Xmas

Well we came home for Xmas and what a day it turned out to be!!!!.   It all started well, breakfast at my son's mother-in-laws.  We had a beaut breakfast shared with a family friend Wade, who was  flying out to Africa with two mates to bicycle around Africa.  Presents were given and warmly received.  Then Rick headed out to pick up my mum & her hubby and I started on lunch.   After a big lunch we were lashed with hail stones and wind and rain.  It came out of nowhere.   When it had reasonably settled we headed off to take the oldies home.  Then the nightmare hit us.   We drove into a massive hailstorm.   Stuck on the freeway with little shelter, my car was smashed by hail the size of golf balls.   Dents in the roof, sides and bonnet plus a cracked windscreen.  It was THE most frightening thing any of us had been thru.   The sound of the hail smashing into the car was scary.   The four of us were almost shell shocked by the enormity of the storm.   After we dropped the oldies home, we set off again, the very same freeway was now bone-dry and you could never imagine what had happened just 45 mins. earlier.  There were still quite a few cars abandoned on the sides of the road though.     As we werent sure if the giant hailstones had been thru Melton we were anxious to get home and pray the bus, which was in the drive, hadnt been damaged.   As we arrived home, the storm front hit us again, the rain lashed us as we tried to get into the house and then the hail came with such force.  We managed to get the bus under cover, then headed to our sons house to rescue his wife's new car which was out in the storm.  Fortunately for us all, no damage was done to the bus or Kristels car.   Rick and I got back to the house like a couple of drowned rats.   Soaked to the skin, belted by hail stones.  All we could do was laugh.   What a day.     We got a "white Xmas". Apparently Melton was hit by a mini tornando and today, Boxing Day, we saw some of the damage to some of our neighbours trees which have been split in half or torn out of the ground.   Our younger son Justin & his wife Rachel didnt make it to our home for Xmas Dinner until almost 9pm as they were caught by not only the rain but also flash flooding that closed the major roads they were travelling on.    Today, the 26th is fine and warm.

My mum and Jim, both in their late 80's, they enjoyed their day out, which was great, as who knows, if they will be here for many more Xmas Days.

Grandpa Rick helping Cooper check out his presents

Bella checking out her gifts

This is Uncle Wade, with Bella and Cooper.  They love him to bits.  He is flying out in the early hours with some mates for 4 months overseas.  They are taking their bikes with them and planning to cycle about 120km per day, thru Africa.  Brave, adventurous and possibly crazy!!!!!!!!!!!