A CRUISE, AND A FERRIS WHEEL

 

First, how about our opinion of last night's dinner and show at Dracula's?

It was goddam HORRIBLE.

We were supposed to be 'scared' on entering, and went on a two minute 'ghost train' ride, with the usual fake dead mummies, scary ghouls etc on the walls making noises... it was just so pathetic!

ABOVE:  It wouldn't have scared a 5 year old.

Cheap, tacky, bad taste, the 'show' was not cohesive, there was very little to redeem it in fact.  One girl was a good singer, the band was good, and one girl did an amazing aerial routine.  The rest was fucking awful.

I would NOT recommend it to anyone.

Stew and Rowena 100% agreed with me on every point.

We walked out well before it ended.  I would have left earlier, but we had paid for a meal, so intended to get what we paid for.

The meal was PASSABLE.  But only just.

And that about wraps it up.

Moving on to today, Rowena is picking us up, and we are catching a train into the city.

We have booked a three hour lunch cruise on the Brisbane River.

I am really looking forward to that.  Surely it will be wonderful?

After the lunch cruise, we might go to the botanic gardens on scooters, or just move on to the Ferris Wheel.

And that is our plans for the day.

Catch ya later.

ANOTHER FUN DAY AHEAD

 

The first thing we are doing this morning is moving motel rooms.

The one we are in right now is in the oldest part of this motel, and it is less than ideal.  The room I stayed in, in August, was in a new building, and was lovely.

I stupidly mentioned to Rowena that this room (our current one) was a bit ikkk... the bathroom pretty much floods when you use the shower, and water runs out the door!  So she took it upon herself to ask management to move us to the newer room.

So they are.  We can move over to it in a couple of hours.

Once that is done, Rowena is coming over, and we are off on another day trip.

Rowena has a couple of appointments this morning, so we will drop her off at them, and go to another big mall for a wander.

Once Rowena is finished,  we are off to the Gold Coast.

Rowena wants to show us around there, and of course, we will dip our toes in the sand as well.

THEN later on, still on the Gold Coast ... we are going to ...

ABOVE:  Dracula's Cabaret and Burlesque Show!  It is a show and three course dinner...  I'll have to make sure I only have a tiny lunch, so I can actually enjoy the meal.

I don't think I have EVER been to something like this... so it's going to be an experience. What fun.

I will try to do a couple of updates during the day for you.  

Catch ya later.

10.03 am Aussy time. We just moved to our new motel unit, its much nicer here. Now we are waiting for Rowena to arrive, then we will be off on today's out 'n' about.

ABOVE: More shopping!  This time for Christmas and birthdays.  At a big mall at Mt Gravatt.

Very nice mall I must say, and HUGE.

We are now taking 5 minutes before heading off to the Gold Coast.

ABOVE: On  the Gold Coast, and had to buy a Gold Coast cap. Stew did too. Rowena INSISTED we buy a souvenir of Australia, and it was her suggestion we get coasters. Yeah nah, a cap is better. 

Getting a tram soon... then 'doing' the market.

ABOVE: Random photos of Surfers Paradise.

Soon we are going to the night market.

ABOVE: The market was really busy, and yes, we did a little more shopping. 

ABOVE: some random tall building... lol.

We are now waiting to enter Dracula's for dinner and the show.

9.30 pm. We have left Draculas early.

More about that... tomorrow. 

For now... I think we need to get home and have a sleep.

OFF WE GO ...

 

We chose the right week to visit.

Our niece, Rowena, is free all week, till Friday afternoon when she picks up her two children.

So basically, she's ours for the next few days, and she's offered to be our guide.

Today we are off to the Hyperdome to do some shopping.  I really wanted to go back there, as there's a couple of lovely ladies wear shops there that I want to revisit.

Rowena is also talking of a few other places we can go... somewhere with a BIG Ferris Wheel?  I'm a bit scared of heights, but ya only live once eh? lol

Right, I'm getting up and starting the day.

Catch ya later.

ABOVE:  I like this photo I took of us about to take off at Auckland yesterday.  I want it on here for me.  Did I tell you the approach into Brisbane airport was rocky and I hated it so much?  Cos I was shitting myself.  The plane kept tipping and dipping ... I HATE LANDINGS the most.

Once we get home from this trip I want to stay off planes for a long time!  I'd rather swim.  😂

2.04 pm (Aussy Time) and Oh My Gosh, have we had some fun today!

Rowena directed us over to the Hyperdome, where I found my FAVOURITE clothes shop.  Rodney Clark is it's name.

I spent 'quite' a bit of money in there, and even found a special dress to wear to an event next year.

ABOVE:  Stew also found some new tops.  See, not all my shopping.  We also got a few other bits 'n' bobs, before having lunch.

