Mon, 8th Apr, 2024 Jon & Annalise’s place, Cairns, Qld (Great Grandad meets Beau and The Geck Family photos)

Steve took Terry out for the morning. I still have a dizzy head but starting feel a bit better. I had missed 2 physio appointments are she was ill the first one and I was too dizzy on Friday so I thought I had better go today. As the exercises she had given me for my neck seemed to be working she said she would work on my sinuses. She had healing hands as I felt so much better afterwards.

Steve came back - he had a great time out with his Dad. They went up to Kuranda and checked out the Barron Falls that still had a lot of water pouring over it.

They then went for a drive along Trinity Beach then lunch at Holloways Beach after checking out the damage where Thomatis Creek had broken through.

In the afternoon Steve brought him up to Jon’s to meet his great grandson, Beau.

Daniel, Fran and Sophia arrived so we were able to get a full family photos as Lynda was still here. So lovely to have all the family together.

As we missed a photo with Fran the other day we grabbed it today.

Fran got to have a lovely cuddle with Beau too.

Dan and family headed home. He had a good day at work and they have missed him as there is a lot of work on at the moment.

I dropped Terry off then I headed off to Dan’s as I will stay for the night to babysit Sophia tomorrow as Fran has a dentist appointment and it is Dan’s first day back at work. Her parents will drive her in as she can’t drive herself for a while yet.

Steve picked up a pizza to have dinner with Terry as Brian had a meeting tonight.

Had dinner and got the run down on feeding Sophia etc for tomorrow morning.

 

Sun, 7th Apr, 2024 Jon & Annalise’s place, Cairns, Qld (Great Grandad meets Sophia)

Quiet morning for me, trying to recover from Sinuitus! The mornings are cooler but the daytimes are still very hot.

I stood with the umbrella to shield Steve from the burning sun while he put the replacement diesel heater in - the last one’s control board died. At least they are cheap now ($180) compared to when we bought our first one for the caravan in 2015 and paid about $1000 for it and it was only the Chinese copy like we are buying now.

Shane and Doreen are here for a few days so we arranged lunch at Kaylene and Ricks. We picked up some salads and a hot chook from Babba’s - down the road from Mum & Dad’s place. The best chooks, especially for Christmas Day. She has been here a long time and is still serving customers as she did for Steve today. Her story is interesting so I thought I would add it to my blog.

We got a nice surprise as Shane & Doreen’s son, Chris, was here too. So lovely to catch up with them all and hear what they have been up to. Chris in an engineer who had been working in the Congo and is now on his way to South America so start a new job. Wow.

Said our goodbyes and headed off out to Dan and Fran’s place at Gordonvale. Pouring with rain as we headed through Edmonton. Brian is bringing Terry out to meet his little great granddaughter, Sophia. Got some photos of the four generations etc.

Even Grandad Steve had a hold.

Fran’s parents, Val & Hank and her brother, Matt arrived so we had a lovely time chatting and admiring our darling little girl.

Rain has stopped as we headed home.

 

4-6 Apr, 2024 Jon & Annalise’s place, Cairns, Qld (Cousins meet at last)

Thurs, 4^th

Steve picked up Dan from the car service centre and then took him back home.

Caught up with the line dance girls at their lunch gathering.

Then had a cuppa with Jenny and Carolyn from Tuckshop.  

Dan rang needing a lift back to the car service centre so I drove out and picked him up. So glad to be able to help out.

 

 

Fri, 5^th

Steve headed up the Tablelands to catch up with Mike and try and new engine setting. I had a restful day catching up on a few things.

Hot day then a shower of rain at 3pm.

 

 

Sat, 6^th

Sunny morning so got the washing on.

Dan, Fran and Sophia came over so they could meet Beau. Kaylene and Rick joined us too so they could meet Sophia and Suzanne called in to give them both presents as she didn’t make it to the baby shower. We had a lovely morning chatting and admiring our darling grandchildren. Beau was a bit unsettled - not sleeping well during the day unless with Mummy which is very tiring for her but sleeps well most nights. Sophia is still catching up and sleeps well so much so they have to wake her up for feeds. As she was tube fed for so long she is still getting used to having to suck on her bottle which of course it harder work therefore it tires her out. She has put on weight and everything is good. Lots of cuddles from the ‘other granmas.’

Beau woke up from his nap so the cousins met for the first time - well sort of. Sophia is 4 weeks today, 2 more days for Beau to be 4 weeks old too.

Sophia is so cute and we all think she has a bit of Daniel with her nose and mouth. Dug this photo out of Daniel in his christening outfit (23 days old).

