Friday, September 28, 2012
Extra Entry Notice
Beginning tomorrow the 29th September until notified otherwise, anyone wanting to get in touch with us will need to call Himself's Aunty Joan in NSW. We will be visiting her for at least four weeks maybe more and there is no mobile or internet reception on her property. That is all!
Friday...28 September 2012
On the go early today to go to the Western Plains Zoo here in Dubbo. Huge place. My legs packed it in after the first few exhibits and that was only 1km into a 6kms round tour of the place. Lots to see and do if you are young and fit. They hire bicycles and golf carts or you can walk or drive your own car through. Because our car is so big we tried to hire a golf buggy but they had run out of them so we drove our own car anyway. You drive so far, park up, then walk to an exhibit then repeat the process a couple of dozen more times as you go around the park.
We saw the Meerkats first, they are most entertaining and cute as can be. Not as big as I had thought they were. Then we headed off to see the giraffes. They were all gathered around something a fair way from the fence so just as well I had the trusty binoculars to hand or I would not have seen them at all. From there we went to the hippopotamus enclosure. This big bloke was munching down on the remains of a bale of hay while one of the park blokes gave a bit of a chat about hippos.
We stopped and saw elephants and tigers and then drove slowly around the rest of the zoo just looking from the car windows. The variety of animals is terrific but it all requires a lot of walking. The entry ticket is valid for two days which most people would need to see everything.
We saw the Meerkats first, they are most entertaining and cute as can be. Not as big as I had thought they were. Then we headed off to see the giraffes. They were all gathered around something a fair way from the fence so just as well I had the trusty binoculars to hand or I would not have seen them at all. From there we went to the hippopotamus enclosure. This big bloke was munching down on the remains of a bale of hay while one of the park blokes gave a bit of a chat about hippos.
We stopped and saw elephants and tigers and then drove slowly around the rest of the zoo just looking from the car windows. The variety of animals is terrific but it all requires a lot of walking. The entry ticket is valid for two days which most people would need to see everything.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Thursday...27 September 2012
Today we went into town and toured the Old Dubbo Goal.
Interesting place full of history and not all of it good. Life was pretty bleak for prisoners in the bad old days. They had to work hard and be mighty careful of their attitude or they were given some serious punishments. Flogging and solitary confinement in a totally dark cell were common. Also bread and water was all they got if they had misbehaved.
The only sentence for murder was death by hanging! And this goal was right next door to the court house.
Made transporting the prisoners easy.
Interesting place full of history and not all of it good. Life was pretty bleak for prisoners in the bad old days. They had to work hard and be mighty careful of their attitude or they were given some serious punishments. Flogging and solitary confinement in a totally dark cell were common. Also bread and water was all they got if they had misbehaved.
The only sentence for murder was death by hanging! And this goal was right next door to the court house.
Made transporting the prisoners easy.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Wednesday...26 September 2012
Bourke to Dubbo.
Lovely drive.
More tomorrow when we do the sights of Dubbo!
Lovely drive.
More tomorrow when we do the sights of Dubbo!
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Tuesday...25 September 2012
When in Bourke, try really hard to not stay!
The one decent caravan park is wonderfully big, even has seriously good big drive through sites for large vans like us. But the people in the office take your money then say, go find yourself a site. So here we sit in an area clearly marked x large vans only and beside us is one of those A frame caravans while a late arrival big van drives hopelessly around in circles trying to find somewhere he can fit. Across the drive way is another drive through section marked for small to medium vans with bay after bay that is of course empty! Why do people no longer give a damn about rules or their fellow man?
Today was a rest day so we spent it checking out the town sights and then went on the paddle steamer Jandra for a trip up and down the Darling River. Good trip and the crew certainly knew their stuff. The commentary was highly informative and humorous.
The one decent caravan park is wonderfully big, even has seriously good big drive through sites for large vans like us. But the people in the office take your money then say, go find yourself a site. So here we sit in an area clearly marked x large vans only and beside us is one of those A frame caravans while a late arrival big van drives hopelessly around in circles trying to find somewhere he can fit. Across the drive way is another drive through section marked for small to medium vans with bay after bay that is of course empty! Why do people no longer give a damn about rules or their fellow man?
Today was a rest day so we spent it checking out the town sights and then went on the paddle steamer Jandra for a trip up and down the Darling River. Good trip and the crew certainly knew their stuff. The commentary was highly informative and humorous.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Monday...24 September 2012
Cunnamulla to Bourke. Queensland to New South Wales.
