Off to Ebor via Ballina

This photo the homeowners took of us with Scout and Keiko just before we left, they were beautiful pooches.

Awoke to a wet morning for our departure to Ballina where we had booked into a motel for the night before heading to Ebor on Monday. By the time we left Woombye at 9.30 the rain had eased to just light showers. We ran out of the wet stuff at Caboolture, driving through heavy traffic all the way until we got to the NSW border. We had a good trip which took approx 4.5hrs arriving at Ballina around 2.00. As we changed into NSW we also gained daylight saving so we are currently only 2hr behind Christchurch. Not sure if we will have phone or internet at Ebor (doubt it very much) don't worry all will be good, we are staying back at the motel (2nights) on our way back to Sunshine Coast on the 31st.

 

 

Last Day

Our last day at Woombye over, it was busy and we were expecting the homeowners home around 5.00pm. We had to wash the pooches and get them dry and brushed so they would look spick and span for the owners arrival. They arrived home approx 5.45pm. After a bit of a natter they took us to the beautiful Woombye Pub for dinner their shout. After a great meal and evening we walked home had a bit of a chat and cuppa before retiring for the night. We had packed almost all our gear for our departure in the morning to make it easier for us.

 

Times almost up here

Well our time here at Woombye is almost up. We leave here on Sunday Oct 23rd and head away for a weeks R n R. Before we can do this Brian is off into hospital on Thursday for what we hope is a routine cystoscopy. So we are in packing,cleaning mode and sorting through what we need to take with us to Ebor and what will be left in our storage shed before we return on the 31st when we will head direct to our next house sit at Weyba Downs which is near Eumundi/Noosa, we will be at Weyba for 2wks. I already stayed there for a weekend to allow them to head away in their caravan to use a credit before it expired, so I know the animals,area and house. We popped over last Friday and collected the key from them. We may not have phone or internet coverage at Ebor so if you don't hear from us then that is why. If we cann't get on internet we will catch up again when we stay in Ballina on the way north again for 2 nights. Ebor is in NSW approx a 3hr drive from Woombye, we are overnighting on Sunday at a motel in Ballina and will drive to Ebor on Monday, staying 2 nights on our way back out.

Off to Beerwah

18th October 2016

Today we decided to get out for a few hours  - BY TRAIN - we took ourselves to Beerwah a 30min train ride, including 2 tunnels, yes tunnels real and dark. We were very surprised by the amount of rainforest that is around in the back areas of some of the suburbs that you never seen on a normal daily basis. We spent around a couple of hours at Beerwah did a bit of shopping and had to get some printouts from the bank for dear old Centrelink as I am putting my papers in for age pension on Thursday, what a bloody mission that has been. I can guarantee that they will still want more. We waited at the station and got the train back to Beerwah. Each trip cost $2.36 so a return = $4.72, no way could you run the car for that. We also collected the telephone number for getting onto Qld Rail when we want to do our long haul train trip, at this stage we are thinking Cairns. Each year the seniors get 1 free train trip - so why not, this wont be until next year.

Hello Brisbane

Arrived back into Brisbane early after a very rough flight. It was so rough that the crew were told to remain in the crew seats for almost 3/4 of the flight. Arrived as I said early, went to the transfer desk as I had booked a ride back via shuttle again to Woombye to be told you can go on the earlier shuttle if you wish, it is leaving in 15mins - YES PLEASE. I knew where to meet the shuttle, no time for a coffee and or a wee. On the shuttle, made great time through the traffic and home an hour earlier what better. One very pleased husband to meet me.

