I'm just back from a ten day road trip with my bestie - that’s my mum. We drove 4000 kilometres, ate 367 varieties of cake and pastry, had a Thelma and Louise moment where we were pursued by the police (my fault, but an innocent mistake … Truly!), slipped through the Big Banana, caught up with long lost friends and relatives, felt the sea breeze in our hair, zoomed over mountain ranges, wound along verdant valleys, watched whales at Yamba and dolphins at Merewether, had a burn-out on Pennant Hills Road in Sydney (also my fault, but another innocent mistake … ) and delved into my mother’s family history. Loads of fun washed down with copious amounts of black coffee. Marvellous!
I have always been a happy snapper, taking photos of every family event and holiday, content to be the one behind the camera and absent from the photos. But Mum and I, hyped up on sugar and free from the restraints of home and family, decided to do the unthinkable. We selfied our way up and down the east coast. And it was surprising to experience the willingness of all - young and old - to participate. Now, sugar-free for 24 hours, I see the stupidity of my ways. To prevent anyone else from making this dire holiday mistake, I shall record a little of my mother-daughter road trip here in selfies. Let this be a lesson to you all …
First stop, an hour into the journey, for coffee and cake.
At Merewether with Jacqui and Charlie. Charlie is the one licking her nose.
There were signs everywhere promising 'a bunch of fun' at the Big Banana, but it's a great disappointment. Am I the only one who thinks it should be standing on its end, offering an internal spiral staircase up which one can climb, to emerge at the top for a bird's eye view of the coast and banana plantations?
At Lennox Head with my Aunty Anne. Aunty Anne is the quiet, sensible one of the family.
On the headland at Lennox Head, a whale splashing out at sea. My mum has developed a crazy glint in her eye by this stage and I am not sure whether it is one custard tart too many or selfie-mania.
Having brekky at The Goldfish Bowl in Armidale with our beautiful friend Mary.
Having dinner at the New England Hotel with old uni friends, Glenn and Rhonda Wilson. My goodness we have all aged well over the last thirty years!
Back in Newcastle on the Anzac Bridge with Aunty Jacq, Callan and Charlie the grinning mutt.
Having a serious moment with nephews Callan and Matthew.
A return visit to that bakery, one hour from Mum's home, for a final apple-custard tart and caramel eclair.
The dad selfie - happy that his wife has made it back to Canberra without drowning in cake and cream or slipping on the Big Banana peel.
Back home in central Victoria at last. A final selfie with Olive, my whippet.
So sorry, but from now on I will endeavour to stay behind the camera. I will not, however, stop eating caramel eclairs.