Now I know what the back of Bourke looks like. Its flat and has some sort of rough grass growing on it so thick it looks like wheat paddocks, by the mile. Always wanted to know what was back of Bourke. Its a place we all heard about growing up and at last I have seen it.
Today's animal collection was kangaroos, goats, pigs, sheep, cattle, emus. We have seen more emus in the last three days than we have seen in our lives before this week. This area must be emu heaven. We passed groups of 10 or more and family groups and individuals strutting their stuff along the fence lines. Sadly we passed far too many of them saying their prayers in groups with pigs and kangaroos on the road!
On arrival in Bourke we stopped at the Back O Bourke information place and found out that there was a particularly good tour of the agricultural sights of the district leaving straight after lunch. Himself went and I rested.
On the tour he discovered that the late great Fred Hollows is buried in the Bourke cemetery. Apparently he liked the area so much he asked to be buried here.
They grow all sorts of things in the Bourke district. There was a thriving citrus industry but it is in trouble as the irrigation water needed to sustain it has been withdrawn to be used elsewhere in the Darling River system. Cotton is another big crop here but it too is beginning to feel the lack of water. Part of the tour included a tour of a cotton gin which Himself has been wanting to see for quite some time. Today's tour was the last for this year so he really was a lucky lad. He came home with shopping bags full of oranges, mandarins and limes.
Now I know what the back of Bourke looks like. Its flat and has some sort of rough grass growing on it so thick it looks like wheat paddocks, by the mile. Always wanted to know what was back of Bourke. Its a place we all heard about growing up and at last I have seen it.
Today's animal collection was kangaroos, goats, pigs, sheep, cattle, emus. We have seen more emus in the last three days than we have seen in our lives before this week. This area must be emu heaven. We passed groups of 10 or more and family groups and individuals strutting their stuff along the fence lines. Sadly we passed far too many of them saying their prayers in groups with pigs and kangaroos on the road!
On arrival in Bourke we stopped at the Back O Bourke information place and found out that there was a particularly good tour of the agricultural sights of the district leaving straight after lunch. Himself went and I rested.
On the tour he discovered that the late great Fred Hollows is buried in the Bourke cemetery. Apparently he liked the area so much he asked to be buried here.
They grow all sorts of things in the Bourke district. There was a thriving citrus industry but it is in trouble as the irrigation water needed to sustain it has been withdrawn to be used elsewhere in the Darling River system. Cotton is another big crop here but it too is beginning to feel the lack of water. Part of the tour included a tour of a cotton gin which Himself has been wanting to see for quite some time. Today's tour was the last for this year so he really was a lucky lad. He came home with shopping bags full of oranges, mandarins and limes.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Sunday...23 September 2012
St George to Cunnamulla.
Today was the day of the emu and goat. The road was no better than yesterday. The long drive was broken by goats on the side of the road and emus crossing the road. We saw cattle too. Dead beside the road was kangaroos and emus, the only two native animals in Australia who cannot walk backwards so of course they cross the road! Silly things. We saw more snakes and lizards but they had the good sense to keep out of our way today.
After lunch we went down the main street to have a look around and to see the famous Cunnamulla Fella. This bloke was originally made famous by Stan Costner who wrote the song and Slim Dusty who sang it. Now there is a stunning bronze statue of him at the front of the Cunnamulla Community Centre.
The attention to detail is brilliant. This is as good as the Stockman Statue at Longreach.
Today was the day of the emu and goat. The road was no better than yesterday. The long drive was broken by goats on the side of the road and emus crossing the road. We saw cattle too. Dead beside the road was kangaroos and emus, the only two native animals in Australia who cannot walk backwards so of course they cross the road! Silly things. We saw more snakes and lizards but they had the good sense to keep out of our way today.
After lunch we went down the main street to have a look around and to see the famous Cunnamulla Fella. This bloke was originally made famous by Stan Costner who wrote the song and Slim Dusty who sang it. Now there is a stunning bronze statue of him at the front of the Cunnamulla Community Centre.
The attention to detail is brilliant. This is as good as the Stockman Statue at Longreach.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Saturday...22 September 2012
Dalby to St George.
We had thought we would go to Cunnamulla today but it would have been a good idea to look at the map. It was 320kms to St George and another 291kms to Cunnamulla. By the time we got this far my bottom was complaining. Beautiful sunny day and after yesterdays storm that was nice, but the road was a disgrace. It was sealed but had more bumps in it than any dirt road I have ever been on! We shake, rattled and rolled most of the way. I should have whiplash from the jerking of the caravan hitch and it is on an air bag!
