Sunday 30 December 2018

Another Year Nearly Gone

Another year is all but gone, and as I reflect on what has happened this year I find that it started off well (as most New Year's do) and ended, well ........ I guess not too bad.

I was on an absolute high in February with a sightseeing flight over Antarctica that was utterly amazing. Very long day - just on 14 hours flying time, could have all but made it to London at that rate. However the sights were oh so worth the trip.


Took me a while to come down (pun intended) from the skies and to get back to some stitching. I have made 27 of my little kindness bears this year and I am quite pleased with my efforts although I know I could have made more. Here is a photo of just a few of them.



May/June saw us with a change of plans as to our travel plans and we ended up exploring the 3 peninsulas of SA. Photo shows Coffin Bay on SA's Eyre Peninsula. It was on this trip that I started to have a couple of problems with my health and on return home started the 'rounds' with doctors, tests and specialists - hopefully will get the final results in the New Year.



Then at the end of September we made a trek up to Bjelke-Petersen Dam near Murgon in the
Southern Wide Bay area of Qld where we caught quite a number of bass and yellow-belly fresh water fish.


Who said you need to fish on a dam?

At the end of our trip to the dam, we headed back to the coast for a week at Hervey Bay where Pete played some games of lawn bowls around the area and I went on a whale watching day trip.



Now we are on the tail end of our Christmas trip to see family near Townsville. A lovely time was had including a nice day trip to Magnetic Island. Was a little disappointed with this trip as there now appears to be very little for the tourist o do. However, it was a lovely day out with our family.



Tomorrow afternoon/evening Pete will be one of several manning the BBQ for the local Vietnam Veterans group at our local New Year's Eve party in the park with entertainment and fireworks.

Overall, it has been quite a good year, however as with most people, we are hoping for a better year next year.

To all ......

Monday 24 December 2018

It's Christmas Eve

I have been a little slack this month, but it is finally Christmas Eve and I have managed to get some stocking fillers made just in time.


As I have made quite a few of these notebook covers, it was a quick easy session to make a couple more.


I also made some crocheted tea towel tops including some Christmas ones whilst we sat in the lounge chairs watching the cricket on TV last week.

Our planned trip north for the Christmas break to see family ended up with us not being able to make up our minds as whether we bring the caravan with us or not - Cyclone Owen, decided to play around in Nth Queensland and across the Gulf of Carpentaria. He didn't do much damage as it crossed the coast in remote areas of Cape York Peninsula, however the rain that he dumped was something else and was heading down the coast.

We were due to leave last Tuesday afternoon for a 3 1/2 day trip with the van, but decided Tuesday evening to change tack and leave the van at home due to the amount of rain forecast and possible flooding/road cuts. Instead we left on Wednesday morning for a 3 day trip north staying in motels on our way north. We saw where quite a bit of rain had fallen, but only got minimal rain ourselves. Around Mt Larcom, north of Rockhampton we also saw where massive bushfires that had raged just 10 days ago.

Safely arrived at our daughter & son in law's place south of Townsville on Friday afternoon, only to have the next door neighbour mow his yard with a ride-on and - accidently - throw up a stone and shatter the driver's door window of our car. Rang a windscreen place this morning (Christmas Eve) and bless their socks, they had one in stock and were able to fit it today!! Well done Clint and crew of Instant Windscreens and Tinting in Townsville.

For now though, it appears to be 'happy hour' so I shall sign off ......

On behalf of Pete and myself, we wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous and productive New Year.

June & Pete