When my parents announced their plan to retire to Jindabyne, a small snow town in NSW, about 15 years ago, my first reaction was 'For god's sake WHY?' I don't love the dusty arid brown landscape. I am not in love with the insular nature of small country towns, or the smack you in the face culture of some snow tourists. I am the only one in the extended family who has never ski'd. Over the years my low opinion of Jindabyne hasn't changed, in fact it has grown worse. I have joked about Jindabyne being alot like SouthPark - a small town full of strange people living at the bottom of some snow covered mountains. So when my mother finally had her way that we where all to have a Very Jindabyne Christmas, I was expecting to hate it.
Jindabyne is about 18 hours drive south of Brisbane, if you where to drive straight through without any rest stops. If you drive with 3 children & an enormous amount of luggage including a large amount of christmas presents then it might take a bit longer. We had all had enough of each other by the time we got to Sydney (12 hours away) but we didn't realise how much the family car had had of us, when it spat the dummy & exploded the water pump, stopping our journey right on the freeway off ramp, at Wahroonga. Those outside of Sydney might not realise how busy this off ramp can be, but let me tell you the build up of angry drivers behind us was quite impressive!
After an intense but short lived panic Mr BC had sorted a tow truck & roadside assist. (the smoke had spooked him) After about 15 minutes the car had cooled sufficiently to limp loudly around the corner to a more, umm, quiet location. A few minutes later an angel disguised as a stranger appeared with the offer of tools & engine coolant, & then used his iphone to locate the nearest Mitsubishi service centre. He might have been hiding his wings under his turban but I could tell he was an angel. Anyway, this dealer was around the corner from my sister's, who offered to put us up until the car was fixed, & even to lend us one of her cars to continue our journey if needed. There was no way she was having a Very Jindabyne Christmas without me to share the wine fun!
The Mitsubishi Service Centre people could't have been nicer - finding the part needed straight away, giving us a big discount, & having our car fixed within 24 hours. They where also lovely to our fed up children while we waited for the mechanic's prognosis.
So a Massive Thank YOU to Mitsubishi North Narrabeen in Sydney. You guys rock!
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| Monkey Boy & The Gentleman being shown the Mitsubishi sponsored race car at the mechanics. After a ride in a tow truck. This day could hardly get better for the BC brothers. |
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| This wasn't the convoy, it was Grandpa giving endless 'sleigh rides' around the property. Heaps of fun, & no one rolled the ride on mower. Bonus! |
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| The boys became very attached to headwear, especially these hats. Please ignore the wooden gun. |
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| Teenage daughter also loves the headwear. Cute! No, it's the hat, not the shape of her head. She doesn't really have horns, does she?? |
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| Going up the chairlift, Monkey Boy modelling yet another hat. No, Mr BC is not scared of heights, why do you ask? |
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| On top of the world in Mt Kosciusko Nationl Park! Children get back on the path, this is a National Park you know. Mind the wildflowers! |
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| Back down the chair lift. A bit of rain never hurt anyone. |
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| Built for speed. Lucky because this toboggan gets up to 60km per hour. |
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| The Gentleman tries his hand at the Emu Rodeo. Sadly, it wasn't mechanical - just a statue. |
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| Exhausted, Monkey Boy is carried by his Grandpa back to the car. |
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| Beautiful Poplars at the Trout Hatchery. No, that isn't an elf, it's The Gentleman. |
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| The Gentleman inspects a yabbie. Later, this yabbie became a nice peice of sushi. He liked it better then. |
We spent the week riding up the Crackenback Chairlift, riding the superfun toboggan at the bottom of the mountain, visiting the rainbow trout hatchery, trying not to spend money in the shops (Mitsubishi where lovely but not cheap), reading, rabbit watching, cooking, eating & having nanna naps. Most excellent. Mr BC was very happy to stay on, & actually it was hard to get him to leave...
On the way home we drove overnight & I woke up to find that Mr BC had driven to South West Rocks in time to watch the sunrise! Growing up my family had spent every christmas holidays camping at this beautiful beach on the mid north coast of NSW, now a thriving tourist town. It has a special place in my heart, although I will never camp again *shudders at the horrors of The Ammenity Block*. I was so touched that Mr BC had surprised me with this visit & I wish we could have stayed longer. Hmmm, perhaps another family holiday? This last one seemed to go so well.....
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| One of my favourite places in the world, South West Rocks! |
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| Breakfast at last! |
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| No sleep, no coffee, no makeup - but look how happy & relaxed we are. |
Hope your holidays where just as lovely.
Mrs BC