Playing with Blogsy on the I-Pad...

I think I've got this thing figured out. The hardest part was choosing another photo. This one is from Flickr. I took this ages ago in Western Australia.

I stitched it using Windows Live Photo Gallery. I just didn't crop the pic.

I really miss the travelling. Next weekend we're off to the Bunya Mountains for the Scout club and I'm looking forward to camping once again.

This weekend, only 2 open houses, which Chris is going to do and I will be cleaning house and working on the Scout Club stuff. Along with a few blog posts here and there.

Hmmm, next big trip it might be time to buy a new camera.

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Good start to blogging with I-Pad

Hey, this is pretty good. Okay, when in doubt read, or in this case watch the instructions.

 

My beautiful boy. Miss this big guy

 

Well lookee there! I DID IT! Hmmm...no caption though. Well...this is going to be a pretty interesting app. More to come. Oh by the way, this is Harley. Our beautiful, but not forgotten thoroughbred.

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Hmmmm, I've lost a blog

Checking out the new Blogsy from I-pad. Set up the accounts. Dropped in the pictures and got stuck on one posting. And now I've lost it. Ok let's try again.

Drop in pic from my photo collection

 

Ok this one let's me write in underneath. Check.

Next pic from Picasa, previously used on an old blog. .....Okay, so it looks like I can't write anything under the Picasa pics. Hmmm stuck again. Okay let's try uploading onto the post.

 

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A new lease of life!

You just know something needs to happen.  You can feel it in your bones.  Something different.  Something exciting.  Yes!  you just know it’s right.

After our Scout Club (that’s I.H., not the Boy Scouts)meeting this Sunday, we have a new direction for the club.  A BIG trip scheduled.  I think all of us have been needing and wanting this BIG trip to happen.  It’s funny, we missed out on the Canning Stock Route.  It just never quite eventuated.  But then it was so soon after the Simpson Desert Trip, that many of us weren’t quite ready for another trip to the desert.

But this!  this is what we’ve been waiting for!  We have a new lease of life as we prepare for the Cape York Trip in September 2013.  That means we have a little over a year to prepare for it.  Well, THAT should be easy!  4 weeks of camping, right up to the most northerly point of Australia!

I think the hard part is getting Chris to understand that his beloved Amarok is about to get down & dirty.  Is HE ready for that?  I hope so!

We’re already checking out canopies, drawer units, & roof tents.   I’m hoping the Amarok can take the rough stuff as these roads up to the Top End are really rough. 

I have started my bucket list…….

I don’t know WHY I’ve started my bucket list, but it came up while I was surfing the web the other night and I thought “Why not!”.  So I started one.

And after reading what I could put on the list, I realized that I have done HEAPS of stuff already!  So here’s a short list of stuff that I’ve already done:

1. Saw Sydney Harbour Bridge, didn’t climb it or intend to, just photograph it. 

2. I’ve crossed the Simpson Desert.

3. I’ve crossed the Nullabour Plains.

4. I’ve gone through the Daintree. The ocean looked FABULOUS from the Daintree.  ( Even caught sight of a Cassowary & baby)

5. I’ve seen the Opera House and walked around it. (ooh I’ll have to add that I would like to hear a concert IN the Opera House on my new list!)

5a. I have been to the Taronga Zoo, the Dubbo Zoo, and San Diego Zoo.

6. I’ve gone horseback riding. ( major mistake on your honeymoon)

7. I have travelled right around Australia by caravan. (and yes we’re still happily married!)

8. I have motored up the Daintree River with live crocodiles each side of the river.  (Although you wouldn’t know it, because they looked fake.)

9. I have caught a good sized fish that I ate! ( there’s been a few bream here and there)

10.  I’ve seen whales, dolphins, sea turtles, koalas, kangaroos, galahs, rainbow lorakeets, King parrots, Rosellas, cockatoos, wild pigs, emus, sting rays, sharks,  ALL IN THEIR NATIVE environments. ( Awesome sights!)

11. I have been to Hawaii. ( care of Pam & Ron, who happen to live there)

12.  I have been to Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm. (because I used to live there)

13.  I have been to Universal Studios, and Warner Brother’s Studios (once again the opportunity came up and I grabbed it)

 

Okay, that’s enough.  There’s been heaps more, but I won’t go in to it.  But the one thing I would like to say is, that by writing a Bucket List, it’s like listing your dreams and you can slowly mark them off one by one.  But it also makes you appreciate what you HAVE done and accomplished in your life.  It doesn’t have to be the grandest thing, but something that you have wanted to do, see, feel, hear, etc.

