Just A Quickie

We are back out in the never never and as usual out here we will be out of touch for long periods. If anyone  needs to contact us then email is probably the best as some places have sat internet so we will check in whenever possible.

Good Morning from Bundaberg

Not much news after the madness of the house. We are here to do the legals and get pest and building reports organised. Tks for all the good wishes re the house and you all know that you are welcome to drop into paradise whenever you like. 

Bundy has not improved since our last visit and yesterday I tried to get to a doctor only to be told that the waiting period for someone new was 2 weeks - glad I'm not having a heart attack. I did end up at the hospital because I thought I might have broken a bone in my foot and you all know about the Bundy hospital AAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH it's all true, at least they were reasonably quick and the staff were great, but you just can't help thinking about Patel and those operations LOL.

DW and Peter arrived last night and are about to drop in for Coffee at Miss Guideds Coffee shop.

Welcome to our new home and yes this is the actual estate, can't see a house then read on.....

The estate is called "Sunrise at 1770" and is a total Eco settlement. Very strict rules on pets - NO cats or dogs or anything that is not natural to the area. No introduced plants including fruit trees etc. No lawns. The whole estate and the surrounding area can not be seen from the sea or adjacent land. The entire estate is surrounded by National Park and can not be built upon. The estate actually has three beaches to choose from, a great surf beach (pictured) and two smaller beaches that are only accessible from the estate and they are both great quiet fishing beaches.

The estate is approximately 600 hectares and there are only 127 building lots and each lot has a 10 meter bush buffer, so that means you cannot see your neighbours and hopefully that also means you cant hear them LOL. At last I can turn up my sound system LOL.

Not a beach person, don't worry

we have two of these horizon pools complete with fab BBQ huts, tennis courts and across on the other side of the estate a "Playground".

Pavilion one has the kitchen, dining area and a casual lounge leading onto the BBQ deck

BBQ Deck overlooking natural bush with full gas BBQ

Just wait until Ron gets his hands on this white kitchen, Oh the mess that can be made here. Luckily lots of this are hidden out of site so it can easily be made presentable on short notice LOL. In the background is the office.

Cant make it to the beach or horizon pool, oh well the plunge will have to do

Second lounge in the 2nd pavilion. Master bedroom is straight ahead with a large ensuite and at the moment the coin hasn't been tossed to see who gets it LOL. On the right is the linen pantry and laundry.

All bedrooms have these wonderful bush views. This is the master bedroom.

again great views of the bush.

The house is in serious need of some personal touches but even as is we love it and cant wait to move in. Welcome to Wallen and the door is always open.

Yep, we have left Gladstone

Yesterday we made the big journey down the road to Agnes Waters, just up the road from 1770 and we are back on the coast. As you can see the rugrats are all back at school and the coast has been returned to the nomads and Mexicans LOL. The parks are still packed with nomads etc that have reappeared after hiding for the last month LOL.

We are about to become a totally Mac family (it has only taken 15 years), Ivan Ipad is firmly gripped in his lordships hands and Johnathon (as in apple) my new Mac pro is about to arrive in Bundy for moi. So, if I mysteriously go off air for a couple of days it's because I am changing everything over from the HP.

In Emerald when I was pricing Mac's I did ask a salesgirl at a computer shop if they sold Apple and she sent me to the vegie shop !!!!!!!!!!!! You have just gotta love country Queensland, one day it will get electricity and then someone can turn the lights on LOL (Sorry all you banana benders), but still no daylight saving up here as the curtains fade more and the cows can't cope !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and we are moving up here LOL LOL LOL

The sun came out and it was off for the cruise around  Gladstone bay  .............

now you will probably notice that there is a slight difference from the vista of cruising around most bays and harbours, but somehow it's still interesting,, especially when the dolphins are swimming around. From every angle it sort of looks the same, just different terminal and wharf.

Standing guard at the entrance to the Marina is a relic from our fighting forces, strange how it looks very much like something out of McHales navy LOL.

and then this town totally surprises you.

The Botanical gardens are wonderful, amongst the best country gardens we've seen. They have recreated a great "Daintree" rain forest and wonderful grevilla gardens. When we arrived at the carpark we were greeted with a sign pointing to the Japanese Tea House, that means we can go on the 3 klm walk/climb and check out the lookouts and drop in for a cuppa afterward.

The tea house is the center piece of the new Japanese Garden, which when properly grown in will be very very pretty, not on the scale of Cowra but great considering its size. However when you promote a tea house it would be really great to have a working tea house instead of a prop. No tea here.

Lunch was at a downtown restarunt called "Rocksalt". Now our recent experiences at a light lunch - Tappas style has been anything but pleasent. Rocky was the second worst meal ever, just ahead of the chinese at Bourke. Rocksalt was an absolute treat, forget the slow service, the food is wonderful. We had a goats cheese tart (slice of and freshly baked), Prawn dumplings (home made) and Chicken in filo topped with spices and mint yoghurt, going back asap LOL.

Gladstone is a town/city of major contrasts, worth a stop for a day or so and has one of the best parks at Barney Beach that we have stayed in. Tomorrow we are off to the Smelter on an industry tour, sorry no pics allowed.

For Sale

One slightly used train set

Artistic designed rolling stock

Close to transport Hub

Hardly ever used

Yes, this bargain of a lifetime could be yours. Queensland Rail has put QR up for sale to the highest bidder, so be like the Raj/Queen and have your very own train set. Going cheap, apply at Parliament House Brisbane, must be able to take it with you.

Digging Digging Digging

No stones, BUT did get a couple of cutters in a bucket on arrival and one is a nice little parti, so not a totally wasted effort. Last night the weather blew in and the rain started so today is a rightoff, just too boggy to go digging. Might be a good day to do the shops (Gem) and might even start the next painting.

We have decided to come to GemFest which starts on August 12 so we will have ample opportunity to get into the swing of stones then and no school hols so the parks will be civilized again. Off to Blackwater tomorrow to catch up on Dan, Tanya and the kids. Following that we will be heading down the road to Rocky then off to Bundy to catch up with DW and Peter.

This is to test your knowledge on all things stupid. No prizes awarded for guessing correctly but big bonus for the funniest comments.

• Guess who is back in the National Parks?
• Who has a new hat?
• Which is rarer Ron or the Ooline tree ?
• Who is cutest ?
• Who forgot to bring along something to drink and had to resort to ------ tree hugging ?

Yep Gorge/Nat Park number 81 has been done.

Time for the map update

Yesterday was a totally lost day, very cold and wet all day but as promised by he who owns the park today has bloomed a beauty. Foggy this morning but the day promises to be spectacular. We are going out to the Tregole National Park for a quick look see, it is about 100klms towards Roma and apparently has some rare trees and black orchids.

Tomorrow we are off to Barcaldine and then on Monday onto Sapphire to continue the digging - orders are taken but no promises LOL.

Our new paper weight

We headed off to Yowah yesterday with the intention of getting out there with a pick and shovel but common sense prevaded and we just headed to the dealers LOL (So much easier). We ended up buying the paper weight which is sort of big and full of fire and colour.

Sorry to everyone that I promised an opal but we only came home with one LOL. I will try and get some better pics and post them later.