neilsimpson2, Author at The Land Down Under

Granville – not open all hours

So it’s goodbye to the southern Sunshine Coast , a lot of dog walking 20000 steps a day , great beaches and off further up north to the Fraser Coast starting with 3 nights In Granville

Stopped of for a the Sublime Farm and Brewery at Kia Ora

They had drunk most of there home brew so stuck with a schooner of brown ale

Beautiful riverside bungalow in Granville

Home of Mary Poppins

Granville and Maryborough are twin country towns , nothing much happens until school comes out . But it’s sweet and lots of bird life and birdsong in our cottage over the river

So today was relaxing and checking out the house and local area

PL Travers was born here so there are a few Mary Poppins indicators. We bypassed the museums . Not a museum trip

Queen’s Birthday

Monday was a bank holiday here and the last day of the school holidays . Australia still celebrating the Queen’s birthday . And then everyone goes home

But today everyone was in Caloundra , a town of many beaches , along which you can walk

Oh forgot , started the day taking Chilli a long walk around Lake Kanawa , listening to Radio 2 . Dermot O’Leary Saturday breakfast show

And friendly Miner Birds . So things should be quieter tomorrow and we’re off to Maryborough/ Granville. Home of P J Travers

Non Daylight Saving

So Sunday started very wet , which makes for a short dog loop round the lake

We arrived at the local church , unaware that Sunday was clock forward day . However , big Norm informed us they don’t in Queensland . So we are now East of Sydney and an hour behind them – an unusual anomaly

Hoping it might brighten up I dropped Anita at TK MAXX to the Glass Top Mountains

Oh I forgot Big Norm tried to recruit me to the Lions Club – not yet big Norm – too young

Mooloolaba

The Sunshine Coast is a family holiday destination for Aussies and it’s full of them . So today we slowed the pace down and didn’t do much , joining them . Timetable though was dictated by Chili’s belly and bladder

Not sure if clocks go forward tomorrow so may be up early for church

Today reinforced my observations that your average male Australian has a mullet hair cut

Sunshine all day

I feel like I am a bit overwalked on this housesit.

So we don’t get fined by the beach wardens

To go out for a beach walk in Mooloolaba with Chilli ) and Anita )

Did a mega walk to the pub , but .., no dogs allowed

So couple of drinks on the balcony followed by a dog walk

Reunion

Met up with old friends from Uni – Nige and Ali ( and Nige’s mum) . Made me realise I am terrible at keeping in touch – nobody at school or my year in Med School and only a small group of my Leeds friends – oh well . Any way they have invited us to stay in November, to fill a gap in the house sits

The rest of the day was getting to know the local area with Chilli

The area is surrounded by lakes with large promenades

Sunsets are pretty good from the balcony

Warming up in Queensland

So we have temporarily gone up in the world moved on from our Airbnb on the Gold Coast to a Penthouse Apartment on the Sunshine Coast . Slightly unusual area as they have dug canals and lakes out of disused scrub and ex military area . But all looks good from up here

Post breakfast , half English at an old Queensland timber house

After checking out the Brisbane house sit , stop off at Beerburrum for a quick climb for me and bit of work prep for Anita

800 ft hill in the Glass House Mountains NP

View from watch tower – no sign of his Australia Zoo – over there somewhere

No time stop as off to meet Chili at Birtinya & very sweaty after rushing up the mountain

Where are the hippies?

So left our noisy pub/ hotel in Evans Head for the Gold Coast , not far and so plenty of opportunities to have coffees and relax in the very last bit of

Hotel Illawong , our room was above the beer garden and a birthday party . Probably could have seen more of the town but we were keen to get out and off to Byron

Plenty of large lizards and a fantastic display from a small group of whales , slapping and breaching just a few hundred meters off shore

Great beach and town at Byron , but v expensive

So moved on over the border into Queensland , Coolangata , past Tweed heads looking over to Surfer’s Paradise

First Roos

With good weather we left Port Macquarie on a 4 1/2 hour drive with a few sightseeing stops on the way . Anita didn’t appreciate the fading light in the jungle and Roo dodging dusk drive out of the National Park

First stop was Nambucca Heads for a coffee . Lonely Planet took us to a shut coffee shop so the intrepid explorers set off down the river

To the local holiday camp coffee shop and famous painted ( vandalised) see wall , bit too much of a memorial wall for me

I preferred watching the local Learning Disability fishing trip ( nothing to do with this photo, of course)

Past Coffs Harbour to Woolgoolga beach for a Sarnie and Muffin- I know another beach

Finally, Iluka north of Yamba and a rather late rainforest hike

A heard of feeding Kangaroos & a few dolphins ( didn’t pose for very long )

Last shot before the nasty rainforest hike again and dark drive to our Evans Head Hotel

Walk to Tacking Point Lighthouse

Matt from the Point Church said he goes to Tacking Point every day to whale watch , so we took his advice

Plans for a pre- walk dip were scuppered by this miniature T Rex on relaxing on pool duty

Start of Miners Beach( not busy as everyone else is driving to the lighthouse for the sunset and whales )

Looking back along Miners Beach , breaching whale calves top left

Not entirely sure what the lady on the right is doing

Impossible to avoid a car park shot in the end

Port Macquarie

Sunday and the first weekend of the Aussie school holidays, the sun was out and it was warm . This is why we’re here . Pretty beaches , surf , sun and fresh air .

