We are Back!

Hi all, it is time to resume this commentary!! To all of you who we managed to catch up with, we had a ball and to all of you who we did not catch up with, we apologise and promise to be more organised for our next trip. In fact we have started the organisation thing now. But more of that later. We flew home on 15 December with Malaysian airlines who we would recommend, via Kuala Lumpar and into Adelaide where we had a few days with the Thomas clan and little Rosie. We then drove the hire car to Brisbane and collected our car from Amy and Pete’s brand new house – whoo hoo it is beautiful! Spent a week with our good friends Linda and Brian (and Jackson) – many thanks guys, very much appreciated. In that time we saw Amy for her birthday and had Christmas day with Amy, Pete and our gorgeous little grandson, Jessie who (of course) is an absolute delight!! We then spent a couple of days with Dell’s brother Stuart and his wife Jean (such fun!!) where the boys worked on Stuart’s new trailer and we went for a spin in Stuart’s new rubber duckie (albeit a big one and in the rain!!). Further time was spent trying to solve the “extreme puzzles” Stuart and Jean were “kind!!” enough to give us for Christmas. New Year was with Stuart and Jean and friends and we managed to stay awake till midnight!!! We had a phone call just before midnight saying “this is the Scottish Embassy here and it appears that you have not renewed your passport and visa to enter the year 2010” (Wave Sweeper)!!!!

Next day found us on the way down the coast and our first night of camping was at Port Macquarie (rainy) and costly at $40 for a tiny strip of grass!!! We arrived in Sydney at Debbie and Phil’s place and it was agreed that they had way too much furniture in their small place (ie no room for a mattress on the floor!!!) so we went to Brett’s (rather bigger) place and graced Brett’s bedroom while he kindly slept on the couch down stairs (could have put our mattress down but thanks heaps Brett!). When we greeted the kids out the front of Debbie’s place Peter walked straight past Brett just saying gooday. When I gave Brett a cuddle Peter looked quite shocked and said ‘its Brett!”. Didn’t recognise his own son!!! (Brett did have his dreadlocks cut off and wearing a hat but still!). Anyway had a wonderful week with the kids in Sydney and wished we had stayed longer.


Headed down the coast road to Melbourne spending a night camping (not sure where but it was $23 this time). Arrived at Dell’s sister Ann and Bill’s place and spent a couple of days and then went down to their boat and realised why it was so hard for them to get it in and out – there is 6 inches between the boats and you have to grab the big poles to hoik yourself in and out and in a slight wind this is nigh impossible so hats off to Ann and Bill for their efforts so far!!! We spent a night on the boat – a very nice looking boat indeed and went out the next morning and anchored off for the evening and then did some sailing and then back again. My nerves would not hold up to coming in and out of that place but they did it – without assistance from Dell – hiding in the cockpit!!! A lovely night out with all the Poynters and then off around the coast road camping the night at Port Fairy (lovely place but way too cold) and then back to the farm at the Thomases. Put a little headstone on Jackie’s grave and spent some quality time with Rosie – had her clipped and she hurt her hip while we were throwing the ball!! Forgot that she is getting old too. We left Andy and Robyn’s (so hard to say goodbye to Rosie again) at 12.30 to get to the airport and flew out an hour late (with Qantas – always recommended) at something like 6pm. Flew into Perth at 7 or 8pm and Mick and Annette Venn were there to collect us so we went to their place for a barbeque and then back to the airport by 10pm or so (fantastic time guys – thanks heaps and will stay longer next time!!). Jetstar (not recommended – seats so uncomfortable and nothing!) was an hour late and we got to Singapore at around 6am and waited till around 11 to fly to Langkawi via Air Asia (recommended – no frills but seats comfortable and purchased economic very nice meal! Arrived back at the boat on Sunday 24th January after a short taxi and ferry ride after 28 hours of travelling – reason for long trip was we used our frequent flyer points to Singapore so cant complain!!