Bunyips, The Mighty Murray and the house!

Woke early to go for a run as am feeling a bit unfit and, as you do, ventured along what seemed like a path around the marsh. As I progressed the trail became more undulating, narrowed in places and I managed to knock my head on a few overhanging trees and run through a massive spider web which I think is still clinging to my hair despite showering. I later spoke to one of the doctors who lives in the area and she said she hadn't been down there for a while as was worried about the snakes! Whoops! Made it through unscathed though and confirmed that the fitness needs a little tweeking. While I got into the swing of things at the clinic, Jen, the boys and Piper tripped into town to visit the library for storytime and some scholastic work. In the afternoon they explored the banks of the Murray and found the Bunyip (troll) which had been touted to be in the area (see pic). It's a mechanical rendition of the "real thing" which you pay a dollar to see - fortunately it was under repair and they all got to see it for free! I caught up with everyone after work at the pool again where Aidan and Cole (who now swims backstroke, some inkling of breaststroke and a gradually improving front crawl) were going great guns. Aidan put in 1400 ms. We had an invite to Dr Beckoff's house for dinner and managed to find his house through a bit of a windy track. His house sits atop a small bluff and looks like a couple of boxes advantageously placed to capture views of the Murray from the front and back. They've incorporated a courtyard into the design and a lap pool with spa. In the basement he's built a full on mini-theatre complete with angled seating and a massive screen - the kids were in heaven - being all TV starved and all. He has an indoor barbeque set up and we feasted on organic steaks, homemade zucchini relish, scalloped potatoes and a couple of very nice wines from his burgeoning cellar. Check out Yalumba's Signature series (Cab Sav/Shiraz blend - 2000) and Shawn Smith's Sauv Blanc if you can find them - very pleasant on the palate.