Thursday, 14 January, 2016

It's been a busy half week getting things in before the cruise - I am writing this half way through the week as I will start writing about our cruise trip tomorrow as that is when we are flying out to Sydney.

On Monday, we had more appointments: chiro, another facial - and I spent some time helping Robyn out finishing the final touches for our first Relief Society activity for this year which happens this coming Saturday when we are on the cruise.

On Tuesday, Robyn and I went out with our friend, Thea, and her daughter, Rachel, to a little cafe on the Esplanade.  Thea and her family are leaving the Bay in early February to move to Adelaide and so this was a chance for us to get together and chat before Robyn and I left (Robyn is off to Adelaide for a birthday party and then to Sydney for a ten day cruise).

Me, Robyn, Thea and Rachel (see my yummy iced chocolate - I also had a scone with jam and cream :-)

Yesterday, we had to take Peaches back to Maree (the Pet Rescue Co-ordinator) - we were sad to see her go and hope that we can pick her up again when we get back from our cruise. After that, we went  geocaching as we had some travel bugs to drop off before we go on our cruise.  We went to a town called Booral to do the geocaching this time - it's about 15 minutes from HB.  We looked for four geocaches, but we were only able to find two of them.  One of them was in the middle of a bunch of branches that were difficult to get around and even when we did manage to crawl our way in there, we still couldn't find it (even with the hints provided by other geocachers).  We still have two more travel bugs to drop off in HB when we get back from our cruise.

 Peaches watching Dad unload the dishwasher

 Dad pointing to one of the geocaches we found

 Friends we saw along the way

Today I went to the chapel to help Robyn set up the chairs and tables and other supplies for the activity on Saturday - I sure hope that lots of sisters come after all the work we have put in organizing it.  We are now all packed and ready to go on our cruise. :-)

Sunday, 10 January, 2016

The weather has been amazing this week - we are loving summer here. :-)

This has been another week of appointments: chiropractor, doctor, physiotherapy, another facial and haircuts (I got foils this time).  We always seem to be so busy when we return from being away - it's supposed to be a relaxing time, but it seems like it's been full-on this week.

We got our kitty cat back on Monday - Peaches - and it's been wonderful having her back in our home.  It's so nice being able to have a cat here when we are here, but good that we can take her back when we leave.  We will only have her for ten days this time, but ten days is better than not having a cat around. :-)  Peaches seems a lot calmer this time around and less skittish when we come near her.  She has even taken to sleeping on our bed at night and loves to be petted.  She does, however, also like to go into our closet or under our bed during the day.

our beautiful Peaches

On Monday, we were invited to dinner at the Cooper's (members of the ward) and the Kingsleys were there, too.  (I can't believe that I forgot to take our camera with us - sheesh)  We had a nice time chatting while we ate and then, afterwards, we had Family Home Evening with them.  We watched a video about some people from the Book of Mormon (Moroni and Zarahemnah and their armies) who were fighting each other, although Moroni didn't want to - he wanted peace - and only fought to help protect his people.  Afterwards, we had a good discussion about it and then spent some more time chatting before coming home.

On Tuesday, I went to our Bishop's home to help him and his wife, Diana, pack up their stuff (our friend, Jan, also joined us).  I was so glad to have Jan helping out as she is very visual/spatial and was fabulous at packing the boxes.  I ended up wrapping up the fragile pieces in paper and then handing the items to Jan to pack.  Diana and Bishop sold their house in record time and so are going to rent until they move further south in Queensland to be nearer to their daughter and grandchildren who live in Brisbane.  We were able to get all of the packing done except for their clothes and the things they are going to need to use until they move next week.

On Wednesday and Friday, I went over to Robyn's house to work on Relief Society Activity stuff for the upcoming activities for this year.  I am so pleased that we have been able to organize so much during the time Dad and I have been home.

I had another facial on Thursday and it was fabulous!  Helen is really skilled and she even told me that day that two of her teachers from TAFE (college) are now her clients!  After that, it was 'Dad to the rescue' with his technology skills.  We spent two hours with one couple in the ward getting their tablet set up and downloading church stuff onto it.  Dad then spent some time teaching them how to use the tablet, especially so that they could use it on Sunday at church.  Then, it was off to Robyn's to help her with a printer problem and then to our friend, Denise's, to help her with a printer issue.  Our friends sure were grateful to Dad that day for all of his help.

On Friday, Dad received his schedule from work for the first six months of this year.  So far, he has February off and then we are coming to Canada for the month of March for him to teach in Toronto.  A week after we get back from Canada, we head off to Perth for the month of April and then we are home for the month of May.  We then are scheduled to head back to Perth in June for seven weeks.  Dad might get more work than this as things often come up at QAC, but for now, Dad's happy with the amount of courses he has been asked to teach.

