Weeks Eight, Nine and Ten

Well almost eight weeks into our trip and here we are in Australia. Saturday morning saw us land at Gold Coast airport, along, I might say, with several members of the Malaysian gymnastics team! It was an eight hour flight which was tiring, but with only three hours time difference there was no real jet lag which is unusual when arriving in Australia. We were met at the airport like royalty, with Karen and Kevin holding up a sign with our names on it! Thirty minutes later we have already had a tour of a country park and met our first kangaroos, before arriving at their house. And what a house! The very modest couple we met just over a year ago on our world cruise welcomed us to their beautiful home on the coast like we had known them all our lives.
I think it was fair to say we were all excited. We were both very excited to see each other again and they were clearly proud to be showing off the wonderful environment that is Gold Coast. To add to the excitement the commonwealth games were currently under way

there.
Within an hour of dropping our cases off, any thoughts of a nap to refresh after the flight were put to one side and we were off. Its fair to say we started as we were set to continue for our time with Karen and Kevin – at 100mph!
Onto their party pontoon loaded up with beer, cider and Jim Bean accompanied by a packed lunch and we were off along the beaches of the coastline. The waters were brimming with motorboats, yachts and jet skis, the shoreline with luxury villas of all shapes and sizes, it was a privilege to be hanging out there. After a relaxing afternoon in the basking sun and fuled by more than a few beers we headed home, where – in true Aussie style – we had a BBQ of steak and sausages with a selection of veg. I’m not sure how we stayed awake that day but what a fabulous introduction to Australia. After around 14 hours sleep we were up and in no time at all off again in the boat. Stopping to fill up with more food and booze (grog apparently), we went to collect a friend of Karen’s – Sue. All ready this time we headed south and into Gold Coast itself and the heart of the Commonwealth Games. En-route we got to see where the very fortunate lived and the immense size of their motor boats! A sight to behold. Passing by the swimming centre and stopping off for a swim in crystal clear bays.

Having spent the whole day cruising the waterways of the Gold Coast we returned home, where en-route we passed by a pod of dolphins only 5 metres off the side of the boat, a special moment in the twilight. The evening was spent watching the Australians winning more swimming Gold medals at the games this was becoming a very dull habit of theirs!
Monday was a slightly slower day off out to fix a plumbing issue at Sue’s in the morning and the afternoon spent chatting and looking at photos with Karen and Kev.
Tuesday up bright and early and off to Q1, Australia’s tallest building just down the road from where we were staying, a residential building with a restaurant on the top floor with a viewing area. The views from there were spectacular, and by some fluke we managed to have our photo taken by the life vice president of the Commonwealth Games committee, who I mistook for a games helper DOH! He was friendly and was not as embarrassed as we were with my mistake. Having had a massive lunch at the top of the Q1 building we spent the afternoon wandering along the coast and enjoying the surf and sights of the beach, culminating with a stop for a beer at one of the many surf clubs along the coast.

We finally crawled home at around 5pm and were bushed from all the walking, and not in any part to the consumption of grog. This is going to be an exhausting 6 weeks!
Supper was home made cannelloni with salad……….. and more Aussies winning Gold medals!
Wednesday and reality struck, Kevin had to go into work as some staff were off, so of course I went in with him a bit like that film the intern with Robert De Nero. It was good to meet the customers ordinary true Aussie folks, all of whom seemed to have a great sense of humor and just seemed generally more happy than you might expect at home, could it be the constant sunshine and the fact they all live within a few miles of the most beautiful beaches.
Thursday we were taken to the top of mount Tambourine, which is in the hinterland. This gives wonderful views of the surrounding hills and also views of the city and even the surf can be seen on the coastline.
When up on the mountain we visited and had lunch at St Bernard's hotel, one of the oldest buildings in Queensland and very quaint, reminding Wendy and me of pubs at home.
Friday, after a day of luxury travelling around the mountains, we had a job to do. Kevin had to scrape the molluscs from the hull of the party boat then pressure clean it followed by two coats of anti-fouling paint.

That was a full days work which I really enjoyed as it just seemed normal after so much holidaying, if that makes any sense.
Saturday back to work in the store meeting a couple more of the guys, Max (known as Taxi) Tony and Ben, we had a laugh and made a little cash along the way! Well they did, I kind of watched!
I have noticed that whilst I have been away with Kev at work Wendy’s wardrobe has been growing, goodness knows how we will be able to move it all around the world.
Sunday. No lie in here ? we were up at 0700 and off out on the fishing boat fishing for Tailor, a hard fighting fish around 30cm in length. Sadly they were not biting so we came home to the wives empty handed – much to their derision!
At lunch we were off to have our ‘interview’. You see we are working on getting a house/pet sitting gig and a family have contacted us. As it was they are in Southern Queensland so we arranged to visit and meet with them. Kevin and Beverley were very welcoming and their two dogs Poppy – would you believe it, and Boo. They had made us lunch and were very positive but we await their results as there were 8 other candidates.
Monday. Out again, on the party boat, this time north up the

