The family met in Timaru NZ to celebrate mums 85th birthday over the weekend of the 5/6th February. It was the first time in 15 years we have all been together at the one time and it was fun. We G's arrived a week early to get things setup and to spend special time with mum over a few games of Canasta and Samba (thanks Val).

Mum and Daniel had chosen a secluded little spot in Centennial Park which was perfect for the occasion. This is mum cutting her 85th birthday cake at the Picnic in the Park, or as some would have it..."A snag on the barbie".

Mums birthday cake. Joy lent the cake tins, I baked it and formed the 85, Chloe took care of painting the '85', mum did her magic with the flowers, Joan carried it on her lap and Margaret drove...very carefully. Not a bad job of it, even if we do say so ourselves.

Me, mum, Mrs Burns and Jean. A very special photo and one I will hold dear forever.

There are three important women in my life: my mother, Mrs Burns and my mother-in-law Rosa.
All three have shaped my life by example and I love them for it.

Perhaps not the most flattering of photos but a generation shot that I will treasure. This was taken on the 24th, mums actual birthday.

We spent some hours in the Bay checking out its growth. This is the view from Governors Bay School where we had the privilege of attending. It is now a few classrooms bigger and has a few more caterpillars and butterfly's but is essentially the same place and forms many special childhood memories.

We have had the beach house for almost a year now and it is starting to look neat and tidy inside. We have replaced, plugged, planted, cut, scrubbed, straightened and painted but it feels good when we close the door on our hard work to come home.

This photo was taken on Chloes first walk along the beach and remains one of my favourites. Hans, Chloe and I went down with Erica who was visiting from Switzerland for our first visit to see what we had actually purchased. It was rough and the owners had left it in a fairly poor state. We went for a walk along the beach to help boost our flagging mood.

This one is looking in the same direction but at the opposite end of the day.

No matter what time of the day: be it bright sunlight, deep shade, strong wind, light breeze, full or low tide, it is the most stunning of places and each element adds an air of certainty to the day.

Some days the sheer beauty takes your breath away. We are so very lucky.

For those of you who do not know where Venus bay is just Google this link and zoom out: http://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=google+map+venus+bay+vic&rls=com.