Su's pense



Finally quit the house Thursday 8th March,  exhausted and 
grubby .... looking forward to having only a couple of  suitcases to deal with but mostly dinner with friends. 


Last night!  


It was great to see Monika and Bill after such a long time, and it goes without saying our favourite playmates and regular international discussion group members Toni and Graeme were with us. Then home to the glamour of bunkbeds at the nearby backpackers hostel at the end of the road. Never let it be said I've forgotten my roots David. No wardrobe thank goodness.


Bus to airport So on to Adelaide to rendezvous with shipmates from our first cruise Barbara and John and Greg Milkins, (sorry to miss you Wendy! ) Lee and Michael Kaploon, Nick and Carol. What a joy to see them all again. Friday dinner with all. Next day market and lunch at Chianti Classico in Hutt St. with Barbara and John. 


Fabulous food and company..


Back to hotel to meet Lee Michael Nick and Carol for dinner. Still with John and Barbara. .. 


Sunday Carol and I went to the market again but it was closed at 9am so we had breakfast. Hate saying goodbye to family. Waved them off to do some furniture for their new house in Port Pirie.
On Sunday after a few hours in the airport lounge,  we headed off to the centre of the goldfields Kalgoorlie. 


Here reside our golden boys Tex and Hunter and Stewart and Christina. The Glendevon is looking fantastic, a true labour of love and dedication. What an enormous undertakng! Can't wait to see the next stage at the end of the year.


 We had a terrific time with all, far too short as usual, and caught up again with  Christina's parents Ann and Kurt, sister Steph, Brad and Zachary.  


We took the littlies out for lunch ( lime spiders ) and an  'around the region'  local bus trip. No expense spared! It's always hard to leave the family. Hate seeing Stew driving away .... Another visit over.


I booked us into the YHA in Perth because it's good value etc. Close to all we needed. Great atmosphere and such friendly people and fab breakfast for 18 dollars for two. 


I know it from taking Su Boyle  (our friend from Italy) for the 2008 Hash House Harriers International. So far all splendid.


Having a delayed arrival in Perth and early departure we were not able to catch up with Lochie our staggeringly brilliant grandson, now 14, or Len and Aldy Bagnall. We were disappointed but nothing to be done! See you at Christmas Lochie! 


Weigh anchor and Sail Away  ... 


[Just heard thar there will be no stop in the  Seychelles this trip. Demn those scurrilous pesky piratical people.]


Rod is going ashore today in Bali, a last  minute decision after breakfast,  and I suspect he has a secret assignation with someone in an internet cafe!!  I decided not to go thus avoiding having to face the beggars like last time!  I know ..  I know!!


It's a true Indonesian day, completely overcast, a nice 25,  a light warm drizzle to paddle in. It's lovely having the deck windows to myself, lots of quiet and sea-swooshings in the background!  I might treat myself to a glass of bubbles for lunch! The house bubbles are a very cheeky Prosecco .. such a happy coincidence. I wish you were all here with us, then all would be perfect!!  A few guitars, some good harmonies, Kel the podmaster, et al. Blues Brothers renditions by Joanne  ... Ros and Bill jiving. You get the idea.


Didn't have bubbles .... Rod came back early and so we had lunch instead. He's at the movies now (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy). It was such a dark (in colour) film I went home so that Rod could relax. Not having to explain everything to me.


No extravagant sunset tonight ... We've been spoiled so far. Impossible really to capture but I keep trying. Rod took some good shots.  


I can't describe how wonderful it is to be rocked to sleep by the ocean! I haven't slept so well since the last ship. 


Our cabin is nearly at the top of the ship and so far, there's not a single thing wrong with it! No noises above or discos all night. We are right at the pointy end so may yet get some 'pitching'  if it gets rough  .. and Rod can't wait! 'Bring on the weather!' he cries gleefully, tugging on his sou'wester and buckling on his iPod. 


I'm happy to wait, it's too hard to walk about when the floor keeps dropping away. Then abruptly the knees are up under the chin.  A bit like learning to trot standing up! 


It's all about rhythm.

xxxx Su