The Heartland

Over the weekend Team aBeckett joined Team Watson to take Ben on his first trip to 'Columbine'. Columbine is the property where Matt and his sisters grew up and is situated halfway between Dubbo and Orange.

Jane and I set off with the boys on Thursday. It was an interesting trip. I learnt about the play-school smash hit 'Oomba Baroomba' and Nick learnt how to play 'I spy'. Ben showed his cousins how well he sleeps in cars and Will demolished about 15 bananas.

Columbine is looking absolutely stunning. There's finally been some rain and because of the recent prolonged drought there aren't many thistles or burrs about, so the property looks like a carefully manicured park. The weather was also stunning with frosty nights, followed by clear sunny days.

On Friday Nick had fun planting spinach with Unnie and helping Bop tidy up some leaves. Meanwhile I relaxed and introduced Ben to Ottey. Ottey is the black labrador pictured above and is Mojo and Bella’s mum.

We also took the opportunity to get some shots of the cousins enjoying the sunshine together and snuggling up to their Unnie and Bop.

In the afternoon we went for a cruisey walk along the river. As you can see from these shots it was picture postcard stuff.

Trent and Matt arrived late Friday night and the next day Aunt Nell came from town for lunch. We had a gourmet sausage sizzle by the river, complete with homemade tomato sauce and pinot. We ended the day back at the house sitting around the open fire and playing word games.

On Sunday Matt showed Ben where he used to throw his boomerang after school. He also introduced Ben to some of the farm machinery and showed Ben the hollow tree where he built a cubby house with Jane and Sal.

This was all good fun (you can see how awake Ben looks). But without a doubt , the highlight for Ben was meeting the horses

(Fonzie, Arby and Gi-Gi).

We were very sorry to head home on Sunday. It’s hard to match the beauty and hospitality of Columbine. Hopefully we’ll head back again at the end of August.