Today was the day I was going to meet my relations from New South Wales. It is one of the two main reasons for my trip. We worked out that it is 27 or 28 years since I have seen most of my relations from Mum’s side of the family.

For some reason, it has become important to me to meet these people and get to know them just a little bit.

So this morning I left my motel at Taree and had a leisurely drive down the highway to Maitland. I even had time for my obligatory flat white coffee at MacDonalds. This time it was MacDonalds at Heatherbrae (near Raymond Terrace).

I made it to my aunt and uncle’s place in Maitland around 10:30am. My other aunt and uncle were there and soon after four of my cousins and their families turned up. We spent an hour or so introducing ourselves and chatting before we set off in a convoy to another cousin’s place for lunch. We were all there except for one other cousin who couldn’t make it.

We had lunch outside and then chatted the afternoon away. There was the obligatory photo shoot and as I had my laptop in the car, I had to show everybody photos of my family.

It was a wonderful day. Everyone was relaxed and welcoming and I enjoyed the whole day. I really like my extended family and I believe the feeling was reciprocated.

A rose between two aunts???

My cousins recreating an old photo that was taken when they were little. I’m filling in for  my missing cousin. Apparently back then, they ranged from shortest on the left to tallest on the right. Not so any more…

After we all left, I checked into my motel and then went to the Maitland City Bowls Club for dinner. I had rump on diane with veges. A big day and sleepy now…….

My room for the night