Away from Home

Over the past few weeks we've travelled north, staying at Tuncurry overnight then on to Coffs Harbour for 10 days, on to Armidale overnight and then to Louise and Wayne's wedding. We've never stopped at Tuncurry and its was lovely as it was out of tourist season and not many about. Forster which is just over the bridge seemed larger and more of a business area.

We've been to Coffs Harbour before and enjoyed it this time as much. We didn't do the travelling as last time, the furthest was Sawtell and this is just down the road. Not every day was sunny, so it was walks about the area and even walking into town. I think we did an average of 8ks a day. There were markets on two days and went to both. At one I bought a silver necklace with a dragonfly and John got talking to the maker. He made arrangements to put a new stone in John's ring and would post it back home. We walked the sands at Sawtell as well as Coffs on the good days, and we collected alot of cuttle shells for the birds. We climbed Mutton Bird Island and the view from the top looking back over the bay was beautiful. Eating was another pleasure especially with no washing up to do afterwards. A visit to the Big Banana was a disappointment as the light rail no longer operated but still least learnt a bit more about bananas.

Busy Wednesday and Prince Henry Walk

Wednesday was such a long and enjoyable day. Its started off with buying Milo and then going to my old workplace to post. After a chat, it was off to computer class and a dash home after. John and I caught the train into town and walked in Hyde Park to see the photography exhibition for art and about. We timed it well, as then the Night Noodle Markets started and so we were not pushed and bustled like last time, but were able to choose food with no queues and even had a choice of tables. A walk to the cinema in George Street to see the preview of Made in Pakenham. A good movie coming out in a month or so. As it was such a long day, slept in the next day.

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Friday was the walk from Echo Point in Katoomba along the Prince Henry Walk to Leura. It was a great walk even though it tried to rain, and then the wind was very strong, especially when we looked at the Bridal Veil waterfall. The next day it snowed so really we were lucky.

Tomorrow we are driving slowly to Coffs Harbour where we will stay 10 days, then overnight in Armidale and then onward to Tamworth for Louise's wedding on the 30th.

Daylight saving

Daylight saving started last Sunday and the first couple of days felt odd eating while still light but now we find it great and days feel longer.

The lorikeets have been visiting the bottlebrush and having a feed from the flowers; the tree is just out the back door down the ramp.

I though Lucy might like to see a photo of our three chooks who have been laying an egg a day.

The passonfruit vine spread from one fence to the other and its the second year there has been no fruit. So the action is, that half of it is to be cut away and will leave the other half to see if I can train a new set of branches along the new fence.

Over the past week John has built the pergola as were were tired of the material gazebo flying off or by the end of winter it being ripped and I think he has done an excellent job. Now the table and chairs look very tired and might need an update.

Today we had 15 mins of skype to see Fiona, Andrew, Lucy and Henry. Seeing them dance, roll on the floor and even crying when the phone was taken away was wonderful.

Walks

For all walks there is a pre-walk to find the bus times, toilets and average time to complete the walk with morning tea break and lunch. I went with two other ladies on a pre-walk in Carlingford. I was wary as I was told to catch a yellow bus on the corner of Market and George and just ask for Oaks Road on the M2. It was a good 7k walk and the most scary thing was a red bellied black snake crossed in front of me.

John has been off and so decided to build a gazebo as each year, the material one disintergrates due to the winter conditions. Its almost complete.

Friday John came on the walk from Point Clare to East Gosford, approx. 14 k. It was a lovely walk through bush tracks road and beach, ending up in Japanese Gardens.

John's vest is compete so now have to find a new project.

St. George has just won the grand final.

Outings

The talk at Mondays at Mosman was - Gardens in the Ancient World by Maree Browne, who is an archaeologist but who at the moment is lecturing at Sydney uni. I had a great morning and its opened a great big section that needs exploring, most probably thru Google.

Wilma and I went to the ABC studios to watch Tuesday Book Club being filmed for the next show. There had to be a retake of one section as Jennifer Byrne squinted as reading her lines. One of the books discussed was Catcher in the Rye, so thats one to be reread as its a long time ago that I turned those pages.

The computer classes stop for school hols, and that means have a bit of homework to do over the next two weeks.

Today we drove out to Bowral as the Throsby home was being transferred to the Historic Housing Trust and it was the first time it was opened to the public. Lovely home which needs quite a bit of work.

Talking and Walking

Two talks this week, one at Mossman and the other at the Mitchell Library. The first was by Prof. Sean O"Neill who heads the research team at Liverpool Hospital into Rheumatology and associated diseases. There is no answer but to eat healthly, keep fit in mind and body. Replacement knees and hips are done when the joints are no longer able to work and pain is unbearable. John's fellow worker, is having double hip replacement in a months time.

At the Mitchell there is a display on Governor Lachlan Macquarie and we had a guide for over an hour giving an overview of his life and his achievements in the colony of NSW.

Walks - Friday with the U3A group we walked from Collaroy, Dee Why, North Curl Curl, Freshwater, North Steyne to Manly. An excellent day in weather, company and what sights. Today John and I walked from North Wanda to Cronulla and back. Again a great walk with a treat of a BBQ sausage sandwich by the North Cronulla surf club. Plus a coffee for John and a Hard Rock icecream for me.

I met the ladies up at Miranda where over a cup of coffee and cake we discussed Louise's wedding and what we were going to do.

Webcam works well

The web cam worked very well on Saturday and so we saw Lucy, Henry, Fiona and Andrew which was really lovely, seeing it was grandparents day.

It was movies again this week with The Ghost Writer on Tuesday with Margaret, before that we went and heard a speaker/writer - Hugh MacKay talk on 'Why don't people listen?' Very Interesting. As I had to go into town to return books at SMSA library, I decided to walk down to the Dendy and of course I was just in time to see 'The Kids are Alright" and then 'The Disappearance of Alice Creed". This last film was excellent and with all the twists and turns, had you guessing until the very end.

The car had to go into the garage so had a couple of relaxing days at home with a bit of cooking/gardening.

At the computer lesson I learnt about mail merge but when I got home I couldn't convert the instructions into Open Office. Will have to spend some more time trying to work it out.

Today a friend of John's came over in his American Mustang and couldn't help myself and took a photo.