Still and all the day was not wasted. We did see two push bike riders! They were leaving Moonie when we were. Now there is a town that was a surprise. Most of us have heard of the Moonie gas fields, so we rather naively expected a nice big town. We stopped at the local Information Centre which is on one side of a nowhere crossroads with a fairly big petrol station on the other side. And according to the nice old dear in there we were smack in the middle of town! A couple of sporting clubs, a post office, the servo and that is it!
Along the way we ran parallel with part of the Dingo Fence. We also think we ran over one of our native lizards. This is not a normal event for us. We are generally able to straddle or totally miss them but this one moved too late. We also saw dead kangaroos, an emu, a pig and a snake. The country was a mix of scrub, grazing and crops. Wheat and cotton seem to be the go.
We had thought we would go to Cunnamulla today but it would have been a good idea to look at the map. It was 320kms to St George and another 291kms to Cunnamulla. By the time we got this far my bottom was complaining. Beautiful sunny day and after yesterdays storm that was nice, but the road was a disgrace. It was sealed but had more bumps in it than any dirt road I have ever been on! We shake, rattled and rolled most of the way. I should have whiplash from the jerking of the caravan hitch and it is on an air bag!
Still and all the day was not wasted. We did see two push bike riders! They were leaving Moonie when we were. Now there is a town that was a surprise. Most of us have heard of the Moonie gas fields, so we rather naively expected a nice big town. We stopped at the local Information Centre which is on one side of a nowhere crossroads with a fairly big petrol station on the other side. And according to the nice old dear in there we were smack in the middle of town! A couple of sporting clubs, a post office, the servo and that is it!
Along the way we ran parallel with part of the Dingo Fence. We also think we ran over one of our native lizards. This is not a normal event for us. We are generally able to straddle or totally miss them but this one moved too late. We also saw dead kangaroos, an emu, a pig and a snake. The country was a mix of scrub, grazing and crops. Wheat and cotton seem to be the go.
Friday, September 21, 2012
Friday...21 September 2012
Beginning of the Qld school holidays!
We do not mind that the little ones get a break. It is only when their break infringes on our choices that we begin to mind. We had to leave Caloundra because it was booked solid for the holidays. Now we are working out where we can and cannot go and still be able to get a place to stay because most places are full for the holidays.
Today we got away by 8.30am and decided to go to Bell via Nanango and Kingaroy. It was a lovely drive. It is a pity that all we saw was bare ploughed paddocks which told me that it is NOT peanut season, whatever the season is. Am slightly curious about the life cycle of a peanut. Somehow it has escaped my data input over the years. Ah well I guess there is always Google!
We stopped for lunch beside the Stuart River in a huge free camp but only had lunch and left. On the way to Bell, as we crossed the Bunya Range hills, we ran into a massive torrential downpour. Lots of water and wind, and it was grey and miserable as well! Got the windscreen washed, damn shame about the ute and caravan, if rainwater is so pure and clean, how come it makes the car and caravan so dirty?
Arriving in Bell in the middle of this downpour we missed the turn into their caravan park and there really was no where to turn to go back so we continued the extra 40kms to Dalby.
We are back in the same park we stayed at on the way into Caloundra a couple of weeks ago, and we like this one as we are parked on a bitumen slab so no matter how wet or wild the weather is tonight we will not sink down to our axles in mud by morning.On arrival we saw one permanent site with their free standing gazebo type carport totally ruined from today's storm.
The van beside us is the luckiest couple in Australia. They have a 20ft tandem axle caravan and the draw-bar snapped in two places out on the road, but lucky them it was after they came through the ranges. The good news is they could have died. The bad news (if there is any) is that they have to wait three days to get it fixed. Buggar!
Tomorrow we will move on towards Moonie, St George and Cunnamulla.
We do not mind that the little ones get a break. It is only when their break infringes on our choices that we begin to mind. We had to leave Caloundra because it was booked solid for the holidays. Now we are working out where we can and cannot go and still be able to get a place to stay because most places are full for the holidays.
Today we got away by 8.30am and decided to go to Bell via Nanango and Kingaroy. It was a lovely drive. It is a pity that all we saw was bare ploughed paddocks which told me that it is NOT peanut season, whatever the season is. Am slightly curious about the life cycle of a peanut. Somehow it has escaped my data input over the years. Ah well I guess there is always Google!
We stopped for lunch beside the Stuart River in a huge free camp but only had lunch and left. On the way to Bell, as we crossed the Bunya Range hills, we ran into a massive torrential downpour. Lots of water and wind, and it was grey and miserable as well! Got the windscreen washed, damn shame about the ute and caravan, if rainwater is so pure and clean, how come it makes the car and caravan so dirty?
