15-23 Dec, 2025 Geck Family beach house, Woodgate, Qld

Mon, 15^th

We have been having constant 25-30 temps so it has been quite pleasant. Started the day with our walk then a swim with Steve.

Pottered about. More people arriving in our street.

Joined Jenny for another swim but it was choppier than this morning. We saw an eagle soaring then it dived into the sea further out from us but I could see clearly that he picked up a long sea snake. Nice catch.

Steamier afternoon with another storm building.

Ted and Dulcie from next door called in to say hi. They are living in Bundaberg now as both are too frail to live here full time. Dulcie’s sister, Ann, lives on the other side of us but she is still doing well.

Mike sent a friend request on FB so we rang him to make sure it was him. He said Anne was sick of him looking things up on her FB page so he started his own. I did the same with Stephen. They are both doing well.

 

Tues, 16^th

Very humid with another storm building.

After lunch the rain fell for 15 minutes and thunder rumbled for a while - Santa making his toys.

Terry arrived in the afternoon.

Caught up with Ann’s son, Michael and Tammy when they visited next door.

Cooler afternoon with the cloud cover. Did my next online order for Woolworths to be delivered on the 22^nd.

 

Wed 17^th

More rain in the early hours. Another heavier shower at daybreak. Overcast morning.

My Woolworths online order was delivered on time so we got that all packed away.

Steve mowed the front lawn again ready for the fence to go up.

Strong wind all afternoon which didn’t help with putting up the safety fence but we got it up and Steve created a gate. Hopefully that will be enough to discourage the kids from going onto the road.

Jon video-called as he is home from work so we had a nice chat while watching Beau play. He is saying more words and calls himself BeauBeau.

The wind settled down in the later afternoon.

 

Thurs, 18^th

Nice walk under the clear blue sky.

Jodie, Bryon and Arthur arrived from Orange. Drove through the night so Arthur could sleep.

Bryon set up their air conditioner but needed board to block of the rest of the window. Steve did some measurements and they got some board to cover the window replacing the fly screen.

Went down to the beach to show Arthur the water at low tide - he had fun. I forgot to bring my camera.

I set up the water play stuff Terry had bought his great grandchildren so we had fun watching Arthur play.

Fri, 19^th

Sunny morning with dark clouds to the north east.

I joined Jenny for a morning swim.

Bryon thinks the water play area is wonderful!

Terry took Arthur for rides on his walker. All our kids used to have rides with ‘Grandad’ on the tractor but we don’t have the tractor or boat any more.

Jon & Annalise have left Cairns and will drive through the night. If the kids aren’t doing ok they will find a motel to stop at.

 

Sat, 20^th

Jon and Annalise texted they were in Rockhampton having breakfast at 6am. The kids are doing well.

Morning swim with Jenny again. Perfect weather at the moment.

Jon, Annalise, Beau and Cooper arrived at lunch time. So lovely to see them all here safely and not too stressed from the big drive. Steve had set up a bedroom under a shade shelter in the shed with their air conditioner. Unfortunately the shed kept the heat too much in the afternoon and the air con couldn’t cope so we moved them upstairs to the 2^nd bedroom. Dan and Fran will go in the back bedroom now. Steve made another window blocker for that window too. So glad he is so handy to fix any problem as it arrives. We will leave the bed in the shed as there is still Brian and Stephanie to come so they can chose between the bed downstairs or in the shed.

Nice photo of Terry with his newest great grandchild, Cooper.

I got some nice photos with our grandsons.

Beau and Arthur got along well.

Down to the beach for a play at low tide.

The Van Club editor sent some photos of Terry from the Christmas rally.

Dan messaged they will be leaving Cairns early tomorrow morning and overnighting in Mackay.

 

Sun, 21^st

Very hot and still this morning as we all wandered down to the Community Hall to check out the markets. I picked up my ‘present’ from Steve (my bag). We had bought new torches from Kings so Steve is getting a new head lamp - no surprises for us.

Watched Arthur and Beau play in the playground for a while (forgot my camera again).

Back home to the water play area to cool off. Jon’s turn in the water play pool.

Dan, Fran and Sophia arrived safely in Mackay and have a nice room.

 

Mon, 22^nd

Paul lent us another bigger marque so we set that up and got another one out of the shed to provide more shade.

Even Cooper is enjoying the water play mat.

My turn to push Beau around in GG’s walker - GG rather than Great Grandad.

Beau saw a photo of Jon on the fridge and said ‘Beau-Beau’ and yes they are very similar now. Jon would have been 2 in that photo. Beau is 21 months.

David, Amanda & Bradley arrived. They are staying at Jenny and Paul’s for the 2 nights as they don’t have any extras at their place and we are just about full up now. They will be celebrating Christmas with Amanda’s family in Bundaberg this year but they wanted to come and catch up with everyone first.

2.30pm the heavens opened which cooled things down for a while.

Daniel, Fran and Sophia arrived safe and sound. Out with the togs and into the water play.

 

Tues, 23^rd

Another storm it so hopefully that is the end of those and it cools down a bit.

Roald and Joan arrived with bottles of bubbles for all of us to enjoy. So lovely to see them.

Everyone is thankful for the water play and the safety fence is doing it’s job.

Down to the beach in the late afternoon for a play. Very windy but the kids didn’t care. Should have brought down a kite.

Photo of Roald & Joan with Annalise & Cooper before they headed off.

Got the kids fed - everyone sharing!

Brian and Stephanie arrived safely.

All quiet with the 3 toddlers in bed, even Cooper so we played my ‘Pass the Parcel’ game. Lots of laughter and guessing over the presents. I had a spare one of luggage tags that I put aside as it wasn’t needed and I wanted them for our NZ trip but when I looked back they were gone. Rotten kids!! I will find my tags eventually.