I have often seen a shop online that I would have loved to visit.

Lo and behold, it's base is here in Brisbane.  So Rowena again directed us to it.  

ABOVE:  It's called Blue Bungalow, if it's not popped up in your Facebook feed... you don't know what you are missing.

I walked into that shop, and the vibe from the customers and retail staff was AMAZING!  Everyone was having a ball, everyone literally had a sales lady attending them.  If you found something and it wasn't on the rack in your size, your saleslady just messaged the warehouse (right next door) and someone brought your size to you in minutes!

It was just the most wonderful experience... I totally recommend it to anyone visiting Brisbane!

I spent a bit of money in there too!  lol  OF.  COURSE.  I.  DID.

We are now taking a break and chilling out for a while (it's damn HOT outside), before joining Rowena and family for the evening.

Tomorrow is looking to be as busy as today, if not busier.  We are doing several things.... but more on that, tomorrow.

6 pm, and we just did my Trulicity injection. Keeping the schedule even on holiday. Rather proud of myself, cos I didn't stress out over it like I  thought I  would.  It's slowly getting easier, knowing it isn't going to hurt after keeping the numbing cream on for four hours.

8.12 pm, and we are just back from spending a few hours with Rowena.

ABOVE:  It was a very bright sunset tonight.

ABOVE:  Stew and Rowena organising our itinerary for the next few days.

We are doing a few things that most 'tourists' would want to do ... for sure!

I'm really excited about a few of them.

Right now though, I'm so, so tired, and will be off to bed shortly.

Catch ya tomorrow.

OFF TO AUSSY WE GO

 

It's friggin early.  But as we need to get to the airport 3 hours before our flight, we are up and rearing to go.  We've given ourselves more than enough time to get there, in case of delays on the motorway.

We have booked car parking right beside the International Terminal, so that's one big tick.

Then once check in opens, we will be through them gates, and off to Duty Free to pick up my ring.

THEN we can just relax, have some breakfast in the airport and wait for our flight.

It should go like clockwork.  I'm certainly not as anxious as I was the first time I flew over, on my own in August.  And of course, having Stew with me this time will make it much easier, and less stressful.

We shall be leaving in about half an hour, so I better get off here, and put this laptop in me carry on.  

8.28 am and we are at the airport,  checked in and now having a hot chocolate. 

ABOVE: YES, I do now have my gorgeous ring too. 

3.08 pm Aussy time.  We managed to navigate the Brisbane roads with only one slip up, where we managed to back up a busy road, and get into the right lane!  Lucky there wasn't a cop around, cos I doubt we should have done it.  lol

Today has involved A LOT of waiting around.

First for our flights, then we had a very long time to wait for our baggage to come off the plane!

Then a wait for the shuttle bus to take us to the car hire.

Once we got the car, we were FREE.... and off we went.

I was anxious about being the co-pilot, getting us an hour up the road to our accommodation.  But we got here, and are now taking a moment to adjust (it's bloody hot!), before we go to the supermarket for some basic supplies.

LIKE DIET COKE.

After that we will go out and visit Rowena and the kids, and have dinner with them.

4.09 pm ... Right, groceries are in the 'house', now we are off to visit the kids.

Our visit with the kids was lovely.

We went to a local bar/bistro for dinner.  There was our niece Rowena, and my sister's 'adopted daughter' Aliesha and her two kids, Jett and Evie.

ABOVE:  The place was packed!  I thought our food would take forever, but nope, it was super fast, and very good.

ABOVE:  The food... standard fare for a pub, but still very good.

We are now back at our motel, and ready for bed.  It's been a long day.

And tomorrow is likely to be long as well.  We are going... ??? 😂😅😉

Catch ya tomorrow.

PACKING, DUCKS IN A ROW

 

Today is all about getting our ducks in a row, in readiness for leaving tomorrow for a few days in Australia.

Washing up to date.

Rubbish down to the bins.

Coco to Steve 'n' Bex's.

Packing done.

Water plants.

Turn off hot water.

And goodness knows what else?  

I've got all our paperwork... car parking, passports, flight details, Ring pick up documents, car hire, motel in Aussy... there's so much to remember.  This trip is different to the two I did in August, as Stew is coming as well.  So it's not like I'm just walking out of the house and leaving him to it.

I am going to enjoy having him with me this time for sure.

I don't think I'd like trying to arrange a really BIG overseas trip! There is just so much to arrange and remember. 

I would have lists coming out my friggin' ears!

We have to be very careful right now to stay healthy.  Our area was issued with an URGENT WARNING yesterday, as the Water Care Authority detected e coli in our water supply.

So all water being used for food preparation, drinking, cleaning teeth etc has to be boiled for the next few days.

