Almost there....but no quite over just yet!!

Well good evening to all my faithful followers, I hope this balmy Sydney evening finds you well!  I hate to say this but it is almost time to go and I sit in Fred's house while the boys sleep at 11pm and we are being picked up for the airport at 2.30am by the ever patient and wonderfully kind Cath, to begin our 24 hour journey home.  That's 24 hours where a lot (or a little) can happen, and knowing me it will be the former. But not before a spattering of today's goings on....

To pick up where I left off I checked out of the apartment and started my journey from iconic Sydney harbour the outskirts, via a cab to circular Quay and a ferry to Paramatta.  So I arrived at the bustling port with bags in tow, found the right wharf and saw I had 30 mins to kill before the ferry left.  I took a few last pics and after going through to the waiting area, sweet talked the guard on the ticket barrier into looking after my bag whilst I nipped back out to grab a coffee, whilst firstly chatting to a man who commented that my bags were as bright as my trousers (he's not wrong there) and then to a lovely elderly couple from Sydney who said they had come into the city to watch the Last Night at the Proms in the bloody Opera house the night before!!! So whilst I, one of the most patriotic people you are every likely to meet, sat outside the iconic landmark (I sometimes forget it is actually a theatre) they were inside singing Jerusalem and God Save the Queen with hearty gusto!! Gutted.  If I'd known I would have go tickets.  But as those of you who follow me regularly will know, I have a magical knack of missing events by the smallest of margins, and this was the smallest yet!

Still, I had enjoyed a wonderful last night and after bidding my farewells, I grabbed my bags and waited for the ferry to board.  Well, I took my eye off the ball for 2 mins and all of a sudden it was an OAP stampede of epic proportions.  Something tells me its Paramatta is popular with a certain age group.

I soaked up the harbour view from deck one last time and headed out and away from the hustle and bustle of the city, through the suburbs and into the river land, passing beautiful houses and condo's, little tucked away beaches, the cutely named Kissing Point and finally the waterway narrowed and the boast slowed as the pilot navigated the shall and narrow Paramatta river, very tranquil and relaxing.  If you were able to tune out the couple next to me who incessantly babbled on for the entire 90 minute journey, about what I cannot recall other than them bleating on about Bear Gryls being bowed legged and a fake, as he only carries a small backpack and a knife whilst his camera crew (who are ex SAS apparently) do all the heard work and the fact that the male talker wanted to jump of every bridge we came.  Crack on sunshine, before I or Bear Gryls SAS cameraman, pushes you off one.

Cath was waiting for me at the stop and we chatted about mine and my Pops adventures of the last 3 weeks, and before we know it we were all reunited at Fred's.  It was so good to see my Pops and he looked really well, and it sounded like him and Fred had had a blast.  We were off out to dinner a bit later and Fred lent me his Ute so that me and Pops could go to his favourite place - Wenty Leagues - a sports club come bar / restaurant (times 5) / small casino that seemed to be the meeting place for all of the world! We chatted about his time there and he told me they had been going back in time to when they were teenagers, reminiscing on old times, reliving memories and making new ones.  Then Pops got quite emotional about coming home and not seeing Fred again which gave me a tear in my eye too, but never say never Pops, we thought last time would be the last time.  Who knows what the future holds.

We sat and chatted, then headed back to meet Cath who took us to a fab little Thai place called Thai Taste (does exactly what it say on the tin) and we rattled off what we wanted to the rather sweet waiter who just nodded at all the numbers, not filling my with confidence that we'd get what we had ordered.  Oh she of little faith, the gorgeous food arrived (in dribs and drabs but that suited me as it meant I couldn't eat mine, and everyone elses, all at once) and we nommed away, all washed down with pop (except for my Pops who plumped for coconut water and was pleasantly surprised by it, just hope it wasn't Malibu in disguise...) as it was a BYO alcohol and we had forgotten the crucial BYO...

It was then back to Wenty for a final hurrah with a band playing, stranger danger all around (there were some strange lurking fella's of certain ages, one who creepily resembled Norman Bates from Psycho) and a lot of people watching, washed down with a couple of drinks, keeping Fred out till 10.30pm, way passed his bedtime!

And so home we came to lay our weary heads before being picked up for the airport in 3 hours from now!! And like I say a lot can happen on a 24 hour flight, a fair amount did on the way out so there will be one more post, fear not!!!!!!

So once again it ain't over til it's over and for now it still remains TTFN..... xxxxx

A fab final day in Sydney....

Good morning all from a bed I am reluctant to get out of as it is the last one I am going to be sleeping in for the next 48 hours! But that is another post and for now it's all about my last full day before beginning the homeward stretch.

I headed out and first on my list was the beautiful botanical gardens which thankfully were just a hop and a skip over the wharf and before I knew it I was walking through the lush gardens and spied my first glimpse of the infamous bridge ans opera house (I would be seeing a lot of it today as would my facebook friends!!). There was something being built that resembled a massive Chinese dragon with a stupendous view overlooking the bridge and the opera house that I now know is a stage to host and incredible Opera for a month.  I always get my dates wrong...

I had breakfast amid the palms at the botanical gardens getting all healthy with granola and yogurt, before meandering back through and finally finding myself at the steps of the icon that is known the world over.  Ive always thought it resembles a storm trooper from Star Wars with a hint of Darth Vader when looked at from the water.  Trust me, it does.

Second on my list was to get the ferry to Manly, a beach town in the northern part of the harbour.  A trip is not a trip without a boat trip.  A lovely little half hour boat ride followed, photo bombing a group of young and rather lovely Brazilian boys and sticking it out as the rain began to fall.  Yes rain.  But I was not giving in to a little bit of light drizzle.  Or heavier drizzle.  Or torrential rain.  Well I did give in a little to the torrential rain as I ducked into a shop a brought a brolly along with half the passengers on the ferry.  Despite the rain the walk through the lovely town was a pleasure and then the beach was in view, glorious even with the stormy skies.  A pint in the pub watching the surfers brave the rain stupid thought as they get wetter in the water) before mooching back through the shops with a couple of last minute purchase before a more sunny return to Circular Quay and time to get another ferry for my next destination.

Darling Harbour.  Just around the corner from its well known cousin, its shiny and brash and full of yachts and places to eat and things to do, many of which had a happy hour spanning several hours, and as the sun was now shining bright and warm it was time for another drink.  I was 10 minutes early for the happy hour so I did the right thing and sat on a stool waiting patiently until it was time to enjoy my pint at a happy price.  I sat and watched the world go by and once again the heavens opened so up went the brolly as the pint got watered down but I was not moving, the rain was warm and this was what I was used to.  Stiff upper lip and all that.  And like a flash the rain disappeared with the black clouds heading away too letting the sun shine on down.

By this time it was only about 2 hours till sunset and as this was my last night I was going to spend it with the Bridge and the Opera House so headed back on the ferry, chatting very Britishly with a couple from Oregan about the weather and their 5 month trip (well jel) and as we cruised back into Circular Quay there was one thing left on my list to fulfil...bubbles at the Opera Bar.

This is the bar that runs around the base of the theatre and is the haunt of the young, the beautiful, the rich, the not so rich, the local, the tourist and the mad gingers of this world.  So I purchased my bottle of fizz, getting a smile and a nod from the barmaid when I replied 'one' to her question 'how many glasses' and I found my spot which I ended up being in for over 3 hours.  I fought off seagulls as I ate my cheese board and a serve of calamari (nom), asked kind fellow sunset seekers to look after my booze whilst I wee'd, chatted to my sitting companions as they came and went, replaced by new ones and the more I drank the more selfies and videos I took.  And as the sun slid behind the skyline, the mood changed and more people came to share an experience I certainly wont forget.  It was magical.  Spectacular in fact.  Sigh.

When I decided it was time to go, I headed out to walk back through the gardens the way I came only to find them closed and a rather longer than expected diversion ensued through buzzing and deserted streets alike, past million dollar apartments and soup kitchens finally navigating Woolloomooloo in far too round about way and I was finally back in my manor.  Harry's famous pie wagon was still in the place it has been since 1945 (and where I found it last time I was here with my pops) and a chicken curry tiger pie was called for (pie, mash, mushy peas and gravy basically).  Lush.  Then i staggered happy back to the apartment where I fell into a happy bubble and pie induced slumber.

And now here I sit, Saturday morning and ready to head out to catch back up with my pops, Fred and Cath.  It's been a blast and Ive loved every second but it's not over just yet, I have a ferry ride with two bags to navigate this morning followed by whatever the boys fancy doing for their last few hours.  So there will be another post, when or where will be a mystery but I will make sure I do it just for you!

So until then faithful followers it is still TTFN.....xxxxxx

A few days in wonderful Adelaide!

From Tuesday to Thursday in one bite size chunk....my bite size tho remember!!

Good evening from a whole different state, have you missed me?! I've missed you but I've been so busy spending time with the wonderful gang that something had to give....and I just kept falling asleep!!

So, it was Tuesday morning after the wheelie good wine tour (I'm still getting flashbacks) and it was to be a relaxing day which, thankfully, it really was!! It started with Jenn and I having an nice little beach walk from Seacliff to Brighton, past the crystal blue waters with the sea breeze cooling the air.  When I say breeze I mean hurricane force winds....well maybe not quite but it really was blowing a hooley.  So much so that Jenn was wearing a hoodie!! I was not giving (she had long since left the winds of the UK behind) and being a true Brit, I stuck it out in my sundress, proudly showing my goosebumps (not a euphemism) and announcing at every given opportunity 'that sun is roasting when the wind dies down' and roasting it was, so I was soon rewarded for my faith.  We were also rewarded with a magical sight as we walked out on the Brighton jetty - two dolphins swimming in the sea below us.  It was magical, made even more so as Jenn said she had not seen any dolphins here! Perfect.

We then met up with Helen at another fab little eatery, Cream, for a spot of yummy breakfast (I could get used to this) and after catching up on the previous days shenanigans (including some video which made for a wheelie good watch), Jenn and I headed out to the shops.  Marion to be precise and purchases bought we headed home to chill before heading out later that night to the cinema.