She loves to snuggle with Mummy.

Beau nodded off again.

Annalise put him down to bed again and had a lovely cuddle with Sophia. She rang Jon to show him. He will be home on Monday and will meet her in person then. She has a strong neck like Beau.

Very relaxed little girl on her Aunty Annalise’s lap.

Unfortunately Beau stayed asleep so Fran didn’t get a cuddle - next time.

Arranged to do photo of all the Geck family on Monday afternoon as Lynda will be still here to take the photo.

Very hot at lunch time, 34 degrees in the camper and it is April!!

Terry rang at 1.30 to say the train will be 3 hours late - so won’t arrive till 5pm. Brian was picking him up but we will pop down to say hello and let him know the plans to visit his great grandchildren.

Clouds started coming over about 3pm with a light mist of rain.

Put on our new sandshoes and went down to the train station and kept walking around the block till the train arrived at 5pm. Terry looks well but will be glad to sleep in a bed tonight. The train was 2 hours late leaving Brisbane and there are new speed limits in place so the trip was longer than usual. When they got to Gordonvale the driver had to stop the train so the staff could get kids off the bridge - they were jumping off it into the swollen Mulgrave River, idiots.

Brian took Terry home and we went back to our home for dinner.

 

 

Wed, 3rd Apr, 2024 Jon & Annalise’s place, Cairns, Qld (Birthday bracelet)

Rain this morning. My neck was playing up and I didn’t get a good night’s sleep - must be getting old! Sadly I had to cancel a breakfast date with Suzanne which was a shame. Felt better once I had a sleep in and walked about for a while.

Into town with Kaylene to join Wendy and Andrea for lunch at Candy’s Cafe which was delicious. More rain fell in quick showers.

We went up two shops to IndiviJewel. You can make your own bracelets, earrings etc there using gemstones, pearls etc. I wanted to make one with pink and blue stones for my grandchildren then added some gold and quartz crystals for my birthday - should have been diamonds for April but oh well. We chose our stones and got to work. Andrea’s was easy as she chose big stones and Kaylene’s was pearls. Wendy and I had the hardest job with the little stones but we got there in the end and we all loved the end result. I also managed to find the ones that went flying from my tweezers!

It was a great thing to share together and create something special for ourselves.

Back home for a cuppa and relax. Steve has been working hard finishing off a few jobs.

Lynda cooked roast lamb so we joined her and Annalise for dinner. Beau decided to join us for dinner but didn’t want to lay down. He is so strong we propped him up in the chair for a photo to send to his Daddy.

He didn’t stay there long though preferring to be with Mummy. Beau has been sleeping well at night but not so good during the day!

 

 

Tues, 2nd Apr, 2024 Jon & Annalise’s place, Cairns, Qld (My birthday)

Misty April showers to start my birthday with! Lots of lovely messages and phone calls from our wonderful family and friends. My social calendar is filling up this week. Luckily Lynda isn’t going back to Groote to work so she will be on hand to help Annalise if needed so I am freer.

Joined Grant, Tracy and George for smoko at their work. So great to catch up with them. Will spend a night or two when we leave with them on their block near Davies Creek on the Tablelands.

Cuppa with Rebecca and Clive. She had made me a special treat too and it was delicious.

Over to Kaylene and Rick’s then we all headed out to Trinity Beach for dinner. Rick had cooked chicken, smashed roast potatoes and salad - I brought some date slice! The breeze was lovely and it wasn’t raining! A lovely way to finish off my birthday.

Kaylene and I went for a walk up and down the path - so lovely to be out wandering after all that rain recently.

Looking back to Yorkey’s Knob.

Back to their house for a cuppa and some more chatting.

 

Mon, 1st Apr, 2024 Jon & Annalise’s place, Cairns, Qld (Sophia comes home)

Over to Kaylene and Rick’s. Left the boys chatting and we went for a walk at Holloways Beach. Along the broken path etc where Tomatis Creek had broken through then down onto the beach towards the point and back. So nice to be out and no rain.

In the afternoon we headed out to Dan & Fran’s place to have a cuddle with Sophia as they brought her home today. She is so little and cute. Daddy gave her a feed so she was very contented now.

We had lovely cuddles then let her sleep.

They opened the lovely gifts we had been given for her from family and friends and then sent off thank you messages.

I gave her the cross-stitched cushion - didn't leave it in her cot of course. So glad she is home now.

We helped Dan mow and tidy up etc while Fran rested. She has an infection in her wound which is being treated but not so great when dealing with a little one.

I offered to come out next week to help out so Dan can go back to work.