Tulip Cheeks

We had a whale of a time at Moreton Island (QLD)

Can you believe I ACTUALLY took this photo.

We were SOOOOOOOO lucky to whitness the scenes we did.

We caught a friday night flight to Brisbane with our new mates - The Mucky Mallory's. They arnt mucky - it just makes us laugh to call them this. Mal is an actual Yorkshire man and is a friend of our Brisbane friends - who then introduced us and we have been friends ever since - friend stealing! Mals wife - which Im gonna nick name her HCIHGC for reasons known only to us 4 is now a really good friend of mine, and soon after making friends she wowed my work collegues too and has been working there since. We lunch together most days. She keeps me on track.

So the 4 of us flew up to join our other great mates Driff and Seedy - both Yorkshire and proud also. After a great BBQ of lashings of meat and beer onions (delicious way of interesting up onions by adding beer - great at the time, but gives amazing after burps for at least 24 hours).

The next morning we were joined by two REAL Auusies - to go with our entry of HCIHGC. Between the 8 of us we had 2 motor boats and one 4 wheel drive - all three FULL of tents, food and booze for the weekend. Off we set in the boats over to Moreton Island - about an hours journey off the coast of Brisbane. While the car went on the ferry.

We arrived at the island and cruised up and down the coast looking for the perfect area to pitch camp. Getting the things off the boat was interesting as we couldnt alow the boats to touch the bottom - and the waves seemed pick up momentum just when we didnt want them to.

We were soon joined by the girls - who had come with the car. Now and again we could see small dark humps in the distance coming up for air - it was the whales.

After pitching up camp off we went again in the boats. It was amazing. Bit of fishing, bit of swimming, but it wasnt until the next day when we really got up close and personal with the whales.

I mean - it was truly National Geographic worthy - I will never ever forget it. Having the boats made it unbelieveable. As soon as we saw a sign of whales coming accross the sea we ran out to the boats and headed towards where we thought they might be (keeping a very safe and required distance of course). We would then turn off the engines and SIT, quietly, the waves lapping on the side of the boat being the only noise then - WUSH, PUFF, CRASH, SMASH! and then a "OH MY GOD!" by all of us!

There was one point where the two boats were about 20 metres apart - having seen the fins heading towards us from some distance. I dont think anyone dare breathe when the fins were coming right at us - litterally under one boat and up between the two.  

This photo was taken from camp - looking out on this beautiful setting - can you see one of us dropping anchor?

This was Mal and Mr TC actually swimming with dolphins. Mal jumped in first - to which I exclaimed "Your husband is so brave HCIHGC" then in jumped Mr TC - not to be out done. Can you see the two fins in the background?

This is our lunch spot on day 2 - pretty cool huh?

An amazing time had by all. And as this was my first ever real camping experience - I think I coped quite well. We bought a tent from Aldi for $25 - (about 18 pounds) an air bed, mosquito repellant and that sanitising hand cream. The only horrific thing that happened to me was when I went out the back of camp to have a wee (no ammenities) - I was on my way back and thought i had got a leaf stuck on the arch of my (bare) foot. I faised my foot and went to pull the leaf off - it broke off, i went to grab it again, it broke off again. Then the giant penny dropped - it was a human poo. I rapidly scraped my foot along the ground and ran through camp squeeling to the sea. Yuck - people are so grose. You're supposed to dig a hole. Or dont go at all. I didnt.

Sandringham and hugs

Its been a quiet weekend this one. Ive slept and ive slept. Then Mr TC started with the 'Man' flu - so I just had to get out - and huess what - Mr TC came with me!

We fancied going for a little walk or something - its crazy to live by the sea side and never go visit it - so off we went. As if by magic Sandringham had itself a fete on - our first Australian one at that.

Not much differnt to a UK one - people still tripping poeple up, the smells of beautiful food - the music belting out. One thing that was a little different was a stand like this - you wouldnt get this in Yorkshire!

So we are still getting on remarkably well. We have had some freshers arrive from the UK - the sister of our dear friend Hels and her boyfriend have come to live over here and being a nice sister Hels put them in touch with us. Its been nice sharing our findings with new poeple. It puts it into perspective how much we have achieved.  It was hard to keep our findings to facts -as you know - I have a few opinions now. It is so differnt here, and us Brits ARE a different breed! But I aslo think a few mis-conceptions have snuck through -like Australia and Australians are a very laid back - nothing could be further from the truth - I have never been told off, tutted at or had my personal property tapped more in my life. I have never had to work so hard, or cope with so much upset in a work environment. But hey ho - it can only get better. I have so much good stuff to give - I just hope I can sustain it. I certainly dont wanna join'em.