Queensland Archives - Page 3 of 3

Anita’s Birthday

The day started with the birthday girl opening her prezzies, a few of which she had carried half way round the world. I had a spending spree in TK Maxx . No where near as good as UK

Fortunately the Surf shop had a towel swimming changing thing

So birthday brunch at the beach with a special guest

Fresh air and swimming before tonight’s pub quiz . Quick on the buzzer Trivia . Sadly most teams buzzed in before we’d started to read the questions. But though we came 19/24 we did win a dessert voucher

A wet and windy Monday leaves little exciting to put in a travel blog . But , it does rain in Australia. Evidently not as much here , as in NSW or in land . So as usual , for the sake of the blog and a few nice photos and a dog going crazy

And to a very blowy beach and distant Fraser Island

Sunday

So , some comments have suggested that we will get a dog on return to the UK . So a damp Sunday morning, followed by a bright afternoon after church bring and share lunch , with Anita exhausted after a busy Saturday left nothing better than a …

So here are some exciting photos from that trip

Well , not the best bay shots . But , the point is that , and it would take more than a travel blog , that a dog is for a short travel trip and not for life

Meeting Lady

On leaving Granville my main job was to book a Whale Watching tour for Friday pm as were expecting a handover in the housesit after tea that evening. Anita’s had been to arrange the handover

I successfully booked it for Friday am . A few mildly panicked emails later we rearranged it for Sat pm as no more room on Friday

As we had plenty of time it was off to Burrum Heads , brunch and I’d walk in the National Park whilst Anita did prep on her computer

Whilst relaxing over the local Burrum heads full English and cake , we found that our housesit owners were expecting us after lunch not tea ! Good job we checked and were not on Hervey Bay . Anyway Lady hadn’t had her daily 12k walk yet , so here we go again

Off to the prom and v long beach , with a much smaller than expected Lady . Cross between ‘Ted ‘ and a miniature poodle , but more energy than Ted – Judith knows what I mean

And plenty of walkways for those avoiding the sun , but no stray croc’s here

Coastal Granville

Day before was a relaxation in the house in prep for Anita’s Redcar teaching with a trip into the town and avoidance of most things Mary Poppins

The next day we did a mini tour of the Great Sandy Straight villages looking for a brunch . First village was Boonooroo . Amazing views across to Fraser Island

The only brunch was still wriggling on the beach

Nothing along that stretch and even the toilets were shut

The golf course was open , but no one was playing, the bar was empty and despite the sign promising sausage sizzler 12-3 , the poor old barman wasn’t interested

He was telling his tales of COVID woe , but a nice fella and had a lunch suggestion

To Poona for a Fish Basket, plenty of chips !

Fortunately my driver was waiting and guided me in as I got slightly lost in the mangroves, Anita slightly bothered by tails of equally wayward crocodiles swept into town on strong currents

Finally happy hour in the Federal hotel , schooner of Northern Heavy, with the regulars having a sing song in the tap room

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

Category: Queensland