But this is not just any old cinema, this is Gold Class cinema. I've spoken about it before my regulars will remember, but for those newbies it is bloody marvellous! Drinks before you go in, drinks and food bought to you throughout the showing, at the time of your choice, direct to your reclining leather laziboy chair.  Heaven.  So the whole gang were there, reclining two by two sipping bubble, and cocktails and coffee! Nibbling on snacks and icecream and cheeseboards (just one, mine, which was pig enough to take over the entire table I was sharing with Tracey) and as we nommed and sipped away, listening to the bloke two rows down scraping his slate clean with what sounded like a shovel,  we watched the enchanting and utterly heartbreakingly wonderful Lady in the Van.  Dame Maggie was as awesome as ever and after a lot of laughs and just as many tears we bid our good nights to each other and all headed home to bed.

Wednesday bought an early start as Jenn Carrie and I headed into the city early.  They had a errand to run so I met with them a couple of hours later in one of my favourite places in the city - Central Market.  It does exactly what is says on the tin, it is central and it is indeed a market, selling all manner of wonderful produce, fruit, veg, bread, cheese, meats, fish and and amazing array of local and worldwide foods. Some of which I am sure were loaded onto the sack barrow wielded by a very small Asian man that knocked me over.  And I mean over.  Right over.  To the floor in a fine display of mobile phone shattering and flop flip breaking glory. Like a sack of spuds. I didn't see him coming from my left and he clearly didn't see me (his barrow laden with boxes was taller than him).  After I'd replied to his recurrent questions of 'are you allright' with 'do I bloody look allright' whilst attempting to get up on a broken flipflop with some modicum of dignity, I limped off with more than my pride bruised to finally meet Carrie and Jenn.

I'd had a quick coffee and a flowerpot muffin at a little cafe before the barrow incident, but I wanted to take them to my little place in the market that I'd been coming to ever since my first trip to Oz with my ex about 15 years ago, and where I have come every time since.  This time however the Big Table was closed for the day, so it was a quick recommendation to give it a try, a nostalgic look at it's metal shutters and off for some more retail therapy.

Happy shoppers were we three, and a quick stop to china town for a nice little bit of late noodle lunch before getting back in the car to go and pick up Daniel from school, to take him to the liquid nitrogen ice creeam joint I went to the other day with Helen and Savannah.  A 30 min drive into and out of the city bought us back to the shop, only to look left to find the road we had just eaten at not 200 yards away...

Fancy ices nommed, it was home for a quick change to head to the only place to be on my last night - Seacliff.

Carrie and I arrived first and grabbed the perfect spot on the balcony that gives me the view I just cant get enough of and sat with a bottle of bubbles watching the sun disappear in between the palm trees, casting its warm glow onto our faces and into our hearts. Sue called in to say goodbye but couldn't stay long, then as the sun was almost gone on my last day in Adelaide the rest of the girls appeared, with Megan and Sarah too.  It was fabulous, we reminisced, talked about all sorts, laughed, drank and laughed even more, all in agreement that we had packed a lot into the last week and what a blast it had been

Another bonus in the Seacliff that night was it appeared to be an open mic night, giving any up and coming local talent the opportunity to showcase their talents.  Well it just so happened we had a talented musician in our midst in the shape of Tracey's daughter, Sarah.  She was keen but not too sure but in a jiffy I was up at the stage with her asking the rather lovely organiser of the event how you got your name on the list.  Just like that she was on the list!!!

And wow, she may have followed one after a 10 year old boy who did the Justine Bieber song that I sing constantly but can never remember the name of (you can go and love yourself....) better than Bieber in my mind, but she held her own and her renditions of Wonderwall was amazing.  It gave us all goosebumps and a tear in our eyes, none more so than for Tracey.  She is a star in the making and we were all there right at the start. Then it was time to bid farewell to wonderful friends once more, and in the balmy warm evening breeze we hugged and said goodbye, but not for long, I would be returning before they would even realise I'd been back home. Then me and Carrie headed back home for my last night in the Heggie household.  Sniff.

All too soon it was this morning and with a heavy heart I packed my things and said goodbye to Graeme and Daniel before Jenn took me via Carrie's work to pick her up and head for the airport.  We had subways by the boarding gate and then we had to do the inevitable but it was with a smile knowing I would be back really soon, and would be seeing them sooner when they visited England in the summer.

I made my way onto the plane and headed to my upgraded little bit of extra legroom seat which necessitated me agreeing to assisting in the event of an emergency by opening the emergency exit door I was gonna be sitting next to for the next coupla hours, and now that I knew how to open it that is exactly what I wanted to do.  So nodding off next to a young lad who must have been 6'8 and also grateful of the leg room but who was also far more capable of opening the emergency door since my sack barrow incident left my arm rather sore, we left the beautiful shores of Adelaide behind and eventually arrived back where it all started, Sydney.

After a shuttle bus ride to my hotel that would not look out of place in the next Fast and Furious film, I was at the (closed) doors of the Woolloomooloo Waters Apartments.  An interesting cat and mouse game of getting my key from the unmanned front desk occurred and finally I arrived to my home for the next two nights, right in the heart of the up and coming cutely named Woolloomooloo. My pops and me came here last time and I fell for it's charms, a little bit rough round the edges but with the highly chic Finger Wharf filled with apartments and restaurants that this evening were apparently hosting a major event.  I meandered down the lovely waterside, soaking up the sunset and the atmosphere, stopping at the Woollie hotel for a pint on Fat Yak and a pizza (I'm hoping that the latter does not make me into the former later on this evening...).  Just before 8pm I headed back to the apartment to get myself sorted and marvel at what the view from my balcony had become in the dark (wow) and then there were fireworks.  Literally.  Only I could sit looking at a view for over an hour and have fireworks in full view of where I just sat 10 minutes after leaving.  And of course as soon as I got back in the lift and arrived down back to the wharf the fireworks stopped as quickly as they started.  It was time for a stop at the bottle shop and then home to bed, not before sitting here and updating you all as I know how you love it so much!

And that is where I am now, looking at the bright lights of downtown Sydney ready to have a final day of exploring tomorrow.  I am sure that I will find things to bore you with but I will try not to let it involve getting knocked over by a barrow....

So until then my faithful followers, thank you for your patience and TTFN xxxxx

The wine tour and the wheelbarrow....

Good afternoon from the Heggies pool, I am getting some afternoon sun and its the perfect time to catch up on Bank Holiday because there is a horse race Monday goings on!!

A trip to Adelaide is never complete without a little wine tour so me, Carrie and Helen were driven round by the ever patient Jenn to find some gems and try some wine!! Off to the McLaren Vale we trundled and the first stop was a new one for all of us but had come highly recommended - Beach Road Wines.  And what a gem, a real little boutique place with Brionny the owner and wine maker guiding up through their 6 wines with an enthusiastic and cheerful explanation of each, she was even happy when we were trying to work out if we could get the 6 foot antique wine rack in one of our handbags....

Thankfully we had rung ahead to book a table for lunch and we sat, overlooking the stunning countryside, and enjoyed a bottle of their pinot (a wine you could get into trouble drinking it was so lush) and a selection of nibbly bits for starters including pickled mini brains (radishes) and kumquats (that made you cough they were so pickly!!) followed by amazing wood fired pizzas and a glass of the stunning shiraz.  Heaven.  This truly was a beautiful spot and after a gorgeous lunch and a long discussion about the show that we will never forget (we are still talking about it which is the best publicity they could get) and how I should apply for a stand up comedy slot in next years Fringe (after making my blogs into a book) we headed out to our next stop, Angove.

Another stunning setting but with not so nice wine, but we did get to look as (and briefly touch the bottle of) a 40 year old brandy that retails at $750.....well it did have a 24 carat gold lid.

Our third and final stop (which was probably wise as we were starting to get a tad squiffy) was the vineyard that Mandy Walker works at, Paxtons.  We arrived to the beautiful setting to hear the strains of True by Spandau Ballet wafting through the outdoor speakers, and thankfully we were the only ones there as we waltzed in serenading Mandy in the process. This was clearly only going to end one way....So several wines later the wine tasting with wonderful Mandy went like this:

Karen into ice tongs, Mexican hat wearing, dancing to the beats, finding a wheelbarrow that Helen and I wanted to have a go in, having a go in the wheelbarrow and Helen falling out, having another go and Helen not falling out by making the sensible decision not to push her down a very large hill, more wine, more singing, Helen pushing me around in a sack barrow aka Hannibal Lecter style, laying on tables, more wine, a bit more singing and finally leaving after Mandy had locked us out....

Mandy was a star as was Jenn for driving round 3 slightly squiffy 40 somethings but we had a blast, laughing so hard our cheeks hurt and wishing we'd gone further in the wheelbarrow but grateful that we hadn't...

A quick stop back at the Heggies to pick up the boys and it was out to Fudd's a new burger joint with an unfortunate position oppostie a petrol garage but the awesome burgers made up for that, and after completing Daniels Hitler assignment whilst we ate it was back home for an extremely early night, slightly squiffy and very very full!!

And before I knew it, morning came and a chilled out day was to follow but that will be for later faithful friend.  SO just a short one for you there to make up for the essay this morning!!  Tonights will be equally as short but just as heartfelt so until then I bid you TTFN xxxx

A weekend in the city with fringe benefits......!

Morning all!  Sorry it's been a bit protracted after the last few days but when I am travelling on my own I do in the evening or early morning and write my blog.  But when I am with wonderful friends, busy busy busy, staying out til all hours and generally having a scream the blog gets left behind. Then I feel guilty.  So here I am, ready to fill you in on my weekend of fun and frolics, food and drink, laughter and rather disturbing confusion!!!!

Let's begin where I left of (which is always a good place to start) Jenn and I were back from the Gorge and we were heading into the city as this was the last weekend of the wonderful Adelaide Fringe where the city is transformed with The Garden of Unearthly Delights in the park, Gluttony and The Royal Croquet Club in Victoria Square.  These are pop up amazing venues with bars and clubs and shows and food and lights and madness and just has to be experienced.  Carrie, Jenn and I met Helen and Tracey there and after a little nibble and a jug of Pimms we headed in to see our show for that evening.  This is where the confusion starts.

The show was called 'all genius all idoit' and was described in it's flyer as 'a visceral gender bending display of strength and creativity, all genius, all idiot is not like any other circus performance you will see'.

