1st – Heavy rain during the night – was only supposed to be 0.1 to 0.4 mm according to the weather bureau but it ended up more like 100mm instead. I tilted the camper roof after each downpour to run off the excess. As the water washed down over the vinyl surround I noticed a few spots where water was still coming in through the stitching so I marked them ready for when Steve comes back.
Visited Rebecca and Clive in the afternoon. The showers eased off and the wind blew up.
Received some photos from Eileen Coe (nee Alexander) today. She and Mum nursed together and she joined Mum for a holiday in Sydney in 1959 when Nana and Pop were going away on a holiday. Loved this one of Mum and Dad in March 1959.
Greg picked up the Corolla to get a roadworthy as Katie is going to buy it. We had a nice time chatting over a drink.
2nd – Work again for me. A few more showers and some sunshine which was good.
Rebecca from the head of the Science Dept at school dropped in to go through the chemicals we found downstairs that Dad had stored for many years. Some bottles were dated 1970. Unfortunately a lot don’t have labels any more so that will cause a problem to dispose of them. Rebecca sorted out the ones we could get rid of and marked the bad ones – like Arsenic, DDT etc. Thanks DAD!!
Steve arrived home which was lovely. He had a good time with Ray and Carol and even found a few more bits. Ray and Carol found some too which was great though now they understand what we say about fighting with the grass and all the hills.
3rd – No work today as it is a pupil free one so I met Greg at the Dept of Transport to transfer the car’s registration but we couldn’t do it yet as Dad has been dead for over 30 days. Will leave it till next week.
I rang the Council about disposing the chemicals and they said it was ok to take it to the dump. I also rang a chap from Cleanaway and he said to wrap up the known chemicals and take it to the dump too. When I did the chap there said I couldn’t leave it and he rang Cleanaway and was told to drop it off there. When I got around there the chap was the one I rang before and he said he couldn’t take them. He would let the new guy know and they would do a quote to dispose of them for us – could be $300 or so!! So much for ‘doing the right thing’.
Linda sent me a nice message to I rang her and we had a lovely long chat. Very cold in Bunbury. Very windy here now the rain has stopped.
Watched Jim Taylor’s funeral online. Linda and Judy and their families were allowed to be there but no one else as the co-vid cases are climbing in NSW. It was a lovely service and it was lovely hearing their stories about Jim.
Steve and I went to the Bungalow for dinner with Kaylene, Rick, Rebecca, Clive and Wendy and David. We had a great night chatting but it was very noisy so we were all horse by the end of it.
4th – We packed up the camper ready for our few days away.
Roald and Joan called in for a cuppa and Joan brought some yummy buns. So lovely of them to come up again for Dad’s ashes scattering. Dennis has come up too and is already in Atherton.
Ann Worth’s sister rang to see how Mum was going and was very sad to hear that she and Dad had passed. Ann and Len are doing ok in the nursing home in Mackay.
After lunch we loaded the camper onto the truck and headed towards Innisfail. We turned up the Palmerston Range and pulled into Henrietta Creek campsite for the night. The site we booked was the last one available but we couldn’t get up to it so we asked the other campers in the hut if we could park near them. They were fine with it as there was a chap already in one of their camp spots and he wouldn’t move.
We went for a walk to the creek – opposite way to the walks we did the last time we were here. The walk continues across the creek so we stopped here as the misty rain started.
There were 4 couples from Redcliffe and they were having fun playing a game using Dominoes – called Mexican Train Dominoes. Looks like a lot of fun.
5th – We drove into Millaa and parked. Steve rang Terry for Father’s Day. They are looking forward to us coming down at the end of the month.
Jonathon sent a text “Happy Father’s Day Dad, thanks for all the advice and lessons you have taught me over the years. Wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of amazing parents like you two.” That brought tears to my eyes.
Julie walked down to us. She rang Ian and he was at the house so we drove up. He said the track in was ok but a bit slippery. We were ok in our 4WD but Julie and Ian parked by the roadside and walked up.