And if you don’t succeed this year, there’s always next time.  You just need to grab the opportunities as they come and enjoy and savour the moment, and with a big smile on your face, cross it off the list.

And another day ends in paradise…….

It’s a typical work day for us.  Hiding out in the office with no windows , me staring at the computer, working on advertising and Chris making phone calls…. and once we’re finished…we head home to take the girls for their evening walk.  ‘

But this evening, the sunset at Gataker’s Bay was particularly lovely.

As you can see, the tide was in and the fishermen were setting up for the evening.

 

 

Despite the midgies that come out at dusk, it was still a lovely spot to be at this time of the day.

Hervey Bay has a lot to offer.  It’s a quiet country town that sits by the bay.  And while I do get itchy feet, I’m not quite ready to move on just yet.  I keep finding new things here in Hervey Bay that capture my imagination.

 

This time around, it was low tide.  The PERFECT time for the dogs as Echo loves to chase the sea gulls and Bella chases the Toad fish.

 

 

 

 

And with promises to my brother to put some photos of Hervey Bay on the web so he can see what it’s like,…I will eventually get around to all those things that I really love about Hervey Bay.  And I can now cross off my list “Sunsets”.

Why is it that when……

Why is it that when you mention that you’re on a diet you immediately get a craving for chocolate cake?

Why is it that when you plan a picnic, that’s the weekend it decides to rain?

Why is it that when you decide you want to read a book, your partner needs someone to talk to?

Why is it that when you sit down to eat dinner, the cat decides it’s time to go outside?

These questions were brought about because I had planned to take photos of Hervey Bay today and rain has settled in for the week.  Another day.

Christmas holiday on the Clarence……

Early in the year, our plans were to go to New Zealand.  However, after due consideration, (and finances),  we opted for taking a cruise on the Clarence River, near Grafton, NSW.  Our plans were to pick Camille up on the way through and we could spend some “quality” time with our granddaughter.

After an hour of catching up with Jen, we packed Camille’s things in and headed off.  Camille discovered my I-Pad and we now have LOTS of FREE games.  

 

We finally reached the spot where our houseboat was waiting for us and we all gathered our gear and with much talking and excitement, we boarded our home for the next 9 days.

This houseboat is the SAME EXACT one we had 20 years ago, when we took Jenny, Rob, & Lizzie when they were little.  A few alterations here and there, but the same boat.  We had a great time in this boat and we were excited about giving Camille a great experience too.

Well after a few lessons on what to do, where things are, and where you can go and where you can’t go on the river, we finally headed off.  We dropped anchor in Coldstream River which runs into the South Arm River.  It was isolated and protected from the winds.  The anchor struggled to hold us, but it finally grabbed and we were secured for the night.                                                                                                                 The first thing we did was throw the fishing line out. First fish of the trip, was a catfish, caught by me.  Camille wanted to hold it, but Papa said no, you can pet it’s belly before I throw it back in, so that started the trend of ‘petting’ the fish bellies, including eels.

 

. 

Camille was VERY impressed that Papa caught such a LARGE fish on the handline!  “Can I pet it’s belly?!” 

 

 

 

After a big breakky of bacon and eggs, we headed back up the river making our way to a little town called Maclean.

 

We stopped at a small sandbank to have some fun swimming and playing.  As we all piled into our floaties, we noticed that the anchor wasn’t holding, so Chris went back to the boat to secure it, and Camille and I stayed on the bank checking out the Pippie shells and small fish. 

Quiet time on the boat.

 

 

 

Camille’s keeping an eye on the ferry that crosses the river at Lawrence.  They were very friendly and even waved at Camille on the way through.

 

 

Time to pickup supplies at Maclean.  This is the same jetty where Jenny caught a huge Flathead when she was 12 years old.  Camille made friends along the river, inviting them in to see where she sleeps and maybe colour in her colouring books together.

 

 

 

View from the jetty at Maclean in the early morning.  The fog was lifting from the river.

 

There are quite a few trawlers that scour the river for prawns which are a popular dish for Christmas.

 

 

 

Papa teaching Camille how to fly a kite.  Once they were finished chasing the kite’s shadow, we stopped into the local pub for lunch, where Camille had her chicken nuggets and special fizzy drink.

 

 

The local rural Fire Brigade doing its bit for Christmas by having Santa toss handfuls of lollies to the kids at the park.  Chris and Camille just happened to be there at the right time.  Camille came back onto the boat with a shirt tail load of lollies.