Sweet baby Jesus and the orphans they were not wrong there. As soon as the first 'dancer' (I use the term loosely as if rolling around on the floor like you are having some sort of seizure is called dancing then therefore you are a dancer) stepped on stage wearing an all in one body stocking, almost floor length fur coat, lipstick, see through plastic pole dancer shoes and moose antlers and wailing like he had a poker up his behind (which in hindsight he may have) we knew this was not going to be like anything we had seen before.

And it didn't end there.  There were four of them. The above mentioned, a short bald bloke with a beard wearing leggings and a bomber jacket, an Orlando Bloom lookalike (he would be thrilled) and another who looked strangely like an old work colleague of mine which made it even more difficult to watch.

Here began over an hour of wailing, writhing, screeching, jumping (on each other), banging of drums, fighting, rolling around on the floor, shouting, grunting, ramming fists into other people's mouths, spraying the audience with spit, babbling and general bollocks, all topped off with what I have to say were some amazing acrobatic abilities (any man who can hang off a stripper pole with one foot whilst wearing a minute pink pants has to be applauded, and what Orlando Bloom did with his bit of rope was incredible).

We sat through this with faces of pure confusiuon, annoyance, bordum and sometimes disgust, constantly uttering to each other and whoever would listen 'what the ..... is going on???) No one seemed to know but we were unfortunayely transfixed to this display of disturblingly ridiculous dark homoerotic self indulgent tosh.  Genuinely I cannot tell you what it was about, why they were doing it or where they had pulled this idea from, but two things were evident and the end of a very long and uncomfortable hour....they were incredible athletes with very very very weird brains.

At last it was time to leave and the sea of bemused faces fled from the tent to find the performers outside greeting the public.  I had to say something.  So I did.  Me to the Transvestite Moose 'in all my born days I can say hand on heart that I have never seen anything like that and probably won't again' Moose: 'thank you' Me: 'that wasn't a compliment' Moose: 'oh' Me: 'where in the name of God did that come from?' Moose: 'our brains....'  A psycologists dream.

And then we were gone, drained, and if I'm honest all feeling a little bit dirty. We continuted to talk about it for the reaminder of the night, all admitting that we were kind of glad we'd seen it but kind of wishing we hadn't and all agreeing that we had shared something this summer that we could never truly explain and no-one who was not there could understand (even though I was there and I still don't understand).  And I end this little segment with the quote of the night from me 'well if that's contempoary dance you can shove it up your arse.....'

After a wander in the evening madness andv bright lights of the Croquet Club we were off home, ready to rest before another couple of days in the city with a nice little stopover to boot!!

Just as a foot note, if you do decide to google the 'dance' troup and look at a trailer for what we witnessed don't be fooled, that was nothing like we witnessed.  If I'd known there would be half naked men writing around on the floor and crawling out of shopping trollies whilst wearing fishnet body stockings I'm not convinced I'd have gone.  Believe me, it's not as good as iot sounds.....!

Then in a flash it was Saturday and we were all heading back into the City to catch two more shows and have a little night away.  We headed in around 2pm and checked into the apartment that we would be literally laying our heads down in for a few hours (which is a good job and one of us was going to have to be sleeping on a put up bed which had transformed the living space into what resembled a hospital ward) and it was out to our first venue in a stunning rooftop bar overlooking the city called 2KW. We got there at the right time, securing a seat with a cracking view and sitting under the cooling outdoor air con they had going before it began to fill with well dressed (and some not so) party goers, and making light work of two jugs of Pimms!

We moved on in search of some food and after a little detour and an unscheduled wander round the city we found a funky little place called Linders Lane in, well, Linders Lane I suspect, just off Rundle Mall.  So we sat outside listening to the street entertainers and enjoyed some amazing food.  I went for the Roo which was amazing and looked like a work of art, but left me with a little food envy as it was more the size of a starter.  But never fear, there was plenty more food to be eaten in this City tonight!!

Next stop was the Crab Shack which was so funky and cool, an oasis of seaside wonder right in the city, where we drank cocktails out of tin cans and jars, sank beers and nommed crab tacos whilst watching the young and not so young enjoying the atmosphere as much as we were.  It was then into the Garden of Unearthly Delights which every time I go to, fills me with joy.  Entertainment tents, food, drink, sideshows, fun fair, a windmill, lights and just wondrfulness under the stars.  The first show was an acrobatic event (thankfully it didn't resemble Friday's debacle) and it was really clever and amazing to see the strength in the guys and girls performing it.  Maybe would have been slightly more enjoyable if not for the rather drunk bogans sitting in front of us but hey, we all have our moments!

Then it was a little bit of a hurried walk to Glutony, another funky set up in the next garden to catch a comedy show at the Phat Club,  hosted by Micky D, an hysterical aussie comic who we saw last time I was over (we even had the same conversation when he asked if there was any English in and when I said where I was from he asked if I knew Maidstone and then went on to talk about a gig he did there and they were all on drugs....) followed by 7 more comedians from around the world Ireland, Scotland, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Australia and America).  We had a solid two hours of laughter and at 2.30am we finally got back to the apartment/hospital ward, ate our convenience store purchases and got our heads down.

Morning was soon upon us and we headed out for a brunch at another funky spot called the Market Shed where there were facinating food stalls and coffee places nestled into what was an old storage shed.  There were musicians playing and we sat and soaked up the atmosphere whilst eating some fab food and very good coffee.  This city really has many layers and plenty to keep you occupied, and is a foodies dream!!

Then the group parted company and I headed off with Helen and Savannah in search of ice cream made with liquid nitrogen!!!! It was called Fancy Ices and we watched them make the ice cream, freezing it in the mixer by using the liquid nitrogen and it was so cool!! (excuse the pun).  Soon I was tucking into coffee gelato with a candy floss top bigger than my head! It was lush.  Then we moved on, heading back to the Heggies to have a quick change and head for the beach.  Just what we needed to end a great weekend.

We had a blast, there was me, Helen, Carrie, Jenn and Savannah all chilled and enjoying the sea and sun.  Then Helen came up with the idea to hire paddle boards.  What a laugh!! After my experience with the kayak in France (near death I will have you know) I was a little nervous and maybe should have told Helen sooner I couldn't swim, but we were out on the water for over an hour, Helen stood, Jenn stood, Savannah stood and I got to my knees! All went perfectly until I tried to go for a stand up 5 meteres from shore....Helen and I both ended up in the drink in spectacular fashion but still managed to look fabulous!!

We watched the sun set on another incredible day and then it was home for pie and mash (curtosey of the Market Shed) and off to bed, happy, contented and just a little weary.  All that water action was exhausting!!!

Then it was Monday, which was a Bank Holiday here (because there was a horse race everyone needed to watch.  I love this country!) and another fun day bekoned....

But that is for later as it is now Truesday for me and I am conscious this has been a rather long post and I am sure you are all bored rigid.  So I will leave that for later and say thank you as always for your faithful attention and sign off by saying...

TTFN xxx

From Koala's to something I just can't describe......only in Australia!

And good morning once more from the Heggies pool!  Here begins my confession of yesterdays goings on which started in the most wonderful way and ended up rather unexpectedly.  Read on if you dare!It was time to go see some wildlife and Jenn wanted to take me to a lovely little wildlife park up in the Adelaide Hills called the Gorge.  So we set off early in the beetle and it was my turn to drive and it was another stunner of a road, with the rolling hills either side turning from farm land to vineyards once again and the all too familiar feeling that there was going to be a spectacular view over the next crest of a hill, and not being disappointed.  This area never ceases to amaze me in it's beauty and it's similarity to England in the richness of the landscape, just one a more majestic scale.

Soon we arrived and heading inside to be greeted by the words I had been wanting to hear (unfortunately not Hello I'm Brad Pitt and I've loved you forever) but 'there will be Koala Cuddling at 1130' Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!!!!!!! I was like a kid on Christmas day and although I have cuddled these little darlings before, I never ever get sick of it!! So we meandered round this lovely little sanctuary with all the usual suspects and a few more thrown in for good measure, got selfies with a roo and entertained some monkeys with our mobiles, got a bit too close to an ostrich and a quokka liked the taste of Jenn a little too much, mooned over a wombat (not at it thankfully) and patted some dingos until finally the time had come.

We got to the Koala cuddling spot as a queue began to form and as others joined us we waited in anticipation (well I did, Jenn was just going to take the pics for me, bless her) and then the inevitable happened.  A man and his clan waltzed up to the front of the queue and just stood there.  Frowns and head turns were everywhere and whispers of the treachery he was committing filled the air and I did the only thing a Brit who is queueing would do - told him there was a back to this line and he had to join it.  Smiles all round and the karma was restored as he was banished to the ever increasing line
(which really wasn't that long in the great scheme of things but there are rules) And then they arrived, the two little darlings that were going to get cuddled to within an inch of their lives. I was in there like a flash, all's fair in love and koala cuddling and was first up with Bella, who was two and extremely interested in my ears, ever more so than her dinner! It was magical and after some pics and ever a selfie she went back to her handler ready to be pawed by the ensuing crowd and we headed out back to the car, happy and with a grin like a Cheshire cat (well me anyway!) ready to
return home.

Once we had navigated the interesting route sat nav took us home, I headed out to see one of the other girls I hadn't seen yet, Mandy, and catch up with the other Bells and Buddy the wonderful golden retriever.  And after a good chinwag and Buddy hugs it was back home to get ready for the evenings shenanigans.

We were heading into the city as this was the last weekend of the wonderful Adelaide Fringe where the city is transformed with The Garden of Unearthly Delights in the park, Gluttony and The Royal Croquet Club in Victoria Square.  These are pop up amazing venues with bars and clubs and shows and food and lights and madness and just has to be experienced.  Carrie, Jenn and I met Helen and Tracey there and after a little nibble and a jug of Pimms we headed in to see a show.

Ok, I am never really short on words and almost never speechless but trying to find the words to describe what we saw is something I have pondered on all night and most of this morning. So I'm off to get a quick drink and I will be back to try and begin....

Well it ended up being more than just a quick drink, it turned into 2 days of fun and frolics and it is now Sunday evening for me (all the goings on previously mentioned were on Friday and I was writing it on Saturday, are you keeping up...?) So I will leave the all Fringe details to one post and update you in my next instalment as there is lots to share.