Arriving in Bell in the middle of this downpour we missed the turn into their caravan park and there really was no where to turn to go back so we continued the extra 40kms to Dalby.
We are back in the same park we stayed at on the way into Caloundra a couple of weeks ago, and we like this one as we are parked on a bitumen slab so no matter how wet or wild the weather is tonight we will not sink down to our axles in mud by morning.On arrival we saw one permanent site with their free standing gazebo type carport totally ruined from today's storm.
The van beside us is the luckiest couple in Australia. They have a 20ft tandem axle caravan and the draw-bar snapped in two places out on the road, but lucky them it was after they came through the ranges. The good news is they could have died. The bad news (if there is any) is that they have to wait three days to get it fixed. Buggar!
Tomorrow we will move on towards Moonie, St George and Cunnamulla.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Thursday...20 September 2012
Last day at Caloundra.
Went back to the doctor this morning to get a top up of the pills I need for my shingles.
After that a spot of shopping to top up the pantry ready for the onward journey.
Then lunch at a pretty little beach spot with the daughter.
Then back to the caravan park to pack what we could followed by cheesecake at the daughters house for one last goodbye.
We both came home with farewell gifts from the Chocolate Petal. Light and beautiful in the box but big enough to make us over loaded if we eat them!
Goodbye and thank you to the Mellors. Great seeing you again. Hope to get back again another day.
Went back to the doctor this morning to get a top up of the pills I need for my shingles.
After that a spot of shopping to top up the pantry ready for the onward journey.
Then lunch at a pretty little beach spot with the daughter.
Then back to the caravan park to pack what we could followed by cheesecake at the daughters house for one last goodbye.
We both came home with farewell gifts from the Chocolate Petal. Light and beautiful in the box but big enough to make us over loaded if we eat them!
Goodbye and thank you to the Mellors. Great seeing you again. Hope to get back again another day.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Wednesday...19 September 2012
Where has the time gone, seems like only yesterday we arrived on the Sunshine Coast and already it is time to start packing up again. Friday is moving day. Who knows where? I certainly don't.
Today I took my washing over to the daughters place and spent some more time chatting to her and helping her with her work. I was allowed to cut more leaves and stick more stickers AND make bows and curly dangle bits! Just as well I am leaving, will soon know how it is all done and be able to steal her customers!
She paid me with lunch which was very nice.
Today I took my washing over to the daughters place and spent some more time chatting to her and helping her with her work. I was allowed to cut more leaves and stick more stickers AND make bows and curly dangle bits! Just as well I am leaving, will soon know how it is all done and be able to steal her customers!
She paid me with lunch which was very nice.
Monday, September 17, 2012
Monday...17 September 2012
Yesterday we went up to Glasshouse Mountains to visit some old friends and do lunch with them. It was a lovely day and the lunch was yummy, I can highly recommend the Beerwah RSL for meals. The same friends are coming into Caloundra tomorrow to visit their daughter, so we can all do lunch again. Wonderful.
Today I went to the big shops and managed to tick off most things on my list. Haircut, tick. Bras, tick. Canisters, tick. Foam to make a cushion so we can sit on the Engel, tick. Fabric to cover said cushion, tick. New beading tools, tick. A bead or two to use them on, tick. New office chair to sit on at the computer, tick. Perfume, tick. There are still two items on my list but they will keep and give me something to look for in the next town we stop at. I is worn out!! I came home and had a cup of tea then followed it with a glass of wine.
Today I went to the big shops and managed to tick off most things on my list. Haircut, tick. Bras, tick. Canisters, tick. Foam to make a cushion so we can sit on the Engel, tick. Fabric to cover said cushion, tick. New beading tools, tick. A bead or two to use them on, tick. New office chair to sit on at the computer, tick. Perfume, tick. There are still two items on my list but they will keep and give me something to look for in the next town we stop at. I is worn out!! I came home and had a cup of tea then followed it with a glass of wine.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Sunday...16 September 2012
Happy Birthday Bob Mac.
You know how it is, up extra early on a Sunday morning, nothing better to do, need to keep quiet so the sleeping bear does not wake, so to fill in time, I opened the back end of my blog to read a few statistics.
My viewing audience by descending numbers comes from Australia, Russia, USA, Malaysia, Ukraine, Germany, South Africa, Romania, & South Korea. To date I have had 17,274 hits since my blog was created and I have made 369 entries over two and half years.
Its a little daunting to think there are so many people reading what I have written, but I am pleased with myself for keeping it going.
