Post Cruise

The Gypsies have been sick! We got off the plane with a sniffle and within three days were at the doctor's coughing, sneezing and generally whacked. Can't remember having felt so bad for so long. As is usual these days, the doctor couldn't do much, just panadol and rest (imagine telling Carolyn to rest!!), so we have been suffering for a good while. Thankfully now feeling a lot better, and with the warmer weather greeting us on our arrival yesterday at Coolum, all should be back to normal soon.

Sorry to those we infected during our visit. A bit of a double edged sword, visiting when sick. But you'll get over it, eventually!!!

Katrina, Bev, Leia & Carolyn.

Our feet didn't touch the ground when we got back. A couple of days with Wayne and Debbie to get our caravan ready for the next part of the journey. It was great catching up with them again. We'll get them on the road soon!! We headed down to Shellharbour as we had the big wedding of Bev & Fred's daughter Katrina, and the weekend  before was the Hen's Weekend in the Hunter Valley, and Carolyn and Bev were waving the flag for the oldies! They were doing the "Lovedale Long Lunch", which is an institution in the Hunter Valley these days, and had a ball, though Carolyn mostly coughed and sneezed, and passed on her drink vouchers! We men, did very little, as I was really crook and just wanted to be horizontal. Still Fred did cook me up one of his famous curries and fried rice, which was delicious.

The Rotunda at Balmoral Beach.

The week leading up to the wedding was all about last minute planning, trying not to infect the wedding party, and Bev & Carolyn were  still looking for last minute accessories. The weather was terrible, and that coupled with John's health meant no fishing! On the Friday we headed up to Sydney for the big day. Bev & Fred, Carolyn and John, were booked into the Brookvale Travelodge for the weekend, as the wedding ceremony was held in the Rotunda at Balmoral Beach, and the Reception at the Middle Harbour Yacht Club at the Spit. But first we had a night of pre wedding celebrations at Manly Leagues Club!! My old mate Fred has been a Manly supporter all his life, which is a burden in itself, and he had never set a foot inside the club in 60+ years. He may be scarred for life! I could, and believe me I would like to go into details, but I promised Fred I'd be gentle with him. Let's just say, that if the St.George Leagues Club is known as the Taj Mahal, Manly is a little more along the lines of the Lost City, or should that be the City of the Lost. Still we did have a reasonably good meal seated among the other twelve guests on a bustling Friday night.

Katrina with a proud dad.

Malik & Katrina.

Weather for the big day dawned bright and beautiful. The bride was an hour late, which caused a few nervous moments, but she arrived looking beautiful. Hubby Malik, was relieved to see those big Chrysler's pull up at the kerb!
It was a lovely ceremony at a great location, and drew quite a crowd of onlookers among the local Balmoral set. From Balmoral, we took the short drive down to The Spit, for a delightful cocktail reception. On a sparkling Sydney day, there can be few better spots to be than standing on the veranda of a yacht club, with a glass of wine in one hand, someone handing you an endless supply of delicious food, surrounded by happy revellers, all looking out across the harbour.

Fred, Katrina, Bev & Leia.

Belly Dancing at the reception.

Everything went according to plan, until Malik introduced the entertainment. Malik is originally from Iraq, and it is a tradition that at a wedding you have Belly Dancers! So we did, and they were fantastic. It sure put a twist on the Bridal Waltz!!
Everyone thought it was just so much fun, and I think a few of the relatives have had their horizons broadened!

A happy Bev & Carolyn.

After the reception, the bride & Groom were off to Q Station at North Head for their wedding night. Only problem was that no one knew where it was! So the problem of getting a taxi back to the hotel was solved, when John agreed to show the way in return for a ride back to Brookvale! So off we went. A Convoy of three Chrysler 300C's  being driven by mates of Malik from western Sydney who were way outside their comfort zone. They were fantastic. We said goodnight to the honeymooners at the reception of Q Station, and then the guys dropped us off at Brookvale. I sure hope they made it home!!

Back at Brookie, Manly was playing a home game, so the League's Club was packed, and you could hear the roar of the crowd from the ground next door. We went over for a drink and to soak up the atmosphere. By kick off, the place was deserted again, and the lonely piano player was left playing to the same twelve people from the night before, but I don't think they were listening. To put a perfect ending to a perfect day, Manly had a win. I hope someone told the twelve at the club.

You may kiss the bride!

Sunday morning we took the honeymooners out to the airport for their flight to the Whitsundays, and then headed for home at Shellharbour. We stopped at Brighton for a hearty breakfast, and on Monday night held our customary break up party with Bev & Fred at the new pub next to Shellharbour Square. The rain had returned, and we enjoyed a great meal beside the fire place.

In the morning we were off early as we had the caravan booked, at of all places Brookvale, so they could check out our satellite TV, which hasn't worked properly since we changed it over onto the new van. Having identified the problem, we are off north where we have some things to be fitted to the caravan in Port Macquarie, followed by service and a redo of the satellite electrics at Watson's Caravans.

We spent a week in Port Macquarie at the Sundowner Breakwall Caravan Park. It was nice just being able to rest and try and shake the flu and this dreaded cough. Disaster struck on the Saturday, when our Foxtel box just crackled and groaned and died! Carolyn was mortified. We had hours of recordings she had made whilst we were on our cruise. There were weeks of her favourite shows all lost. Oh No!!! It was the final straw in the sage of the TV changeover.

We successfully had the work done at Port Macquarie. We have had an Electronic Stability Control system put onto the caravan. This is new to caravans, but works the same as stability control systems on cars. With so much time on the road, we felt it very worthwhile, as it helps keep the caravan stable and automatically compensates for any sudden sway caused by huge trucks, strong winds or a sudden swerve to dodge a pot hole, or an animal on the road.

We arrived at Coffs Harbour for the service. They were very good about the problems and admitted they had made mistakes with the original installation, using the incorrect inverter. The problem was solved, and the new Foxtel box had arrived at brother Neil's office for redirection to us in Coolum Beach. The box has been installed and all is well, except that all those recorded shows are gone for good. So all is well and we are now ready to resume the journey. It seems so long since we've been on the road!!

We have two weeks here at Coolum, where we will catch up with Lynne and Paul and my mate Peter. It was nice to feel the warm sun on us when we arrived and we were soon in shorts and T Shirts, but alas the weather has changed and it is much cooler and the rains have come, hopefully for a short visit.

More when the journey resumes.