravan park the girls did craft and rode their bikes – when it wasn’t raining.

We lazed another afternoon away and in between packing up to go home tomorrow we had dinner and played a game of “guess that song” from music on Kevin’s I-phone. I know now why I can’t remember things – my brain is full of useless 80s music trivia :-).

It’s been a great holiday and I don’t think anyone is especially keen to head home in the morning.