TTFN my faithful friends! xxx

Wine, chocolate and cinema under the stars!

Good morning all, have you missed me!!??  It's been two days I know but I am back and ready to tell you all the things I have been up to with wonderful friends in an amazing and I think, under rated city!  So I have claimed my spot by the Heggies pool and it is time to put into words some of the wonderful things I have seen and done. Some will be easier than others and some will bring back memories that quite frankly should stay buried, but more on that later....

It started on Thursday morning after the welcome drinks at Seacliffe the night before, with a little wine and chocolate tasting at the Hahndorf Hill Winery. It was just to be Tracey Jenn and I and we headed out in Jenn's gorgeous yellow beetle to Hahndorf, a stunning little German town about 40 mins away.  I suspect it was colonised by the Germans hence the connection and it still has that feel with beer houses and sausage eating places (oooo err) along it's high street, coupled with shops and restaurants selling wonderful produce and goods.  But for us it was all about the vineyard and Hahndorf Hill is a lovely one, with its vines today covered with netting to stop the birds eating the wonderful produce and an empty cellar door ready for us to enjoy some delights!!

We were here to match chocolate with wine, and the very informative Dee was our guide.  Well, what a journey. A bar of Cadbury's Dairy Milk will never be the same again.  It was really informative even if we maybe didn't take it a seriously as we should.  Apparently the only things we need in life are water, wine, chocolate and cheese.  Nice to hear as that is my usual daily diet!! Chocolate, proper chocolate should be savoured like a good wine, not inhaled in a nano second as I know I do when I get my hands on a bar.....(I have to say at this point that I know I have given up chocolate for Lent and the ever persuasive Robert as Pigs Peake in Hunter had already made me break this in the pursuit of wine heaven, so me and the big man had a chat and he was all fine with it as long as it was treated as a scientific experiment.....yep it sure was!!).

We were taught to smell it, feel it, listen to it snap (the louder the snap the better the choc) to let it melt in our mouths and savour the taste.  We did that and it took 20 mins to eat two small squares!! Then we matched chocs with the loveliest wines and after much laughter, chocolate snobbery, wine, more laughter, realising that just because a chocolate bean is rare and has villagers dance round it when it is picked it doesn't mean it will make the best chocolate, and just a little bit of ice cream we came away with a bottle of fabulous Shiraz and a longing for a pie....All jokes aside it really was an amazing experience.

So out pie craving was sorted with a trip to Otto's bakery and the yummiest fat filled curry pie ever eaten as we walked up the picturesque high street it was back to the Heggies to get ready for the night time entertainment - moonlight cinema.

In a flash we were all down by the beach of beautiful Glenelg with me, Carrie, Helen, Sue, Tracey and Mandy walker drinking contraband bubbles (it's a no alcohol dry zone but we decided I would just plead ignorance as a pom it caught and say it was my idea and I didn't know....sorry officer) and after not getting caught and soaking up another amazing sunset it was time to take our beanbags under the stars and watch the film.

I love this kind of thing and have done it a few times here but never at Glenelg and the added bonus of sun setting over the sea just to our left just added to its wow factor.  The film was good, The Danish Girl, and even with some comedic and very well timed heckling from the Surf Club balcony and the rattling of beer crates being thrown away, it was a wonderful experience.

As the film ended it was apparent that the almost litre of cider I had consumed whilst watching the film was needing to be released from my bladder and an entertain and very painful run/bent over double hobble followed to the sounds of laughter as I ran past the guy on the door shouting 'get out of my way it's coming out....' and when I returned I think he was relieved to see I meant I needed a wee and not having a baby....

We bid our good nights to all and headed back to home where I fell into bed, happy but tired and looking forward to what was next on my itinerary..... and I think that will need a whole new post!!

So until the next one which won't be far behind, TTFN xxx

'Home to Adelaide....'

Good morning all and I come to you direct from the most wonderful king size bed in the amazing house of the beautiful Heggie family in Adelaide and I feel like I've come home.

You must be thinking that there can't be much I can write about a simple flight from Brisbane to Adelaide, and you could be right.  But this is me remember and things always seem to happen to me...

So, yesterday I left you sitting in the airport sitting next to an walking Old Spice advert, drinking my beer and trying to eat half of my foot long Subway in a ladylike fashion and failing (next to fajitas, a Subway is a food group that should never be consumed on a first date as it is the messiest and most unattractive action known to man)  and it was soon time to board.  On we all got and I was wedged between to rather tall men, and as nice as they were (the man to my right immediately began eating a pie in the same way I ate my Subway.....add pie to the list) I spied the row of unoccupied seats behind and as soon as we had taken off, I gained permission from the cabin crew to move.

Lovely.  I sat and took the obligatory aeroplane window shots then the aisle seat what occupied by a man who was trying to escape a screaming child further down the plane.  I did feel for the child's mother as it was having am ear splitting  tantrum and a half.  So we carried on tearing through the skies and all of a sudden a rather elderly gentleman dressed in khaki began doing aeroplane stretching exercises in the aisle next to our seats, eventually holding on the the overhead lockers and thrusting his groin into the face of my travelling companion.

Well it was hard not to snigger and this caused me to make eye contact with the guy next to me, as he was making faces and desperately trying to stretch away from the groin....what ensued was a conversation with a rather drunk man about life (his) marriage (his) ex wife's (his) children (his) work (his and a little bit of mine) and I only managed to politely tear myself away from his riveting banter but cutting my fingernails.  Which was going well until one nail pinged off (as they so) and quite possibly landed in someones drink two rows down.

It worked though and soon peace was returned and we began our decent into Adelaide over the shores of Glenelg.  A very welcome sight indeed!

Then all I had to do was get my bag from the overhead locker (be careful as things may have moved in flight) and disembark.  Which would have been simple had someone not wedged their bag on top of mine and in the ensuing struggle with 3 burly 6ft Aussies looking on I managed to pull the bag free and drop it on the head of poor lady 3 rows down.  She screamed.  The plane went silent.  Everyone looked in our direction. I apologised and kept repeating 'it's not my bag, it's not my bag I'm sorry it's not my bag' Everyone still kept looking.  No-one spoke.  The owner of the bag kept quiet.  I got off the plane with the steward saying 'goodbye madam' (Madam!!!?? when did I stop being a miss and become a Madam) and continued to apologise to the poor woman who was now stuggling to get down the plane steps.  It would only happen to me.

And finally here I was!! The lovely Jenn had come to pick me up in her amazing yellow beetle and we got home to the ever welcoming Heggie household with hugs all round, Sue arrived and  there were even more and it was off to meet Helen and Tracey at my favourite place here - Seacliff Hotel.

Its a pub, in Seacliff with a sunset view to die for, it sets slap bang in the middle of the two most perfect palm trees.  Helen was there and more screamy hugs ensued and we took a beach walk along to Brighton with the sunset not looking to promising.  Then it came from nowhere at it was a stunner.  We all stood and marvelled in wonder, heading back to the pub to meet Tracey with more excitement and enjoy our first drink of many in this week together. Absent friends were toasted as always, and a special one to Theresa who was the reason I came here in  the first place and she introduced me to these wonderful ladies and their families who have taken me into their hearts.  And I love them all for it.

We finally got back home and after the first facetime with my boy since heading out I went to bed happy, doubley happy as I was in the hugest softest king size bed which after Winstons board like bed, was pure heaven!!

And I woke this morning as fresh as a daisy, rested, happy and contented after another skype call with my Vinnie, ready to start my homecoming in earnest! But more of that later in the next instalment, gotta keep you on your toes!!!

Until now faithful followers, you know the drill......

TTFN xxxx

Roadtrip with rain, surfers, invisible crystal castles, RAIN and random massive prawns!!

Well hellooooooo people from Brisbane Airport!! Here I sit, bashing out the blog before my flight to Adelaide to start the next leg of my trip.  Winston sits in the carpark before me, all tidy and ready to be returned and I am smiling reflecting on a long but fabulous day yesterday, the details of which I am about to share with you....so either close this down now or grab a coffee (or glass of plonk), sit back, relax and hopefully enjoy the ride as much as I did.

So after waking to warm humid rain once more It was time to say goodbye to the wonderful Solitary Islands a place I really would return to if I had the chance, and wished I'd had the time to stay longer.  But move on I must as I have places to go and very special people to see.  I bid farewell to Ann and Helen and with route all planned, I headed out ever hopeful that this rather long journey to Tweed Heads (still only 2 1/2 hours by Mavis' reckoning but I always add 3 to that due to my passion for stopping at every opportunity) would be better than the last couple.

Man alive, i wasn't disappointed.  The only was I can describe it was like riding a bike downhill fast, on a hot summers day, with your legs sticking out shouting 'wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo' for miles.  I loved every 8 hours or more of it!!!

Mavis had obviously taken the horn honking and shouting at roadworks hint and proceeded to show me the way on the roads I love, single carriageway, through forests and farmland, fields of kangeroos and interesting places, with views that no picture could do justice (which is good for two reasons - one: I didn't take many of the views as there was nowhere to stop and two: if I had I can't upload them yet! That's gonna be a job for the Heggies wifi and a bottle of plonk) and making me smile as the hot tropical wind blew through the windows and I sang along to the radio. Heaven. I spied a sign saying 'Sydney 639km' and when I looked at my speedo, I had travelled almost double that! I do love a detour.

The first real town I came across was Ballina and there, as I turned a corner in this lovely but ordinary town, in the carpark of a Bunnings (Bunnings = B&Q) was a prawn.  Not just any prawn.  A big one.  Very big.  And after amusing the workmen all lined up to buy their building materials for the day by taking several well placed selfies of said prawn with myself and Winston, I headed out still wondering what the hell it was there for.  As far as i know Bunnings don't sell prawns...

Then it was a quick stop at Shelley's beach where it was blowing an absolute hooley and it was obvious that a storm was coming, and come it did.  I had to stop as Winstons wipers were struggling to deal with it.  You could tell we were getting nearer to tropical Queensland.  It doesn't have shit loads of rainforests for nothing.

