Christmas in Australia

                                 Christmas in Australia

Matching pj's and a kangaroo

We are spending the holidays with our son Tyler, April and their family. We are fitting in with their Christmas traditions and enjoying the excitement of the grandchildren during this time of year. 

Christmas Eve stories - Louisa is hidden from view

Christmas pajamas

Christmas morning breakfast

Opening gifts Christmas morning

Christmas morning fun

Preston being dramatic

Louisa singing with her backup Gideon

Gideon in red

After Christmas we went on a tour of the Central Deborah Gold Mine in Bendigo. It was an operational mine until 1954 and was the largest gold mine in Australia. The city of Bendigo purchased the mine in the 1990's and converted into a tourist attraction. 

Lincoln getting equipped for going underground

This was our tour guide - an authentic miner explaining everything

This drill made a terrible racket and he exploded simulated explosives in demonstrating mining techniques.

Poor miner children looking glum

Preston striking it rich in Australia

Post script: The Great Open Road was closed the week after Christmas because of a Christmas Day fire that destroyed 116 homes between Lorne and Apollo Bay at a place called Wye River. Here are three photos taken professionally by a news organization.