I spent five days at Ulladulla.  Some other family members were holidaying there, and every morning we would all gather on the beach for swims, sun-baking and reading, helping the children make sandcastles.  When I was young we burned to a crisp, but now everyone knows to "slip, slop, slap" (slip on a shirt, slop on some sunscreen, slap on a hat), and here is Gavin in his favourite hat:



Not everything went according to plan.  My car died just as I was setting out, packed to the gunwhales; I had farewelled Don at the nursing home, dealt with his stress and anxiety at my driving so far alone, then decided to check out a funny noise the car was making since I was setting out on such a long journey (700 km, or 400 miles, from my place to Ulladulla, via Canberra where I picked up some family members).  Lucky I did so, as it turns out a wheel bearing has gone and it is not drivable until fixed.  And, of course, being January and under-staffed with everyone off to the beach, unable to fix for a couple of weeks.  So I hired a car, and transferred everything out of the now-defunct subaru, and decided not to go back to the nursing home to tell Don all about it because it would only worry him more.  And set off. 

Of course, it is all going to cost an arm and a leg, what with the holiday cottage and the car hire, and who knows how much it will take to fix, and meantime I am on shanks pony so hopefully getting quite fit.  But hey, do I look worried?  It's just money.