Happy Birthday

We have a very special birthday in our family today, my grandma is 101.  I think she looks wonderful.

ARMIDALE - Part 2

We had a busy day planned but unfortunately ended up starting late as I had a really bad headache .  I eventually got moving around 11am and we drove to Uralla, I wanted to have a look around town and the cemetery's as a lot of my family are from Uralla.  Im so thankful Lucy was able to drive as I certainly wasn't up to it.  The first stop was the information centre and a coffee shop, then we were set.  

As it was so late we started off at thePioneer Cemetery which is the home of the bushranger Captain Thunderbolt's grave.

We found the headstone of my great great great grandmother 

 

We then went to the Uralla Cemetery and visited the grave of my Great grandparents, I knew my great grandmother but unfortunately my great grandfather had died before  I was born

 

It's funny I really miss this beautiful country, so different from where I live now.

As it was getting late we decided not to do the heritage walk through Uralla which was disappointing as I had really wanted to do it. As i still wasn't feeling a hundred percent and it was a warm day we drove to Gostwyck  Chapel and Deeargee Woolshed.  Gostwyck Chapel is a stunning little chapel especially in Autumn when the Virginia Creeper turns vivid shades of red.

This beautiful photo was taken by Michael Boniwell

 

Deeargee Woolshed was built  in 1872.  My memories (or lack of them) was  a B&S Ball back in the early 80's

Lucy was  a little perturbed with all the sheep and cows walking along the side of the road

We drove back to Armidale the "back way" that seemed to go on forever and  a road that I had never driven on, thank goodness for google maps.  We finally got back to the Motel and I phoned Meredith and arranged to meet for dinner, at the same time got a text from some other friends asking what we were doing for dinner.  We ended back at the White Bull Hotel for a lovely dinner.  

Up again early on Monday morning as we had to go to the Armidale cemetery before we left to travel home.  Poor Lucy I think she was a bit over it by this stage but as I said to her it's your family and where you are from.

Another great great great grandmother on my grandfather's side

At last we grabbed a coffee from The Goldfish Bowl, I couldn't talk Lucy into breakfast and we hit the road. Lucy drove all the way except from Warwick to Aratula and we arrived home about pm.  We had a most enjoyable weekend but back to routine for me and school for Lucy, she did try to say she was too tired to go on Tuesday, nice try I made her go. It was nice to have some together time just the two of us.

Fabulous Weekend

 

The weekend has come and gone and it’s back to reality, I really wish I was still there.  We got up on Friday morning at 3am to catch a 6.30 flight.  I'm glad Tony was wide awake for the hour drive to  Brisbane because I felt barely conscious.  We had to drop our car off at 5am then they drove the ten minute drive to the airport and had us there by 5.20 it was great no stress and plenty of time to check in before boarding at 6am.  I don't do early mornings very well which is funny considering I had a job that required me to be at work by 5.30 for four years.

Sunrise at Brisbane airport.

The flight was uneventful and we landed at Proserpine airport just before 8am then whisked off on a bus to Abel Point Marina at Airlie Beach where we were able to grab some coffee before the ferry was due at 10am.  It only took about 25 minutes to get to Daydream.

Welcome to Daydream Island. The island is only a kilometre long and about 500 metres wide with a tiny hill in the middle.  We were lucky that our room was ready and we were able to check in straight away.  We went and found Tony’s brothers and sat by the pool just swimming ,drinking and having lunch until 1.30.  Then it was time to get ready for Mel and Clint’s wedding.  The wedding was at Lovers cove which is a little beach with a wooden deck over looking the water and islands.

Tony’s mum Sonja, niece Fauve, sister in law Karen and niece Jana.

I have two hoods for my lens and  both have gone missing so I really struggled taking photos at the wedding which was disappointing as the glare was so bad.  I'm hoping to be able to do something with the photos in Photoshop but this couple were the cutest couple there apart from the bride and groom.

Nephew Norton and his girlfriend Portia.

My sister in law Jenny (in the orange dress), nephew Sam and brother in law Mick.

 

Niece Jaylene, her partner Shane and daughter Amelia

The beautiful bride and her dad Peter

Mel’s sister Jess was bridesmaid.

It was a gorgeous wedding, relaxed yet very elegant I loved the dresses and the location it was one of the more enjoyable weddings that I've been to.

Double trouble Tony and Sam

The reception area which overlooked another beach, pier and islands.  It was so beautiful, food was superb especially the pavlova it was the best I've ever tasted I knew not to eat it but I did and as a result was back to my room by 10.30pm with a really bad headache and woke up at 3 in the morning with a migraine.  No more photos from the night as they show bad behaviour and I think the worse behaved were the Uncles, need I say more.  Lets just say they were rather amusing.

Next morning was off to a bit of a slow start, I swear I drank the least and I think I felt the worse, hardly fair is it.  Once the headache dimmed and after breakfast we went back to Lover’s cove as Tony wanted to do some snorkelling. The rest of the day was spent walking around exploring, an afternoon sleep then dinner. 

It was too much for some.

Now dinner deserves its own post.  Oh my goodness I really thought I’d died and gone to heaven.  We decided to go to the seafood buffet and it didn't disappoint.  I had Lobster, crab, prawns, bugs, muscles and oysters and then there were wonderful salads and hot food as well. I'm salivating just at the thought of it again.

This photo isn't the best as it was taken on the I phone.  This was plate number one I hate to admit but I went back four times, the lobster was my favourite.

Sunday was our last day so we were up early for breakfast, fresh fruit, bircher muesli and pancakes to start the day.  We said Goodbye to some then the rest of us went down to the Daydream village to hang beside the pool for a couple of hours before we had to leave at 1.50pm.

Little Slater, Jess’ son

Slater with his dad, Shawn

Time to go, I don't think I want to.

After the most exquisite weather we were heading towards this

Just about to land in Brisbane

We arrived home at 5.30 just in time to listen to the Grand Final.  It was lovely to be home and the house was lovely and tidy, Tess even managed to get Lucy to clean her room.  This is what the weather was like here on the coast yesterday, wet and cold.  Welcome back to the Sunshine Coast.

Would I go there again?  Most definitely however it is so expensive especially food and drinks and there are no facilities for you to take your own food and drink, if you could sneak alcohol in do it.  I would only go there in winter but that’s just me I hate humidity.  Be prepared to queue they don't have enough staff on anywhere.  For some reason we were booked on the wrong ferry and missed the connecting bus to the airport although the girl at reception recommended we go on the ferry that we did we had to fork out another $94 in taxi fees (we had already paid for the bus back to the airport) I have spoken to a manager on the island and at the moment am waiting for him to phone me today.  There is a lot of buck passing between the reservation office (which made the first mistake they had us leaving on Saturday) and the Island but it will get sorted.  Beside that we really did have the best time.

Bye for now

Jackie

Day Dream

 

Well that’s where we are off to Daydream Island for the weekend to see this beautiful couple get married.

We are really looking forward to getting away for a break.