 

We spent Christmas Day at Scotty’s sister’s house in the hinterland between Lismore and Ballina.  A house load of people greeted us with enthusiasm as we piled people & food into the home.

And as we starting leaving, the last minute photos were taken of the family members.  This one is of Jenny, Scotty, and grandkids.

Soon after we piled everyone back into the car and headed back to the houseboat where we settled in for the evening back on the South Arm River.

 

 

 

The next day was glorious as we headed up the South Arm River for a morning cuppa at a local restaurant while we waited for Scotty to arrive from his workplace.

Here, Cody and Mum are taking in the scenery as we head up river.

 

 

And then there was the incident with the kite being flown off the back of the boat, which then hit a high power line and disintegrated with sparks and popping.  As Chris frantically scrambled trying to get the kite to drop, it dissolved into nothing. Camille was horrified, Jenny yelled at dad to LET GO OF THE KITE!, but laughing at the same time, and Cody watched with dismay saying, “night, night, kite” .  All this being done while the driver of the boat (me) was none the wiser.                                   

Last day.  Early in the morning, Cody and Grandpa are enjoying a cup of coffee and hot cocoa while they watch the fish come to the surface and the ducks silently clean themselves for the start of the day.

 

 

 

Jenny’s excited as this is her first eel she caught.

 

 

 

We had a great time catching up with family and it was just the right amount of time spent too.  But now, it’s time to get back to work and get organized for the year ahead.

Charity Bike Run

Well, I did it. I made the 10 klm bike run last Sunday. I rode my bike down (7.5 klm)) to the office on Saturday, Sunday morning I rode (5 klm) to the start of the race, and then the 10klm run. The circuit ran along the esplanade and back along the Links Corridor, which is a bike path through town. Once back, I had a spot to eat and Chris popped the bike in the back of the car and we went home. The interesting thing was I noticed that it took me 50 mins. To do that and not even five minutes later, the leaders from the 26 klm run came in. What the? Hey, 50 minutes for 26 KILOMETRES?! Eek, I never thought I would be that slow. Hahaha.
I collected donations for the race, but now I realize that I could have driven myself to collect more. It was more like feeling my way through the waters, but then I realized how easy it really was.
I`d like to thank all the people who made a donation to the Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Center.
All proceeds went straight to the center with a few more coming in by internet banking.
Next year I'd like to do the 26 klm run or better. In the meantime I just need to keep practicing.

Cycling continues….

Okay, since the last blog, I’ve maybe ridden a couple of times.  I tried Chris’s bike but his seat was super hard and I vowed never to use his bike again.  I rode a couple of times around the neighbourhood and on Sunday last, I rode about 12 klms.  I’m practicing for a charity bike run on October 16th, which is on a Sunday and it starts at 7am.  I’m going to do the 10klm run.  One of the other ladies at work cycles every morning and she’ll be doing the run as well, but she’s doing the big one at 64 klms, which is up hill and down dale.  But I’m not quite as experienced as she is, so I’m keeping mine a bit short.  I thought about doing the 26 klm run, which is the next one up, but I don’t think this little duck can make it.  But!  all in all, it’s really about getting money for the local neighbourhood center.  So!, I’m doing my bit.

I’ve thought about riding the bike to work in the mornings which is about 7 klms to and then it would be 7 klms home again.  Now THAT would get me up to speed!  But I haven’t quite grasped that one yet and with all these beautiful spring days, you’d think I would be busting to do this.  I have made all the excuses under the sun….” I slept in,… I don’t want to be sweaty when I get to work, …..I’ll just have a cuppa before I go,….”  well you get the picture.  So discipline isn’t my forte, but I’m WORKING on it.

Now tomorrow we have a meeting which starts at 7:30am, which means I’d have to leave at 6:30am to get there on time.  Hmmmm….can I do it?  Do I WANT to do it? and when I get there, where will I put the bike?….well these seem to be the questions I keep asking myself.  As NIKE said,..”JUST DO IT!”

And then there were two….

Well, I’m back on the bike again, and Chris came with me this morning.  So we did the usual circuit and both of us got a good run.  It really DOES get the endorphins going and you feel invigorated and alive.

I’m excited to go further tomorrow morning.  Chris is going to need a softer seat and some stretchy pants so he can be comfortable too.  I’ll have a look at the shops and see what I can find for him.  His bike LOOKS cool, but it’s REALLY uncomfortable.

And!!  I’ve started losing weight.  woohoo! Heading down the scales.

