2008 Stradbroke Island Camping Trip

Thursday
Arrived on Thursday and setup our double site. Cylinder Beach has really changed since last year, as they have had a few storms. Had a few drinks with Mark and Sue who where there with their new caravan/trailer. They went and had dinner with family & friends that were visiting. Mikey and I went for a sunset walk around The Gorge then back to the site to make burgers for dinner. Then we caught up with Mark and Sue after dinner for a few drinks.

Friday
Gelato for morning tea then The Gorge Walk with Mark and Sue, I then walked back with Sue to the campsite. We had lunch at a lovely café “SeaShell’s” at Amity Point, the boys sticking to tradition of drinking brightly coloured lolly drinks and Sue and I polished off a bottle of white wine. We then drove to the beach were the boys snorkeled around the rocks, Sue and I just sloughed in our pickled haze.

A bit of Frisbee then we all had a Chili con Carne dinner, which we all paid for later

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Saturday
Picked up Mum and Dad (their first time to Straddie) at the water taxi, then drove back to the campsite. We then took them on The Gorge walk (ended up being the best day of all) saw two large rays, turtles and about 10 dolphins. We then headed back to the campsite, then walked to the pub (5 minute walk), the food was great (food was a bit expensive, but the drinks where cheap). We then took Mum and Dad around the headlands after a brief shower and went snorkelling around the rocks in the about 2 foot of water. They were both amazed at the amount of fish. We walked back over the headland and back to the the campsite for a shower and change. A couple of drinks then dropped Mum and Dad back at the water taxi. Got back just in time for my Kangaroo dinner!

Sunday
Showers on and off for the day. Nice to get a bit of reading done, we watched Mark and Sue pack up and go. The weather couldn’t make up it’s mind what to do sunny/raining. So we went and did the Rock Pool walk. Wow, how it has changed since last year, the storms really striped the beaches. Rocks that haven’t seen the light of day in a very long time were exposed. Some where very red in colour, it looked like a mars landscape. A bit blowy but it was an amazing walk. Back to the Campsite for a curry dinner and a bottle of red. Listening to 4BH easy listening and staring up at the stars. We just went to bed when it started to rain for the night.

Monday
We woke up to wind and showers, so decided to lay in, until the wind blew over the kitchen and the table, so we went out to sort it out. When we came back in we realised that the bedding and the mattress were wet and the weave floor of the tent was leaking. So we waited a couple of hours to see if we could dry everything out, but it kept showing, so we decided to pack up a day early and go home. Had a quick drink at the pub before getting the 2pm ferry home to two waiting cats with lots of meowing and cuddles.

Gallery can be found here.

Addams Family V’s Munster Birthday Party.

On 23rd Feb (the first available time for everyone to get together – (oh the social butterflies that we are!!!) we had my 33rd Birthday Party.

It was definitely worth the wait! Everyone made a real big effort – as you can see from the photo’s! Considering that we finally got summer that day and was 40 degree’s, it cooled down to about 28 degree’s

Addams Family Cast Members.
Mortisa – Sue (perfected the Mortisa walk and rose cutting)
Gomez – Mark (Don’t talk French around this man)
Uncle Festa – Mikey (It was uncanny the resemblance! I loved shaving his head!!!)
Pugsley – Phil
Wednesday – Me

The Munster Family Cast Members.
Herman –Nick (10 out of 10 for Effort – for the papier-mâché forehead and
painting yourself green!)
Lily – Dionne (Dionne made her dress – awesome)
Eddie – Michael (love the knee highs)
Marilyn – Lesley (Lovely no matter what the hair colour)

We all had a great dinner of slow roast Lamb (thanks to Jamie Oliver) and Meringues made by Dionne.

Lesley and I had a little bit of a surprise for everyone – we had organised “Thank God you’re here….” Skits, which were a lot harder than we expected to organise, let alone play out.
Everyone was great sport, but all learned quickly it’s a lot more nerve racking than we realised.
Finished off with Family Pictionary on the white board.

Thanks again everyone, for your great effort – It was an awesome night!



Gallery can be found here.

Aunt Riet’s 80th Birthday Weekend

8-12 Feb Weekend.

Mikey, Johanna and I headed down to Wyoming (near Gosford 1 ½ hours north of Sydney) for Aunt Riets 80th Birthday.

We caught the plane to Newcastle, then hired a car and drove the 1.30hours south (Thank God for the GPS).

Had a little lunch at Riets when we arrived with Riet and her partner Bernie.

Johanna was staying with Riet, so we both checked into the Terrenora Motel down the road (never again!!!)

Then Dinner with everyone one and transport organised for the next day.

We organised to pick up Johanna and head out to the Birthday lunch at a wonderful Italian Restaurant, there were 21 of us in all, consisting of Riet’s relatives and Bernie’s relatives, we had a lovely lunch over about 3 hours.

Unfortunately our hire car was not locking so we had to go for a drive back up to Newcastle to exchange cars. So we took the opportunity to take the “Coast Road” back down – when we realised how spoilt we are in Queensland didn’t get to see much of the coast on the way. We stopped at the Entrance which was lovely and decided to bring Johanna back the next day for a day visit.

On the Monday Mikey and I drove out to the Hunter Valley for a half day outing – now these guys know how to have a cellar door. We only did 2 wineries but we were very impressed. Had the world’s most expensive Hot Dog ($10.50!!!!!!!!!!) then back home.

It was great to catch up with Riet and Bernie and meet all the new relatives, we had a great time.

Galeries, Riet and Party, Central Coast, Hunter Valley and Wineries

Springbrook

2nd Feb

Mum, Dad, Russell, William and us, all went for a drive down to Lamington National Park (2 hours south of Brisbane) we had a look at a couple of look outs on the way – depending on the look out, is depending on what we saw eg – thick cloud or a view of the Gold Coast.

Visited Purling Brook Falls and had a good view of the water fall and of teh rain forest.

We decided on walking the Twin Falls Circuit (there hasn’t been any falls in years due to the drought – but we’ve had a couple of days heavy down pour, so we were hopeful).

Mum and William got side tracked about 15minutes into the walk at the cascade waterfalls, so we left them to it to catch up.

It was definitely worth the walk, both falls were flowing it was great!
The four of us did the circuit without seeing the other two. Luckily William had his mobile, so were in contact. We had our picnic lunch about 2pm while we waited them the to catch up. They ended up doing another 4km walk and came out at another lookout, down the road, so we jumped in the car and picked them up.

The rain was coming so we called it a day and headed back home, with most of the family having a nap on the way.

Gallery

Welcome Rory Sieters

Well after much thought and heartache, we decided to get another little girl, as Ella had left such a hole in our lives. Much to our surprise Lindy really missed his little sister and had become our depressed shadow.

So on Saturday we went to local RSPCA and were amoungst the throng of families picking out kittens. We picked out Rory an 8 week old grey tabby (who had only just been desexed the day before!) she has already been tattoo'd (they bread them tough at Fairfield) and microchipped.

So for $135- she is a Bargain.

In the last 24 hours we have found out alot about her......she is a pig, she will eat anything!!! including the meat left on our plate and Lindy's! She drinks heaps and sleeps!!!

We have never known a kitten like it, just passes out on or near you.

She is already in the house with Lindy and out of the garage, they are getting on better then we expected (for example it took 2 weeks to get to this stage with Ella and Lindy).

As I type they are sleeping in separte chairs and looking at each other, but that is it, but that is great, so it looks like our new girl is going to fit in well to the family.

Oh, and Rory is only a two clinder purrer, not a six like Ella, so hopefully she wont wake me a 3am in the morning - fingercrossed.

Gallery