Ian had mowed and cleaned up around the place which was lovely of him. Julie had helped marking the ‘drain’ that everyone has fallen in over the years. She put some artificial turf beside Marcie’s grave at the back of the house. She is Dad’s sister (between Audrey and Jocelyn) who passed away in 1926, aged 18 days after having problems with her heart. The other grave was for Thorold’s dog, Tim and I think there is another one buried there too. I think Thorold put up the grave for Marcie when he did Tim’s grave. Not sure what was there before that to mark her grave.
Dad was always packing up a few bits and pieces, his walking sticks and his house and wanting to drive ‘home’. He had no memory in the last year that his home of 50 years was his and Mum’s. His mind was just in his youth in Millaa so it was fitting to bring him home. Will keep some of the ashes though to sprinkle with Mum’s ashes at the Cairns Crematorium once Dad’s plaque goes up.
Ian had also cleared the shrubbery at the back so we could see across the pastures below and over the hills – beautiful even if the sky was grey and there were rain clouds coming.
Light misty rain came over on and off while we waited for the everyone to turn up. I wandered around and took some photos of the house. Ian and his daughter have done a heap of work but with Covid and her work as a doctor they haven’t been able to get much done recently.
We got Dad’s ashes out and got ready. The Crematorium provided a lovely plaque too so Ian said we could put it up on the fence once he fixes it up.
We put Dad’s photo on the grave with the plaque and some orchids that Julie’s friends had sent her. Dad loved orchids.
The sun came out so we took some more photos as I remembered Dad’s bottle of Scotch and his hat. He was always wearing his hat which he said was an old Army one – another memory from his youth when the Army were training on the Tablelands during the second World War.
Everyone started arriving. I had invited Doreen as she wasn’t able to attend Dad’s birthday party. Her daughter, Margaret and son, Thomas came as well which was wonderful. Doreen told a few stories of her husband, Tommy’s life here with Dad.
Everyone gathered around. Grace placed a banana and some flowers on the top of the grave so I asked her to tell everyone the story. She said when they were in their early 20s, a group of them went to Ellis Beach and had a great time. After swimming we ate then lazed around. Things were quiet so to keep things moving Grace noticed a banana and thought what to do with it. Dad was having a snooze and Grace peeled it and rubbed it over his face and of course he proceeded to chase her up the beach. He saw the humour in it and they returned to the others with a laugh. From there on, no matter where or when Grace and Dad met the banana story would come up. Sometimes Dad would say, I have something for you, mentioning the banana or he would produce one. Right up to the end she would say ‘How’s the banana boat’ whenever they met or phoned as a reminder of that funny time and they would enjoy a good laugh.
Steve took some photos for me. Julie handed out the booklet she made then she read out a Thank You poem she had chosen. I read out the one she put in the booklet.
Doreen came forward to say something but needed a cuddle first. She said Tige (Dad) and Lena had never forgotten about Tommy and herself and she was very grateful for everything they had done for them and their family.
We all took some of Dad’s ashes and scattered them either by the grave, by the fence overlooking the view or under the mulberry tree and remembered Dad with great fondness. He was a wonderful caring father and loved Mum dearly so we all grew up knowing they loved each other and loved us so much too. So glad to know he is safe with Mum now. It was a very moving moment but we all had a laugh when I spilt the ashes over Greg’s arm.
A shower of rain came over so we retreated to the back of the house to raise a glass to Dad. Greg thanked everyone for coming. We toasted Dad’s life with some of Dad’s Glen Fiddich Scotch or Jon’s home brew which he made in Dad’s brewing keg.
The sun came out again. Greg opened an old bottle of Dad’s homebrew that we found downstairs – not the best so we shared it with Dad instead. Joan took a photo of us together.
Greg found Grandad’s initials in the concrete at the base of the back stairs. Must have been a later addition as the house was built in 1936.
Ian invited everyone inside for a look around. The bathroom has an interesting mark on the wall creating lots of chatter about ‘ghosts’ etc.
Ian took Doreen down into the cellar and we all followed. The thick glass flooring above the cellar broke years ago so I took a bit when we were clearing out the house after Thorold passed and had a friend of Erica’s cut it for us like a gemstone. Very nice memento of the Brotherton family home in Millaa Millaa. Hopefully one day he and his daughter will have it completed and we can all come back and check it out.
