15th to 21st Feb, 2023 Erica & Terry’s place, Bundaberg, Qld

Cooler morning for my walk after the big storm last night.

Terry & Erica’s friends Ron, Joan and Nelda called in to see Erica so there was a lot of chatter going on when Terry and I arrived. Erica loves having visitors but it wears her out so after they left she fell straight asleep.

Steve sent photos of the dolphins they saw at the Cut and a cute Blue Wren who was trying to get rid of his rival who was in the car mirror as he had a few females flittering around and he obviously didn’t want to share! Steve did very well to capture him with the phone camera.

Had a win at last with Wholesale Automotive in Vic. The chap sent through an email with questions then rang me so I got him to ring Steve to get the answers so hopefully we will have that sorted soon to go with the new engine in June/July in Cairns.

Jon is back in SA heading for Alice Springs for work.

Steve sent a photo of some of Margaret’s beautiful roses for me and Erica. Will print it out so she can have a photo on her wall.

Another fun day out at the pokies with Erica & Terry. No wins to start but ended up with a nice one so she had $45 profit in the end. Brenda & Phillip joined us for lunch at Brothers too which was great.

Lovely day at Woodgate for Bradley’s 23^rd birthday. Jan & Rod joined the family too and we had a lovely lunch at the Pub. I had a lovely walk and sit under the trees in the morning, sent Steve a photo. After lunch we went for a swim but it had gotten quite choppy so just stood and the waves crashed about but we did see three small manta rays swim by. Ella took some videos of them.

Now I have everything sorted here in Bundaberg for Terry & Erica I looked up flights back to WA. Will take the train down and stay with my cousin Roald & Joan for a couple of days then onto the plane on the 7^th and back to Stephen (if things don’t change dramatically here!)

Steve has moved south to Bunbury and is staying with Kev & Linda. Margaret sent a text - they are empty nesters now so I gave her a ring to say I had booked my flight over. Looking forward to seeing them and heading back to the goldfields.

Rang Valerie as she and Russell are still in Perth visiting Kirsten & Simon and their new daughter, Rachel. She sent a lovely photo of them.

Heavy rain after lunch today but only for a half hour or so, cooled things down a lot.

Steve and Kev went fishing and had a good day - calm and fish - fabulous.

8th to 14th Feb, 2023 Erica & Terry’s place, Bundaberg, Qld

Erica all ready for the short drive to her new home at aged care facility just down the road from where they live. Very handy for Terry. We have to do a RAT (every 72hrs) and temperature test to enter but we don’t have to wear masks which is good.

It looks very nice and she has a nice big room with patio and nice view. She is just down from the TV room, dining room and games room which is great. Staff are very nice so hopefully she will be comfortable and well cared for there and we will be visiting each day too.

Sent off an email to order the new engine for the truck - 4 litre Cummins. Steve will put it in when we get to Cairns in June. He has worried about the little motor in the Nissan since we left and so far so good but he decided it wanted the security of the bigger motor so as we had to go home for the wedding he decided to bite the bullet and do it.

Found a nice comfy armchair on Marketplace for Erica and popped around to pick it up. Ended up being the house next door to Terry’s sister, Barbara’s old house - fancy that. Erica thought it was great when we took it in the next day. David, Amanda & Bradley had come up so we had extra hands to put it in place. We then went outside to the open patio area and chatted with Erica. Her niece, Dael, arrived too so we chatted till her lunch was ready in the dining room at 12. She was looking tired but if someone is around she loves to chat.

Terry and I took Erica out to Brothers again for a play on the pokies. We started with a good win, $50 jackpot so that kept us going with lots of other little wins. Had a nice lunch and even Terry had a few wins. Sent the boys photos of the wins. Getting near 1pm when I was thinking we should be heading back and we had a nice win of $15.60 so she was happy to leave on a good note. Terry was also looking forward to his GST (Geriatric Sleep Time), so we headed back.

 

Steve having fun with the gang in Perth for the Aust Sprintcar and Formula 500 Titles. Gavin got his formula out for one last go but the engine blew so he is calling it quits now.

Annalise rang to say her grandparents on her father’s side were in Bundaberg. Betty and Rex rang as we were leaving Erica at the care facility so we arranged to meet them in the shopping centre for a cuppa as it was too hot to be at home today (35 degrees!). They are a lovely couple and we had a great time chatting and look forward to seeing them again at the wedding.

Storm in the morning so I didn’t get my walk this morning - good day to lay in and read my book. Visited Erica as usual twice a day.

