Family Holiday

Family holiday

We returned on 14 March from a very happy and successful family holiday.  I use the word successful as everyone was rather worried about how 3 little girls under the age of three were going to cope with jet lag, skiing, restaurant food and the general rough and tumble of very long distance travel that is the lot of us living in Australia.

We flew via Hong Kong to Zurich where we had a mini-bus fetch us for the trip to Lech in Austria. There were eleven of us including the little girls!

We were incredibly lucky to arrive to lots and lots of snow! 

Our lovely hotel - Gasthof Post

By the time we arrived at our hotel,  it was only 9.00am!   Everyone  was exhausted and in real need of a shower and lie-down!  We had to wait for our rooms but spent the time relaxing in this cosy room below

The sitting area of our hotel bedroom

The softest linen and such comfortable beds!

I love these tiles!

The skiing component of the holiday was wonderful!  The little cousins (apart from Arabella who was only 15 months old)  went to Ski School everyday!... there was much trepidation at first but they soon grew to love going each morning and they had each other for support!  As I don't ski anymore,  I enjoyed the wonderful sunny weather, walking around the village and a visit or two to the spa!   It was our first stay at this hotel and we cannot wait to return!

This is the very handsome Emilio... a guest at our hotel.  He would arrive in the dining room every evening with his owners,  and settle himself beneath their table.  He was adorable!

Our large table - where we had all of our breakfasts and dinners.

After ten happy days in Lech,  we left for Cape Town and the familiarity of the Vineyard Hotel.  Our children grew up in Cape Town and so it was a week of many reunions and visiting favourite places. 

The Vineyard Hotel

The delicious fresh fish of the day which we enjoyed most days!

The cosy "Quiet room" - just recently refurbished

We visited the iconic Mount Nelson Hotel one day for lunch. 

We enjoyed a delicious lunch on the terrace overlooking the pool.  The "Nellie"  is indeed a grand old lady!

We had coffee and cake at "Melissa's" in Constantia - which is a little like "Jones the Grocer" here in Australia.

Sniffing the lovely roses

Outdoor concert at Kirstenbosch gardens - what a venue!

After a very full and busy week in Cape Town,  we flew to Johannesburg and then on to Singita.  We had three unforgettable days in the peaceful beauty of the African bush.  Game viewing, swimming, jumping on the trampoline which  delighted the children.  We had the camp to ourselves.. had perfect weather and wonderful food.  The children were a pleasure during the game drives and remained fascinated throughout the three days!

The comfortable large veranda at Castleton

Sinking into these beds were a pleasure - loved the leather headboard too

Outdoor breakfast

This great shot of this cheetah was taken by my son using his phone and binoculars!

Table set for lunch beneath the pergola

The food was always delicious and inventive and the chef happily handed me typed recipes to take home!

This and that - New house and weekend at the beach!

This and that!

Everyone I talk to is tired of the heat and lack of rain here in Australia and when leaving Sydney on Friday, I was struck by a feeling of anticipation.  The sky was dark,  people were looking up at the sky and there was hope in the air! The weather world-wide is extraordinary at the moment.  People in the UK must be desperate to see the end of the rain and those in most parts of the US must be desperate to get rid of the snow!  

The car was loaded with bolts of fabric and light-fittings as we drove off  to another site meeting in Bowral after which we would head on down to the South Coast for a weekend at the beach.

The site meeting saw us tramping through painters drop-sheets,  avoiding wet paint,  stepping gingerly over just-laid tiles and making yet more decisions and yes - a couple of last minute changes.  We decided NOT to wallpaper the ceiling in Bedroom 4 and decided TO wallpaper Bedroom 3.  Light fittings were laid out in each room and a new list was drawn up of those we still need.  We watched the joinery for the living room fireplace being installed and stood outside waving our arms around deciding where the garden beds in the front garden should be.

Mud room

The study - joinery gets installed late this week

The potting shed

This is a picture of the potting bench I would love next to the potting shed.

Entry hall

Courtyard off the veranda - that's a huge Ginko Biloba in the background

Looking through to Bed 2 from Bedroom 1

The front door

Corbett Gardens - Bowral

After lunch in Bowral,  we drove down to Mollymook for the weekend.  Friends were joining us on Saturday and I was looking forward to some down-time. It was a relief arriving at the beach and the garden was looking great despite the lack of rain.. 

It did start raining the next morning though...bliss!

The weekend was restful and I enjoyed cooking some lovely meals.  The Salmon Kedgeree (Nigella's recipe) was absolutely delicious and is definitely going to become a family favourite.  We had roast lamb for dinner on Saturday night,  roast organic chickens for Sunday lunch and toasted chicken sandwiches for supper!  

Our friends left this morning and I have pottered around doing washing, 'house-stuff' and gathering everything together for an early start tomorrow.  It will be our last site-meeting tomorrow as we (the whole family - including the little girls) are going on a holiday - skiing, Cape Town and Singita (safari). This holiday (to celebrate Mr R-I's 70th birthday) was planned a year ago when we all thought the house would be finished.  Obviously it is not ideal now but I put my trust in the power of emails/photos as the final finishing happens while we are away.  Sadly,  I won't be here as the kitchen goes in!!   The builder has promised that we will be able to move in after we arrive home... on 17 March.  Hopefully,  the garden hard-landscaping will be done and all that will remain will be the planting. 

The study light fitting still wearing it's 'shower cap'!

Penny gets so bored at these meetings