Firstly, its a mini adventure on our list and its also a very auspicious occasion. Its our girl Myrtyl’s 40th birthday. She was born in 1973 and became mine in 2011. After 2 years of going through all her mechanicals she is now been declared fit to travel.

So we took her out for her birthday.

She is still as beautiful and as capable as the day she was born. She is my “happy car” Everybody loves her. I’ve never experienced so may “waves”, hellos”, “smiles” and “nice cars” as I have when i drive her. She is probably the best car I have ever owned…(and there have been a few!)

But best of all, the phuthu clan love her. The boys are always wanting to go somewhere in her..

Its actually remarkable what a 40 year old piece of automotive technology can do….

So anyway, we headed down to the valley of 1000 hills and headed up the Mekelekele river bed in search of a nice spot to make lunch. We eventually found a lovely flat granite rock next to the river.

With no help from boy scouts training, I made a small fire (ok I used firelighters and briquettes)

My old friend Gordie tagged along with mini Gordie, his nephew bringing along his hungry mutts.

The mutts actually provided Big Will with a load of entertainment.

Everyone enjoyed their time outside, the boys got dirty and the boys got a taste of marshmallows on the fire. Big Will created his own special sand encrusted version.

We all had a lovely afternoon and eventually it was time to leave, but not without some sweet pictures to remember the day with.

But I think one of my favourite was this one taken by Loo on our way out….

We duly did this before we started our hike, heavily laden backpacks each stuffed with a small person. It’s was a hot winters afternoon and we faced a steep climb down into the gorge to the river.

The prospect of a dip in the frigid waters of “skinny pond” was an inviting one. It was hot sweaty work lugging our heavy treasures down to the river. It’s a place we all love, nature at it’s best, and, right on our doorsteps.

The water was perfect and the spot even better. It was our own private paradise! We needed to head up before the sun set so we started on the steep rocky climb. A bit of quality training thrown in for good measure.

There Aren’t too many views in the world this good.

We returned to find the zebra kindly looking after Mertyl for us. We thanked our friendly car guards and headed home.

Will, looking super impressed with the red carpet!

Everyone remember the dinosaur? It’s still there. Same place I saw it twenty years ago.

We bumped into a family we met during our December holiday at the Cavern. I mean really? What weird co-incidence. They are from Greytown. Even stranger co-incidence. It was a week day, middle of town….not your ordinary outing. And what’s even weirder is that we bumped into them 3 weeks prior in Nottingham Road. Anyway. I thought you should know that. 

And then….as per tradition….and where possible…we usually end off with these. Roomys. That’s the code word for them anyway.

A post-fathers day celebration, Jem on his trials bike and the boys on their ‘racing cars’, Killarney was a great escape into nature, a mere 20 mins from home…

Little Will…got the girls swooning already…he’s just eyeing out the vanilla Twinkie in her hand. That’s my boy.

Contemplating how to get up. Mmm. How about you push me bro?

Happy Fathers Day to an amazing father! Jem, I couldn’t ask for a better daddy to our boys…and one day they’ll tell you that too..X