You know how it is, up extra early on a Sunday morning, nothing better to do, need to keep quiet so the sleeping bear does not wake, so to fill in time, I opened the back end of my blog to read a few statistics.
My viewing audience by descending numbers comes from Australia, Russia, USA, Malaysia, Ukraine, Germany, South Africa, Romania, & South Korea. To date I have had 17,274 hits since my blog was created and I have made 369 entries over two and half years.
Its a little daunting to think there are so many people reading what I have written, but I am pleased with myself for keeping it going.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Saturday...15 September 2012
Planned a long lazy sleep in today. Did not plan for the sun to be so bright so early! Woke at 5.50am. Tried to get back to sleep but it just was not happening...grrr. Me and my shingles really could use some rest.
Got up and gazed at my new kitchen floor while I had my wake up cup of tea, simply love it. Himself even unbolted the table and we moved it and other stuff around trying new looks but eventually put it back in its original spot. We did however change where the chairs would sit. All this mundane stuff is big changes in a caravan. Tomorrow I am off to the Caloundra markets to find some bits and bobs to pretty up our home.
At lunchtime today I went to watch the grandson play his tennis tournament. He played several matches over the day but did not make the finals. Such a shame as the scorecard really did not do justice to the level of play on the day. His last game was riveting to watch. The two players were fairly evenly matched and it came down to a tie breaker to decide the winner, jolly good effort by both players at the end of a long long day. Well done Carter.
Thumbs down for the small child who talked at the top of his voice all the way through the last game and distracted everyone. Thumbs up for the Caloundra Tennis Club's organization of the tournament.
While I was off watching the tennis, Himself put together his new toy, a four foot long model helicopter. It has had its maiden flight but there are too many tiny tots in the caravan park right now, so it will be mothballed until a suitable space is found to fly it. Will be exciting to watch him. Maybe this will be the start of him wanting his own helicopter licence. Then again maybe buying it was the hint. Who knows? He does seem fairly pleased with himself. I wonder if we can afford a real helicopter? Maybe not, after all where would we park it? Parking the model in our caravan is going to be an exercise in creativity!
Got up and gazed at my new kitchen floor while I had my wake up cup of tea, simply love it. Himself even unbolted the table and we moved it and other stuff around trying new looks but eventually put it back in its original spot. We did however change where the chairs would sit. All this mundane stuff is big changes in a caravan. Tomorrow I am off to the Caloundra markets to find some bits and bobs to pretty up our home.
At lunchtime today I went to watch the grandson play his tennis tournament. He played several matches over the day but did not make the finals. Such a shame as the scorecard really did not do justice to the level of play on the day. His last game was riveting to watch. The two players were fairly evenly matched and it came down to a tie breaker to decide the winner, jolly good effort by both players at the end of a long long day. Well done Carter.
Thumbs down for the small child who talked at the top of his voice all the way through the last game and distracted everyone. Thumbs up for the Caloundra Tennis Club's organization of the tournament.
While I was off watching the tennis, Himself put together his new toy, a four foot long model helicopter. It has had its maiden flight but there are too many tiny tots in the caravan park right now, so it will be mothballed until a suitable space is found to fly it. Will be exciting to watch him. Maybe this will be the start of him wanting his own helicopter licence. Then again maybe buying it was the hint. Who knows? He does seem fairly pleased with himself. I wonder if we can afford a real helicopter? Maybe not, after all where would we park it? Parking the model in our caravan is going to be an exercise in creativity!
Friday, September 14, 2012
Friday...14 September 2012
Never even made it to the shops so no shopping till I dropped today.
The daughter and I set off before 9am to do a delivery run for her business with a plan to shop afterwards. Not even ten minutes into the schedule the phone rang with another order. So it was back to base to make up that order, and part way through making that one the phone rang again. I was allowed to help by putting on stickers today. Soon I will be able to mount a take over! By the time she made the extra orders and we hit the road again to deliver them, (the deliveries were scattered all over the sunshine coast area), we got done and came home again at 3.30pm. Back at base the daughter finally had lunch and the support crew had a well earnt cuppa, and that folks was a day in the life of one little business, a busy productive business which is sure to succeed if hard work and dedication are indicators.
Oh and we went through at least 349 roundabouts! The Sunshine Coast Council must have got a two for one deal on roundabouts. Brilliant for traffic flow and cheap as chips to maintain but no fun when you have to go around soooooooo many of them in one days driving. I am not a fan of them as I always feel like I am about to fall out the passenger side door when going around them. Daughter and I spent the day joking about desensitising me to roundabouts.