On Saturday, Robyn and I went for a swim near her place since it was such a lovely, warm day.  The water was a bit chilly to get into at first, but we were soon wet all over and spent about an hour just bobbing in the water and chatting.  It is so nice to live so close to a beach.  After our swim, we went back to Robyn's to work on some quilting samples which is our February R.S. activity.  The sisters are going to be learning how to do 'sashiko' which is a form of decorative reinforcement stitching (or functional embroidery) from Japan.  We are using this stitch to make a square each of a quilt which will be sewn together and then donated.

my attempt at sashiko - some of the designs which people do are amazing (you can google it if you want to see some of them) - but, I think mine is pretty good for a first timer :-)

Sunday, 3 January, 2016

This week was full of appointments for us.  When we are home, we have to try and fit in all of our doctor's, etc. appointments since we never know when we will be back home again.  This week, I had my yearly breast ultrasound (all clear), a massage (so relaxing!), a chiropractor's visit (much needed) and a facial (mmmm, I love being pampered!).  Dad also had a massage and a chiro visit.

I also got together with my friends, Bronwyn and Chantelle.  Since Chantelle works as a teacher in a city nine hours away, we only get to get together with her when she is home during school holidays.  We met at the Coffee Club for our usual iced chocolate and had a good long yak.  I met with Chantelle on Tuesday and we talked for three hours!  Then, the two of us met again with Bronwyn the next day for about an hour.  I love catching up with my friends and having an iced chocolate is a bonus! :-)

As you know, Dad and I are not New Year's Eve people.  We did manage to see midnight, said 'Happy New Year' and turned over and went to sleep. :-)

On Saturday, we went to a geocaching event held about two hours from HB.  It was organized by a long-time geocacher (Keith) specifically for newbies (people who had found less than 100 caches) to come and learn more about geocaching from more experienced geocachers.  Keith had placed a number of brand new caches in the area so that the newbies could be the first-to-find the geocaches.  Many of the newbies went out with the oldies to find these caches.  Dad and I felt that we had enough experience to go out on our own.  We were able to find out first cache quite easily.  After we found the first one, we went back to where Keith was to get a list of the rest of the caches.  We found 7 out of 8 of the caches - we couldn't find one as we couldn't find a place to park to get to it - we did see one couple find it, but they had parked their car on the side of the highway and we didn't think you were allowed to do that unless it was an emergency.

There was one cache which we had a real difficult time finding.  We actually came up to find it and found two other couples searching for the cache and we joined in the search.  None of us could find it and so we went back to Keith to let him know.  He then told us exactly where he put it and we all went back to find it.  While we were talking with one of the couples, we told them we were from HB and they told us they were from Maryborough which is half an hour from HB.  Liz and Bruce were there with another couple and asked us to come over and visit them some time.  It was really nice to meet another couple who enjoys geocaching and live so close.  We are looking forward to meeting up with them when we get back from our cruise.  We have no pics to share, though - we had our camera with us, but we were so caught up in everything there, that we completely forgot to take any photos.  Dad and I really enjoyed our day and look forward to doing more geocaching.  Some of the people there had thousands of found geocaches - Dad and I have about 95 now, so we have a long way to go to catch up to some of the others.

Dad and I worked a lot today on Relief Society Activity things - I love Pinterest!  There are so many amazing ideas on that site.  I am good at finding what I need and Dad is good at working on the computer to get things just the way I want them.  We have made up invitations for the year, plus invites for people to lead the activities, plus a yearly calendar of the activities, plus recipes for the luncheons / refreshments.  Dad has worked just as hard on things for R.S. that I told him that he should consider this his calling, too. :-)  I am really pleased at how much we have been able to get done and I think that the activities are going to be fun and a learning experience and most of all, an opportunity for the sisters to get together and socialize and get to know each other better.

Sunday, December 27, 2015

On Monday, Dad and I drove to a bed and breakfast just outside of a little village called Montville which is about 2 1/2 hours from Hervey Bay.  Dad really needed some downtime and so I found this perfect little B & B to go to for three days.  It was up in the hills in a rainforest kind of setting.  Megan and Arthur run the B & B and they have built a beautiful place.  We had the guest flat which was one big room with a bed, dining table and kitchenette (with microwave and kettle) and a separate bathroom.  The decor was really nice, the bed was so comfortable and the food provided for breakfast was delicious (locally sourced yogurt, blueberries, cereal, bread, mango smoothie, etc.).  The flat had folding patio doors which folded out all the way across the room.  The flat is very private so we opened up the doors the whole way every morning.  It was amazing to see the beautiful scenery from the room.  They also had a salt water pool which we enjoyed all three days we were there.  Megan and Arthur joined us in the pool the first day and we had a really nice long chat with them - very friendly and very hospitable people.

