A little bit of a big bit

 

Hervey Bay

Wally on the beach

Hervey Bay

So here I am in a campervan a long way from my little village. It took three days to get here - Hervey Bay - a small town on the east coast of Australia. With a big thanks to Mark who drove us to Heathrow early on a Monday morning and that wasn't an easy drive thanks to Google taking us round the back roads from MK to Heathrow. So from Heathrow via Changi to Brisbane and then driving a campervan up the coast, it was quite a trek.

Australia is massive and feels even more so when you hit the road. There is a big emptiness. Thanks to Google once more for taking us on a circuitous route to our little campsite, it seemed even further into the wilds. Driving a campervan takes a little getting used to but we conquered that pretty quickly. We are working out the quirks of life in a van too. We squeeze past each other in the small space and have managed cooking and sleeping arrangements - Yay! Sophie and I have been in situ for a few days now and we are getting into the local way of life and practicing the local lingo!

As with all people who live in a different country to their birth, there are things we miss. Mine was always Marmite! Doug, my cousin, likes Piccalilli so I packed some especially. To protect the jars in my suitcase, I made sure I had my trusty orange hard shell case for the trip. It is a bit cumbersome in the van so I huff and puff every time I need to get into it. This old case now has dodgy locks and the strap I put round it to ensure it remains shut, also has a dodgy lock. As I slip the plastic prongs into the lock of the strap, the numbers slip round and then I need to spend an age trying to work out what the new release combination is. Errr. Now the jars are no longer in the bag, a hard shell case is excess to needs. 

So, on first impressions Hervey Bay is lovely and, as the locals say; it is full of the newly wed and the nearly dead! We came all the way here for Doug's 80th birthday. And what a great night it was - or should I say a great three nights of celebrating. I have met up with cousins from all over and I am so honoured to be a little bit of a very big family that knows how to party!

 

The beach here at Hervey Bay is quite spectacular. I have dipped my toes in the waters and also kayaked - it is years since I did that but, like falling off a bike, you never forget how to do it. I have also got Sophie on a bike and dragged her on walks through woods with big bats hanging from the trees. I am giving her the typical Woolhead treatment, except I haven't got her lost as yet. There is time for that. This is just a little bit of our big adventure!

Natural Hazards

Life sometimes bites you on the bottom. The swans along the canal have also tried to do that to me and to others this week. In fact, one particular swan with her cluster of fluffy cygnets is so aggressive, people have turned back rather than walk past.

My first encounter on the tow path was with Shadow. She is a feisty dog, so I held her back when this swan started hissing and opening its beak at us. We gave her as much ground as we could and still she lurched at us. It was scary.

The next day I warned a man walking his dog and then the same swan threatened me on my bike. The third time, the swan had managed to divide a group of walkers and one of them was terrified. She refused to go anywhere near the swan. She turned back and refused to carry on her way. Truly scary stuff!

On the last occasion I got off my bike to take a photo. The birds actually look docile. Don't be fooled. As I walked past one swan bit the pedal on my bike. Fortunately, I was the other side of the bike and protected. If only I could have taken a picture of that happening. 

Other natural hazards include having an afternoon drink in my garden. The weather was warm and the wine and negronis flowed effortlessly. My friends, Peter and Jackie came round to join Mark and myself for a Friday afternoon tipple. Mark Richards has been staying with me for a few days. He has come up from Cornwall to holiday in Cosgrove! This is a bit of a reversal. Most people would prefer to go the other way, I'm sure. At least the weather has been good and we have got out and about.

The purpose of Peter and Jackie's visit was for me to pass on instructions to look after my plants while I am away. At least, I think I passed on the instructions. Mind you, with whatsapp you are never too far away from anyone in the world, so it really isn’t too bad if I didn’t quite give a full account.

So, it is off on holiday for me. This is a much-awaited trip to down under via Singapore. I promise to wave to everyone on my in transit stop-over. I’m so excited.

 

Happy birthday Bike!