Dear diary…

Well, I’ve spent the last few days riding my bike in the mornings.  I missed this morning due to an early sales meeting, but I’ll go again tomorrow.

And what’s THIS?!  I’m GAINING weight?  How can this be?!!!!  Nooooo, it’s not supposed to do that.  Well, this is not going to put me off, so I’ll keep pushing it. 

I may have to start a little earlier though, as the last time I went my usual route, it only took me 20 minutes instead of 30.  So tomorrow I’ll try a different route.  I’m working my way out to the Esplanade and when I do I’ll take a photo of the sunrise.

And I even tried Chris’s bike and will never do that again.  Not only was the seat too high, but it has to be the most uncomfortable seat I’ve ever sat on.  The gears worked great, but when I went to get off the bike I lost my balance and nearly fell over.  No, I’ll stick to my “girls” bike with the big cushy seat.

Dear Diary….

I DID it!  I finally got on the bike and went for a ride. I didn’t get up at 6am but 6:30am.  It was very refreshing.  It was a bit cool outside, but the air was clear and the sun still low in the sky.  I coasted out on to the streets where it was silent in the estate, but you could hear the early morning traffic on the main road.  I rode by one of the lakes where there was about 50 Kookaburras, some ducks, and even the fish jumped away as they saw me come up.  I only went for 30 minutes but Chris and I are going to do another ride along the esplanade later today.  I can’t believe I finally did it.  It’s hard to change habits especially when you just want to sit in the warm house drinking a warm sweet coffee and play on the computer.  Tomorrow, I will need to do the same thing again.  If you’re going to break a habit it has to be consistent.

Dear Diary……

 

I’d like to say that this is the start of my new diet and lifestyle change, but …it’s not.  I’m about a week in and so far I’ve gained 2 kilos.  That might be because I ate  a half a packet of Tim Tams.  I didn’t even know I had eaten that much and was surprised.  But….I did and I gained.  So that was a discovery for me.  Tim Tams cause weight gain.  I’ve have lost those 2 kilos, so I’m back to where I started.  And the biggest thing I’ve realized is that I need exercise which I have yet to do.

I’ve been trying to psych myself to get up early in the morning so I can do a bike ride.  I’ve always envied people who are energetic so when I see people my age and older riding their bikes I sit and watch with envy.  So!  here I am writing about my journey into getting healthier.  And we all know that exercise is the key. 

Okay, I will pass on what many people do not know….I weigh 99 kilos.  I WAS up to 107, but that was due to my thyroid medicine not being correct.  So it’s now fixed up and my levels are right.  The rest now is up to me.  My goal weight is 78 – 80 kilos.

So wish me luck.  I’ve set my alarm for 6am and my dessert tonight consists of a bowl of fresh cherries and a camomile tea.

There’s conferences….and then there’s CONFERENCES!

   

If ever you were going to go to a conference, THIS is the place to go!

The others would disagree with me, but I loved it.

 

 

       

Lady Elliott Island.  Located 70 nautical miles from Hervey Bay.  It’s totally isolated…no phones, no TVs, no radios, no outside communication.  Well, it DID have a general phone, and it DID have A computer if you REALLY NEEDED it.  But generally speaking, no forms of communication.     Ray White held their Central Queensland Conference here.  And since we’re now part of the Ray White team, we went along as well. 

I loved it!  Chris didn’t MIND it, but he’s not open to going there again. ( along with many of the other agents who attended)

 

You see, when we arrived, we were told that it’s the mating season for many of these birds.  These little fellows are called Noddys. And there were several other species of birds as well.  But in total, there were over 1 MILLION birds  on the island.  Lady Elliott island is the only the size of maybe 5 city blocks, roughly.  That’s A LOT of birds!  And of course, with that comes the smell.  Most people held their noses until they got used to the smell.  I noticed it, but didn’t mind.  I’ve smelled worse, like dirty nappies, rubbish tips, tanneries, to name a few.  So THIS wasn’t too bad at ALL.  AND!  I brought my wide brimmed hat! (smile)

We were then guided out to the resort area while our luggage was sent off to our bungalows.  Going through the dining/bar area, this is what greeted us on the ‘other’ side…

Tropical paradise.  Lady Elliott Island is an island made of coral reef.  There is NO sand.  It’s just crushed coral.  The whole island is surrounded by coral reefs.  The clarity of the water is unsurpassed.  And once we got passed the “oohs and aahs”, we followed our guide around as he led us to our bungalows.  Once we settled in to our bungalow, we booked in, picked up our snorkel gear, and headed in to the conference hall.