 Dad laying on the bed in our B & B

Looking out the window of our B & B with the folding patio doors open

 View from our balcony

 Another view from the balcony of our guest flat

 Our guest flat

 Our guest flat

 Me in the salt water pool at the B & B

 Kookaburra in the tree outside our B & B

Dad was a bit weary after his full year of work and being a student, so we really didn't do much of anything for those three days.  We spent some time just relaxing in the room, some time in the pool, some time geocaching and some time walking the main street of Montville (cute little shops and cafes - expensive to buy things, but nice to look at).  We ate a big lunch at a restaurant each day and then had toast and fruit for dinner each evening since we didn't want to go out again in the evenings. Those three days were wonderful and very rejuvenating for Dad.

 Rick's Garage where we ate lunch the second day (where the band plays in the evenings)

  Walls of Rick's Garage

 Dad with his chicken wings for lunch

  Me with my hamburger and fries for lunch

  View of Rick's Garage from across the street

  Christmas store in Montville

  View from cafe in Montville

  Hanging canvas Christmas scene hanging at a church in Montville

  the scenery around Montville

  In Montville

   Cuckoo clock store sign in Montville

 Cuckoo clocks inside the store in Montville

 Cuckoo clocks inside the store in Montville

 Gardens of a little cafe we sat in in Montville

Iced chocolate made with real Belgian chocolate we had in a little cafe in Montville

After checking out of our B & B, we drove to a little place near Montville called Maleny - it's famous for its milk, yogurt and especially its cheese.  We did a geocache there and walked up and down the main street, stopping for 'morning tea' at a little cafe (I had a vanilla slice and Dad had an apple turnover).

 Scenery between Montville and Maleny

 Love locks on a fence on the way to Maleny (love locks or love padlocks are padlocks which sweethearts lock to a bridge, fence, gate, or similar public fixture to symbolize their love - typically, the sweethearts' names or initials are inscribed on the padlock, and its key is thrown away to symbolize unbreakable love)

Scenery on the way to Maleny

 Dad standing in front of where we found a geocache (behind the cow's udder)

On Friday, I spent a lot of the day typing out personal notes to the people who I was sending Christmas newsletter emails to.  I decided that rather than send a general letter to everyone, I would write a short personal note in each email and then attach the Christmas newsletter and photos.  I thought it was a nice touch to write the emails this way, but it sure took a long time to do it.  Dad still wasn't up to doing much and so we ended up not going out for our Christmas barbecue on Christmas Day.

On Saturday, however, Dad was ready and raring to go and so, we carried out our Christmas Day plans on Boxing Day.  We started off the morning going geocaching.  Dad had found four geocaches along a nature trail and so off we went to find them.  We enjoyed the walk, but it was so hot out and by the time we were done with the caches, we were sweating like crazy.  So, off we went to the beach for a swim - the water was lovely and we had such a great time in the ocean.  After going home and showering and changing, we got our stuff together for dinner and headed back down to the beach again.  Dad barbecued some lamb chops which were delicious - it was lovely sitting near the beach eating lamb chops and salad.  When we got home, we had some pavlova which we had made the day before.  What a yummy Christmas (Boxing Day) dinner!

 Our first geocache

 The name of the cache is "A prickly situation" - get it? :-)

 Our second geocache (it was called 'What a hoot' - get it? :-)

 Dad sitting on one of the benches along the trail (this was near the end of geocaching)

 Me holding my 'hiking stick' standing beside one of the trailmarker posts placed along the trail

 Proof we went swimming on Boxing Day :-)

 Dad in the water on Boxing Day

 Dad cooking our lamb chops on the barbecue beside the beach

 View from the barbecue

 Dad's Christmas dinner on Boxing Day

My Christmas dinner

Our Christmas dessert - delicious pavlova

Sunday, 20 December, 2015

We are home - yay!  We do love travelling and Dad loves teaching, but sometimes we just long to be home.  Dad's course this week went very well - he had 12 students, three of which were QAC instructors.  He was teaching a course on an engine and it was a relaxing week compared to the previous two weeks in Melbourne and the previous course in Montreal.  Dad said he was a bit tired at the end of this third week and he is looking forward to a little break.

