Chilled out.

Our first week ends as it began. Wintry. Other than freezing, it's been largely enjoyable and mostly uneventful - unless of course, you count me wearing my jumper inside-out to the supermarket as an 'event' or Ben and Matilda setting off the alarm at All Saints Church, Tumut, as they investigated what hid behind a particular door.
We set off from Bendigo last Monday, stopping in Violet Town for morning tea (and a chance meeting with another family from Bendigo), Albury for a very chilly picnic and Tarcutta for an emergency toilet stop, arriving late afternoon in Tumut, NSW, to stay with my extended family for the week.
We've ticked off visiting the snow from our 'must-do' list, with a stop near the Yarrangobilly caves in the Kosciusko National Park to make a snowman and have another very chilly picnic. So chilly, in fact, that the girls had barely taken a bite before we bundled them back to the car.
We've seen the Tumut river rise rapidly after water was released from the Blowering Dam and wildlife encounters have been frequent. Hundreds of kangaroos, plenty of kookaburras and even a few emus have crossed our path.
The highlight of the week, though, must go to Albert the talking cockatoo who lives across the road from the public amenities block in Tarcutta. Who knew that an emergency toilet stop (which very nearly ended in disaster) could end up being so enjoyable? Both girls thought Albert was the most hilarious cockatoo they had ever seen.
Already we find our trip evolving though it has barely begun. Our original plan to head towards Orange has been scrapped after a quick check of the forecast - a nippy minus 3 degrees overnight, with daily tops of around 6 degrees. Bit too cold for a tent we think! So now we are aiming for the coast where it's slightly warmer... though, judging by the response of the park owner, apparently unpowered tent sites are still not in demand. "No need to book, darl, there's plenty here" she said when I rang yesterday. Hmm. Trips to the shower block will be very quick indeed.