A long time ago in Kingston town...

So ... while down South Bell, Jo and I played a spot of musical houses thanks to the generosity of our friends in that neck of the woods ... to my surprise and delight we also got to stay at Mum's for a few nights so my kids got to check out the place where I was a kid! And things really haven't changed that much in the last 11 years ... although everything seemed somewhat smaller than I remember!

Bell trying out her very own Grandma crocheted beanie ...

And this I definitely remember doing with my bro!
This view has changed not at all!

Neither have the dolls!

A perfect morning for exploring!
The house ...

and the yard!
This corner used to play home to a massive walk-in rabbit cage ... and after that was removed a very fertile vegie patch ... but a hammock is so much more relaxing than either!

Bell goes flower picking!

Cuddling up to 'Aunty' Carlean ... she as loved as any Aunty ever has been - just not technically related!

Bell picks an awesome flower-picker buddy (Aunty Carlean's Grandaughter)

And there's still time afterwards to take Dolly for a walk ...a slightly lopsided stroll!

Isobel's half of the loot!

Lucky SAM (Sam's my cat ... doesn't mean I got to name him tho!! I was all for calling him Zach but no some other family members thought the anachronism SharonAllanMum was SO much smarter!) gets a rapt audience to every bite ...

And his own personal taste tester too!
"Hey Jo I got you some more of that tasty chicken!"

"Hang on Sis ... be right there ... um where?"

This is a self confessed 'Grandma' shot ... I think it's pretty cute too Mum!

Afternoon creeps in ...

The woodheater gets stocked up...

And it's almost ... "Dinner time!"

Followed by ...

The view from the back garden ... I always loved coming out this time of night as a kid. Especially in the winter when Mt Wellington has snow on the top like a sticky icing bun and the stars looked like chunks of gleaming ice ... ofcourse as nice as it looked I'd only ever be able to stand a few seconds of revelry before my nose froze over and my ankles got frostbitten ... glad to see some things never change!