News 2004

News for 2004

We sold our house in Drysdale at the end of March 2004. We drove to South Australia and stayed in the Barossa Valley region to be near Barbara's family. We are also looking at houses in this area.

On 27th April we took off from Adelaide airport for a 2 week holiday in Bali. We had a great holiday, rode elephants in steamy jungle country and through rice paddies, we rode push-bikes up and down hilly rice paddy country and through picturesque Balinese villages. The volcanic crater lake at Kintamani was stupendous, we enjoyed lunch in a restaurant perched right on the edge of the crater, with fabulous views. We saw many local Hindu temples, and skilled craftsmen at work carving intricate stone statues. Our hotel was at Sanur, right up on the beach, and we enjoyed many dinners in their open restaurant whilst enjoying the sea breezes. We have a lot more photos of our Bali holiday in our travel diary Bali 2004.

In May and June we stayed in the Barossa Valley at Tanunda for 6 weeks. Here we were near the Nagels at Angaston. We went on a walk with them on part of the lovely Heysen trail, and explored the vineyards and hill country in the Barossa valley region. Then in July we stayed at Craigmore at Daniel and Tracey's house. Here we experienced the South Australian winter, and it did get pretty cold and wet in June and July! On 23rd June it was Victor's birthday, and Barbara and her family sprang a complete surprise on me by getting me into the hotel at Lyndoch, only to meet all the Nagels, Pikes and Glennies at a big long table, and a fabulous birthday cake made by James!

In August we drove up to Sydney, where we visited Victor's brother, Alan, and his wife Carole. It was great to catch up with them. We also particularly enjoyed our visit to the NSW Government House, right on the Harbour's edge near the Sydney Opera House, and our visit with Alan to the Northern beaches of Sydney.

We then drove up the NSW coast to the Queensland Gold Coast, 90 km South of Brisbane. Here we caught up with Victor's daughter, Karen, and her husband Lee. We enjoyed walking with them in the Springbrook National Park, and especially walking under a splendid waterfall. Whilst on the Gold Coast we stayed in a comfortable apartment on the Burleigh Heads beach-front. Karen and Lee entertained us with fabulous dinners and Barbeques on our truly memorable stay.

We then drove North to Gympie and through Maryborough to Hervey Bay on the coast opposite Fraser Island. We stayed here 8 days, toured the area, looked at houses and blocks of land, but decided the area is too busy and congested for us. We then went west to the inland Burnett region, in the hilly country around Murgon, Kingarory and Nanango. This is a countrified and quieter region, but somehow we felt it didn't really suit us. The land is terribly dry at present, in the grip of a terrible drought. There has been no rain since January.

We explored the country region west of Brisbane, centred on the rural town of Esk, then we went North to Bundaberg, then further North again, to Rockhampton and the Capricorn coast. We really liked this region, and at long last, we found our new home, near Yeppoon. We moved in on 8th November 2004, after over 7 months on the road. There is a slide show of photos of our new house and garden at Our New Home in Queensland.

In October we spent 5 days in Noosa with Kim, Russel, Samantha and Alexander. In particular we enjoyed a BBQ cruise along the Noosa river. We also had great fun playing crocodile games in the swimming pool, with Samantha and Alexander.

At the end of October, just before moving in to our new house, we drove up to Airlie Beach to visit Chris. He is happily settled in a 3rd storey apartment with a fabulous view over the ocean, islands, and the boat harbour. The sea is dotted with craft of all kinds, including many yachts. Robert and Wendy were visiting Airlie at the same time, and we all enjoyed a great day at a rural house in the hinterland, where Rob and Wendy entertained us to a lovely lunch and pleasant afternoon.

Robert and Wendy then came down to visit us in our new house, just 2 days after we moved in. Rob helped Victor assemble the BBQ, then we used it for some great meals! It was nice to catch up with both of them, as we haven't see them for ages.