intercostal to the top of South Stradbroke Island. We got off to a shaky start as Karen’s dog Sharky was celebrating her 18th birthday, as she jumped excitedly into the boat, she miscalculated and landed in the gap between the boat and the dock. Following a brief panic she was grabbed and all was well. Nerves settled we were off.
South Stradbroke Island is a natural wilderness of sandbanks and mangroves, only a few hundred yards wide, with the South Pacific waves on one side and the calm waters of the intercostal on the other. It was a blazing 32 degrees and no clouds to be seen. What a fab day cruising the seas picnicking and dropping in for a swim. The photos don’t do it justice. Kev and me set off at one point to climb a very soft sand dune it was only about 70m high but in the heat our hearts were pumping by the time we stood atop the dune but what a laugh too old boys running up sand dunes, its great being a kid again.
When we got back we had a call from Beverly about the pet sitting, and we had been selected for the sit. So now we are staying in South Brisbane, just 45 minutes away from Kev and Karen for 7 weeks.
What a day!!!

Tuesday started off with a trip out into the bay to see if the Taylor were biting. Well what can I say, me and fishing, not a Taylor in sight. That didn’t detract from the pleasure in just cruising around the bay early in the morning with still waters and bait fish boiling all around. Sadly the gulls were getting their fill of baitfish but the Taylor didn’t appear to be interested.
We returned to the house pulled up the boat and spent the rest of the day telling tall fishing tales and drinking longneck beers. Could think of worse things to be doing!
Wednesday was a working day, well it was for Kev and I just tagged

along for the company whilst the girls were busy around the house and the shopping mall. Thursday; There was no work to be done so we all set off, in the V8 4.4l BMW X5 for a trip around local areas. First stop was a small country town famed for its relaxed lifestyle kind of hippy style, called Mullumbimbe. It was great to see all the kids hanging out in their hippy gear but even funnier were the oldies doing the same thing. Some of them were as old as us and there they were in hippie gear and sitting in small groups on grass at the side of the road. Hilarious, but somehow typical of the Aussie, chilled out, lifestyle. Next on the tour was Byron Bay and its lovely lighthouse. This is the most easterly point in Australia and at the right time of year (June / July) you can watch the whales migrating North along the coast. We took a leisurely stroll along the bay and up to the lighthouse for the expected photo opportunities. We then cruised down to Brunswick Heads a river spilling into the ocean, dead calm on one side of a sea wall and raging surf on the other. There we

stopped for a light refreshment break drinking in the atmosphere before heading home another full on tourist day.
Friday saw us back at work where I entertain the staff with tall detective stories whilst Kev works all day! Stopped off for a beer on the way home which gave us an appetite, Kev calls up his mates John and Lisa and we all met at Kev’s place for a solid nights drinking, head ringing from beer and Jim Bean we tumble into bed and yet another week has gone, where does the time go to?
Saturday Kevin was off to work again but I wimped out after the beer the night before. As the day progressed I felt a little better and mowed the lawn in a vein attempt to justify my stay at this luxurious home.
Sunday was a chill out day relaxing in the sun and watching the boats drifting by.
Monday we were back on the tourist trail again. This time we started with the famous surfing beach Burleigh Heads it was a little overcast

but as always it was warm and we could have spent hours just sitting there listening to the ocean and watching the surfers. However with much to see we only actually spent around an hour there before moving off to the net bay called Tallebudgera. This, in contrast, was a dead calm bay no surf and beautiful sandy beach with a campsite on its shores. It looked like a fab place to spend a week in the summer. Finally we visited Currumbim surf club. This is a special surf club which is actually set out in the beach on rocks – so almost in the ocean. The surf breaking all around us we enjoyed a splendid lunch looking along the beach and watching the rollers coming in with the kids riding them like they were ripples. Such fun. When we got home that evening we heard that Kate had given birth to a baby boy and on St George’s day how British – you can’t make it up.
Tuesday: The highlight was a trip to the Australian Outback western show. Here we spent 3 hours watching displays of Australian outback living, cowboys and cowgirls. Barrel racing and Australian country music. All accompanied by fine wine and a steak dinner, there was a great atmosphere as we all sang along and were wearing our cowboy hats. After the show we met the stars outside and had a great chat they were so down to earth which is so typical of everyone we meet here.
Wednesday was ANZAC day, which starts with a sunrise service in

remembrance of all those who have served their country in the same way as we have remembrance Sunday. So it seemed topical that whilst Australia was reflecting on its past, we in our own small way were reflecting on our time here as it draws to a close- at least for now. What have we enjoyed about it, well everything. I have even taken to Vegemite and Milo so I’m starting to go blue. We both love the climate and location but above all we love the luxury of having friends to show us around, explain everything we can see, and often things we don’t see until its pointed out. As travellers having what will be six weeks of companionship is priceless.