I was starting to get peckish so my next stop after I had meandered through the laid back little surf town of Lennox Head, was to be the iconic and internationally known Byron Bay.  And I can see why it is so popular.  Hip, trendy, full of beautiful surf people from around the world enjoying the funky atmosphere, and as I slipped Winston in beside an incredible VW camper and gracefully fell out onto the road, I knew we would fit right in.  The only choice for lunch was the Ginger Pig, run by a ginger bloke funnily enough but he was no pig, and as I settled into my armchair surrounded by beautiful people with my omelete, enough chips to feed the entire bar and a glass of bubbles I began soaking up the atmosphere.  A bit of shopping followed and then Winston and I were back on those wondrous roads once again.

Brunswick Heads was another lovely town but I cannot recall for the life of me if it was before or after Byron but I will mention it non the less.  Finding out would mean going back to the van and its raining so I'd rather stay here thank you very much!!  So lets move on...

This drive really was something, I took the Tweed Way as it apparently took me through a town called Mooball and anything Moo related I gotta see (I miss that big old lab). There is only one word to describe this drive - majestic! The views were incredible as I wound tight turns up through the mountains (detouring to find a crystal castle the turned out not to be but was a bloody good detour drive wise!) with drops either side and downs as good as the ups! What made it ever better was that it snaked alongside the soulless motorway that just carved its way through, almost wrapping itself around it and making me smile even more.  Then Mooball arrived with the announcement made on a massive motorbike proclaiming the Moo Moo cafe to have the best coffee around.  And it did.
 And motorbikes, lots of them.  And rare expensive ones too I have now been informed by my man when I sent him them all to get his reaction, which was (and I quote)....'OMG babe there is a Suzuki RE5 their like a legend, never seen one in the flesh its got a rotary engine, the Kawasaki is a GT750 two stroke triple, an original 916 and a Honda monkey!!!!! And a classic British AJS.  The Suzuki is a legend... did you touch it, does it run??!!' Bless. I do love my boy.

So after chatting to the girl in the store about living in Kensington (she did, I haven't) I carried on finally arriving at my site at Tweed head some 8 hours after leaving Solitary!  The site was great but I wanted to get out and find some danger. Point Danger to be precise which is actually where the boarder of NSW and Queensland is.  And I am glad I asked the receptionist how far it was because she gave me a very interesting piece of information - Queensland is one hour behind NSW!!  How mad is that?? So you can be on one side of the street at 5.30pm, cross over and its 4.30pm! And I found this out on much to my eventual annoyance on the 5 minute journey as my phone beeped every time I crossed from one to the other.

The view was breathtaking and after the obligatory half and half shots and finally working out which time zone I was in, I realised something else.  I was not only on the doorstep of Coolangata (in fact the caravan park was right under the flight path...) I was also only 30 mins from Surfers!  Had to be done!  So I drove all the way down the Gold Coast past all the little places I remember on my last visit (and finding a few more, good job I am good at 3 point turns in tight places) finally arriving at the madness that is Surfers at sunset.  What a day.  I wandered around, nommed an ice cream, took some snaps and soaked up the atmosphere before finally admitting defeat and needing to head back to get myself sorted for tomorrows departure.  Today really had been something else, not just tiring but exhilarating and wonderful and a great way to end this part of the trip.

Packing done and leaving last minute tidying till the morning, I headed for bed, listening to the traffic on the freeway and the planes overhead...I kid you not.

And then it was this morning, another wonderful sound accompanied my waking, the recycling lorry at 7am.  Thankfully I was up and ready and a 2 hour journey awaited me to the airport.  I bid farewell to the lovely but rather unfortunately positioned site, and joined the Aussie M25 to sit in rush hour traffic and torrential rain and humidity until I arrived here, the services just outside the airport where I am discharging my ramblings before I forget any more, and before I bid a fond farewell to Winston.  He has been a good companion (so had Mavis but I turned her off some time ago as she was starting to get annoying) and this 10 days has been amazing.  I've seen another part of this beautiful and every wonderful country and now I am waiting to head to a much more familiar one - Adelaide - where I will feel so at home and meet with good friends and be treated like one of the family.  Which I owe to my good friend Theresa who, if i hadn't come to visit in the first place all those years ago and in my first big fat Aussie adventure, I would not have met. So thank you.

And so now I must go take Winston to meet his owner at the airport and get ready for my next week of adventures!! I bet you can't wait....

So until another state entirely its TTFN xxxxx

Special Update!!  I'm blogging from the free airport wifi and Winston went back fine, there was a little tear in my ear but I was desperate for a wee and not to have to pay more than the free 30 min parking (which after that is $15 per nano second) so I headed off pretty sharpish.  I'm sure the exhaust wont conk out before he gets back to wherever he is going....bye bye big W.

And so I sit in the bar with an Aussie to my right and an obvious Brit to my left (he is drinking a pint not a schooner and he reeks of Old Spice) waiting for my flight to board.  Oh and I have a Subway, other than packet noodles they are also the staple of a traveller.   Oh and pps I travelled a total of 1600 km when all the books say its 950...no wonder Mavis was having a mare.

Bye bye Queensland, helloooooooo South Australia!

Mmmmmmwahhhh xxxx

My day in Solitary....

Morning faithful ones (including several in America, a couple in Spain, India and Moldova I noticed yesterday....keep it going people I may still get that dream job!!) and greetings from my final morning at the lake.  I only had 2 in fairness but I so wish it had been more.  There is enough nothingness here to keep you amused for days.

And so to my day yesterday and it wont take long (hoorah I hear you cry, I can see the page views going down, I'm watching you all remember!) and after I had sorted out the huge cluster of mozzie bites on my ample behind (I did give them a rather large target) I had an early morning sit by the lake watching it come to life.  There were people milling around and I met Ann and Helen the couple from next door on their way out in a kayak **shudders at memory of near death kayak experience** and I took on board their recommendation of the nicest beach. There isn't much here in Wooli (wool-eye) but bush, river and beach with a shop or two and a pub thrown in (all you need) so I headed along the road for 10 mins and saw all of the above and decided that as nice as it was, I would take a quick sneeky peak at Minnies Beach 10 mins back the other way.  This was equally as lovely but as beaches go, I'd been spoilt so far so I grabbed a quick coffee and cake from the shop and headed back to the site, which was just too idyllic not to enjoy.

And enjoy I did, picking a spot and sticking to it and enjoying a relaxing day that went something like this...

Chill, beer, lake, bit of housework, chill, beer, chat to more neighbours from the other side (the other side of my pitch, I don't mean they were dead), watch them try to get into a kayak and fail, laugh, apologise for laughing, video his wife in case she did similar, beer, got invited to dinner by Helen and Ann to the pub, accepted invite, met their uber cute dog, relax, eat packet noodles for lunch, plan route for tomorrow, beer, listen to birds, watch fish jump out of water, watch boats go by, beer, , find out I'm in the wrong spot and have to move 10 yards to the left and the next pitch (drama), chill, head to pub at 5.30 eat amazing salmon, have more beer, put the world to rights, walk home by mobile torchlight, stare at the incredible nights sky marvelling at the constellations in awe and wonder whilst getting a sore neck and trying to work them out, bid farewell to my dinner companions and then to bed.  Done.  Bosh.  All over.

See that was easy! But then it is easy to be easy here.  This place is beautiful and it may not have much in the way of a town but that is what makes it so special. This park is probable one of the best I've stayed in on my travels and coupled with The Rocks I've had the most amazing chilled out few days.

And today I move closer to the end of the road, off to Tweed Heads which is my last stop before my flight out of Brisbane and onto more fun and adventures!! But before then I am sure I can cook up some more ramblings for you so on that note I will bid you farewell and say, as always...

TTFN xxxxx

From the Rocks to Solitude via roadworks a nice view or two and well, roadworks...

G'day possums and hello from Wooli (pronounced wool-eye) and what a paradise it is.  But more on that later, let's pick up where I left off and I think that waas picking up my unwashed washing....

I headed back to Winston to find that a pack of kangeroos had decended on my patch, much to my delight, and after several photos and lots of chatting to them like a mad old roo lady, I manourvered Winston around them and headed out.  I was really struggling to leave this lovely place so I headed back into town to pick up and coffee and two more of those delicious scones and headed out just a little way to visit Trail Bay Jail (seemed rude not to as I had been looking at it from a distance all day yesterday). Another incredible view met me and also another amazing beachfront campsite and I settled down on a bench by the sea whilst two fellas nearby had a bit of a tiff about their tent in very hushed whispers so I didnt hear.  Epic fail boys.

Breakfast eaten I had a mooch round the jail that was built by the convicts to hold the convicts back in the 18 somethings and never held any prosioners. It did, however hold some in the First World War but has then been stripped of its roof and metal fixings and still stands majestically unused for us all to enjoy.  Then it really was time to leave, not before a quick stop back to town to pick up another couple of tops from a shop I got two from yesterday as they were so nice. All one size, get in and get out.  All one size my arse, two fit over my arse nicely the other two I have to put on the conventional way over my head and they are fine as long as I don't wany to move my arms...that's ok, I will lose some weight eventually.

Then it really was off time and my first stop was going to be Nambucca Heads, looked very pretty in the pictures and when I got there it was indeed pretty.  But the getting there wasn't really. It was more roadworks along a stretch of undeniably nicer road than back home, but a bit dull none the less.  Nambucca bekoned and I took a wander down on the foreshore and the colour of the water was stunning. Most of the places I have visited so far on this side of Oz are river towns where they meet the sea and this was no exception.  There were rocks all along the foreshore that people had painted with greetings and messages, some big and some small but all colourful and most heartwarming.  I decided that I wanted to add my own little mark so after hunting the van for something suitable to make my everlasting mark, I loving marked a rock emblazened with Wally of Where's Wally fame with L + V and a kiss underneath.  It won't be there long I dont suppose as all I could come up with was an eyebrow pencil, but the thought was there and I have the pics to prove it!! I must learn as those of you who has read my previous escapades (if not why not) will know that they love a bit of rock graffiti here in Oz.  Next time I will come prepared with a Sharpie at least.

