28th Decemer 2012

Hello there family and friends.  What a day we had today.  What we didn't see the other day with all the fog and mist at Echo Point - 3 Sisters, we saw in  all it's beauty and majesty, this morning.  What a sight to behold, there will be no words or pictures to truly describe it- as it is huge and has depth and makes your knees go funny when you look over the edge.  There are literally thousands over trees covering the place and what you can't tell is how tall they are - but you know they are full size trees.  Once again Amazing!

One of many photos taken at the Three sisters.  Don't worry you'll see them later.

From there we headed southish towards Bowral and here I  must congratulate James on his driving today, which he did all of it.  Thanks mate.  Anyway, it took us a while to get there, the traffic was bigger as there were more people going to work and it is a fair hike.  So while James drove with Roy in the front, the back passengers fell asleep.  The countryside was still pretty with some very large estates with fancy fences and gates.  With the help of the GPS and Roy we arrived at  the Bowral cemetery.  A nice place to rest ( hehehee) and Roy went over to a guy who was filling in and asked by chance whether he knew the Whatman plot.  Well, if he didn't know Bruce Whatman ( a relative yet to find the connection - but will) and took us straight there!  He told us that Bruce would come every now and then and the plot was well kept.

Tombstone of Hilda Louisa and Hector G. Whatman

Tombstone of William George Whatman and Sophia Jane Whatman and also Hector John Whatman (Mum's brother)

Aunty Bill's plaque.

After looking around and seeing who was related to whom, we headed towards Don Bradman's house.  He built the house with his dad George who was a builder and later Aunty Mima brought the house (cousin Wendy's Grandma - James' Great Aunt ).  James fondly remembers the kisses she would give him at this house.

The "Don's House"

We walked across to the Bradman oval and the kids took a run to the pitch and back.  Then we turned on towards 11 Shepherd Street.

We stopped outside the home and piled out and three of us had cameras taking pictures and the kids saw people looking through the window and we gave a quick wave to them. Then down the driveway a lady appeared wanting to know if we like the house, as she had just had it painted.  When we explained that James' mum was born in the front room of the house, she was extremely pleased and her husband also came out and proceeded to show us around the house and tell us of the renovations they had done, that was still in keeping with the house.  They were once farming people, who were just so nice in talking to us and trying to remember the old people from the street in case we happened to know them.  Roy was in his element talking about what he knew, the guy was so lovely and telling Roy to write down all that he knew - he should write a book.  I've said a couple of times that he has an amazing memory.  Even the time (2am) that the boys arrived in Cronulla on their bikes and Richard saying, "Can you open the gate please, can you open the other gate please..."  so slowly and tired....It was great having Roy with us today.

Evelyn Wheat's house.

In the shed. James was so happy!

The fence still has the original pickets, wider than normal.  The shed was still roughly the same, with an extension on the side but still with the original wood.  The couple were so nice, showing us around and telling us some of things they had dug up in and around the yard.

Views from the up Lookout ( up from Mittagong).

So after having a good old reminisce there, we headed off to get some lunch and went up to Mt Gibraltor to look at the view.  It was great. After taking happy snaps, we set off for home and the sleepers slept and James kept driving.  What a champ.

Now here I (Naomi) must mention the super bargain I got because of Sarah.  One little girl was urgent for the toilet and we stopped at a shopping centre and on the way there was a closing sale at Millers (Ladies Fashion).  Well...... on the way back I had a quick look and lo and behold everything, I mean everything was only $3 each item.  So naturally, I bought a couple of things and I say 'thank you' to Sarah.

Getting back to Roy's at a reasonable time meant that we could relax and have a cuppa, have a simple tea, write the blog and now for us an early night as we say goodbye to Roy tomorrow.

Good night everyone xxxxx