We all wandered about the house. Slowly being renovated – the floor was all rotten so that was the next big job after fixing the roof.
Ian found someone with the matching timber for the missing front panels on either side of the front door and had the stained-glass put into it also.
Grace and Fred left for Father’s Day lunch with their children, Bruce and Janice.
I put Dad’s hat over his ashes.
A cute green moth has moved in on the steps for the camper.
We all headed down to the Millaa Hotel for lunch. We parked in Brotherton Close.
We had a lovely time chatting and eating. We spotted Tommy and Julie’s first husband Lindsay’s photos on the wall in the football teams. So lovely to have our family with us.
Daniel and Fran had given Steve some scratchies for Father’s Day. Hope there is a winner in there.
Said our farewells to everyone then we headed off towards Herberton. Through Watsonville with its windmill in the middle of the road then through Bakersville. We turned off onto a little track into the Shack.
Parked up near Graham & Sharon’s camper and Ian and Sue’s van on this side of the little creek. The Shack is on the other side. With the recent downpour the creek has a lot more water in it than usual at this time of the year.
Wandered about checking out the boys hard work creating the wall around the verandah.
Bits and pieces inside from when Betty and Denny stayed here like a cross-stitch Betty made.
She made one for Mum that hung in our bedroom – Rebecca now has it.
Sharon gave me Betty’s visitor book to sign. I found where Mum and Dad has signed it in 1994, though they had a few visits up here.
Had a lovely time chatting the afternoon away and into the evening around the camp fire.
6th – Very windy with cloudy which is unusual for out here this time of year.
Steve took me for a walk up the slope nearby around the old tin mining shafts and camp.
Cute daisies.
View from the top of the property down to the shack.
We all enjoyed a lovely camp oven lamb roast and vegetables for lunch. I provided dessert with my No-bake Cheesecake I had in the freezer.
We all rested after lunch. I even read a few pages of my book before a shower of rain came down so we all headed into the Shack’s verandah for afternoon tea.
A female wallaby slowly worked its way across to where some leftovers had been placed for her. She is a regular visitor as is the Quoll that leaves its calling card on the floor of the Shack.
7th – Took a photo of Graham, Sharon, Ian and Sue. Sadly Rob and Shura had left a couple of weeks ago so I missed seeing them. Sharon showed me where some of Betty’s ashes are at the base of an olive tree she planted many years ago. It seems to have Bonsaied as it hasn’t grown at all.
We headed off towards Irvinebank over the dirt road. Irvinebank was established in 1883 and site of a big tin mine.
We pulled up under some lovely big trees by a creek.
Steve had put the foam in between the screen and outer door to stop the dust coming in the camper. Unfortunately when we pulled up at Irvinebank the outer door was flapping, the foam was gone and the camper was covered in fine dust!! It didn’t get up the bed end thank goodness. Steve got out some tape and covered the vent. He had put the foam in when we left the bitumen at Herberton and it worked well then. Maybe he didn’t catch the two doors together properly. Will have to rethink how to seal that on the dirt roads. The foam had worked well for all the years in the caravan. That’s why Steve wanted to do some corrugations to see what ‘rattled’ etc.
After wiping everything down we went for a walk to read the history signs.
We went for a walk. First was a rock cairn and plaques in front of the School of Arts Hall which is huge.
Beside that is the old National Bank.
We followed the path to the Museum. Found some tamarinds on the ground – a bit bitter. Got a nicer one off the tree. We used to eat them all the time when we were little from the trees on the Esplanade when we lived in Lake St.
The Museum was called Loudon House and was the tin mine owner’s home and was just above the mine site. Not the most peaceful place to build your home!
Info about the Mine.
We continued around past the tramway buildings. Doesn’t look too different to the photo of 1907.
Back to the camper for a cuppa. There is a free camp area beside Gibb Creek.