Jeeezzzz I'm glad I don't drink water!  So, we are of course taking extra care, the last thing we want is to get sick before we leave.

Time to get up and make a start on that list.

12.23 pm:  Well all the ducks are in a row by the look of it.

We spent the morning packing, getting the house sorted out etc.

Just home from having lunch at Fergus, our new go-to lunch place.   I couldn't eat much as it was just a bit early for my stomach.  I am not very hungry before mid afternoon now days.

We are now going to chill out for a couple of hours before going over to Steve 'n' Bex's, to drop off Coco.

Stew's not seen the children in a couple of weeks, so he's looking forward to that.

ABOVE:  4.40 pm, and we just enjoyed a couple of hours with the kids.  Coco is going to be very happy there for the coming week.

ABOVE: Bex put Lily's hair up .... and I had to be fast...

ABOVE: Miss Lily, looking adorable with her little pony tail and bow...

ABOVE: As I said, I had to be damn fast to get a photo! She ripped it out in about 4.5 seconds!

ABOVE: Now that Coco is safely off the property, Stew can do the 'spray and walk away'... lol.

Mould remover for the pavers out the back door.

It's one of the last jobs on today's list.

We are nearly ready for tomorrow.

FELICITY:  Stew and I (and Brylee and Griffin) visited my Mum way, way back in the early 2000's, when my Mum turned 70.  That was the last time Stew went overseas.  

We simply don't do overseas trips very often.  

We would love to do a few more, but not while the world feels quite so volatile.  (USA/Russia/Israel etc), and certainly NOT while Trump is acting like a dictator who is pulling the world's strings.

I went outside to talk to 'O' across the way from us, to let him know we would be away for a few days.  He is going to collect our mail.  While out there, the little old lady who usually 'runs' away from me was passing, so I called out 'Hello 'V'... and she stopped and had a lovely chat with me!  She has certainly warmed up to me, which is so lovely.

There's hope of actually liking this place eventually.  😊

Stew is shaving his beard and getting himself all spic 'n' span for our trip.  lol  After that he'll have a shower, then I will be turning off the hot water.  Apparently it is worth is, even for just 6 days.  We will see when I get the weekly power usage report.

Right... its 8.35 pm and we are off to bed early.

Catch ya tomorrow.

NITE NITE.

LOTS TO DO

 

It's two days until we fly over to Australia, so we have a few things on our agenda this weekend.

First off, Lacy is calling around to help us finish off the gardens.  I say help 'us', but in reality she's doing most of the work.  Thank god for Lacy eh?

After that we are all going out shopping.  Lacy needs more gumboots for her job, and Stew and I need to get a few things for our trip.

We also need to get some algicide for the water feature, it's going a little greenish and slimy.  Not ideal.

I am happy to report that I'm feeling much better in my tummy... I now know not to eat those dumplings again.   ikkkkk.

Right.  Lacy came around VERY HUNGOVER... but managed to help us get the final garden sorted out.

ABOVE:  I'm sure she was still half pissed!  She couldn't remember what she was doing !  I had to tell her step by step till she cottoned on. 😂😅😜

ABOVE: But, eventually between the three of us, we got it done.

Then Stew and I went out while Lacy sloped off home to sleep it off a bit more!  I loaded her up with all the left over cake (quite a lot of it!) and some veges that will go off while we are away.

First stop was to get a few more freakin rocks to fill gaps.  

Then we went to Mitre 10 for algicide for the water feature, and another hose reel for out the front of the house.

By then it was lunchtime, so we had a seafood platter from the food court in Chartwell Square.

ABOVE: It wasn't half bad, and at a third of the price of a seafood platter in Raglan, damn good value, without having to travel out there for it.

ABOVE:  Stew also got this seafood salad, but it wasn't that flash.  I'm sure it was made yesterday, as the lettuce was very sad and limp.  Shall not get that again.

After lunch we went to K Mart and I bought some cheap knickers, to fill some gaps until I need even smaller ones.  It will happen!

I'm now going to watch Stew put the extra rocks in the garden, then I'm off to have a nana nap.  I'm knackered.

ABOVE: I wasn't happy with where some of the chairs were, so I moved them.  Much better, I can now see my pretty gardens and water feature.  Stew was like "Yeah, until you move them again... and again...".   Freakin' man knows me too well.

He's now putting the new hose reel up, and I'm off to have that nap.

6.33 pm, and I had a really good nap this afternoon.  I feel so much better for it too.

Stew enjoyed watching sport while I was out for the count.

I just cooked us some dinner, and now we are settling down for the evening.

Working out what we need to get done tomorrow in readiness for leaving bright and early Monday morning.

Catch ya tomorrow.