Farewell Christchurch

Had a great week stay, the weather was not too bad thankfully. As Yas,Adam were at work and Rory at his grandparents for that week I went and spent 3 wonderful days with Angela, Martin and the boys - oh and the dogs - lol, had a great time, went to Governors Bay and caught up with Graeme and Kath over there ending up at our favourite cafe "The She", thanks for shouting us the coffee and eats guys. From there Angela and I ended up in Lyttelton browing a health food/organic shop where I started sneezing it was embarrassing as I heard one of the ladies say oh she must have a cold, NO it was all the smells. From there we drove to Summner not alot happening there and then drove back to Angela's. Took the dogs for a walk, wind was chilly but not too bad. On the Wednesday Angela took me back to Yasmine's for the last few days. I had a big baking day on Thursday, caught up with my two best Air NZ mates Loraine and Jacky on Friday. Saturday Yasmine and I had a fantastic time shopping at Westfield. Sunday we went to the movies and Monday we said our goodbyes before Loraine came and picked me up and took me to the airport to fly home once again. Had a wonderful time seeing what family I could and made sure I rang those I couldn't get to see. Saying goodbye to my little shadow Chase, he followed me everywhere and was peering under the gate when I left.

Misc Photos

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christchurch Stay

Had a great but brief stay in Christchurch, caught up with most of the families and those that I didn't I tried to ring them. Stayed 3 nights with Angela,Martin and the boys which was just lovely as Yasmine and Adam were back at work and Rory was at his grandparents. While at Angela and Martin's we walked the dogs through the forest, took Ian riding up and down from the Summit Road, went to Governor's Bay where we caught up with Graeme and Kath at the cemetery and then to the "She Cafe" thanks Graeme for the coffee and scone. Angela took me to Summner (not alot happening there) then we headed to the "The Tannery" how amazing is that however the prices are so expensive. Angela and I called in briefly to see Rosie and Bill.  Back to Yasmine's on the Wednesday for the final few days of my stay. Thursday I baked , Friday I met up with my two Air NZ friends for a quick lunch, always good to catch up with them as they make time for a catch up. Saturday Yasmine and I had a lovely day out browsing and shopping at Westfield. Sunday saw us head to the movies and Monday saw me fly home. A great week, weather not too bad at all and the ground stayed still.

 

 

 

 

Flying to Christchurch

What a great boy Rory is flying, he sits quietly watching the tv set and or looking out the window, this time he never slept, never asked for anything and or needed to go to the loo. We arrived into Christchurch around midnight on the Friday night and Yasmine was there waiting for us. A little boy happy to be home and see his little mate Chase dog and his dad who he had not seen in 3weeks. What a wonderful holiday Rory had and I cann't wait to have him come stay again.

 

Goodbye Grandad and Jamie

Well the day had arrived for Rory to head home to mum ,dad and Chase back in Christchurch. We had a shuttle ordered to collect us from the Woombye IGA at 1.00pm, they arrived on time and before long we were in the shuttle and heading off to Brisbane. We had to change shuttle at Aussie World into a big bus for our last ride to Brisbane Airport. We arrived in plenty of time had a bite to eat at Coffee Club before boarding our flight to Christchurch. We loved having Rory come and stay a first time ever for him and us and we cann't wait for him to come back again and stay with us. Hope next time he is big and brave enough to fly on his own.

 

 

Misc Photos

Most evenings we would take the boys and the dogs for a walk to the local sports ground where they could have a run and let the dogs off their leads, the dogs and boys loved this as we used to walk along under the railway line and then up to the railway station and wait for the two trains to come past. The boys loved it when the driver would toot loudly to them when we all waved. The dogs loved all the fuss as you can see by being taken for a ride in the washing trolley basket and or even if it meant you had to be dressed up with an old rag as a scarf. Man those dogs sure miss the kids with all the fuss and bother they got from them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nambour Miniature Trains

The next suburb to Woombye is Nambour and they have an amazing miniature train collection that opens 1 Sunday a month and it happened to be open the last Sunday Rory and Jamie were here so on a very warm Sunday morning we took the boys along for some rides. 4 rides for $8 ea, we told the boys to have their rides and make sure they ride a different train each time. They had a wonderful time and it is a very popular place with many grassy areas where you could have a picnic and there is some shade also which was great.