 My bike has been part of my life for the past six years. I lurched into Treknology in Bukit Merah on 11^th May, 2018 on crutches and chose my red bike. We have been through a lot together and like me it has had a few replacement parts. We have been in two accidents both of which I came off worse than the bike. Nonetheless, we still keep moving and I haven’t lost the joy cycling even though the weather here in the UK can be less than pleasant.

Fortunately, this week the weather is much warmer. I played a tennis match against a Bedford team and got quite sweaty. I thought I was going to play two matches on the same day but at the eleventh hour someone volunteered to play the evening ladies’ doubles. This meant I played only four sets in a day and not the planned eight. Yay!

In preparation for the matches, I took it easy the day before. I went to the pool and only did 2.5km and then went round to Danielle’s to help her clean up and do the garden. In retrospect I probably did more than I planned to do. Now the match is over I have felt rather fatigued. Age is catching up with me. I never used to rest up before a match  - now it seems something I need to consider. Sunday's match left me more exhausted still. I knew I needed a shower and I really had to force myself to get in  - that is how bad I felt. 

I popped to Wolverton Town Square for the monthly market before the match. It was wonderful. Sun shining, everyone happy, loads of lovely stuff to buy including Wolverton Gin. Woverton really buzzes. It has such a wonderful community.

My bike now

Wolverton on a Sunday

The market

Children having fun

My bike in Singapore

Danielle's washing machine has breathed its last. Over the week Danielle has popped over to my place to do her washes. My machine takes 2 hours and 44 minutes for a standard cycle so for each wash this has meant two trips plus a bit of extra fun time with Ezra-Mae. She loves coming over to my place. Danielle washed her much-loved Moo-moo. Ezra-Mae wanted Moo-moo even though it was wet. For this, she dug into the cleaned wash basket and found it. She threw the damp washing all over my hallway. Then when it was time to leave, she left Moo-moo behind. Suspicious me thinks she might have left it on purpose just to come back again. 

This week I have Shadow again. She curls up in a quiet place and for the most part I don't notice her until it is her dinner time. When I take her round the village I meet other dogs. I know their names now but not the owners' names. Funny world! 

Shadow at the orchard

May the 4th be with with you!

 ... and the revenge of the Sith! It is six years now since I had both knees done  - not a bionic refit - just cleaned up a bit. What a good job Dr Chong did too! I am still getting around on them - clearly a testament to his good work. There was only one small setback after the op on the day. We didn't have a corkscrew! I know this is an unusual problem to have for one languishing in a hospital bed. Dearest Rachel brought to my bed in Gleneagles a bottle of wine, two glasses and no corkscrew. Oh, how we laughed. Our "training" had to be postponed. I raise a glass to you Rachel, Cheers!

I have also been on another journey of reminiscence this week. Rita has been visiting from Singapore with Marmite. Her plan is to take Marmite around the world. He has already been to far flung places like Costa Rica so he is a well-heeled dog in experience as well as behaviour. Rita has suffered the usual Woolhead hospitality. I got her digging at the orchard, dragged her round Cambridge with Diane and Jeremy and insisted she come to tennis too. Marmite used to watch me play tennis in Singapore so he will feel at home at least.

Jeremy taking a break 

For once the sun shone while we were in Cambridge. It was almost like summer. Together we did a scavenger hunt and I saw bits of Cambridge I didn't know existed. We looked closely at Architecture and followed routes down back alleys. It is certainly a good way to see a city. Diane  - our jefe - should have had a yellow umbrella! Next time, Diane..

On Friday, in  torrential rain, I went under the Horse Tunnel and to the Village Hall for cooking demonstration, a gourmet lunch and copious glasses of vino. I left feeling inspired to cook the sort of meal that you feast your eyes on before you eat. However, on Saturday my Cousin Alison, her husband and Nasser came for lunch and I am afraid I produced yet another tasty sludge! As a note to self - I must work on the gourmet bit.

I never thought I would find myself saying this. I feel sorry for Rishi! I don't know how he can get out of bed now his party has been trounced in the local elections. On Radio 4 the usual round of punters gave their excuses for the incoming results the morning after. They wavered between the hollow to the comical. Oh my!!!! our country needs change and to change.