A couple of young guys zoomed past on their motorbikes and zoomed passed the few campers. Steve noticed something fall from one guy’s pocket when we went over the bridge so he picked it up. It was a mobile phone. We walked down to the hotel to hand it in. He said he knew them and they can wait for a while to get it back as they should be at school and are trouble makers. They zoomed back obviously looking for the phone but we let the publican deal with them.
On the hill is the old Post Office – has been renovated a lot.
Further along we checked out the weir – filled with big logs.
Zoomed in on the mine site at the other end.
Narrow dirt road now with big hill on one side and Gibb Creek on the other.
Over two wet causeways as we criss-crossed Gibb Creek. Passed the turn off to Stannary Hills Mine and across Gibb Creek again, no running water here.
Passed Montalbion Dam which was part of a silver mine between 1885 and 1895. Passed the turn off for the cemetery, should have stopped for a look! Next a sign about unexploded ammunitions! Up and down the hills of dry grass and scattered trees. Across a causeway where a sign says ‘Poison water’ – obviously poisoned by the mining.
Met a grader who was doing the return trip pushing the dirt back across the road so we called him up and then followed him til the end where we met the water truck. Further along we found the roller going over the road just completed so we followed him for a bit too. Nice and smooth now.
Across Oakey Creek which was dry. We had noticed lots of horse dung along the side of the road and now we find the culprits. A couple sprinted across the road ahead of us.
Stopped near Emuford and read the info about the Cobb and Co station.
Across Emu Creek. A small sign is all that marks the site of Emuford township.
On the other side is Gregory Creek where a car has gone off the side of the causeway.
Passed a station and a few houses then into Petford which is beside the railway line.
We pulled up off the roadside and had lunch in the camper. Works well – I just have to bend our heads a little while I make lunch. Easy to open the window and if it is too hot then we have our two fans to use.
Back onto the bitumen heading back to Mareeba. There is a plaque about Edmund Kennedy just before the bridge over Emu Creek.
Across Eureka Creek – nice open camping area on the other side.
Through Dimbulah then Mutchilba –used to be all Tobacco plantations here, now various crops, sugar cane, mangos etc.
There are little bits of cotton along the roadside all the way from Petford then we spotted big bales of cotton in a paddock.
The wind is still blowing strongly. At one spot it had whipped up the dust and completely blocked visibility of the road ahead.
Spotted a sign station we have crossed the Tip of the Great Dividing Range at 572m elevation (I think!)
Into Mareeba – 300 sunny days a year but not today – still cloudy and grey. In Millaa we would say misty rain for 300 days a year!
To Kuranda and down the range. Home again, backed the camper into the driveway and gave it a clean out.
After drinks gave Kaylene a call as a text message had come through in Irvinebank. No phone reception at the Shack.
Malcolm had rung too as we drove in so Steve gave him a call back.
Back in the house for another couple of weeks then we will moved into the camper full time.
8th – Dad has been gone a month now, we still talk about him and Mum in general talking like they were here. It is weird and sad to have lost both of them so close together but it is comforting to know they aren’t suffering any more.
Still very windy, grey and cloudy and still quite cool.
Back to work for me. The young lady who applied for my position started work today. She had been in on Monday and they are all happy with her which is great.
Received an email from Tolly Signs about decals for the camper. Confirmed what we want – now to see how much it will cost!
Steve scratched off the scratchies from Daniel and had a few wins - $30. Lucky Daniel hey.
11th – Still windy and grey. We started setting up everything for the garage sale next week. Greg arrived with another 2 tables and helped Steve for an hour before having to go up the hospital to see Katie. She had an adverse reaction to her first Phizer Covid vaccine shot and has lost all her red cells so she is now covered in bruises.
After lunch Greg came back, Kate was ok and Doctors are happy with her, giving her steroids to build up her red blood cells. Her body reacted to the vaccine so her body used up all her red cells fighting it.
12th – Steve loaded up the truck again with another load for the dump that he and Greg had brought up yesterday. Greg came over to help him take it to the dump. Katie has improved but the hospital is keeping her in till her cell count improves. Poor thing, she won’t want to get the second covid shot.
I started sorting out things in the camper. We will start sleeping in it from Thursday as the beds in the house are up for sale too with the garage sale.
