Adios!

Well, it's been fun but I am moving on to another blog ... not sure what it will be at this point ... but this is the last entry for here.  

Thanks for taking an interest in Jannie Jaunts :) 

Sunday

Faith in humanity restored.  An older woman fell in the street outside the cafes at Aqua at the Broadwater this morning and before we could even think of helping there were already four people with her ... and someone arrived quickly thereafter with a drink for her and some ice for her knee which appeared to be the only place she was feeling pain - although we know that the "you can only feel one pain at a time" rule was probably in effect and later today other bits affected by the fall may make themselves known - hopefully there will be no lasting damage though.   

Also seen down at the Broadwater this morning ... a dog in a stroller. It's not the first one we've seen down there - and we know it won't be the last.  What a great marketing idea though - they are different from normal strollers in that they usually have mesh front and back (sometimes to the sides) so there is plenty of airflow for the little ones.  I just hope Nigey doesn't get wind of this because she is sure to want one for when we go out into the yard.  She does like keeping up with the Jones'.  

We've had a fairly quiet weekend ... we were supposed to be going off to BBQ lunch at Ri and A-M's yesterday but the rain on Thursday and Friday had turned their place into a "quagmire" (I do love it when people use big words in their text messages) so that put paid to that.  Of course, it has been brilliant weather here yesterday and today ... and Nigey has enjoyed being out in the yard for a while both days.  

I'm not sure if she was frightened by the huge sound and light show the storm put on on Friday night ... she didn't disappear under anything but she did put herself front and centre with the new television (sit down in front!!) and we are currently working to have her not scratch the screen.  She used to do that once or twice with the previous set but she really likes doing it with the bigger version.  Maybe she can see things better on it ... which means we really aren't going to be watching today's NRL Grand Final. 

I found a new comedy series yesterday - "Good Grief";  it's a New Zealand production about two sisters who take over ownership/management of their Koro's funeral home.  Sooz knew I was watching something funny because of all the laughter because there were truly some laugh-out-loud bits.  I watched all six episodes of the first series (currently streaming on SBS On Demand) yesterday - primarily because they are very short ... the longest episode is 18 minutes - which they pad out to nearly half an hour with ads.  

Sooz's Reiki Practical and Chanting have been cancelled for today so I am puddling around doing some "decluttering" and "tidying" - to make it a bit easier when An comes to clean this week.  

Saturday

At this stage, with several Covid local cases in SEQ, we are thinking we may be plunged into Lock Down at any point, but probably not until after tomorrow's NRL Grand Final at Lang Park.  Hmmm, that may be being a wee bit cynical but given that the NRL WAGs have been able to cross the border and so many others haven't been granted permission, it seems that the NRL is slated for special treatment.

While we won't be watching the Grand Final, we will be noting scores, how long since the winning team last won, and, of course, the winning margin. I guess we should also check for other sports news over the weekend, just in case any of that finds its way into the Trivia questions. The new, improved (?), larger team is starting to settle into a rhythm but I think we are still in the "forming stage", getting a feel for each other's strengths and special subjects, and where folk are best placed around the table for gameplay. We were six for Trivia on Monday night at Seagulls and we were only 3 points off the Podium so I'm calling that a good effort. 

On Wednesdaly night at the Tavern we were back to our usual 3 and managed our best placing yet - 4th. We were excited! The only thing wrong with the Tavern is the time it takes to get a hot drink at halftime; it can take up to 40 minutes. When we asked about it, they said it might be faster if we used their online ordering service. That doesn't make a lot of sense to us but we will give it a try next time - just in case it is faster. And if that doesn't work, we may be bringing our own tea.

We were out at Le Vintage Boutique Cafe on Wednesday to help celebrate R's 6Oth birthday. It's just not the same out there since they sent the snake and the birds on their way: while it still has lots to look at, it seems to be lacking some soul.

Sunday

While we were having brunch at L'Etranger this morning, Sooz pointed out a boat that is usually around near the lagoon at Charis - we recognised it from its blue hull, Eureka flag and red ensign. Who knew ... okay Sooz did ... that the Australian Red Ensign is for vessels at sea or on for use on land for ceremonial purposes. The reason for sea-going vessels to have blue rather than red ensigns is quite practical - red shows better against a blue background - black shows quite well too but not everyone wants a skull and crossbones motif.

 
The Laundromat was not at all busy this morning - there was only one other person there while I was there and ... you guessed it... he wasn't wearing a mask. I could have said something but instead kept my distance and wondered just how he was going to get the door closed on the washing machine with the massive load of washing he was trying to force into it. As it turned out he managed to do it with a substantial amount of brute force. At that point, I was glad I hadn't mentioned his not-mask.

