8th to 14th Aug, 2023 Jon & Annalise’s place, Cairns, Qld (Our 40th Wedding Anniversary)

Tues 8^th - Dad 2 years

It has been two years since Dad joined Mum in their forever life. Their spirits are always with us. We had such a wonderful time with them in Tassie in 2015. Love this one of Dad with Steve on top of Mt Wellington in Hobart. I miss them both so much.

Misty rain again. Wondering when we will see bright skies again!

I finished off my cleaning ready for Jon & Annalise’s arrival home tomorrow.

After lunch I visited Judy. So great to see her again. We might have a morning out playing the pokies in memory of Mum and Erica. Kathy came home from work so we caught up for a quick chat too.

After dinner I picked up Valerie and we met Christine with her visiting English sisters at Cazaly’s for a cuppa then a play on the pokies. Won and loss but only lost $5 in the end.

 

 

Wed 9^th

Yeah, sunshine this morning. Then a misty sun shower! Cloud band out to sea though so it might be short lived.

I went to Tuckshop for a cuppa with the girls but they were a person down so I stayed till 2pm giving them a hand.

Picked up Jon and Annalise from the airport at 5.30pm. Rough flight but they had a good time in the Maldives. Around to Lynda’s to see their ‘babies’ - the two dogs. Left the dogs there for the night so they can have a good sleep in tomorrow without two dogs wanting all the attention!

 

 

Thurs 10^th

Up early to walk with Wendy but it rained all night and was still raining so we went around and around in Central Shopping Centre again.

Had a cuppa then headed over to Merrymakers Hall in Edge Hill for another line dancing group. This place brings back memories as we used to come here as kids with Mum & Dad for old time dancing. It was great fun back then.

Home for lunch.

Photographer has sent through another 86 photos to Annalise and Jon to preview. All fabulous. There is still so many more to come and the video as well so we can relive it all over again.

Visited Daniel and Fran to give them a card and baby book. Looking forward to meeting a new little Geck into our family next March.

Lynda cooked dinner tonight which was delicious and a fabulous dessert too.

 

 

Fri 11^th

A bit sunnier today - yeah.

Line dancing in the afternoon - slowly getting better and remembering the steps etc. It is great fun and good exercise too.

 

 

Sat 12^th

Looks like we will have sunnier days ahead. Certainly has been a wet return to Cairns for us.

Steve making good progress on the engine changeover with help from Dan and David. A chap rang yesterday and arranged to buy the old engine etc off Steve which is great. 

Jon cleaned up the track around to the waterfall so Steve and I went for a wander. Great view from up the back looking over Cairns to Green Island. Lovely spot to rest and enjoy the sound of the waterfall and the bush. Jon still needs to work on a safer path down to the waterfall pool.

40^th wedding anniversary tomorrow so having a pizza and pool (table not swim) party here at Jon & Annalise’s place with our family and good friends (that were available).

Got out my wedding dress etc, cake decoration and some photos for tonight (which I found in Erica’s cupboard, our album is boxed up!) Wow where have the years gone - two sons 34 & 30 year old, lots of travelling have filled in the years with lots of love, laughter and exploring.

Jon put up ‘The Gecks’ sign near the pool table - looks great.

Started with nibbles and chatting enjoying the amazing view from the balcony.

Dinner was gourmet pizzas which were delicious then we played a couple of games of Kelly Pool which was fun.

Annalise helped me into my dress which was a giggle (only did the top button of the 54 down the back) so we could cut the ‘cake’. This decoration was first used on Erica & Terry’s wedding cake in 1957, we used it and then it was used a few more times throughout the years.

I had ordered another cheesecake for Steve’s birthday too which is on the 18^th.

Played some more Kelly Pool and chatted. It was a great relaxed party.

 

 

Sun 13^th - 40^th wedding anniversary

Steve headed off to work on the truck engine so we can get back on the road again soon.

I reminisced by looking at our wedding photos.

Wonderful family & friends we have - they took out the passenger front seat, covered it in toilet paper and flour (it had rained so that set like glue), rocks in the hubcaps, horn blared on low beam and oil down the distributor cap (which smoked them all out I might add)!!

The back of my dress with all those buttons.

We have had a great time together over the years and plan many more to come, back on the road exploring again but also looking forward to the arrival of little Gecks into our family in the future. 

Posted on Facebook the photos from our anniversary and some of our wedding and received lots of lovely messages from everyone.

Steve came home early from working on the truck so we went for a lovely walk along the Esplanade. So nice to be out in the sunshine again.

Back home for a drink then heated up the left over pizza for dinner with Jon & Annalise. Played a couple of games of Skipbo then watched the BMX World Titles in Glasgow, Scotland. Jon remembers a few of the riders who are still competing in the Elite Classes.

 

 

Mon 14^th

5 months have passed now since Erica moved on to a pain free life too.

The clear sky last night made it quite chilly this morning, 14.2 degrees!

Downloaded some more of the engine changeover photos from Steve’s phone.

1. Better shots of the engine in position.

2. Bolted the turbo onto the new lower manifold as with the original one we couldn’t close the bonnet! Thanks to Dan and David again for their help. This is the old manifold.

3. Jacked up the truck so Steve could bolt the transfer case onto the back of the gearbox.

 

Dinner at Ochre Restaurant with Jon, Annalise & Lynda as we had some credit left over from the wedding so a delicious dinner was a nice finish to the wedding and honeymoon period.