Thurs, 24th Nov, 2016 Mum & Dad’s, Cairns, Qld

Mum and I picked up Erica and Val and headed over to Balaclava Hotel to try our luck on the pokies. Erica said she usually isn’t lucky in November but thank goodness she hasn’t lost her knack and we had a wonderful day and made a few dollars too. Caught up with Val Brotherton, who isn’t one of our relatives, but we claim her anycase.

Steve and Terry spent a hard day chopping down the fig tree on the boundary of Jon’s place and the rental next door. The landlord gave him permission and he got it down to about 5 foot. Jon and Dan both helped out when they finished work. Now Jon has to keep the new shoots cut so it won’t take off again.

Steve and I headed over to Greg and Kristine’s for dinner. Great catching up with them and sharing stories of WA travels.

NO PHOTOS TODAY.

Wed, 23rd Nov, 2016 Mum & Dad’s, Cairns, Qld

Quiet morning. Called down and had a cuppa with Erica and Terry.

Lovely dinner and lots of chatting with Clive and Rebecca. Hope to meet them on the road somewhere. (Forgot my camera again!!)

NO PHOTOS TODAY.

Tues, 22nd Nov, 2016 Mum & Dad’s, Cairns, Qld

Dropped into Tuckshop for a cuppa and helped out for a couple of hours.

Lunch with Anita and Glynnis – chatted for a couple more hours. Have loved having the extra time for all the catch-ups.

Wandered around the shops this morning looking for a few Christmas presents.

Dinner with my cross-stitch ladies and their husbands, Valerie & Russell, Susan & Ross and Christine & Richard, at the newly renovated Bungalow Hotel. Has been decorated ‘plantation style’ and was very nice. Lovely dinner and lots of chatting too. (Forgot my camera!!)

NO PHOTOS TODAY.

Mon, 21st Nov, 2016 Mum & Dad’s, Cairns, Qld (Jodie’s 21st birthday)

Sent Jodie a happy birthday message via Facebook – her party is Saturday night. It is Steve’s aunt’s birthday too so sent her a message also.

Went down for a cuppa with Erica and Terry at their van then took Erica to the shops while Steve helped Terry set up the TV in the van.

Joined them for lunch then headed home. Created some more “professional layabouts” business cards for Terry – I had created them 30 odd years ago when they first retired.

Quiet afternoon catching up on my blog etc.

Off to Brothers for dinner with Mum, Dad, Val and Erica and Terry. Great night out and even had a few wins on the pokies.

NO PHOTOS TODAY.

Sun, 20th Nov, 2016 Mum & Dad’s, Cairns, Qld

Nice shower of rain last night – cooled things off again.

Erica and Terry went to watch Brian played in the finals of his volleyball competition. Jon was playing too but in Futsal but we didn’t get a call to say he was in the finals.

Sorted out our WA gold into jars and put some in the little display containers to give as presents. Looks impressive. The two bits in the display container are our first two bits of WA gold.

One to Terry for his birthday.

One each for the boys and two little ones for Jon’s mates who didn’t get a bit of gold when they went up the Palmer with Steve.

Two more nuglets for Mum and Dad for Christmas.

I put three little nuglets into my pendant with the sapphires – looks great.

Next job was to hem Steve’s jeans and Dan’s new pants. After discussing what to do my darling Mum took over – isn’t she a gem!!

Dad was working hard at his computer.

Got everything ready for afternoon tea with Terry and Erica. I put on a CD of the old videos of our boys as little ones. So many memories of fantastic times at Woodgate, in the pool at Cicero Cl and all the family and friends over the years. Brian, Daniel, Jon & Jess and Bandit came for dinner so we kept the CD running then put on another one and there was lots of laughter as the boys looked at themselves as little tots and we looked at ourselves 23 years later!!

And I forgot to get out the camera and take some more photos!!

Sat, 19th Nov, 2016 Mum & Dad’s, Cairns, Qld

Certainly warming up again, trying to create a storm though it has been pleasant last week after the rain shower on Saturday. Mummy sunbird tried out her nest this morning.

Went down for a cuppa with Terry and Erica at the van park and caught up on all the news etc. Gave Erica her 80^th birthday gold for her pendant.

Erica gave me a silver locket with tumbled and cut gemstones that they have fossicked for. Very pretty. Went through the family history information too.

Had lunch with them then went off to get the food for family tea tomorrow night.

Picked them up about 4.30 for a wander around Cairns foreshore and to check out the renovated Munro Martin Park. They had lived in Cairns from when Steve was 12 till he was 18 then moved to Bundaberg with Terry’s work – Dept of Forestry.

Got the new marlin statue that I missed the other day.

This is a great tourist attraction – eating the fish straight off the boat – or on it as these people are doing.

Walked up into the Pier boardwalk – another good shot of the marlin and all the boats.

Inside the Pier shopping complex was a display of buildings built by a local man – Col Walter. This shows the Esplanade ‘s main buildings etc.

This is the Jack & Newell Building and the Barrier Reef Hotel that I took photos of the other day.

Malay Town.

Not sure which Street these huts depict.

Chinatown in Sachs Street (now Grafton St).

Wandered around Munro Martin Park. Found Mum & Dad curlew with their chick. Mum was very protective of her chick as Steve walked towards them.

Checking out the sandpaper vine we saw that the green ants have moved in quickly. They need a info board about them!! Their green bum is tasty – apparently!!

Two Torres Strait pigeons were cuddling above us.

Dropped them off then back home for a quiet night.

Fri, 18th Nov, 2016 Mum & Dad’s, Cairns, Qld

Coffee with Wendy, Rebecca and Kaylene this morning. Getting my dose of ‘retail therapy’.

Lunch at Wendy’s. Erica rang to say they had arrived at the caravan park. Steve was catching up with Rick so rang him to let him know.

Headed around to the van park at 3pm to say hi and have a cuppa with them. Steve arrived too. They are both looking great.

We headed off to watch the Seniors arrive at the Convention Centre for their graduation. Tuckshop Wendy’s daughter, Taylor, is graduating. Lots of great cars, beautiful dresses and girls and handsome lads came past. A few spits of rain started but it didn’t get any heavier while the Seniors arrived.

Taylor arrived just before we had to head off to meet the others for dinner. My photo was blurred so got this off Wendy’s Facebook page. Taylor looks beautiful and so grown up and Wendy and Mal looked great too.

Met Wendy, Dave, Rebecca, Clive, Kaylene and Rick for dinner at the Pier. Nice and cool but a little too breezy. Great night chatting then we wandered around the Lagoon and over to the Casino for a drink.