The parking situation at Chirn Park is getting quite impossible. We were going to stop in there (rather than L'Etranger) this morning but there was not a single park to be had. I'm used to it being like this on a weekday - but not on the weekends. We then decided to give Frigg another try - we keep saying we aren't going to go back but sometimes decided to give them ... one more try. Yes, I know we have been disappointed in the past, but you never know, enough people might have voiced their disappointments often and loudly enough to be heard. We didn't find out this time though - with their CoVid seating arrangements they were already full to bursting by the time we arrived. As it turned out, we were happy at L'Etranger ... it's always good there.

Rather than giving the "Big TV" a go this afternoon, I continued to watch (a new series) "Dark" on the tablet. I had previously tried to watch it but gave up after the first episode ... but was attracted back when I read a glowing review and noted that it was about time-travel not just about missing children as I had first believed, although, there are missing children, and in later episodes, adults as well. I made it through to the end of Season 1 and at that point I thought I would just read ahead to see where it was "going" - it was cancelled - or came to a natural conclusion? - after Season 3. Hmmm ... I'm glad I did because I won't be continuing with it ... partly because there are three time lines with mostly the same characters, played by different people, as their older and younger selves. Since I sometimes have difficulties recognising faces, it was proving just a bit difficult to keep a track of everyone - past, present and future ... and that would have been okay except then there was an alternate reality to take into consideration. Time to find something else to watch! Although I am enjoying reading some Dean Koontz novellas at the moment. It's a series about a character named ... Nameless who despite first appearances, is a "goodie" in the terms that an agent of retribution can be but you sometimes have to wonder about the "goodness" of their methods in bringing folk to justice.

Nigey is still missing Uncle Wa, as are we, and she has started disappearing into (and in) his room ... it's okay when we can see her on the bed, but sometimes she just vanishes - maybe under the bed, maybe not.

Saturday

You have to love breakfast down at the Broadwater on a sunny day.  We were there today with Wa before he headed back to Toowoomba this morning.  We had a couple of errands to do first though including the TMR so he could get a Customer Reference Number for when he registers his new caravan ... and after that we took him to BCF for a half-plate for his new Baby Q Weber BBQ.  

We were all sad to see him go especially Nigey who is infatuated with Wa.  Sooz overheard Wa speaking to Nigey the other day and she was saying that the way he was speaking to her so gently, she has obviously worn him down - despite his intense cat allergies.  Or maybe it's just that she isn't nearly as toxic to him as Pe's cats.  When he came home from helping her with a few odd jobs around her place on Thursday afternoon, he could barely breathe because of his allergies and subsequent sinus flare-up. 

Looking out for Uncle Wayne

Thank goodness we had scheduled the sightseeing for earlier in the week otherwise he would have been in no mood (or state) to enjoy himself.  

But at least we had the big TV to watch ... not the usual one which us now having to find a new home - but the 42" plasma television that Pene sent home to live with us.  It has taken its placement thebliving room ... because we don't think it will fit anywhere Else!

Wa made it back to Toowoomba safely and will be helping Ch and Te with the move into their new home over the weekend.  It sounds like they have a fair few people helping out and Ch and Te have already been taking things over there since they took possession of the keys on Wednesday.  

We met M and Ro over at Double Bay Kitchen in Benowa for breakfast this morning.  We have been before and the one thing I remembered was how dreadful the parking is there on a Saturday morning ... and it still is.  When we were chatting with our waitperson she was saying it's going to get worse because of the new childcare place that's about to open.  Hopefully it won't be open on a Saturday or Sunday morning ... and if it is, if we go there again, we may have to think about car-pooling.  

Me with my new TV

Thursday

It seems as though we have been "on the go" all the time since Wa arrived. We were very happy that he likes Trivia and came with us to Seagulls on Monday night, and the Tavern last night.  Hmmmm ... still no Podium placement but we are all starting to play much better as a team.  Ri and A-M joined us again this week - so with Wa and Ka who they brought along, we were actually seven on Monday night.  In retrospect, I think that's too big a team for the Seagulls venue ... but at least we know that now. 

On Tuesday morning we took Wa along to L'Etranger in Biggera Waters.  They do a good breakfast there - I like that you can "build your own" ... and everything they have on their menu goes well with the sourdough toast.  There's also a great view out to the Broadwater so it's always a good place to take non-locals. 

There was an almost full moon on Tuesday night so I dragged Wa and Sooz down to the Broadwater to watch.  There was considerable cloud cover so we were indeed lucky when the moon peaked out between the clouds and then rose above the lower ones for enough time to take some decent photographs ... there was even time to play with the camera settings.  And by the time the moon was disappearing behind the clouds again, our pasta was ready to be collected!  Bonus!