I kept myself busy this week with joining a card making class at the local library - I learned how to make some Christmas cards - very basic, but I wanted to get an idea of how it's done as the first Relief Society activity in January is going to be card making.  I thought I did a pretty good job considering that I am not terribly creative. :-)  I also returned to the knitting group at the other library - the lady in charge of the group helped me to understand how I was supposed to sew up the reindeer I am knitting for a friend of mine.  I just couldn't seem to understand the written instructions - once she explained it to me, it seemed so obvious.

We flew home yesterday with a stop at the airport in Brisbane.  Melinda, one of Dad's bosses, met us there to collect the course paperwork from Dad and also to give us a lovely Christmas giftbasket.  It was full of delicious treats such as Christmas puddings, coconut ice, mixed nuts, figs, etc.  It was so nice of them to show Dad their appreciation for all his hard work.  When we got to HB, our 'chauffeur' was waiting for us at the airport - we are so glad that Rob and Bernie have the airport shuttle business - it's great knowing that we can count on them to shuttle us back and forth every time we fly in / fly out of Hervey Bay.  Everything was in place when we got home which is always nice to see.

Everyone welcomed us back at church today - the members were all happy that we were actually going to be home for more than just a few days.

Sunday, 13 December, 2015

We booked a cruise - woo hoo!!!  We are so looking forward to it!  We have been looking at cruises for quite a while now - it's been almost four years since we have been on a cruise and we've really been missing it.  I was looking online and found a 13 day cruise to some islands east of Australia (Vanuatu and New Caledonia) for an amazing price!  AND, we are going to get a balcony cabin - we have never had a balcony cabin before and we are looking forward to seeing how different it makes things for us.  There's not much to do in the places we are going to that we haven't done before, but we are not really going on this cruise to see anything, but rather to just relax and have everything done for us.

On Wednesday, I went to a knitting club held at a library near the unit.  I had read in a pamphlet from our local library here that a knitting club was being held weekly at another library and that they made items for charity.  I thought it would be great to go along and find out two things: how to sew up a knitted item (I have so many knitted things completed except for the sewing up) and also what they make for charity and who they give the items to.  The leader of the group is a woman who works for the library and there were four women there besides me.  The leader showed me how to sew up a toque I had previously knitted and I finished up that one and another one which I left with her.  The charity they knit for is a local homeless shelter.  She said that they will take any knitted item - she had some donated wool there and so I took some to make a scarf.  I told her that I would work on some other items as well and bring them back to her when we are back in Melbourne again next year

Dad's course finished on Friday and he was glad to be finished it.  It was a very jam-packed course and the days were quite long.  He had 12 students on the course and they had varying levels of experience, so it was a challenge to teach such a varied group of guys.  They did all pass, though, so that was a good thing.  As usual, Dad received very favourable reviews from the mechanics in relation to his teaching ability and knowledge.

The weather was so nice this weekend and so Dad and I got out in the fresh air and went geocaching both Saturday and Sunday.  We looked for 12 geocaches over the two days and were able to locate 11 of them - we are pretty sure that the one we couldn't find wasn't actually there as there had been some construction changes in the area which we think might have disturbed the cache.  Dad sent a note to the owner of the cache and we'll see what he/she says.  We have found 73 geocaches so far and every time we go out looking for them, we have a great time - we enjoy being outside and it's a fun way to get exercise, as well.

 Look who came to greet us at our first cache of the day

 Dad 'talking' with the goats

 Isn't he/she adorable?

 What a great cache location - we had to lift up the metal number plate on the pole which looked like it actually belonged on the pole - they had drilled a hole in the pole and then covered it with the metal plate - one of our favourites, for sure

 Close-up view of the hole in the pole with the container inside the hole

  Two of many kangaroos we saw on the way to the final cache on Saturday - the male on the left was absolutely HUGE!

What a great action shot Dad got!

 More kangaroos in the field

 The cache was in the middle of a hollow log - when I bent down to look into the log, I was surprised to see a small goanna sunning itself - it was very well camouflaged - can you see it?

 Here's a closer look

 Can you see the cache inside the hollow log with the goanna guarding it?

 See the pine cone?  It was hanging on a branch of the tree and it looked kind of out of place to me - I asked Dad to check it and it was a fake - someone had taken a real pine cone, but drilled out the centre and inserted a small container with a screw top - the top of the pine cone had a hook on it which was hung on a branch - very clever!

 A bunny we saw on our way to another cache

 A very clever cache named 'You call this archaeology' - I love the clues which the names of the cache sometimes give us - this one you had to 'dig' under some leaves and branches to find it

 This one was tricky to actually get - it's attached to that chain in the middle of the picture - it was under a bridge which was over a creek, but Dad had to really stretch to get the container attached to the chain - I was a bit worried he might fall in, he had to stretch so far

A selfie after the final cache of the day on Sunday - we love being out in nature!