She of the constant energy then invited us to dinner and we the aged ones gratefully accepted! Was a good night, bbq cooked by the son in law with potato bake and salad to accompany it. Very tasty. Nice wine too.
While we were off touring the countryside doing deliveries, Himself ripped out the carpet in the kitchen/dining part of the caravan. It looks wonderful and has made the area look enormous and will help to keep the dirt off the remaining carpet. Will need some minor tidying up tomorrow but I am seriously happy with the outcome.
Now, what else have I been hoping to get done?????
The daughter and I set off before 9am to do a delivery run for her business with a plan to shop afterwards. Not even ten minutes into the schedule the phone rang with another order. So it was back to base to make up that order, and part way through making that one the phone rang again. I was allowed to help by putting on stickers today. Soon I will be able to mount a take over! By the time she made the extra orders and we hit the road again to deliver them, (the deliveries were scattered all over the sunshine coast area), we got done and came home again at 3.30pm. Back at base the daughter finally had lunch and the support crew had a well earnt cuppa, and that folks was a day in the life of one little business, a busy productive business which is sure to succeed if hard work and dedication are indicators.
Oh and we went through at least 349 roundabouts! The Sunshine Coast Council must have got a two for one deal on roundabouts. Brilliant for traffic flow and cheap as chips to maintain but no fun when you have to go around soooooooo many of them in one days driving. I am not a fan of them as I always feel like I am about to fall out the passenger side door when going around them. Daughter and I spent the day joking about desensitising me to roundabouts.
She of the constant energy then invited us to dinner and we the aged ones gratefully accepted! Was a good night, bbq cooked by the son in law with potato bake and salad to accompany it. Very tasty. Nice wine too.
While we were off touring the countryside doing deliveries, Himself ripped out the carpet in the kitchen/dining part of the caravan. It looks wonderful and has made the area look enormous and will help to keep the dirt off the remaining carpet. Will need some minor tidying up tomorrow but I am seriously happy with the outcome.
Now, what else have I been hoping to get done?????
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Thursday...13 September 2012
Another day watching my talented daughter go about her business.
I even got to help. I was allowed to cut leaves ready for her creations. I was the most exact leaf cutter ever. Most exciting!
Himself high-tailed it back down the road to North Lakes for the day and still came home empty handed. Really, how can a man spend ALL day in a light industrial area and not buy what he went for? His version says they did not have what he wanted. (I frown and raise one quizzical eyebrow!!!)
Tomorrow I am going to the big shops up the road. Maybe I will get what I want. Oh the pressure.
I even got to help. I was allowed to cut leaves ready for her creations. I was the most exact leaf cutter ever. Most exciting!
Himself high-tailed it back down the road to North Lakes for the day and still came home empty handed. Really, how can a man spend ALL day in a light industrial area and not buy what he went for? His version says they did not have what he wanted. (I frown and raise one quizzical eyebrow!!!)
Tomorrow I am going to the big shops up the road. Maybe I will get what I want. Oh the pressure.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Wednesday...12 September 2012
Last night we took the eldest child and her family out to dinner at the local Surf Club. Great club, good food, excellent service, two free bottles of wine and a trivia quiz as well. What's not to like about that? Much hilarity regards the quiz, with Nana being a heartbeat behind the rest of the brains at the table and although we did not win we still did fairly well and were not disgraced in the results department. Grandad held up his end of the night with 8/10 on the motor sport section and the young ones knew all the modern stuff. When you think about it the perfect combination for a quiz like that one is the three generations. Pretty well have most eras and question segments covered that way.
Himself went off to Caboulture to find parts for the F250 during the day, but could not find the shop, seems it has moved since we needed it last! By the time he located someone who could tell him where they had moved too it was closing time so he gave up and came home. Guess this means he will have to make another trip before we leave.
I went to the local shops with the daughter on the great cannister hunt, no luck but we have not run out of shops yet either. I did get a hair colour although I feel this is like trying to hold back the tide, the colour is fading faster each time!
Himself went off to Caboulture to find parts for the F250 during the day, but could not find the shop, seems it has moved since we needed it last! By the time he located someone who could tell him where they had moved too it was closing time so he gave up and came home. Guess this means he will have to make another trip before we leave.
I went to the local shops with the daughter on the great cannister hunt, no luck but we have not run out of shops yet either. I did get a hair colour although I feel this is like trying to hold back the tide, the colour is fading faster each time!
Monday, September 10, 2012
Monday...10 September 2012
I spent most of today with the eldest daughter.
She owns a business called The Chocolate Petal.
