Sunday, 26 August, 2018

This week was pretty much the same as last week.  Dad's first course here in Cairns finished up on Friday.  This was the practical part of the course and they were fortunate to have access to the plane for three out of the five days - the rest of the days were spent in the classroom using the simulator.  The simulator, which runs off a special laptop, is able to simulate problems which might occur on the airplane and allows the students to follow and perform, via the computer, the troubleshooting steps which need to be taken to fix the problem.  This allows the students to learn how to troubleshoot issues and allows Dad to observe that the students have learned how to fix the airplane without having to actually work on a real airplane.

I continued on with my Aquafit and Body Balance classes and attended my knitting group on Friday.  I asked one of the leaders of the group to help me out with a crochet pattern which she was able to do.  It's for a lap blanket which I had made previously, but I couldn't remember how to begin the pattern - it's been ages since I crocheted my first lap blanket.  I want to be able to crochet a second lap blanket while we are in our next city (Adelaide) for Dad's work.

Dad and I went geocaching yesterday - we just did one cache which turned out to be on the edge of a cemetery.  It was very easy to find and we were able to drop off two travel bugs and pick one up which was in the cache.

Wednesday's meal: Our lamb shanks dinner - this is how large the dinner is and why Dad and I share each meal :-)

Saturday's meal: Our Mexican Chicken Parmiagana meal - this is one of our two favourites at this restaurant

When Dad and I were walking down the mall yesterday, we came upon a display by the 'Cancer Council' - this was one of their fundraising drives where you can purchase items and the money goes to cancer research - we bought a pen and were given this beautiful daffodil as well

Sunday, 19 August, 2018

This week was pretty much the same as last week.  Dad's course here in Cairns continues to go well - all six of the guys Dad is teaching passed their exam on Friday - phew!  Dad is looking forward to next week when it will be the practical part of the course and he will be able to take the guys to an airplane and talk about troubleshooting issues with them.

I went to my 'Body Balance' class, my three 'Aquafit' classes and my knitting group this week.  I also was able to get in my 10,000 steps almost every day which I am pretty pleased about.  I am hoping to begin doing some strength training exercises in the coming week to add to the exercise classes I am doing.

Dad with one of our dinners out this week at the 'Cock and Bull' - this turned out to be one of our favourites - it's called 'Mexican Chicken' - it is a chicken breast covered with chili, ham, cheese, guacamole and sour cream (the sides were chips (french fries) and veggies (carrots and peas)

Sunday August 12 2018

This week has been busy for both Dad and me.  Dad's been teaching a group of six guys learning about the Airbus A330.  He says they are very keen and have been asking lots of questions and sharing their experiences of working in the industry.  He's been getting home every day later than he expected. :-)

I have been keeping busy with going to the gym - it's a 40 minute walk from where we are staying, so  I have easily been getting in my 10,000 steps each day - and so far I have done a 'Body Balance' class and three Aquafit classes (I can also use the gym if I like) and I have quite enjoyed my workouts so far.  It's great that I have been able to find a place to exercise in every city we have been to here in Australia.  On Friday, I walked up to the Cairns Showground and met with some older women who have formed a craft group - I took my knitting up there to work on while I talked with some of the women.  It's nice to be able to chat with others during the day when Dad is not home.  I imagine that our weeks are going to be pretty similar to this one while we are in Cairns as Dad has not done this course before and so will need to spend his evenings and a good part of Saturdays working on prepping for the course.  I told him today that it would be nice to do some touring next time we are in Cairns, though - he agreed.

Me behind a giant shell artwork on the boardwalk in Cairns

Dad standing on the foreshore of the beach in Cairns

Sunday, 5 August, 2018

Wow, what a week it's been since we arrived back home from Canada.  Every day, we've had three or four appointments - this is what we fit in in just five days: dentist, audio test, chiropractor (twice), car service, morning tea with Luise, tax accountant, missionaries for dinner, doctor, facial, babysitting Scarlett and Indiana (two lovely little girls in our ward - we took them to McDonald's after they checked out all the toys I had bought them which I am keeping at our house for when they come over to play), blood test, haircuts, lunch with Faye and Bill, visit with Robyn, morning tea with Bronwyn, and lunch with Maureen.  Phew!!!  That is what our weeks are like when we only have a week between the time  get back to Hervey Bay and have to leave again.

Yesterday, we flew to Cairns (northern Queensland) for Dad to teach a four week course.  Thankfully, it's winter time here in Cairns - the temperature is about 27C during the day and in the low 20s at night.  We are staying in a serviced apartment which means it's a one bedroom apartment with a full kitchen and a maid comes once a week to clean it.  It even has a washer and dryer in it which will be handy.  Today, we took the bus to get to church - a quick fifteen minute trip.  We were very welcomed  there which was nice - it's always great to be able to attend church anywhere in the world and know that it will be the same format, just with different people.

Me and my friend, Luise

Luise with her cappuccino and my (very yummy) iced chocolate

My friend, Maureen

Dad with our 'Death by Chocolate' dessert at the 'Cock and Bull Tavern' - amazing food, fabulous prices and this dessert really is to die for - chocolate mousse with brownie cake and chocolate ice-cream covered in whipped cream and drizzled with chocolate syrup and topped with a fresh strawberry

Sunday, 6 May, 2018

Dad's week in Melbourne went really well - he was a bit nervous at first as this was the first time that he had taught this course (on the B767) and two men from CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority) were on the course - CASA are the ones who are the airline regulators in Australia.  However, he didn't need to worry - he was so prepared, as he always is, and everything went swimmingly.  Both men from CASA told Dad that they really enjoyed the course and could tell that he had a lot of experience and knowledge about the airplane.  I picked him up yesterday at the HB airport and it was so nice to have him home (and he was happy to be home, too).