Big storm at 6pm, lots of wind, lightning and thunder and heavy rain. Made for a cooler evening for sleeping.

 

1st to 7th Feb, 2023 Erica & Terry’s place, Bundaberg, Qld

Dark clouds building today so it is a bit cooler. A couple of flowers came out on one of Erica’s desert roses so I took a photo to show her I haven’t killed them!

The coolness has gone with a few days of hot, sticky weather and then a couple of storms to just make it stickier.

One of Mum’s friends from her nursing days is still living here so I gave her a ring. She lost her darling Ben (he had the most beautiful singing voice and was so funny and cuddly) 18 years ago. She remarried 4 years ago to Kevin Toft. His father was the inventor of Toft Cane Harvesters. He showed me the first one. We had a wonderful afternoon chatting.

One of Erica’s brothers, Gordon, daughter visited - Roz. So nice to meet her as we are friends on Facebook so nice to be able to meet in person. David and Amanda were up too so we all had a great morning chatting.

Took Erica out to the pokies again with Terry. Had a good time with a few wins so she was happy with the result.

Valerie sent a text on the 30^th to say that Kirsten and Simon had had a little girl, Rachel. They posted up a photo of her and them as they are in Perth now for a few weeks. Hopefully I will be able to have a cuddle when I get back to WA.

Nice photo of me with Erica and Terry.

Erica’s niece Roz arrived for another visit. We had brought the Miller Meyer descendant book for her to look at so they had a lovely time looking at the book Erica had made of the family. I took a photo of Roz and Erica with the flowers Roz had brought the other day.

The wind has picked up this afternoon making it a lot cooler which is nice. Lovely chats with Steve each afternoon while Terry and I sit on the patio having drinks - Steve has his afternoon coffee at the same time with the time difference.

Lovely cooler morning - had to pull up my sheet. Nice and breezy for my walk this morning.

Erica and Terry’s friends, Carmel & Merv, Ron & Joan, came to visit so we had a lovely couple of hours chatting.

Back home I started ringing around doctor surgeries and after 9 I managed to get one that will take new patients as Erica’s doctor doesn’t visit aged care homes! Last night in hospital for Erica as she goes to Blue Care Riverlea Aged Care Home tomorrow so receive ongoing care for her cancer.

22nd to 31st Jan, 2023 Erica & Terry’s place, Bundaberg, Qld

David & Amanda came up from Maryborough and we all went in to visit Erica. Showed her the Dove Orchids that are just coming out at home.

Visited Amanda’s parents, Rod & Jan, at their place in a retirement village across the river.

Chatted with neighbours, Pat & Richard, about their holiday to Norway. Bit cold, low as 30 degrees below!! The Northern Lights were spectacular and they had fun on snow mobiles and on sleds behind the dogs.

Warmer days - needing the fan on!! Steve getting his jobs down on the camper and truck in Mandurah.

Another warm day but Erica was up to a walk in the garden. Got a lovely photo of her and Terry when we sat on the park bench.

Brian came down from Cairns for a surprise visit which Erica thought was wonderful.

David & Amanda came up so we all went in to see Erica. I checked with the nurse if we could take her out for lunch and she saw her doctor and he said that will be fine and over the weekend too if we wanted. We got her wheelchair as it would be too much walking for her at present. Off to Brothers Leagues Club for lunch then a play on the pokies. She was in heaven and we had a couple of little wins. We had been putting in Lotto too and had a win on Wednesday - well it covered the cost of entering!!

Hot muggy days at the moment. Luckily we have a few fans we can move around the house and the air conditioning is nice at the hospital!

Jeff and Lyn drove down from Rockhampton to visit me which was lovely. Brian headed back to Cairns via Brisbane flight. David and Amanda went back to Maryborough so quiet house again now. Erica is still in hospital, we visit her twice a day but she is still quiet tired after her day out so will let her rest well before trying that again.

Took Erica out to Brothers Leagues Club again to play the pokies. We started with a win so I took a photo to send to the others. Terry even had a play and a few wins too. We had a free coffee then lovely toasted sandwiches for lunch. A lady beside us was having lots of big wins, she was playing $5 each hit! She said she had won $20,000 the other day and it was her birthday today so she was having another good day out. We hope she managed to take some of it home! Tried another machine and had a nice win to finish. She loved it but it is very exhausting getting in and out of the car so I will get a wheelchair taxi next time to make it easier. 

Steve has been busy crushing the quartz rocks with bits of gold in them that we brought back from Nullagine. Ended up worth all the work and he got a good arm workout too using the dolly pot to crush the quartz.