Our lead in to the conference was interesting for some, boring for others, depending on your own position within the company.  I for one, usually get something out of these even if it’s a tidbit that will improve my performance.  So I’m usually encouraged.

The first part only went for one hour to reconvene later that night.  By this time, it was lunch, so we headed off to the dining room first and had lunch over looking this beautiful reef.

 

 

After lunch, we geared up and headed out to the boat to get to outer reef edge.  Sorry, but there’s no pictures of old fat people in snorkel gear.  This is where “old people’s talk” starts.  My knee held up while paddling around in the water.  Mostly, because I used my left leg most of the time or my arms to paddle along.  And NO, I didn’t swim around in circles.  (smile)  Chris wrenched his hip while putting his flippers on.  Afterwards, we found out that he had one of MY flippers and one of HIS flippers and it was tough trying to put on the small size that wouldn’t fit.  And while the boat is bobbing around on the swell, it was tough going.  Some aspirin later on helped.  I didn’t notice that I had on two different sizes either, otherwise I could have saved him the trouble. 

Back to the story….the snorkelling was FABULOUS!  We saw HUGE sea turtles, manta rays, fish that you would LOVE to have on the end of your fishing line.  The colours of the coral were great.  There were little “Nemo” fish (clown fish) Angel fish, and a myriad of other marine life.  It was great.  I could just float around all day.

But, it was time to come in.  Dinner time was coming up and we needed to get ready for the next session.

 

 

Just as the sun was setting on the other side of the island, we waited and chatted a while until the dining hall was open and queued up on the buffet.

Once session two was completed, some headed for the bar, others headed back to their bungalows.  Chris and I made our way back to the bungalow dodging birds in our path.  The noise was almost deafening.  There were two birds on our deck cooing out to any females that might be flying about.  I don’t know if you’ve ever seen any bats or not, but the amount of birds that were flying around, it was like the volume of a bat colony.  The noise was extremely loud especially in the night air.  Chris and I settled in to our bed and another jolt.  The bed AND pillows were firm.  I mean EXTREMELY firm.  These old fat bodies were used to cushy comfort with foam underlays, a woollen overlay, and squishy pillows, so THIS!  was a little uncomfortable.  And those that drank heavily probably never felt a THING!  In the middle of the night those little birds who were cooing so softly started screaming like babies and screeching….ALL NIGHT……LONG!  it didn’t stop until morning.  And the morning…….despite not getting much sleep…….

The following morning was absolutely glorious!  Chris and I headed down to the water’s edge.  Chris talked to one of the other agents while I snorkelled in the shallow areas of the reef.  That morning, I saw blue starfish and some good sized Bream. (fish)  We decided to have breakky and we headed back in for session three which was all morning and we stopped at lunch.  Free time for the rest of the day.  We headed over to the light house as did some of the others.  I forgot my snorkel mask and fins, so I just took pictures.

  

  

 

 

Tonight was the night for AUCTION!  And who better to specialize in auctions that REAL ESTATE agents!  And of course, I was called up first to sell off a cooler that helps keep your drinks cold.  I don’t know how I did, but I got the thumbs up from the boss, so it must have been okay.  We were given some token dollars to play since we were new to the business, but it was fun watching all the antics that people got up to.  Chris was one of the last few called and he was very sneaky about selling off his product an electric “ mozzie repeller”.  he sold it to me without waiting for further bids.  I was shocked, but everyone else took it in their strides. ( I think…maybe not…who knows)  Well, there were laughs all around.  Once the fun was over, everyone headed out either to the bar, or the beach or their rooms.  Chris and I settled down for HOPEFULLY a better night’s sleep.

Well, even the birds settled down.  No more screeching like babies, no more calls to each other in the night.  Only soft cooing.  We slept much better.  Chris was up early our last morning.  He got up to watch the sunrise and got some very interesting pictures.

  

  

I knew he couldn’t sleep, so I made a coffee and walked down to the beach to watch the sunrise too.

Later in the morning, we had awards to give out to the top performers.  Three of our Hervey Bay group received awards this year.  Maybe we’ll see  Chris’s name up there next year!  After that we packed up and headed out to the airport to wait for our plane to arrive to take us back to the office.  It was back to reality.

  

I loved Lady Elliott Island.  I thought it was great.  And while there’s not that much to do except for snorkel, eat, drink, and RELAX.  It’s a nice place to simply unwind and just enjoy BEING.