Forster Through Until Xmas

Bushfire around Wallis Lake Forster.

Our last few days at Forster were fine and warm, in fact quite hot. The southern sky filled with smoke, and the air was pierced by sirens, as we were given a stark reminder that the dreaded bushfire season was near. It wasn't threatening the town, but burning in rugged bushland on the far side of the lake, and as the sun started to set, it made a spectacular site. Thankfully, it was under control in a couple of days.

Harrington from the Lookout.

We took a drive north up to the holiday villages of Harrington and Crowdy Head. The last time I had been here was 1969 when as a pimply faced teenager I came with schoolmates in a clapped out Morris Minor that constantly over heated. We camped on the beach at Crowdy Head and surfed, and lived on hamburgers, fresh prawns off the trawlers and beer! There was a caravan park a few old shacks, a general store and take away shop, and a pub right on the water. Boy has it changed!! Now there is a marina at Crowdy Head and lots of expensive homes, and Harrington has a waterways housing estate, a shopping mall and a championship golf course. Progress?? The pub is still there, albeit swamped by development, and the caravan park is still in the same location. It was a nice nostalgic day. We also drove out to Halliday's Point, another popular holiday spot, that has undergone some significant development.

One evening at Happy Hour, a new neighbour dropped by for a chat. His name was Stan Christie, and he introduced himself as a Philosopher and Poet who was 78 years young. I thought, "here we go, I'm about to be conscripted into some obscure religious order", but thankfully I was wrong. What an interesting bloke. He entertained us for quite a while with his adventures around Australia and overseas. He still back packs, and has seen much of South & North America, Asia, Africa and Europe, as well as almost everywhere in Australia. He had some wonderful enlarged photographs, from around the world. He has published a book of poetry and inspiration, a calendar and photographs, and there is no doubt that if more people followed his philosophies on life, the world would be a better place. A quote from his book:

A SMILE.

A smile costs nothing,
It enriches who receives,
When given, only takes a moment,
But, the memory can sometimes last forever.

A smile creates happiness,
It brings rest to the weary,
Cheer to the discouraged,
Sunshine to the sad,
So give someone a smile,
It's easy.

Yes, our time talking to Stan passed very quickly, and was most entertaining. He pottered off in his battered old caravan the next day, in search of his next adventure.

Tallwoods Golf Resort.

On the tee at the 14th.

For our last day in Forster, we decided on a game of golf at the nearby Tallwoods Golf Resort. It is a lovely layout in a housing estate development near Halliday's Point. It started probably 20 year ago in boom times when Real Estate Agents could sell anything for crazy prices, but has managed to survive, even though the estate appears still less than half sold. The golf course is good, set among the valleys and hills of the estate. We had a lovely round of golf. We almost had the course to ourselves, which is a leisurely way to play. There was lots of bird life, especially parrots and kookaburras.

Happy Birthday to You!

Bobby, Cheryl and Carolyn.

Leaving Forster we headed back to Camden, to surprise our dear friend Cheryl, who was about to join the 60 brigade. A surprise party had been planned and we wouldn't have missed it for the world. It was a fantastic night, held at Enzo's Italian Restaurant at Camden. There was plenty of good food and wine, being shared by Cheryl and her family and friends. Those Radford's sure know how to put on a good party! Friend Vicki had done a beautiful birthday cake, that tasted even better than its amazing looks. The big night got bigger, with after drinks back at Cheryl's place, and it was a pretty late night for us 60 pluses!!

John's new BBQ Apron.

The rest of the week was a round of hectic activities, that included moving all our personal effects out of Mum's garage and into a storage unit we will share with my brother Neil. What a day! We were exhausted by the time we got home. There was an ill fated golf game back at my home course at Moore Park. We left Camden at 7.00am to meet my 8.45am tee time, but arrived at 9.15am and caught up with my group at the third green!! God we don't miss Sydney traffic!! No, my score was nothing to write home about! After Golf Carolyn picked me up and we headed to the dentist for another dose of pain! Still we did manage to catch up with Nancy & Keith. While I was being punished, Carolyn & Nancy did lunch at the Wentworth Hotel. As always, it is great to catch up with mum. We had a nice lunch at Oatley and caught up on all the family news.

Fred with a couple of good Morwong!

The Double/Double Hook up!

From Camden it was across to our other "home", Shellharbour. As you all know, it is one of our favourites, right on the waterfront. We get to catch up with Bev & Fred. This year we are having Christmas Lunch with Bev & Fred and their daughter Katrina and her fiance Malek. We are really looking forward to it. In the lead up to Christmas we have managed to finish our shopping, as well as fit in a round of social engagements, that sets a punishing pace! Fred & I have managed to get in a spot of fishing, and the good news is we haven't lost our touch. In fact, we may have found the secret to successful fishing, as on our last trip we managed a double, double hook up, whilst eating our lunch, and no hands on the rods!! That's right, whilst we ate our sandwich and downed a cold beverage, the bloody fish caught themselves! Whilst we fish, the girls Bingo at the club, and this week with some success. Tuesday Bev won two games and Wednesday Carolyn won her first ever game, which she quickly followed with another win. The purses are full of Shopping Vouchers. Well done girls!! We have been having some lovely evenings both at Bev & Fred's and down here at the caravan park, where Xmas preparations are well under way. The Xmas lights are increasing every night, and you can feel the fun in the air.

On Friday, we did the pensioner thing and caught the train (no more bloody traffic!) from nearby Oak Flats, up to Sydney, to have a Xmas lunch with Nancy & Keith at City Tattersalls Club. The $2.50 fare almost makes it worthwhile being 60+! It is a lovely train trip up along the coast and through the National Park. The hour and 45 minutes flew by. Lunch was great, and it was a really nice catch up and we even had time to see the big city shop decorations and the Xmas Tree in Queen Victoria Building.

The only not so fun at the moment, is John's sister Jenny, who has just spent a week in hospital suffering horrendous migraine headaches. She has been given the all clear on anything major causing them, but it has been a bad time for her. She is home now, and knowing Jen, that will probably hasten the recovery. We hope so.

Stormy Shellharbour.

It is Christmas Eve in Shellharbour. As I write I look across an angry sea towards the harbour. People are running in all directions as the sky is full of lightning and thunder is rolling across the clouds. The heavens have opened, and we are in the midst of a terrific summer storm. We are tucked up under our awning watching the scene, with a glass of Moet in hand, and thoughts of all our family and friends both here and departed. We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a hope that the next year will bring you all that you wish for. The journey has now started year three, and we will enjoy bringing you new adventures in 2013.

Merry Christmas to All from Carolyn & John.