ROADDDD TRIPPPPP

My Dad came to spend some quality time in Melbs and we had a ball. We went with Rita to the Ricky Swallow exhibition which was brilliant, preused the book market, drank coffee and watched the festival that was occuring, there's always something on the go at Fed Square plus we had Yum Cha which is fun. We went out to Healesville so I could show Dad where we're interested in living and relaxed at Innocent Bystander drinking wine and eating tapas. We drove out to Marysville through the fire affected area which was emotional. I thought so much time had passed that I wouldn't have the reaction that I did and people must be so freaking brave and awesome to still be living and working there, constantly surrounded by the memories. I know a cool lady who still lives out there and she lost her house but told me on the weekend that she couldn't imagine waking up anywhere else.

While Dad was here we also went to Stephanie Alexander's book launch at Mont Salvat which is a beautiful, strange, ecclectic artist colony out at Eltham. Stephanie Alexander was business like and passionate and not all that different to what I expected.

Dad cancelled his ticket to fly back to Queensland and instead we embarked on a Road Trip to Dalby via

• Ballarat to see the ORIGINAL Eureka Stockade flag, again very emotional but it seems I'm always about to cry these days. When I found out that the Eureka flag such an amazing part of our heritage still existed and you could go and see it I was dumbfounded. It embodies, rightly or not, the fighting, rebellious spirit that I think Australians are so proud of
• Daylesford - beautiful little tourist town and I stopped at Purl's Palace for some delicious yarn love and just one skein of Colinette Jitterbug hopped into my bag (thanks Dad).
  
• Bendigo - stopped at the mills for a little 10 ply and bargain room steals
• Shepparton, Tocumwal, Jerilderi, Narrandera, Ardlethan,
  
• West Wyalong - Situated in the lovely Shire of Bland

• Forbes - Where we had to choose not to take the turn to Bogan Gate
  
• Parkes - Where we stopped to commune with the giant Radio Telescope and we brought eachother meteorites. That's my Dad bottom right of the photo. The telescope was built the year he graduated high school.
  

• Dubbo, Gilgandra, Coonabarabran, Narrabri, Moree, Boggabilla, Goondiwindi,
  
• Moonee - Cleanest toilets in Australia and they'll tell you why

To reach our final destination Dalby :) where my folks and my bro John live. I got to see my freaking adorable nieces Lily and Sophie and my charming nephew Frankie. I taught the girls to knit which they might not take in on full ball now but it was fantastic fun and I've planted a seed that they might remember when they get older and hopefully get as much fun out of it as I have.

After a couple of days with my family in Queensland we all road tripped down to the Central Coast of NSW for my handsome and intelligent cousin Adrians wedding to his lovely and also intelligent bride Mel. The wedding was fairytale stuff, marquees and chandeliers, happy families and wonderful music, beautiful ceremony and fantastic funny speeches. I had the pleasure of staying with my fabulous cousin Natty (who is my special birthday cousin because we were both born on the 23rd May who is so accomplished. She has the most generous and loving nature, a wicked sense of humour, two adorable kidlets, keeps her house freaking perfect, manages to always look flawless and is unfailingly fantastic. I'm very proud to call her kin. It was great to also see Deano and his hawt funny girl Aless. My Aunty Coll, Uncle Mike, Aunty Liz, Uncle Chris and cousins Audie, Dale, Bernie, Jo, Andrew and Livvy. I know I know right! HUGE family get together, they're always crazy times.

Then I hit the road back to home and my wonderful Matthew via Goulburn, Gundagai, Wangaratta - where I may have purchased further yarn :) at the ACS mill shop. Not as organised as Bendi but better value if you are familar with the yarns that ACS produce.

I love road trips, but next time I'm taking Matt.