Macca Castle with the MaccaNicols!

What a brilliant way to spend a day catching up with Danny, Sylvia & James & Hugh! (Alicia's on a big girls holiday with her grandparents!)

The Macadamia Castle is on the Pacific Highway, just north of Ballina. So it's roughly halfway between the Gold Coast and Coffs which is an ideal meeting place if we just can't make it up to the see the McNicols at home...


James got straight in and gave the boys (James in red and Hugh in black) a big man hug! Poor kids had no where to go if they didn't want a cuddle.

Next stop was the train ride - do you think he enjoyed himself?


And do you reckon the big kid enjoyed himself too?



Next stop - the Sports Challenge -

Matt & Danny embark on at least one sports challenge every time we get together in the bid to determine ultimate supremacy. In the past there have been bodysurfing competitions, tennis, and ten pin bowling duals but this time, Sylvia and I were invited to join the teams sports challenge...

Mini Golf...

McNicol vs Tinkler...


Dan & Sylvs were kind and didn't make us count James' score. Lucky it is called cricket hey James? 'Cos you got a great score of 20 on this hole!


Yep, you guessed it - this was a hole in one... But it wasn't the only one of the day - the rest of us got a few!!!!


Lucy enjoyed some snuggles with Sylvs in their first meeting


We didn't make it to the last hole with our kids having had enough by the 15th, but let's just say Dan & Sylvs had to shout the coffees at the end... ;)

Then it was treehouse play time!
James and Hugh launched at this exciting playground at full speed!


James T flew straight up to the top of the climb before Matt could catch up for his safe spotter role.

James Mc checking out the top of the slide...


The Tinkler boys having a swing...


Sylvs played traffic controller at the top of the slide, I played photographer at the base...


"I'm going first Hugh!"


Hugh. I like your suave style... Do you get that pose from your Dad? ;)


Lucy woke and had some 'outside of the pram time' strolling around with Dad...


And checked out the duck pond...


But then was relegated back to the pram while the boys continued playing and I continued snapping. It looks so warm in there...


Fox... Flying Fox...

James made it to the end and just let go - not worrying who was around to catch him.

Hughie just flew!


Beautiful smiles from James!


And a parting snap with Hughie, our Godson...

Another brilliant day spent catching up with our special, special friends.

If only we could get them to move closer to us...