Today I was lucky enough to be able to watch her at work making gloriously vibrant bouquets. Each flower has a chocolate as its centre. Fascinating to see how something so delicious and colourful is made.
These arrangements are a great alternative to fresh flowers and depending on the willpower of the recipient will last a whole lot longer. Well, you can actually take out the chocolates to eat and still have the arrangement to look at, its just more fun seeing how long it takes to give in and remove a chocolate!
She sure is a lucky girl. Who else gets to taste test all that chocolate in the course of a working day? (For quality assurance only!!!) And let's not forget having to test the alcohol too.
Anyone interested in seeing her work can check out her website, www.chocolatepetal.com.au.
Himself went off to Gympie this morning, to visit the home of Crossroad Cruisers here in Australia and came back with an assortment of spare bits and pieces. Tomorrow he will do some little jobs around the caravan.
She owns a business called The Chocolate Petal.
Today I was lucky enough to be able to watch her at work making gloriously vibrant bouquets. Each flower has a chocolate as its centre. Fascinating to see how something so delicious and colourful is made.
These arrangements are a great alternative to fresh flowers and depending on the willpower of the recipient will last a whole lot longer. Well, you can actually take out the chocolates to eat and still have the arrangement to look at, its just more fun seeing how long it takes to give in and remove a chocolate!
She sure is a lucky girl. Who else gets to taste test all that chocolate in the course of a working day? (For quality assurance only!!!) And let's not forget having to test the alcohol too.
Anyone interested in seeing her work can check out her website, www.chocolatepetal.com.au.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Sunday...9 September 2012
Happy Birthday Elspeth.
Yesterday we went to watch our grandson play tennis. Very impressive. He won his singles and doubles. We followed that with a spot of shopping at the nearby shopping mall and finished the day by having dinner with our daughter and the family around a lovely open camp fire in their back yard.
Today we are off to watch one of our grand daughters perform at a music event. Should be entertaining. Should mention it rained the other night, absolutely bucketed down for about fifteen minutes then cleared and the weather since has been beautiful. Cool nights and just right warm days. Am pleased we are staying a couple of weeks. Maybe there will be time to work on a tan!
Yesterday we went to watch our grandson play tennis. Very impressive. He won his singles and doubles. We followed that with a spot of shopping at the nearby shopping mall and finished the day by having dinner with our daughter and the family around a lovely open camp fire in their back yard.
Today we are off to watch one of our grand daughters perform at a music event. Should be entertaining. Should mention it rained the other night, absolutely bucketed down for about fifteen minutes then cleared and the weather since has been beautiful. Cool nights and just right warm days. Am pleased we are staying a couple of weeks. Maybe there will be time to work on a tan!
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Thursday...6 September 2012
Well its official. I have another dose of shingles! Not a happy camper. Hurt like hell without the medications and feel sick as a dog but pain free with them. Going to be a fun few weeks......NOT.
At Caloundra, arrived yesterday and got invited to dinner at the eldest's place.
Lovely meal of Apricot Chicken and Lemon Meringue Pie, very tasty. After dinner entertainment was supplied by the grandson on his keyboard. He played Chariots of Fire for us. Beautiful. Came home quite late for us and slept like a log. The nights are cool enough for sleeping without being freezing, and the days are gloriously warm and sunny without being too hot. The Sunshine Coast is at its best.
At Caloundra, arrived yesterday and got invited to dinner at the eldest's place.
Lovely meal of Apricot Chicken and Lemon Meringue Pie, very tasty. After dinner entertainment was supplied by the grandson on his keyboard. He played Chariots of Fire for us. Beautiful. Came home quite late for us and slept like a log. The nights are cool enough for sleeping without being freezing, and the days are gloriously warm and sunny without being too hot. The Sunshine Coast is at its best.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Tuesday...4 September 2012
Bit chilly this morning.. it got down to -1 according to the weather mob.
Never mind, we still got going and the day did warm up as we went.
More major road works today including a rather long detour on a seriously bumpy back road, it was rough enough to move the furniture in the caravan, I had to shift the big heavy couch back about six inches and it never moves normally. No damage done.
We came down through Miles and several small townships stopping at Chinchilla for lunch, then on to Dalby for the night.
It is really warm here but they tell me it will cool down quite quickly at sunset and last night it was 1 here. We did say one what? but there was no what, just one!
Tomorrow we continue to Caloundra to visit with the eldest child and her family. Very excited.
Never mind, we still got going and the day did warm up as we went.
