A visit to Howlong - Oct 2008

Firstly I have to say that my original intention to visit Howlong was to catch up with my cousin Jenni and her family, and so Robert could catch up with her boys. That didn’t change. What changed was the duration of our stay. We originally planned a four day stay, so as to not overly wear out our welcome. But Jenni called early in the week before we left and encourage us to come up on the Tuesday and go home on the Sunday. So it was we stayed an extra two nights. We set out midmorning from home and after a brief visit to see Anita at the shop, we then continued to Fountain Gate Shopping centre, where Robert was looking at trading in some old X Box games for some new ones, and parting with some of his birthday money in an indulgence of his liking.

Our first order of business was to divest himself of the games he no longer wanted. Then we ended up in EZY DVD where they were having a sale. Boxed sets of TV series for $29.95 per season. One series he has been interested in since watching Stargate SG1, has been Farscape. Farscape was filmed in Australia, but two of the main characters went on to star in the latter years of Stargate. So he picked himself up all four years of the series in one fell swoop; happy as a mud lark. Next stop EB Games where he bought himself two new X Box games, and then to Ali Baba in the food court for our Kebab Lunch!

Then it was back on the road. We stopped to refuel at Glenrowan, before finally arriving at around 5 p.m. in Howlong. Jenni wasn’t home from work, but the boys, Samuel, Thomas and William welcomed us. Jenni arrived soon after, but Peter her husband was on afternoon shift. We did manage to see Robbo when he arrived home from work after midnight, as we were stilling sitting around the kitchen talking over a glass of wine.

Wednesday was a bit of a sleep in. William enjoys a bit of a tickle and a play, so he ended up rolled up in Sam’s mattress and tied in there with rope, stood on his head and tickled, or alternatively, jumped on by Thomas.

And later in the Day Jenni’s Mum, my Aunty Glenda came to visit. She set herself up in her camper which lives in the back yard of Jenni and Pete’s when it is not being used. The four boy’s tried to swim on and off during the day, but the water was a bit cool for a real romp in the swamp. Robbo again went of the work early in the afternoon, and the evening was spent talking and consuming a little wine.
For Thursday we planned a trip to Woolshed Falls, just outside of Beechworth. A picnic lunch and maybe explore the area a bit. We packed our lunch; all piled into the Tarago and made our way to Woolshed falls. Once there we had a quick walk to the face of the falls, then up to the look out.
We went back to the picnic area where we had, you guessed it, a picnic lunch. Then Jenni, myself, Sam & Thomas went for a walk around the Woolshed Creek track. The area is an old Goldmining area, and whilst no evidence of machinery is left, you can make out some of the sluice pits and other areas that have been changed by the miners. Even to the point where they diverted the flow of the creek by blasting out sections of rock where necessary. .
After our walk we packed up the car and headed in to Beechworth. Unusually avoiding the shops and especially the bakery, we headed to Lake Sambell where the boys could swim in the lake at the manmade beach. Well it was a lovely day, but still a bit fresh for all the boys to get truly involved in swimming, but they did their best.
We had to be back in Howlong at a reasonable time, as Jenni was going to pick up her niece, Jenna, who was coming to stay for a couple of nights. The trip back was uneventful, and Jenni disappeared to pick up Jenna. A later tea ensued and was enjoyed with another glass or so of wine.

Friday was a get up early day, as Aunty Glenda needed to go to Wodonga and Albury, and I wanted to go to Albury as I had a Dymocks voucher that just needed spending, and I hadn’t gotten near a Dymocks in Melbourne. So we left Howlong for Wodonga at around 9 am, arrived at our destination at around 9.30 and I had about half an hour to kill while Aunty Glenda had an appointment. Then into Albury! I went to Dymocks and Aunty Glenda went in search of other things she needed. I was in search of a couple of titles, the first two of which weren’t in stock. I struck it lucky with the third, Ken Follett, ‘World Without End.’ I was happy. Aunty Glenda had a couple of things to chase up in Rebel Sports and we were done.

Back at the car we decided a nice Coffee would be good, so into the closest shopping centre and a quite enjoyable latte and a chat ensued. Following on we went to Aunty Glenda’s and picked up some things for her, including one of her dogs, and I took the chance to look at her unit which I hadn’t seen. Back in the car and we headed towards Howlong. On our arrival I was informed that Tina had said we were going to the club for tea. Tina is a good friend of Jenni’s and who am I to argue. The Howlong Golf club has been in my life ever since I was a young kid, visiting Nanna and Poppa on the farm. They were members who played Golf and Bowls and were very involved with the club. It got bigger with the pokies back in the 70’s, but trade is slower since Victoria got the damn things. It was a great night great food and great company.

Saturday morning came around and late in the morning my cousin Shay came to pick up her daughter Jenna. It was good to catch up as I hadn’t seen her for a while. I grabbed the opportunity to have a photo of the three remaining cousins taken.
Saturday afternoon passed quietly, I went for a bit of a bike ride with Robert, and Thomas. It turned out to be uncomfortable for Robert because as we were about to leave we discovered his bike had a flat tyre, so he took Williams, which was a bit small for him. After the ride I fixed the puncture just in case he wanted to go riding again. But he didn’t. So Saturday night was a BBQ. Tina & her husband Paul, their kids, and Jen’s next door neighbour Lara and her son, and Lara’s boyfriend Tonks. The kids had a ball running jumping, watching videos, playing on the play station and wrestling on the trampoline.
The adults, we had fun eating, drinking and being merry. Robbo enjoyed impersonating Tweedle Dum, or was it Tweedle Dee? Judge for yourself. On seconds thoughts he could have been an Oompa Loompa.
Daylight savings kicked in to spoil the party as we realised if we didn’t get to bed it would soon be morning. So a bit of clean up and off to bed. Sunday morning we cleaned up the rest of the debris, and then watched as the plumber connected the swimming pool waste water to the sewerage. Spectacular entertainment.... After an early Lunch Robert and I packed the car and hit the road. We had a blessedly uneventful trip back home, interrupted only by a stop at Glenrowan to refuel the car and grab a coffee for me and Macca’s for Robert. I expected the traffic to be a bit heavier as it was the end of school holidays in Victoria, but it was extremely smooth running, and we made it safely home by 5.15 pm.