15th to 21st Jan, 2023 Erica & Terry’s place, Bundaberg, Qld

15^th

I printed out the Christmas group photos and laminated them for Erica to have in her hospital room.

David & Amanda came up for a visit. Another misty rainy day but not as much rain as yesterday. David took photos of Erica with her photos and put them on the family FB chat page.

 

16^th

Jon rang as he was driving the drill rig from Lake Eyre to Alice Springs. He had flat tyres on the first section on the Oodnadatta Track which was a bit scary when it was the right front one but he is ok. Steve gave him tips if it should happen again - don’t touch the brakes just slowly slow down. He put a couple of photos on the family FB chat page.

 

 

17^th

More rain but nothing like what is falling around Mackay area. Callum is in town so we took him in to see Erica in hospital. They had a lovely time chatting about the family history.

Callum came over after dinner and Terry got out photo albums so they had a wonderful time chatting about family members and things that have happened over the years. He talked about all the in fighting that goes on with other members but we aren’t interested in any of that.

Jon rang to say he arrived safely in Alice Springs which is good to know after having the tyres blow out on the dirt.

 

18^th

Yeah the sun is out and the sky is blue. Put the washing on so Steve can pack clean clothes in his bag to head back to Mandurah tomorrow.

A big mushroom has appeared in the lawn. When we went for our walk this morning there were heaps of normal mushrooms beside the path. Terry asked if we picked any - no.

Steve decided the shed needed a bit more paint on the trims so finished it off today. He decided to put a strip on the door like the one on the roller door so that it matches. The grass is growing as we watch but still too wet for him to mow so that will be Brian’s job when he arrives for a few days on the 26^th.

Last visit for Steve to see him Mum, Erica before he flies back to WA tomorrow. A bit emotional!

 

19^th

Another month since Mum left us.

Up early to drop Steve to the train station for 5.15 train to Brisbane. Then he will catch the air train to the airport and leave Brisbane at 12.30 and arrive in Perth at 4pm their time. Bob & Margaret are going to pick him up which is lovely of them. He arrived there safe and sound.

20th and 21st 

Terry and I pottering around the house, repotting plants etc for Erica and visiting Erica in hospital. Two more radiation treatments next week. I have been doing lots of research to help them make good choices for their futures. A few spots of rain but mostly sunny now with lots of wind.

 

 

8th to 14th Jan, 2023 Erica & Terry’s place, Bundaberg, Qld

Another month since Dad moved on to a better place.

Muggy days with a few showers in between. Steve has nearly done all the fix-up jobs required so now filling in the days between visiting his Mum in hospital and reading books. We booked a flight for him back to WA and our ‘home’ so he can fix a few things up before I join him. He will leave here on the 19^th.

Last job - Steve had replaced the base of the patio post so now to repaint the post and the other three so they match all the handrails he has put into place around the house. He also touched up the stripes on the two roller doors. He loves painting so much - NOT!

Morning and afternoon tea is always entertaining with the visits from our feathered friends. We gave Erica & Terry the duck bird feeder many years ago and now it is being used by the birds.

 

1st to 7th Jan, 2023 Erica & Terry’s place, Bundaberg, Qld

Went for a walk to start the new year off with a good resolution that we carried out for the first day at least!

Day 2 another walk.

Sadly Erica went back into hospital after we visited her oncologist. Hopefully they will find what is causing her arm and leg to lose strength etc. Terry is well though we are all concerned for Erica.

Had an amazing lightning and thunder show. One flash and clap happened over our heads that we thought it hit the shed in the back yard! Received about 19mm of rain which was good. Steve had just mowed the lawn so now it will just grow back quicker!

Another cousin of Stephen’s from his father’s side, called in on their way back to Cairns. Marijke, Bart and Ryan have been having fun on their mountain bikes doing trails in Vic and NSW. When they arrived at the house Marijke spotted this lizard so Steve and Ryan got some photos of it.

After visiting with Terry I took them to the hospital to visit Erica then they headed off again towards Cairns after a photo with Erica.

Steve and I went for a drive then walk around Alexandria Zoo beside the Burnett River. We spotted the lizard the same as they one they found - an Eastern Bearded Dragon.

In the sand near the playground we spotted some old bones! What a great idea. Interesting to read the dates that these animals were wandering around with the Aborigines.

We drove across the old bridge which had a toll on it when it was built - one penny. Drove down the boat ramp area which is below it and found out we could fit the Getz in the support area under the bridge. I love the way things were built with pride back in the day so they are still a lovely thing to look at.