W A S H O U T

Well, we awake once again to grey skies and the rain is bucketing down and unfortunately shows no signs of stopping. The leading headine in the Townsville Bulletin yesterday 'WASHOUT' and that just about sums it up. It may sound like the down pours are dampening our time in Townsville but actually we’re enjoying ourselves, just relaxing and generally taking it easy. Yesterday it pretty much rained all day; Phil suggested that we get in the car and drive to Charter Towers but we were late up and in the end decided to take a trip to the Willows Shopping Centre. Phil doesn’t do well in shopping centres (unless it’s a supermarket) so after his coffee and cake he soon lost interest. There was no way he was going to let me browse in peace and I got fed up with his constant huffing, puffing and sighing so I gave up and we went to the Reading cinema to catch the midday film. Our third film in 3 consecutive days was Invictus and this was the film we enjoyed the most. Well worth seeing if you get the chance over the weekend.

After the film we stopped off at Woolworth’s to pick up some bread and wine then went back to the white house to get ready for the evening. Graham & Jean had very kindly offered us a tour with dinner afterwards which sounded good a very good plan. They picked us up just at tea-time and Graham drove around and showed us some of the sights. We got to see the Dam and the River Ross; Graham showed us the university, Townsville Hospital and we drove on the new road that Graham had helped design. We even saw some more Wallabies around the old peoples village. It was interesting to see some of the outer suburbs which I’m quite certain we wouldn’t have stumbled across ourselves.


We finished up at Graham & Jean’s house and very nice it was too. They have a massive garden and we also got to meet the 3 dogs, 2 of which belong to Geoff & Denise. Jean served up a lovely leg of lamb (my favourite) and roast potato’s & veggies and gravy. Our very first roast dinner in Australia! It was delicious and Phil and I were in our element. We had wine, and more wine and finished with home made date, ginger and nut cake. Needless to say Phil was very happy indeed! We both enjoyed of the company, don’t get me wrong we get along pretty well being together 24/7 with only the odd squabble along the way but even so it’s nice to be with other people.

Both Jean & Graham are very interesting to talk too. They like to travel; last year they did a trip to the UK, they did a cruise in the Artic and just before Christmas they flew to Melbourne and did the Great Ocean Road. In a few weeks they are meeting up with Jean’s brother and doing Frazer island. We’ve recently done this so we know they will enjoy it. In September they’re off to do a tour of Europe, this couple certainly get around! Jean likes to paint and does a class once a week. She showed us some of her work and we were impressed, she sold her first painting a few months back. How exciting is that! I wish I had a creative skill. Phil says that I’m good at painting and decorating but it’s just not the same. Anyway, we had a very pleasant evening so thanks guys for your hospitality. Graham had the task of driving us home which meant he could only have a beer and a glass of wine. We got back just after 10pm, I’m not sure G&J realised before inviting us over that we can both talk for England once we get going so I hope we didn’t outstay our welcome.


Today we’re heading off for 4 days on Magnetic Island. I don’t think Phil realised that Magnetic Island was so close to Townsville when he booked in the early days of our stay in Melbourne. Had he of done, then he would have realised that 4 days is a bit of an overkill and 2 nights would have sufficed. Never mind, we checked our paperwork and we couldn’t get our money refunded, so the folk of Magnetic will have the pleasure of our company for the 4 whole days and nights. Hopefully the rain will stop at some point during the long weekend so we can get out and do some walking. But if not we shall just have to make the most of it. Graham & Jean have come to our aid once again and are coming over to let some water out of the pool which is at danger of overflowing and they have also offered to drop us off at the ferry point. Phil said that we’d take a taxi but they insisted they drive us, so thanks once again. In fact they will be here very soon so I must wake up the snoring Phil and make packing preparations. Time is of the essence so I must sign off and get going.


Next blog from our chalet in Magnetic!