13th – Met Greg at Dept of Transport with Dad’s will and death certificate and got the Corolla transferred into Greg’s name as he can then transfer it to Katie.
Monica and John called in to say they were so sorry to hear of Mum and Dad’s passing. Monica had learnt to paint from Mum so I gave her one of the remaining paintings and a copy of the two booklets of Mum and Dad. John’s mother, Peg, had nursed with Mum and his dad worked with Dad at ACF & Shirleys.
Visited Rebecca and Clive for a cuppa and chat.
14th – Kaylene and Alexander’s birthdays today. As Kaylene and Rick are having a holiday on the Gold Coast I sent her a text. Alexander is still overseas so I sent him a Facebook message. Must say this is the good part of phones and technology.
It is also Erica and Terry’s 64th wedding anniversary. They are both doing well and still enjoying their caravan outings which they are on at the moment.
I put a notice on Aussie House Sitters Facebook page and received a response from a lady from Ireland. She rang and we arranged for her to come and have a look. I explained that there isn’t much left in the house but we still have the two single beds, fridge etc so she can get by. I was actually after someone with a motorhome/van to park in the driveway and just use the power, water etc but if she is happy to stay it will suit us to have someone around as I think it will take another 6 months before the Public Trustee get around to Dad’s estate as they haven’t started on Mum’s yet and it is nearly 5 months since she passed.
The camper is nearly packed – just need to sort the fridge etc. I found some old bits from Millaa house so Steve put the knobs on the box lids by the beds in the camper. He also put a door latch on which was from Millaa house too – sentimental bits and pieces!
15th – Supercars have changed the date for the Big Race at Bathurst again. It will now be a 6 day event from 30 Nov to 5 Dec to finish off the season. They are hoping the borders will be open and the every growing number of people infected with Covid will have dropped by then. More people are being vaccinated but there are still a lot getting it. Melbourne’s case numbers are climbing too and they are having problems with people protesting about being in lockdown for so long this year. We feel for them all as we live freely up here in the north, but if they don’t get it under control it will drag on longer and more people will get sick and more will die – a lot have already in this last outbreak.
I posted up the Garage Sale on Facebook and Gumtree and straight away got messages about different items. Some asked to come and look early so I arranged for tomorrow afternoon. Greg’s neighbour, Jeff, was keen for a look too so I let him come today and he headed home with lots of goodies. Especially the boot scraper that was a big croc’s mouth.
16th – Back to work.
2.30pm the first shopper arrived. Sold a far few things which was good. We ended up having about 10 people come for various things. It’s amazing what people want and how much they offer for things. I am out of touch as one chap bundled a few things together and asked how much – I said make an offer but thought $30. He offered $60 so I was happy with that. I now know I need to lift my values but we just want it to move on to new homes.
17th – Last day of work for me – last day of school too for Term 3. I put on a uniform for a final photo.
I took my uniforms back hence I wore a normal shirt. The ladies bought me a lovely orchid and Lee made a fabulous card which they had all signed. I handed out the student’s ordered lunches and got a bit teary when I said farewell to some of the special Seniors that frequent the Tuckshop a lot – wishing them all the best for their futures. They are all such nice kids. I had asked Rochelle to order pizzas for our last lunch together (which I paid for). I will be back next year for a cuppa with the girls so there were too many tears yet, save them for next year.
Picked up Niamh from Whitfield as she only has a pushbike and someone stole the back wheel off it the other day. She checked out the house and we chatted about things so she will move in next Thursday. We will still be here for a week but it will give her time to make sure she is comfortable here.
18th – Woke up at 6 for a quick breakfast. Steve walked down the street to put up the garage sale signs. I put the old wood one that we found downstairs from our Trash & Treasure days of fund-raising for Miss Cairns.
Julie and Greg arrived just before the first person turned up at 6.30am – so much for putting from 8am on the adverts!
We had a busy time with lots of people taking bits and pieces home with them and we made some money too. At least someone is making use of their things and it was interesting chatting with everyone.