Another thing that had struck me today was the weather, it was hot, muggy hot, and no wind, so another popular travel companion that is always with me (once again faithful followers will know) returned.  The sweat-tache-o-meter was back and oin full swing today! (for those new to my ramblings, if the temperature gets about a certain level and humidity is high I get a line of sweat on my top lip.  The more sweat, the hotter it is and it never lets me down.  That and the cankle I get on my right side when it hits 35 or more.....)

Me, Winston and my top lip were off in a flash, onwards and upwards to our next stop, Coffs Harbour. Another unremarkalbe drive bought me to this pretty seaside hub and I spent some time in the harbour (just missing a Sunday Market, I love a Market) and the grabbing myself some super freash prawns for my tea and a sarnie to eat for my lunch.  It was lovely and I'm sure if I'd been inclined to stay there longer I would have found it even lovelier but it was one thing I am not keen on and don't find often in this fair land - busy.  Too busy for me, not Margate or Hastings busy on a heatwave, but busy as I've seen a town out here.  So I headed out to a nearby beach, nommed my sarnie and then promptly saw more of the industrial side of Coffs Harbour whilst Mavis tried to navigate me to a supermarket.  Beer and supplies bought I headed out in search of the BIG attraction here, the Big Banana! And advertising thingy from the 1950's that started the craze for big things in Oz (the lobster etc etc).  It was big, but not as big a big thing as I've seen.  And it was currently being invaded by 4 asian women having their picture taken by an elderly man.  This took some time and finally when I was sure I was not going to get anyone else in my shot (I hate that), snaps taken and time to head off again.

Now if I thought the bit from The Rocks to here was dull, the next bit was absymal.  That's not to say the landscape wasnt beautiful, it was and I'd much rather drive this than the M25, but the roadworks went on for ever.  They are building a 6 lane freeway (part of which I think I got onto the other day, still not convinced it was open) right through the beautiful forest.  And I mean right through, it rips it like a massive ugly scar and is such a shame.  But someone somewhere thinks they need it, and after still managing to find the wonder an beauty in the landscape I finally left it behind and the road became single carraigeway again, finally turning off for the road to the Solitary Islands Resort.

My kind of road once more, the trees, the noise of the insects, the smells and the dappled shade of the trees made my arrival into this isolated place a wonderus one.  And then I was there, in Wooli (wool-eye) and the incredible BIG4 Solitary Islands Park.  STUNNING does not cut it. The lovely receptionist checked us in and I headed through the palm fringed path to find our spot.  A riverside spot to die for, no moving for the sunset for me.  It truly was magical and the pics (when I can upload them, sorry Heggies I will be using your wifi in Adelaide!) will show you how good.  Secluded, quite, beautiful and serine, perfect.  So I cracked open a beer and sat by the waters edge as the sun went down.

I survived the mozzies by dousing myself in tropical strength jungle formula One beer led to two, then three, then I nommed the big bowl of prawns I'd bought in Coffs, then another beer then I realised it was dark, very dark and I had no torch.  Thank the Lord for my phone!    Soon it was time for bed and I was quickly in the land of nod very happy and content, not before thinking how untidy Winston was looking and where did I put that washing up from yesterday. Until I woke with a wet arse only to find it was raining again and the window was open.  So I switched ends, not before a quick bush wee (the loos were too far away in the dark) and woke this morning refershed and very very content and with several mozzie bites on my behind....that'll teach me to take a cheeky squat!

And here I sit, chores done, Winston tidy, washing up found, sun glaring the rain away, washing drying and silence all around (apart from the odd comedy nose blow from next door...) I called my mum to wish her Happy Mothers Day and spoke to my man which made all of us very happy and now to go find the little town of Wooi (you know it now) and check out another beach.  I do it all for your enjoyment you know....

So until later as always, TTFN xxxxx

My day at the Rocks....where I didn't do nothing!!

Good morning for the solitude that is the camp kitchen! Up and moving on again today so I had a plan to wash my clothes whilst writing my blog, thereby killing 2 birds with one very ingenious stone.  So I loaded up the washer, poured in my powder and the proceeded to ply the machine with money. $4.  I had $4 but not in 4 x $1 coins....so I unloaded the washer and put the now powder covered clothes back in the bag and headed for stage 2 of my ingenious time saving plan.

Camp kitchen, cup of coffee, blog.  Handy electric kettle too, and with bottle of washing up liqud wedged onto the on button to keep it from going off, here I sit clad in new togs I bought yesterday from a shop in this lovely little laid back town, and resembling an ageing middle aged hippy woman travelling the world to find herself.  Hang on....

Right, I digress, onto the events of yesterday and as the name suggests I had a day at the Rocks and I didn't do anything...and as my good old English teacher Mr Barnard used to say 'if you didn't do nothing you must have done something'.  Well I did.  I sat and watched and sat and watched and sat and chilled and lay and chilled, and mooched about and chilled and went in the sea and chilled and sat and watched.....you get the drift.

I headed out in search of a place to base myself for the day and within 10 mins I arrived at the most perfect spot, the headland at Brighton park overlooking the stunning Front Beach, with sweeping views to Horseshoe Bay and Back Beach behind. Obviously.  Crystal clear turquoise waters and pure white sands. Idyllic. It was just after 7.30am and the sun was still struggling up, and I picked my parking spot under the shade of a tree, headed back down to the nearby coffee shop to get my brekkie and sat in the spot that I would occupy all day, eating scones and drinking coffee whilst the locals walked their dogs and swam in the early morning surf.

Then a van turned up and parked and soon I was chatting to Warren from Newcastle (this one not ours).  He was a bloody good bloke and was here for a friends daughters wedding which was happening down by the river at 10am with the shindig after at the local tavern.  He was a well travelled bloke himself and we gabbled on for ages about where we'd been and life in general, and he told me about his mum who, when his dad died, brought a camper and went travelling for 15 years!!
My kinda girl!  He said she would have been proud of me and I'm always amazed at the lovely reaction I get from people when they find out I'm travelling alone.  I just take it for granted I suppose. So after giving my opinion on his choice of wedding card (very good I must add) he was off for a swim and a shave (multi-tasking) and an invitation to the shindig after the wedding!! Breakfast and a date all before 9am!!

And so the day just meandered by in this wonderful little town, friendly people, a lovely little centre that I did some shopping in , places to eat but not too many, craft shops and a man in his garage making the most wonderful wooden structures that I wish I had room for.  I had my lunch on with Winston, chatted to some locals and not so locals, my position didn't change but the view did as the sun moved round and I knew I would still have the perfect spot for the sunset too.  I was chilled.  Very chilled. This place was truly special and it must be as those of you who know me well know that sitting down in the same spot for more than 10 minutes is a chore for me. But I managed a whole 12 hours here.

And I loved every minute of it.  3pm came and it was tie for afternoon tea which consisted of a beer and some lush chips coated in chicken salt (which I suspect was chicken oxo cube sprinkled on it but it was bloody lovely!!). I enjoyed the sun on my face, the wind in my hair and the salty air filling my lungs.  Heaven. Then as the sun began to get lower, I turned and watched it dip behind the bay with a beer, actually wishing for the first time on my travels that I was sharing it with someone (yes you Vinnie!!) but smiling knowing that we have so many more sunsets to share in our future.

And then it was gone and I was hungry! So I headed to the bar over the road for a bit of tea, out on a Saturday night, not out out but out!! The bar was buzzing, the after effects of a beer festival and nommed a massive prawn salad before carefully navigating Winston back to the site in the dark, happy content and ready for bed. So I snuck into a cheeky little spot, preceded to plug in the van using the light from my mobile and settled down, beach weary.  It's surprising how tiring doing nothing is!!

I was woken this morning to the sound of rain pounding the roof again and a slightish damp patch to my right.  Man alive I've dribbled a lot I thought but later realised that the rain had come through the fly screen...

So today I move on after saying goodbye to the lovely little family sitting with me eating their breakfast right at this moment and this amazing town that I am frankly sad to leave, it's off to jail first and hopefully some more solitude. I must remember to collect my unwashed washing on the way past the laundry....

As always, TTFN xxx

Time to relax at some rocks, South West Rocks to be precise...fingers crossed!!

Well hello, I am actually writing this on the day it happened, rather than the morning after as seems to be happening lately.  I had plans to sit outside in my fabulous new surroundings, in the dark, listening to the wildlife around me but instead I am in Winston listening to a family pitch a massive tent in the dark not 10 feet from me.  But there in lies another tale....

I left off this morning deciding what to wear on this dampest of days, keen to move on an see what my next port of call had to offer. I planned on making a little tour of the town first and had to drop off the key to the amenities block at the campsite that never was.  But before that there was rainforest to be explored.Sea Acres rainforest park to be precise, over 100 acres of rainforest, first plotted by the English back in 18 something.  I was fortunate enough to be accompanied on my walk by Dennis, the expert guide who made it a joyful and informative one, even it is was a little wet.  It was a rainfoest after all... You walk round on a boardwalk that meanders through so many different types of trees and palms and plants.  Dennis even let me try some bush tucker, explaining how most of the plants
in the forest were used by the aboriginal people for everything from food to medicine to sandpaper and cable ties!!

After a lovely and unexpected hour I bid farewell to Dennis and headed into town to have a mooch and return the aforementioned key.

Now I could go into great detail how I made it from Port MacQuarie to my first point to call but I'm not inclined to.  It was dull.  And frustrating.  And filled with roadworks and detours and new motorways that were not signed or even driven on by others it seemed, that took you miles out of your way making you beep the horn at no-one in particular on the way, to then have to drive all the way back with not a glimpse of the road you have just driven on before finally hitting the road that meandered along a river and salvation.

That salvation was Crescent Head Beach.  What a fabulous little town with an amazing beach. And an even more wonderful surf club food joint called Surf Sliders selling wonderful mouth watering fayre.  So I sat, under a tree with a glorious grilled fish burger, posh mayo and coleslaw, avocado and an interesting family with a cute Labrador called Missie.  I know she was called Missie and the male urchin kept screeching it at her over and over and over again...

A walk along the beach came next watching the surfers (for this was indeed a surfers haven and apparently the surf longboard capital) with a cracking little campsite right on the beach too.  One to remember. After recharging my batteries and a change of clothes (going from 'I have no idea what to wear so I will dress like I'm off shopping' to beach babe in a twinkle of a lambs nose) I was off to follow that river I now know to be the Belmore and the MacLeay, on a beautiful ride through rich farm country, with horses and cows grazing by the riverbanks and homesteads popping up every now and then.