The day started early though as this cottage is right next to the rainforest and like the seagulls back home , the Kookaburras start early and louder – literally laughing at us outside the window

Off out early 0930 church at the Point , somewhere behind her they are still laughing

Lunch at the Little Shack , couldn’t show a “food photo “ with the river in as we had a Gay blind date behind us and the were very nervous!

Town beach , burning of Barramundi & chips after lunch

Flagstaff lookout with Town beach and distant hills where we head tomorrow

Rainforest by the sea

New Airbnb in Port Macquarie, further north , warmer and wet . Well it’s rainforest

When the rain stopped . Down to the beach , Shelley beach , at dusk really amazing with the light and sea spray

Leaving Kariong

I’m sure you’re all fed up of hearing about and seeing photos of Max , so here are a few more . It’s our last day here , travelling up to Port Macquarie in the afternoon. We’ll miss him and Tiger moo , of course

Usual morning 4.5k loop of the town , with a short trip into the bush

Bribing the dog to not chase us out of the carport

Paella

After starting the day on a positive note , we were invited to Joss and Sarah’s ( Charlie’s parents ) in Newport for dinner

Max decided he was coming , not sure if he knew what he was in for as they have 2 large Golden Retrievers .

Popped in to get some oysters on the way at Mooney Mooney , definitely Mooney Mooney , not just Mooney

Dodgy dog beach rules ( I’m sure I would have been all for them in a previous life ) meant we had to sneak him on Mona Vale beach

After getting used to his hairier cousins and a bit of dry humping Max settled in whilst his mates were locked out

Joss cooked a cracking seafood Paella to send us on the way up north

Power of positivity

Another damp day In Kariong. The animals are restless , Anita is worrying about the little Turtle . 20 mins of energy flow yoga and a dog walk done . Hoovering to release more energy and now trying to clear my negativity. Here are the rules

1. Change your friends – hang around positive people ( good job these are my rules and not my friends)

2. Stop listening to the News – done

3. Limit your time on social media- Facebook gone long ago . Found these ideas on Twitter , so need some help with my life from a little SM

4.meditate after work each evening- ha , no need

5.Hit the gym – on a mat / walk someone else’s mutt

6 . Take care of yourself- half an hour to read a book( got all day )

7. Journal your emotions- not me , this is it

8.use positive affirmation to start the day- do it in a way

9.Try yoga or Tai chi – done

10. Spend more time in nature- every day even in the rain

11, 12 , 13….it goes on

16. Invest in a Himalayan Salt lamp – sorry Fiona – no chance

Remembering the Queen

Today was a public holiday here , so we could all remember and mourn the Queen . A few protesters in Sydney had other ideas . We had Charlie & Ella staying over so after a cooked breakfast and team yoga on the patio ,we had an afternoon at Terrigal . Drizzly , cold and windy , La Niña evidently again

Late lunch under close scrutiny . Max sneakily was fed by his local fan club on a neighbouring table

Followed by an evening watching National Geographic

I think that’s the end of our 14 days of mourning. We got 3 extra days waiting for the Aussie PM’s return

Volunteering

Today I did my first bit of conservation volunteering in Australia. Sand dune regeneration on Umina beach . Not exactly strenuous, clearing a few Asparagus Ferns and other invasive species and planting Acacia bushes – 2 hours . Poor old Max couldn’t come

Did our favourite loop of Kariong and Max was pretty excited when we got back . A Diamond Python- capable of eating Roos

Put all cats and dogs in the house in case they became lunch . After a hour it had gone , up a tree no doubt . Max spent an hour looking for it

Quick trip to the beach before Ella , Charlie and the rain arrived , but forget leash and poo bags . Fortunately Max knew of a spare supply to poo next to

Quiz night

Sunny day , possibly the last for few days on the central cost , but a quiet one . Main event was the 4 Pines Brewery quiz

Arrived early to get a bit of revision in . Anita wasn’t going and wasn’t revising !

Revision was interrupted by whales over there . Only little and behind the tree

No longer visible so off to the quiz . Only got one question right – who is PM of the UK !

Funeral 2

Quick lunch then off to Brisbane Waters sans dog