Volcanoes, koalas and kiwis!

MC was very excited about her solo trip to Australia (for Rachel's wedding) and New Zealand, however a certain Icelandic volcano with an unpronounceable name soon dampened that excitement! Unfortunately her flight was cancelled and rescheduled to arrive in Brisbane two days AFTER the wedding...

Nevertheless, she had a fantastic 3 days in Noosa catching up with Rachel and then a relaxing week and a half back in Ash Vegas with the family.

Daisy-boo.
MC and Nadine.
She may be looking pretty fierce but she's just yawning - honestly!
Cute!
Ally and gorgeous wee Ava.
Yum.
Hungry Daisy.
MC and Mum in Geraldine.
Enjoying the sun in Geraldine.
Nad.
Lovely Lake Pukaki and Mt Cook.
MC, Nad and Mum at Lake Pukaki.
Nad and Mum in the hot springs on the hill above Lake Tekapo.
Mum, Nad and the sheepdog, Lake Tekapo.
Lake Tekapo.
Nad and MC.
Nad and Mum.
Lunch in Christchurch with Jac and Jonny.
The impressive looking countdown to the rugby world cup in Christchurch....
Frisbee on the beach in Noosa.
MC and Rach in Noosa.
Noosa beach.
Scrub turkey in Noosa.
Funky bird. Or is it a snake?
Pretty butterflies in the Noosa national park.
Koala bum!
Noosa national park.
Rach and MC, Noosa national park.
Noosa national park.

Out for dinner in Noosa with the Scott/Leslie clan.
Kayaking on the Noosa river.
Rach trying to keep us on course. We had trouble paddling in a straight line...
The resort in Noosa.
Beach cricket.
The bride still looking beautiful, two days after the wedding! At least MC got to see Rach in her pretty dress, if not on the wedding day.
Brisbane river.
MC in Brisbane.
Mel and Galvin in Brisbane.
MC and Galvin in Brisbane.

So MC had a great holiday and came back well-rested and looking forward to the UK summer. The weather is warming up now and we have lots of plans for the next few months before we leave London for good in September!

Easter in the Lake District

For Easter this year we decided to explore the Lake District in the north of England. We hired a car and a cosy cottage and set off along with Rachael, Kelly and Mitch for a great mini-break!

John and Rach and a lake.
John on the phone in Grasmere, one of the prettiest villages in the Lake District.
The crew at Lake Windermere - MC, Rach, Kelly, Mitch and John.
Lake Windermere.
Pretty stone walls and green English countryside. And spring daffodils in the background!
Area around Coniston.
John outside Beatrix Potter's house.
Near Beatrix's cottage (which is called Hill Top).

Rach, Kelly and MC in another pretty village.
Windermere township.
Lake Windermere again.
Outside the awesome cottage we stayed in, which was a bit in the middle of nowhere, but near the town of Grange-over-Sands.