All was becoming right with the world again.

The next little detour was Hat Head.

Well the blogging on in real time went well.  Fell asleep so now I sit as always, writing whilst the world comes alive. So where was I? Oh yes on the way to Hat Head.  This was another sleepy little hamlet, so cute and with another perfectly placed campsite evidently popular again with the locals, that had a river inlet to one side with a beautiful bridge that was perfect for fishing of (I know this as I saw people doing it) and the ocean on the other with another blinder of a beach.

After a short meander I was heading back the river road on my way to my next campsite - Sunshine South West Rock....not before a quick little detour up a road lined with more eucalyptus trees and that warm scented air that I love so much,which wound up and up until I was rewarded with bliss. Smokey Cape Lighthouse with a view that finally got me silent.Captain Cook lookout to the left overlooking North Smokey and Gap beach, and the a sweeping panoramic view of a bay to
the right (of unknown name!).  Stunning.  I braved the sheer climb to the top of the cliff where the lighthouse stood,crampons and hiking boots not essential, past 3 lighthouse keeper cottages that were now holiday lets.  This was definitely the place to stay to get away from it all.  View soaked in and once again feeling relaxed I finally hit my campsite.

Beautiful setting, with a pirate ship in the swimming pool and kangaroos waiting for me (yes real ones!!!) I was given free reign to pick a spot under the trees away from it all and finding the perfect spot (or so I thought) I set up before heading to the beach.  There was one in walking distance I had been reliably informed by the very helpful receptionist so headed out to find it.

After a 1000m bush walk through a lovely shaded well, bush, I came to a fork in the path and went with my ears as I could hear the waves crashing down to my right.  And I was right, and rewarded with a beautiful and almost deserted beach that I sat and enjoyed for a good couple of hours as the sun set lower in the sky.  Happy and content, wishing I could share this with a certain someone who was waiting for me at home (hello Vinnie!!) but our time will come.  I decided to head back before dark and thankfully some helpful person in the past had marked the unmarked track with a couple of sticks so I knew which way to go back from the beach and the path took on a different feel as the sun was setting and streaming through the trees.  I thought back to all the bush tucker tips that Dennis had taught me earlier in the day and started to look around to see if I could see any I could recognise as I was feeling a bit peckish.  The Doctors say there will be no lasting effects from the berries I ate but I will feel crook for a bit....only kidding!!

Finally it was back to Winston and I took myself off to the camp kitchen to cook the sangers I had bought the other day in Budululuhaha or what ever it was called, the place of geese/ducks and pies.  Food in hand I sat among the trees and cracked open the bottle of fizz I got on the first day into Hunter, and just enjoyed the tranquillity. Bangers and Bubbles, I know how to live.  That is, of course, until a family arrived after dark to find a boat parked in their camping spot so were very kindly directed to the pitch right next to me and promptly putting their tent up in darkness (credit where credit is due mind you, they did a sterling job and were initially apologetic) whilst their 2 young boys entertained themselves.  Hence the writing my blog last night.  Still, I am off out for an explore later and when I come back I will just park a couple of spaces away and all will be good for tonight...

So that is it for yesterday.  This really is a lovely place, really relaxing and if I'm honest, the best give come across yet.  I am going to chill, enjoy the beach and the solitude and hopefully some jail time!

Until tomorrow my faithful friends, TTFN xxxxx

Beaches, Koalas and Caravan Parks - from the Great Lakes to who knows where.....!!

Good morning peeps from a rainy, yes RAINY Port MacQuarie!! Rude I known but onwards and upwards, I am British so a bit of rain never hurt me, apart from making my hair go curly which is a sacrifice I am happy to make at this moment in time!

So where was I when we last spoke? Oh yes, heading out for who knew where on route to where I was going.  That made sense when it was in my head....

After bidding a fond farewell to Pops and Fred and setting up their sat nav I continued the route I had planned to take, hoping to find somewhere that took my fancy enroute to spend the extra night I now had free. There was one stop however that had to be made and whatever I encountered on the way was a bonus.

First stop was a right off the highway at Kew and another lovely visitor information centre where a helpful gentleman furnished me with booklets galore and one very handy book I could have done with before I set off 'Driving from Sydney to Brisbane'....better late than never tho!!  Then I headed towards the coast again (which in reality is never really that far away as the aptly named Pacific Coast Highway would suggest) on the Ocean Road (another dead give away) firstly finding the beautiful North Haven Beach. A blinder of a surf beach but, as always, utterly deserted.  I had the whole place to myself.  After some writing in the sand and more 'I appear to be naked but I'n not' selfies Winston and I headed off to yet another stunner, Bartletts beach, and then a quick trip to Rainbow Beach.

It was at this point that I got waved at by some very agentive looking workmen on their lunchbreak.  I thought nothing of it and attempted to peel myself as gracefully as a middle aged woman wearing no bra and a £5 Primark sundress that I am guessing was not designed for that particular demographic can, but not really managing it.  A little stroll on the beach and the above in reverse I headed away, happy that I at least got a smile.  It then began to rain a little (more like spitting in the wind) and I meandered past Lake Cathie (pronounced Cat Eye) which then delivered me to the amazing Light House Beach in Port MacQuarie.

An amazing wide sweeping beach, with houses in the clifftop above and the Tacking Lighthouse perched on the hill with yet another incredible view.  It was here I decided to stop for a bit of lunch as Port MacQuarie was on my lists of things to do and see, and house the one reason I mainly wanted to visit.

Cheese and biscuits followed and more pondering on why I had been getting so many looks these past couple of days whilst driving around.  Maybe it was because I was on my own? Maybe it was because they thought I was a stunner? Maybe it was because from behind the wheel of Winston, as in my recent beach selfies, I look naked?  I decided it was the latter and chuckled to myself as I nommed on cheese and crackers, soaking up the view and taking yet more 'I'm not really naked' selfies.

After lunch it was time to find the main event - The Port MacQuaries Koala Hospital!!!!!! Eeeeek!! I was going to melt (and melt I did) but first I had to find it, and after Mavis had very kindly sent me of a totally unnecessary but rather informative unscheduled tour of the town, I finally arrived.

And what a joy it was.  All staffed by charity and volunteers, they have been taking in injured koalas since 1973, all started by a couple in their back garden.  Now they have over 20 that they care for, some permanent as they are blind and can no longer go back into the wild, and some they are rehabilitating and getting ready for release.  They were soooooo cute!! Even if the main reason they are rescued is because they contract Chlamydia and they all go blind! That and road traffic accidents and dog attacks (I mean they get run over, not having car accidents). The staff who run it are amazing and so passionate, I spoke to one in particular called Eileen who had only just started volunteering but was already smitten, and happened to come from Oldham where my Dad was born and quite possibly knew him!!!  Small world.

So after the delights of the koalas and the impromptu tour of the town, I decided to spend the night here as Lighthouse Beach was going to be my stop for the first real sunset of my trip.  Here in began a saga...

I found a brochure that listed 2 campsites in the town.  One called Sundowner on the beach in town, or one at Lighthouse Beach.  I know what you are thinking.  Hold that thought.  So I weighted up the options and decided on the Sundowner as it was in the town and buzzing and I could have a wander round after the sunset.  Once again I had a tour of the town whilst Mavis decided where it was, and I finally arrived.

You should always go with your gut instinct and  I wish I had here, as after paying $36 to the girl on the counter for a waterfront site, being given a key to the facilities and a map I headed off in search of my pitch, only to drive straight round and all the way back out again. The 'pitch' may have been on the waterfront but you couldn't see it for the massive wall, as decorative as it was, therefore defeating the object and I didn't fancy sleeping between four lads in an estate car and something that resembled a dust cart.  So with the key to the amenities still in my hand I headed straight out of town to Lighthouse Beach! And what a joy this little site was. Not right on the beach but a minute walk which rewarded me with another incredible view and almost total isolation. I found my pitch, had a sneak around and headed back out to the lighthouse for the main event, not even bothered that this had cost me another $30, small price to pay for contentment.

A trip via a Coles that was harder to find that a secret nuclear bunker despite a 30 foot sign advertising it (maybe they should have said it was underground) for some supplies and then I settled myself in position for the sunset, cheese roll in hand (I know how to live!).

It was gorgeous and as the sun disappeared behind the ridge I marvelled on the fact that I had yet again seen both a stunning sunrise and sunset in this country I love so much and never fails to amaze me.

It was then back to the site, a little drinkie and time to settle down for the night, woken by the rain thundering down on the roof and smiling, I love that sound, cosy and content.

And here I sit, on day 6 of my trip, watching the rain fall and looking forward to heading out to my next point of call, South West Rocks after firstly looking round the town and shoreline that Mavis has already been so kind to show me.  Even the rain can't dampen my spirits although it appears to be dampening Winstons curtains, ready to take on the day when I've finally decided what to wear....

Until later, TTFN xxx

Hunter Valley to the Great Lakes....better late than never!!

Well I managed to balance on one leg long enough for the blog to go through yesterday but the pictures were a step too far...I know my powers of description are good, but I fear without the pictures you will miss the essence of my trip.  But fear not, I am sure that I will find some wifi man enough to deal with the mass upload that will be required at some point, even if it has to wait to Adelaide when I can use my wonderful hosts the Heggies wifi....ahem!

So, lets begin todays ramblings, after a wonderful sunrise it was time to leave wine country behind and find some beaches! All packed up and ready to go, Winston, Mavis and I headed out north in the direction of the Great Lakes.

I drove out on the highway that is far more picturesque than any motorway we have back home, and headed for my first stop, the quaintly named Tea Gardens, via a pit stop at a cafe in the shape of Ayers Rock.  I kid you not, it was a sight to behold. Back to Tea Gardens, quaint it was too.  Nestled on a stunning lake with fishing boats a plenty, it was joined to the other side by the Singing Bridge (unsure why, it didn't make a noise but it made me feel like singing a ditty on the way over).  I had a meander up the boardwalk talking in the sunshine and then headed for the ever helpful tourist information office.  As always it didn't disappoint and the wonderfully helpful local showed me all the best places to visit on my little trip to my destination, Tuncurry. Although I did just smile and say 'oooo that sounds lovely' when she highlighted the off road route through the National Park, not quite sure Winston is up to that, but I took her advice on the beaches.