While Dad was in Melbourne, he found a few minutes after work one day to stop by and find a couple of geocaches not far from where he was working. We have several travel bugs with us that are collecting miles as they travel around the world so this gave them a chance to travel to and 'visit' some caches in Melbourne.

 Can you spot the cache in the tree?

 There it is!

 Time to sign the log sheet!

 The next cache was a short walk around a small duck pond.

 Can you see the cache - a small out of place rock?

 Here it is.

 Flip over...

...and open the bottom!

I spent my week doing my usual exercise classes - along with a doctor's visit (my chest x-ray was all good) and my skin check was good, too - yay!  Since I needed to keep busy, I also organized a facial, a massage, morning tea with Luise and other retired teachers, lunch out with Robyn and afternoon tea out with my friend, Bronwyn.  All these activities helped me not to miss Dad as much.

Robyn with her iced chocolate at lunch

Sunday, 29 April, 2018

It's been a busy week at home as it always is when we get home from being away.  It was full of appointments: chiro, facial, haircut for Dad and to the doctor (script renewal for Dad and getting an x-ray for me to check to see if I have a chest infection because my dry cough is still annoying me).  I also started up with my Aquafit and Tai Chi classes again.

Dad and I were out shopping on Monday and decided to stop in at the Coffee Club - I had tried their mini pavlova and really wanted Dad to try them.  The deal included a drink and so we both got an iced chocolate along with the pavlova - so so yummy!

Dad with his iced chocolate and our pavlovas - he ordered a mixed berry and mine was passionfruit

On Wednesday, we took Robyn out for lunch to the Boat Club Cafe.  Robyn always collects our mail and parcels, but this time she went above and beyond having to drive to Maryborogh (30 minutes from HB) to get a package for Dad.  I always take her out for lunch when we get back to say thanks for picking up our mail, etc., but this time I told Dad that we should both take Robyn out and take her somewhere a little nicer for her going the extra mile.  The meals were all yummy and it was a wonderful day to sit out by the water to enjoy our food (and iced chocolates).

 Dad and me at the little cafe at the Boat Club - we took Robyn (below) here to say thank you for all she does taking care of our house and our mail while we are awaty

On Friday, Dad and I went out to Hogsbreath Cafe for lunch.  While we were in Perth, Garth (the instructor from QAC who was with us in Perth) gave us a gift certificate for Hogsbreath, but we didn't get a chance to use it there, so we decided to use it Friday for a delicious meal - they had a special on: appetizer, main meal, and dessert for $30. - that left some money over for some nice drinks.  

 Cheers to Garth - we toasted Garth at Hogsbreath

Our dessert - a very yummy Rocky Road sundae

I took Dad to the airport on yesterday morning to send him off to Melbourne - he will be teaching there for a week - I will pick him up next Saturday and then we will head to Brisbane on Sunday.  After I dropped him off, I met up with my friend, Luise for afternoon tea.  Another iced chocolate and a lovely catch-up with a good friend.

Me and Luise at 'Happy Days' enjoying our drink (me with an iced chocolate, of course!)

Sunday, 22 April, 2018

This was our last week in Perth - it seems like those eight weeks went really fast!  The rest of Dad's practical part of the course went well and everyone was happy with Dad's instructing and knowledge of the airplane.

On Monday night, I suggested to Dad that we go to the Belmont Tavern for their ribs special for dinner - they were the yummiest we have tasted in a long time.

Our ribs meal which we shared - definitely enough for two!

I continued with my exercise classes and also met with a personal trainer to discuss how my strength training exercises have been going.  Brendan (the personal trainer) gave me a few more exercises I can do when I am travelling and don't have access to a gym.  

On Friday, I went to the knitting/crocheting group at the Senior's Centre and showed them my finished lap blanket - they were all duly impressed!  It is actually a very easy pattern, but it looks like it is more difficult than it is.  All I have left to do now is to sew in all the loose threads.

Yesterday, we met up with our friends, Rosalea end Rob.  They used to live in Hervey Bay and we have kept in touch with them since they returned to Perth a number of years ago.  We met up at a local hotel for lunch which boasted about their ribs.  It turned out that the ribs were nothing to speak of and we were quite disappointed with our meal.  However, I had bought a mudcake to celebrate Rosalea's birthday (Rob had been away at work and no-one had celebrated her birthday on the day, so I thought that it would be nice to take her out for her special day and have a cake as well).  The mudcake was delicious and Rosalea really enjoyed being spoiled.  It was nice to have another catch-up with Rosalea and Rob before we headed back home.

Me, Rob and Rosalea celebrating Rosalea's birthday - we also bought her the frog on the table - it's for her garden and it's a solar frog so it shines at night - she loved it!

We arrived home today after a long flight from Perth to Brisbane and then on to Hervey Bay.  The local shuttle company was waiting for us when we got to the HB airport and we were home in no time.  It's nice to be in our own home if only for a week (for Dad) and two weeks (for me).

Look what was waiting in the mail for me when we got home.,,,,,