Hi Everyone

It’s been a while. 2017 wasn’t the best year.

After dying 4 times in Feb I was lucky to make a speedy recovery, only to be knocked sideways byAussie Flu, that was followed by a fairly dramatic reaction to antibiotics.

Thinking I was on the road to recovery I contacted my Cardiac Consultant when I became anaemic and no amount of liver & spinach would change it. He immediately admitted me and did a colonoscopy after finding a tumour on a scan ( nearly killed me again as my kidneys reacted to the contrast they used). This tumour was an adenocarcinoma – the worst bit was having to wait a month over Christmas whilst all teams came back from holidays.

Again I have been so lucky all removed with no need for further action. They did try and drown me by giving me too much IV fluids!!!!! Thank to all the staff at Prince Charles Hospital – I am here because of you.

Now it’s onwards & upwards. Instead of caravanning we are Cruising!! 

We are taking the Astor back to the UK. We start on the 12th March and arrive in Tilbury on 20th April.

We are staying in a lovely spot near Colchester Essex. Link to the apartment –  https://abnb.me/RHivVQmR3K

We then leaveThe UK on 15th Oct again on the Astor and return to Oz via the Panama Canal. We arrive in Sydney on Dec. 1st.

So excited can’t wait to see grandchildren and children & friends back in UK.. Eldest Grandie Lucy will be 21, Ollie has his 70 th. On the way we visit South Africa and do a couple of Safaris. So exciting.

This should be the first of many posts but whilst we are on the Cruise it may be a bit hit and miss..

home again. Do not expect to see us yet though. !!!! This bug is really beginning to annoy me. I never coughed this much when I was smoking!!!!! There’s a temptation to have a cig girl and see if it stops the coughing!!!!!!! Maybe not!!!!

Thank goodness our tenant neighbours at the back have gone. Smelly dogs have gone as well.

Eveything seems to have survived well since we’ve been away. Thanks to Bruce & Marj for keeping an eye on things

You may have wondered why you haven’t heard from us in a while. It’s very simple – we chose the wrong year to be part of a large group of people – we together with several others are suffering with the flu!!!!! We have now withdrawn from all the Capricorn vets Carnival.

We hopefully have enough energy to drive down to Yeppoon from Mackay tomorrow. We plan the to be very lazy whilst waiting to drop the caravan off to at last get it’s skylight repaired and have a proper service on 31st August. We will then travel home and pick the caravan up at a later date.

So, effectively our Vets golf ended abruptly.!!!!!

Our day of rest started with a fridge clean!!!!! The overflow container outside under the grill was full of water and the fridge kept dripping internally. Decided to clean the tube – vinegar & soda bic – amazing how much “gunk” came out.

So, after a lazy morning we took off to Eungella and Broken River. Favourite spots of ours. These are pictures from The Chalet at Eungella.

Health & safety would have a field day here. !!!!!!! Wouldn’t get away with this at Tannum.

These garden sculptures have been here for years. So clever

Brown frog not a toad

After a brief stop we took off to Broken River to see if we could see any platypus. As it was only 3pm we thought we were a bit early. But look who came out and waved at us

We we also had a visit from this chap

So peaceful here. We were sitting on the bank watching the platypus and Ollie managed to snap this of an Eastern Yellow Robin. What a great picture

2 days full on of golf at Mackay. Lovely golf course. Managed to totally avoid the bunkers (which are numerous & deep) on the first day., Second day was a different story – I think I was in about 10. Amazingly I got out first time each time!!!!!

On the evening of the 15th we had the dinner and presentation of the prizes. Ollie & I won – a prize in the raffle!!!!!!!!! In fact a very good prize – a golfing umbrella and 12 Coronas. Best prize so far!!! As far as Ollie is concerned.

Quite amazed the buffet dinner was free and then they put a bottle of red & a bottle white on each table of 8 people. All free!!

We’ve met some lovely people on our trip. Happy to have fun and play a bit of golf. Then there’s the others!!! Less said the better, except to say some lady golfers make you feel like a naughty child in class if you have too much fun. It’s a wonder they can see the ball with the way their noses point!!!!!  Met a chap from Murray Bridge who knew our friend Helen – amazing.

We now have a day off then 2 days one at Pioneer Valley & 1 at Black Springs before we make our way down to the Capricorn Vets Carnival.

Tim’s birthday. Happy Birthday – lovely to chat on Facetime

Another non golf day. Back to the Marina. This time with the camera. Ollie by me!!!Tug boat in the harbourGreat photos of birds – phones are good but not this goodWhistling duckThis is a Sumo Mandarin.

Day off from golf. Think we really needed a break for a couple of days. Just noticed my last post had the wrong month on it – should have been 7th – 11th August. Never mind – probably best forgotten!!!

After a lazy morning we thought we’d do some retail therapy. Ollie got a couple of really nice pairs of golf shorts at Golf King. Then off to the Mackay Marina for lunch. Reminded us of a few years ago when we took the boat over to Keswick Island with Marj & Bruce.

Note the name of this boat – it must be mine!!!!Lunch was delicious and then we got a lovely ice cream.

We decided to have a drive around the breakwater. Wow how lucky were we- just caught site of 3 whales. They nearly went into the harbour. Unfortunately Ollie forgot his new super duper camera!!!!

Thought I’d add this pic of our boys and their families – all in Spain. They didn’t know they had both booked villas in the same place 10 mins from each other !!!What a coincidence

Start of the Wintersun Comp. We play golf to have fun. Sh one t gotta take this seriously. Must be playing for sheep stations. Get half a fairway behind and you get the bums rush. Must not even look like smelling the roses. No wonder golf clubs are losing members with the vets in charge.

Might be home sooner than we thought if this is the attitude.

End of post.

Friday 3rd Ladies Open Golf Proserpine. The fairway photo is meant to show all 4 balls in a line on the fairway. Still, shows the lovely weather.Rehab, Lorraine, Trudy & I nearly finished. I managed to come 4th and got the most accurate Drive – right on the line.

then on Sat we played mixed foursomes. Didn’t get placed – learnt a few more rules to this game – didn’t realise in pairs if you have 14 clubs between you you can share clubs – not sure how much use that is. Also, you can pick up and wipe your ball anywhere!!!! Lost a few balls in the various waters.!!!!

Sunday – no golf today – which is lucky as it is raining. Later take a walk when the sun came out.

Monday & Tuesday we are playing more vets in fact the start of the Wintersun 6 days championship.

30thJuly

No luck with chocks & levellers but catch up with washing and caravan cleaning. Now we know why it’s called cascadeswaterfall on the wall of caravan park

31st July

I don’t believe it the crow took off with my ball again. Only 1 this time thank goodness. First round at Ayr with Margaret & Donna. Not brilliant but fun. Then in the evening we had a lovely meal and great and with dancing. Lovely evening

1st Aug

i had an amazing round and managed 40 points. Ollie was ahead by 1 after the first 9 holes but fell apart on the back 9. I won the ladies both divisions for today – $50 Woolworths token and bottle of red wine. Also got a nearest the pin shot where I nearly had a hole in 1  .

2nd Aug

lazy day. Decided to have a look at Alva beach – suggest you look but don’t get out – horrible fishy smell,overly beach though

Got held up on the way back to the van by a cane train – it went past then shunted back again into the siding!!!!

Note the lovely blue sky. The weather is beautiful. Off to Proserpine tomorrow.