More major road works today including a rather long detour on a seriously bumpy back road, it was rough enough to move the furniture in the caravan, I had to shift the big heavy couch back about six inches and it never moves normally. No damage done.
We came down through Miles and several small townships stopping at Chinchilla for lunch, then on to Dalby for the night.
It is really warm here but they tell me it will cool down quite quickly at sunset and last night it was 1 here. We did say one what? but there was no what, just one!
Tomorrow we continue to Caloundra to visit with the eldest child and her family. Very excited.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Monday...3 September 2012
So travelling down the road today it occurred to me that our travels often have recurring themes. Like seeing someone riding a push bike in the middle of nowhere nearly every day to the point where now we only comment when we don't see one. It is because of the miles we are travelling that we constantly come across road works both major and minor. We have it figured now that if we see a string of traffic coming towards us it generally means that there are roadworks up ahead somewhere.
Roadkill is another daily vision, today it was lots of small wallabies and quite a few large kangaroos, we have also seen dead foxes, pigs, cats, cows and of course snakes and birds.
As we have moved around Australia we have seen so many animals in paddocks or on the road or beside the road. Cows, sheep, donkeys, alpacas, horses, camels, buffalo, pigs, goats, dogs.
We have also seen lots of our native wildlife, Dingos, emus, echnidas, snakes, kangaroos to name a few. When we park up each day we take time to notice what birds are in the area. Lately it has been apostle birds and lorrikeets.
The natural vegetation is always interesting. Today we started seeing bottle trees. They look very similar to the boab trees in the west. We have found out that the bottle trees are native to Queensland.
Today we travelled from Rollston to Roma.
When I was at school I was taught that Roma is the major centre for the beef cattle industry in central Queensland. Well it does still have massive sale yards and tomorrow is sale day, but these days it is better known as the major centre for a huge oil and gas industry.
We spent the afternoon learning about this natural resource and the way it has helped to change the district.Very interesting.
Footnote: Have just learnt that someone we know has their picture up on the wall of fame inside the display centre. He operated this rig back in the very early days of the industry! Small world.
Roadkill is another daily vision, today it was lots of small wallabies and quite a few large kangaroos, we have also seen dead foxes, pigs, cats, cows and of course snakes and birds.
As we have moved around Australia we have seen so many animals in paddocks or on the road or beside the road. Cows, sheep, donkeys, alpacas, horses, camels, buffalo, pigs, goats, dogs.
We have also seen lots of our native wildlife, Dingos, emus, echnidas, snakes, kangaroos to name a few. When we park up each day we take time to notice what birds are in the area. Lately it has been apostle birds and lorrikeets.
The natural vegetation is always interesting. Today we started seeing bottle trees. They look very similar to the boab trees in the west. We have found out that the bottle trees are native to Queensland.
Today we travelled from Rollston to Roma.
When I was at school I was taught that Roma is the major centre for the beef cattle industry in central Queensland. Well it does still have massive sale yards and tomorrow is sale day, but these days it is better known as the major centre for a huge oil and gas industry.
We spent the afternoon learning about this natural resource and the way it has helped to change the district.Very interesting.
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Sunday...2 September 2012
Fathers Day.
Yesterday we left Moranbah. My niece and her husband followed us and we travelled down to Clermont. 22kms out of that town there is a lovely little spot called Theresa Creek Dam.
It is very popular with the locals and nomads alike. Every where you looked there was families having a fun day out. The locals use the area for all sorts of water sports, the favourite being water ski-ing.
We had a lovely picnic lunch and then walked around part of the dam to take in the sights. The nieces dogs loved the walk as there was lots of other dogs for them to meet along the way.
The free camp area is massive and after waving off our guests, we and at least 100 other vans stayed the night.
Although we were tempted to stay there a bit longer, after much discussion we finally decided to move and we are now in Rollston which is about half way between Emerald and Roma. Nice quiet little town with a quaint little caravan park.
Yesterday we left Moranbah. My niece and her husband followed us and we travelled down to Clermont. 22kms out of that town there is a lovely little spot called Theresa Creek Dam.
It is very popular with the locals and nomads alike. Every where you looked there was families having a fun day out. The locals use the area for all sorts of water sports, the favourite being water ski-ing.
We had a lovely picnic lunch and then walked around part of the dam to take in the sights. The nieces dogs loved the walk as there was lots of other dogs for them to meet along the way.
The free camp area is massive and after waving off our guests, we and at least 100 other vans stayed the night.
Although we were tempted to stay there a bit longer, after much discussion we finally decided to move and we are now in Rollston which is about half way between Emerald and Roma. Nice quiet little town with a quaint little caravan park.
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