And she was right.  There were 2 beaches on offer here, Jimmys and Bennets and both were spectacular, and deserted!! So I oood'd and aaaaaaa'd and paddled and sat for a while, feeing the sun beating down and the smile speeding over my face, all accompanied with the obligatory 'I look naked' selfie.....

Next stop was Bulahdelah where the Great Lakes Way started, the road which would, as it says on the tin, take whoever drove it to the Great Lakes.  But first there was fuel to be had for both me and Winston (I don't bother feeding Mavis, she seems to do ok) and the place I was headed for was the bakery on Stroud Street, legendary for it's pies.  So two bought (one for now and one for ron), supplies also purchased in the local shops including pork and pistachio bangers and some cheese that I had to buy tin foil and freezer bags to wrap it in as it was soooooo smelly.

I decided to eat my first pie at the lovely little picnic tops but the river that seemed popular and looked very quaint with all the ducks milling around (now on further examination I am not 100% sure there weren't geese which would explain their behaviour).  No benches were free so I sat on the lush grass and began to savour my meat pie when some of the duck/geese became interested in me.  Very interested.  Far too interested.  And when they were rooting in my handbag, pecking at my feet and staring me in the eye ready to take that pie from my hands (much to the amusement of everyone else sitting at table munching their lunch) I realised it may be time to swallow my pride and get up.  Thankfully I was saved by a small hamster like creature (Isuspect it was a dog) that diverted the attention of the duck/geese long enough for me to escape.

Winston fuelled we were ready for the off and so began the stunning drive through thick lush tall trees, with bends that required 2nd gear and sheer drops on one side that would have made me nervous had I been sitting in the passenger seat. Truly beautiful. Then the trees broke and lakes came into view, vast expanses of water glistening in the sunshine, names which escape me but Smiths lake stood out as a thing of beauty.

A small detour to Seal Rocks which was breathtaking (I am running out of describing words and I hate to use one more than once in a paragraph so forgive me if I do) with the turquoise blue and green crystal water I had been craving for.  There was also a lovely campsite right on the beach which in hindsight would have been a stunner to stay at but onwards and upwards it was.

The road carried on in same beautiful way for miles and then I felt the need to eat my second pie, so I came across a perfect tranquil little spot called Sunset which even more importantly was duck/geese free.  This pie was even more amazing than the first, beef curry, and as I sat shaded by the tall majestic trees, watching the glass like water ripple I realised once again how lucky I am to be alive and have the life I do.

After a bush wee and wishing I could stay there to see it if the little area lived up to its name, I headed out nearer to my final destination, the roads getting a little more bumpy which was not really working for Winston and all the precariously placed items in the back, or for my suspension as I had decided to go braless for the first time....

Anyhoo, I finally arrived in the lovely Tuncurry through Forster (pronounced foster) over a bridge that spans green crystal clear waters of the lakes and checked into my site.  Lovely, right on the lake but HEAVING!! Full to the brim with fisherman and local holiday makers, but I can see why, the fishing here must be as amazing as the lakes are. Then I am told by the receptionist that my DAD had been here looking for me!!! OMG!! It turns out he and Fred were passing through and wanted to say hello but I was still hours away enjoying the beaches so they checked into a local motel!! So after some texting and number confusion (I dialled the wrong number and got a bloke, then got a call from a very angry woman asking who I was ringing her fella....it took a while but we got there in the end) we finally met in the local Bellvue Motel.  Bless them both, they had stayed with a friend called May somewhere neither of them remember and were heading up to Coffs Harbour so we sat, had a couple of drinks and a bit of dinner and I settled them into their motel room, which resembled as cross between Phycho and Crossroads....

Then it was back to the site for me and bed.  Not before I had made a decision to move on a day early and head further up the coast.  Don't get me wrong this place is lovely, but I have seen all I need to and have no intention of fishing so I am off in search of something more.  Having said that the sunrise was spectacular this morning and I detoured from the shower block at 6am with toothbrush in hand to wonder at it.  The pictures are something special and you will get to see them if I ever get wifi again.

And after the sunset faded I met Pops and Fred for a rather fine breakfast at the cafe on site and bid them farewell as they too had made the decision to take a detour and head back for Sydney.  And then it wad out on the next leg of my travels and to find more wifi....still think the pics will have to wait but fear not, they will be with you in abundance soon.....

TTFN faithful followers!

A trip is not a trip without a wine tour.....!

Well good morning from the middle of the night!! It is currently 2am faithful followers and I a wide awake!  After 30 mins of laying looking at the beautiful clear starry night sky through the back window of my van, I needed gave in to the urge of Mother Nature and went to the loo and now I am wide awake and blogging on.  It must be jet lag still, nothing to do with the shenanigans and copious alcohol consumed yesterday....ahem.

So, Where was I when we last spoke? Oh yes, reliving my embarrassment of the horn honking and waiting for Tex - he of Tex Tours, ready to show me some of what the Hunter Valley is famous for. After watching the sunrise and enjoying a little breakfast in the early morning sunshine I got myself ready for the day ahead.

And so 10am arrived and so did Tex - all 6ft 5 of him! 100% Aussie male with a cracking sense of humour and 2 other fellow wine tasters on the bus, Jackie and Nicky from good old Blighty. So on we went, chatting away an picking up more  unsuspecting victims on the way - Renne from Taiwan (we didn't pick her up from Taiwan obviously) followed by Rosemary and Manfred (from England and Germany respectively) and finished off my Little Mix (four lovely young girls from England, Scotland, America and Canada).  They were staying in a cabin in the woods that had all the makings of a slasher movie script and had come up from Sydney on a Groupon Deal!!  I'm looking out for Groupon deals for my next trip!!!

Now we all know how a wine tour works right?  You have an informative and witty host, visit several vineyards, taste as many of their wines as you possibly can, maybe eat some free nibbles, have a bit of lunch, do some more drinking, chat with and get to know your fellow travellers, savour the atmosphere, buy some wine that is well worth the money when you realise what goes into making it but leaves you short on your food and petrol budget for the next few days, get drunk, make a tit of yourself and get back to your van, pass out and wake up in the middle of the night with a mouth like a badgers arse and needing a wee a racehorse would be proud of....

No? Well that's how it went for me!! We started at the great little Pigs Peake, run by the equally splendid Robert (the wine maker himself) who showed us through his amazing selection of wine with names such as Sowvingnon Blanc, Sows Ear Semillion, Pinot Piggio, Pigs Blood, The Wolfie, House of Bricks and beautifully named Pork Sword to name but a few.  He was really informative and we actually learnt a lot about the wine we were drinking, even seeing the grapes for the Pinot Piggio ready to be crushed and also the deep deep red shiraz grapes all ready fermenting ready to make a wine that I really wished I could remember the name of but I can't as it appears I was so sloshed when I left the first place I left the piece of paper with all my notes on at the cellar door.I just wanted to dive head first into that big vat of red grape heaven.....I also vaguely remember the rather lovely Robert seducing us with chocolate to try with one of the wines but I discussed it with Jesus and the rest of the group and they were all fine with me breaking Lent and sampling some dark cocoa heaven....all in the name of wine tasting.  Sorry God.

We were there nearly 2 hours and after buying a Wolfie (second only in price to another one I cant remember but that the Queen has just ordered to serve at one of her next do's) and knowing my fellow travellers a little better, we headed off to our next stop, Constable Estate Vineyards and after only 2 hours of knowing each other, we were all getting along famously!

Constable was an altogether different affair where we sat and drank fewer wines, but were lovely none the less, but what did happen was that we all chatted and got to know each other better, Jackie and Nicky were fab, Jackie over from England visiting Nicky who had moved to Oz 18 months ago and they had met years ago backpacking in this very country and stayed in touch.  Little Mix were all working in Sydney and had met up when they all arrived and were now great friends and Rosemary and Manfred (the lucky man on the tour) were adorable and had been together for 30 odd years and now lived on the south coast of Oz.  And it turned out that Renne was not with her husband as first told by Tex, she was here with a fella she met last week and he invited her to come along with him while he attended a conference and they were getting on famously!!! It's amazing what you find out when the wine is flowing....!!

By this point we were all a little squiffy and in desperate need of food so we headed to Hunter Valley Village and had an amazing lunch at Oscars followed by a bit of shopping in the Christmas shop. Back on the bus and off to the next stop Lambloch Estate with a view to die for and the very informative James who taught us more about wine whilst very kindly ignoring the 'we are all a bit drunk and have just eaten a huge lunch' yawns emanating from some of the group! Then it was smelly cheese and Fudge (not together I must add) and onto our last stop which was Jackies favourite wine in the UK, McGuigans.  Although the setting was lovely, this was the biggest vineyard we'd been to and lacked the personal touch, and it showed in the wine.  Either that or we were just too pissed to care.....

It was at this point that we had to part company, the witty and congenial Tex taking me and Renne back first so goodbyes were made and blog address given out and if you are reading this Jackie and Nicky thanks for a great day and here's to more hapy travels!!  If you are not reading this then I obviously showed myself up and you were just being polite!!! No surprise there then.

So with plans to try the amazing Thai restaurant on site that comes highly recommended by several of the vineyards nearby despite looking like a rather dodgy looking establishment, I headed back to Winston to drop off my purchases and get ready.  At which point I obviously passed out and woke, as mentioned earlier, well past the point of dinner. I'm never drinking again....

And that is where I am now, me, Winston, the clear starry night, a few mozzies and the every calming sound of insects in trees making that noise I wish I could describe but you would know if you heard it.  I am moving on today, out to the coast and looking forward to some sea air.  Wifi has been a bit flaky and there are photos to accompany my posts as always, but I have to go stand by the managers office, balancing on one leg whilst singing the Aussie national anthem to get it to work so I may wait till later to try that.

Until my next ramblings faithful friends, TTFN xxx

Update for you....I am currently standing by the managers office on one leg doing a very poor rendition of the Australian Anthem and the wifi is still struggling with my pictures.....but fear not there will be pictures soon.....must be a Maccy D's round here somewhere!!!

Laters!