Nigey loves her Uncle Wa and she is never that far away from him.  We even found her sleeping in his bed the other day ... no, not "on" his bed ... "in" his bed.  We have never seen her get under the covers before - except when we are making our bed and she is helping (not).  Nigey's besottedness seems directly proportional to Wa's cat allergies!  When he opens his bedroom door in the mornings, she is there waiting for him ... when he comes in from being outside ... she is there waiting for him.  He does pretend to use the spray bottle with her ... which works most of the time .. but that hasn't put her off him.  She even supervised while he was fixing the shelf the oven sits on (which, somewhat surprisingly, had not been installed when the oven was.

Wednesday saw us at Mermaid Beach, having breakfast with M at Le Cafe Gourmand, before we set off for Mt Tamborine ... we were on our way to St Berbards to see ... the St Bernards.  We also managed to see some very cheeky kookaburras there who not shy about swooping ib to steal chips from folk who may or may not have been using their chips as gesturing sticks. 

Then it was off to The Willow Tree cafe at Ormeau where I had wanted to get Wa a slice of one of his favourite desserts - Lemon Meringue Pie.  Now, I'm not saying it is false advertising, or how you would ever police this - but the huge lemon merigue pie they had on display in the cake cabinet was NOT READY. They were thawing it and it wasn't yet ready .. and probably wouldn't be until the next day.  D'oh.  So instead he and Sooz had toasties - which took over half an hour to appear, and weren't (toasties) ... but a couple of pieces (not of each) of ham and cheese on toasted bread ... do these people not know what a "toastie" is?

When you want something done "right" sometimes you just have to do it yourself!  For Monday night, Pe had cooked orange and cardoman bites to share with the team.  They were yummy.  Not to be left out, Wa spent some of yesterday afternoon making a batch of scones for Wednesday night Trivia.  He even took his drill and whisk attachment so he could whip up the cream at halftime so it would be fresh (it doesn't keep well).  Again ... yummy!

Tuesday

Sooz and I had breakfast down at the waterfront the other morning but there was no dawn walk. That was on me. I had been up late last night reading a Louise Penny book: it was a short book: # 6.5 in The Inspector Gamache series. I knew it was too late to be reading (after 11pm) but it was because I'd had a nap during the afternoon that I wasn't tired enough to go to sleep and rather than tossing and turning trying to doze off, I decided to read the book I had inadvertently skipped in the Gamache series. So, one short book and about an hour and a half later - and yes, I may have almost dropped the phone a couple of times when I did start to doze off - I was finally ready to turn off the light and visit dreamland.

Wow ... what a long time ago I started with that entry. In the interim there has been at least one visit to Swell down at Currumbin, numerous games of Trivia (with more than our usual team complement but still we were unable to claw our way onto the Podium), and a visit from my brother Wa, who is still with us. We have been trying to take him to some interesting places - I wanted to say "new and interesting" but because he used to live on the Gold Coast, and has made regular visits for holidays over the years, that's not easy. But lots of places have changed - so they're worth a look.

 
He arrived on Sunday and after doing a couple of errands in the afternoon (Camping Plus and Captain's Candy) we enjoyed a mild evening and fish and chips down at the Broadwater. The intention had always been to take him over to see the Swell "bubbles and baubles" over at Chevron Island - but we were already at home and starting to settle in for the evening by the time I remembered ... and because that was the last day, we all bundled back into the car and went over to see it ... and it was totally worth it.

Monday saw Wa and I on the Hopo Ferry having a tour of the Nerang River and Broadwater - as far as HOTA and Surfers Paradise. It was lucky we'd done this then because on the way there we stopped in at the Trawlers so Wa could ask about the recent catches - he had told We he would bring some prawns back to Toowoomba with him (when he leaves us on Friday). Who knew that at this time of years the Trawlers have an enforced six-week "no fish" period - the crab trawlers can go out, but not the prawning folk. As it turned out they had been out on Sunday night and had some - and it sounded like they would still be selling those on Tuesday, and not going out again. Wa decided he would get some then and there so rather than going straight off to the ferry, we took the prawns home and Wa set them up in the garage in the Bushtracker freezer - it has a variable temperature setting and the trawler folk said if he kept them at a constant -1 degree, the prawns would be fine back in Toowoomba.

 
The ones we had the next day for lunch were certainly more than fine! We had taken them, some salad goodies and bread, down at the tiny area next to Charis Seafoods - and except for that the wind was blowing a gale, we had a wonderful time. Even better, Pelicano's (the coffee shop attached to Charis) have extended their opening hours for the school holidays - and will be keeping the extended hours! That's going to make a bit of a longer day for the staff though - they're already there - and pretty busy - at 5am. They'll be staying open until 3pm (Mon-Thur) or 4pm (Fri-Sun) from now on.