News & Updates from Vicki Avcin ~ AusCrafts · Page 21

Day 5 of our trip saw us leave Canberra and head off to the snowfields. First stop was Jindabyne to pick up snow chains, skis and snow board. We went through a small town of Cooma and all the shops have snowmen on the roofs.

I was excited to see the first sign giving the klms to Thredbo. Was even more excited as we went through the hills and saw for the first time snow on top of the mountains in the distance.

Of course Im always on the look out for fire stations and was happy to see the station at Thredbo when we arrived.

We went straight to the carpark for the main skiing area and walked out to Friday Flats where I got to walk on snow, see snow for the first time in my life.

My daughter asked me what did I think. My comment its like a big slushie and its cold. We didnt have our snow gear on at that stage but decided to walk back to the car and get it on.

The kids were itching to get onto the slopes so they caught the chairlift up to do a couple of runs while I stayed just savouring the moment and enjoying watching all the people skiing and snowboarding.

I was amazed at the kids, 3 and 4 years old skiing like pros. Friday Flats is the easiest slopes and where all the lessons are done. Then the big moment, we (I) built my very first snowman. Will show the finished product next week.

But after the emotional few days before hand I was just so happy to unwind and do something Ive wanted to do all my life…….

Actually be in the snow!!

Day 4 of my big adventure saw us leaving Sydney and heading to our nations capital Canberra where we were staying the night before the drive to Thredbo.

While there we were very much the tourist, visiting first off the War Memorial.

I had learnt in my DNA experience that one of my uncles was killed in France and is buried in one of the cemeteries there.

Therefore his name is on the memorial wall for those who never made it back to Australia. For a memorial it is an amazing place with lots of displays and dioramas depicting all the wars Australians have fought in.

Planes, trucks, artillery, stories and so much more including the tomb of the unknown soldier. Then we headed off to The Royal Australian Mint where we got to see how our coins are made. Notes are printed elsewhere (Melbourne). We saw the history of our money, errors on coins which collectors like to get hold of.

We laughed when told we could print our own $1 coin……. You just had to pay $3 to do it! We then headed off to Parliament House. How rude of our Prime Minister to not come and welcome us with tea and scones!! The security in the place is unreal.

Not allowed to take phones or cameras in to either the Senate or House of Reps rooms where we saw some of our politicians sprooking their points of view.

You also had to do a full screening on entry. We then headed to our motel for the night where they had this amazing piece of art in the courtyard.

Three king parrots sitting on branches over a feeding bowl.

They are so lifelike, something I told hubby would look fabulous in our front yard….. a future project?? The whole thing is made of metal. So lifelike that if you put your hand under the feet of the birds in a photo you would think the bird is the real thing.

Day 3 of my trip was an absolute huge day. A day full of emotions, anticipation and happiness as I met new family for the first time. We left Muswellbrook early for the drive to Sydney. First stop was Hornsby where I met cousins, Susan and Robert.

Susan and Roberts mum is my bio mums first cousin. My bio mum was their mothers bridesmaid. Unfortunately we didnt have as much time as wed like with them as we had to head off to the biggest event on the whole trip……meeting my bio mum for the first time.

We arrived just at the end of lunch time and to say I was nervous is an understatement. I knew that my bio mum loved orchids (she had a big orchid house where she lived.) She is now in an aged care facility so next best thing was to take her some of her favourite flowers in her favourite colous.

We also took her a teddy bear as she had a collection of bears when she was in her own home.

Finally I got to meet her and after chatting I told her who I was. I am pretty sure she knew who I was already but I also think she was so relieved to meet me after keeping this huge secret for 70 years.

The tears flowed and we both had hugs that have been a long time coming. We spent hours talking and crying, laughing and hugging. She was happy to meet her grandkids too. My head was spinning as we walked out with commitment to staying in touch now. What a relief too that the big secret is finally not a secret anymore.

We then headed off to meet more cousins, bio mums brothers kids Julie, David and Linda. They welcomed us with open arms and again we talked and talked like wed known each other forever. Finally about 8.30pm we headed off to our motel (we had to check in before 9pm). What a huge day we had but what a wonderful day.

A whole new family for me and my kids and to be so welcomed by all of them being that the bomb exploded a few months ago when the DNA came back.

None of the cousins knew or even suspected a thing but are so happy now its all out there.

The first day of my big adventure saw us leaving home at 8am. The GPS told us the shortest route to our first stop was via the inland highway from my place. So off we went and 3 hrs later we finally reached the Qld/NSW border.

It seemed like forever as normally wed go down the M1 but being a Monday and with peak hour traffic it probably was a better drive the way we went.

We stopped in Tamworth to have a break and took photos of the big Gold Guitar. Tamworth is the country music capital here where they have a big festival and the country music awards every year.

Was a great run then down to Muswellbrook where we arrived around 5.30pm.

Dinner at the RSL when we got there and an early night as we had a big day the following day.

Next day I met my bio mothers daughter, so I call her my bonus sister as she was adopted so technically not a half sister.

But on meeting her it felt like wed known each other all our lives. We got on extremely well and talked and talked.

Went to dinner at the Workers Club and then back for a reasonably early night as we again had to head off early the next day.

More of my adventures next week.

Well what an adventure Ive had last week. Met my birth mother who is 91 yrs old, met a half sister and met 8 cousins. Then we had two days at Thredbo. Thredbo is in the Kosciusko National Park and is one of the big snowfields in New South Wales.

Sadly this year our snow fields are struggling as the snowfalls havent been happening. It was forecast to snow on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday but temperatures werent cold enough and on Friday night all they got was rain.

The ski slope runs are maintained with snow machines but other areas are bare (grass) and in places what was there had melted and it was slushy mud.

But my bucket list was to see snow which I did and I got to experience walking on and feeling it.

We first went to Friday Flats when we arrived and I walked on snow for the first time in my life.

So guess what is happening today…….its snowing down there, so we missed it falling by a week!!! Ill post more news about the trip in the next couple of weeks but Im already wanting to go back.

I had a fantastic time and after the apprehension about freezing I was pleasantly surprised that it was nothing like I thought it would be.

I commented to hubby that its actually colder at home than it was down there. Loved the atmosphere of the village and the people were so friendly. Im really missing it now.