The lounge was last to go at 6.30pm. Now for the big pack-up of what is left.
19th – Mum left us 5 months ago.
Steve got to work on the outside stuff leftover that will go to the dump. I started boxing up all the leftover inside stuff – big job but only half of what we did have which was good. I loaded up the Corolla to drop off the first load tomorrow to the Salvation Army.
Greg came over and they took a load to the dump.
In the afternoon we loaded up the last of our furniture and boxes to take up to Jon and Annalise’s. Still room on the shelves for a couple of more boxes! The tables went upstairs. Nice of them to look after them for us.
20th – Suzanne came around for a cuppa and catch-up.
We drove around to Jon and Annalise’s for dinner with Lynda & Miles, Matt & Taylor as we won’t be around for Christmas. Delicious home-made pizzas in our old Webber Q – Jon loves it. We had a lovely night chatting.
21st – Finished moving in the camper. Hot day, 31 degrees, bit of a shock after such cool weather later. Cleaned the house etc.
Loaded the last bits Greg wanted onto our truck and I put Julie’s stuff in the Corolla. We drove to the Crematorium to meet Greg and Julie with the rest of Dad’s ashes to put on the garden where we scattered Mum’s. There was still a bit of scotch left so we sprinkled that too. Dad’s plaque hasn’t arrived yet but they will let us know when it goes on.
Steve followed Greg out to his place to drop off his gear. I headed home. There was still a little bit of ash in the bottom of the box so I tipped it at the bottom of the Rose of Sharon where I put Mum’s last bit then I sat down with a glass of wine and had a good cry. This is the end of the era and I think it has now hit me now things are all sorted. Hopefully there will be new blooms in October on the Rose of Sharon though we won’t be here to see them this year.
Lovely blooms on the orchid that Margit gave Mum and Dad last Christmas.
22nd – Cooler morning. I baked Anzacs, date slice and a banana cake.
Very windy day. Took the identified chemicals that I had wrapped in plastic down to the dump for them to dispose of them.
We went around to Kaylene and Rick’s for a cuppa and to hear about their week away down south. Jakob called in too. Busy making a table from pallets – very handy.
23rd – Brian’s birthday – Steve gave him a ring – doing meter reads so getting his exercise today.
Picked up Niamh (pronounced Nieve) and her belongings. We had moved one single bed into Mum and Dad’s room, thinking she would like it in there but she decided on my bedroom with the big windows. Once we have gone she can spread out. We still watch TV and I have the computers still in the lounge and we still shower in the house.
Met Sandra at DFO café for lunch. So lovely catching up with her again.
Cuppa with Rebecca and Clive – I dropped off a copy of Dad’s booklet as she had Mum’s and she thought the world of my parents.
I finished reading Mum and Dad’s letters and diaries. The letters were from when they met in 1958 to their marriage etc with diaries around that time too up to 1962 – Julie’s birth but no diary for mine or Greg’s births. Next diaries were 1967 and 68. Dad was retrenched soon after Mum and Dad bought this house in 1971 so he had to work in Brisbane and Mum was here with us 3 kids. Very interesting reading their letters as I don’t remember much of that time other than going to the airport to pick up or wave goodbye to Dad through the wire mesh on the tarmac. We also got Ansett Airline wings as he was going up and down so often. It was hard on Mum of course with us three and she took on selling Golden Products (precursor to Amway) to make ends meet. She also did a lot of oil paintings and sold a lot at art shows and also gave a lot away to anyone who liked them. It was a joyful time when Dad got his job at BSES and he was home again with us.
24th – Steve continued with the final clean up bringing up all the layers of carpet from downstairs. He emptied all the old washing machine drums that Dad used as pot plants and they we pulled out more pot plants that were buried in the gardens.
Steve fixed the dust coming in the door problem – he got Francis to make up a cover which is velcrosed on. Steve has also put up my fly strips – magnet connected to the top so can be easily removed when not needed. Great for here at the moment as I am going in and out the door loading the camper. Saves wear and tear on the door handle too.
25th – Faith’s 6th birthday. Celebrating at Sugar World.
Greg picked up the Corolla to get a spare key cut so he left me his Rodeo to use as I was meeting the girls for a cuppa. Just have to remember to use the clutch as I have been driving an automatic now for nearly 2 years. Good practice as Erica’s car is a manual and I will be doing a lot of driving down there too.
Met Kaylene, Rebecca, Andrea, Wendy and Trish at the café and we had a lovely time chatting. Will see them next year when we return before we head over to WA.
Greg helped Steve with the last dump run. Still a few bits downstairs that Greg is keeping so he can deal with that later. He and Julie will get a removalist in to move the furniture when the time comes.
Packed the last bits to take up to Jon’s. They came with us to dinner with Daniel and Fran. Very noisy at the restaurant but we had lovely food and great time chatting. So glad our boys are happy. I gave them all their Christmas cards and cash to get something special for themselves.
When we walked out to the car park we saw Fran’s car had a flat tyre. A big bolt was in it. Jon got the wheel nuts off which Dan got the spare tyre out. Didn’t take long and they were ready to go. Dan is coming up tomorrow to check the measurements of the truck boxes he has bent up so he will bring up the tyre too so Steve can plug it and reinflate – what a good Dad he is.
26th – Dan dropped in – boxes for the truck are good so he will finish them off. Steve did the tyre and Fran messaged thanking him.
Niamh went for a ride to Woree Pool and came back with a back tire which fitted her bike. Amazing – you could almost imagine it was her stolen one. It just needs a new tube.
27th – Did some running around then met Jenny for a cuppa. She is doing better but I said she should take it easy and only do half shifts from now on. At least next term gets quieter as the seniors etc leave.
Erica rang – they are home again from their caravan rallies. We will join them in Bundaberg on Monday or Tuesday.
28th – Packed in a few more bits in the truck.
Valerie brought her grandson, Chase, over to check out Steve’s truck and the camper. Lauren & Dean have bought a van and are heading off on a 6 month trip in December with their two kids. Big adventure for them.
29th – Picked up the boxes for the truck from Dan at his work. He worked late last night to get them finished. Steve put them onto the truck and is very impressed with the quality of Dan’s work.
Cairns Crematorium rang to say they have received Dad’s plaque and will hopefully have it up by Thursday afternoon. Will call in on our way out of town on Friday morning. I let the others know so they can pop in when they are passing.
David, our neighbour, who has chickens asked me to check on the eggs he has in the incubator this afternoon as he had to go away overnight. He has said some may hatch but not to worry as they will be fine in there til he returns. To my delight there were 6 little chicks. I removed the broken egg shells, topped up the water in the incubator and checked on the other chickens. He has some half grown ones in a cage in the chicken coop with the big ones and the rooster. Can’t turn your back on the rooster now as he is getting too big for his boots. He will be Christmas dinner this year!
Greg called in to pick up the last bits and pieces.
Rick and Kaylene called in to pick up some plants. Rick helped Steve with the boxes while Kaylene and I chatted. Steve is very pleased too that the little recovery tracks fitted in. All the recovery gear etc will go into these boxes. Steve might get Dan to make some new mud guards when we come back next year. The signwriters didn’t get our order processed in time so that will have to be put on next year too. Should look good.
I had put a roast in the Ecopot so invited them to stay for dinner. Tossed some vegies in the oven and we have a lovely time eating and chatting. Hopefully we will see them in December at Woodgate.
30th – Cloudy grey morning and quite humid. Veronica's birthday - sent her a message.
Checked on the incubator and another chick had hatched and two more were starting to peck their way out. I went back and got the camera. The incubator temperature is 37.6 degrees. They are so cute. Steve came over for a look. We changed the water and topped up the seed in the chicken coop too. David will be home tonight.
Finished loading the last bits and pieces into the truck and camper ready to head off tomorrow morning.
Uncle John rang to wish us a safe trip south. He is such a caring soul. Only wish we could see more of him.
Dropped off some things to Dan and Jon and one last hug before we leave. Jon and Annalise are heading up to Lakefield National Park to go fishing with Pete and his friends for a few days.
Went into town and had dinner on the Esplanade.
