Home, safe and sound...

A very long day, but a great day.

First the flag-lowering ceremony that Rod survived without injury,


then off to Melbourne where Rod and Lyn dropped us off right on time.


Checked in and heard a voice "Doug!", gadzooks Keith and Jenny, what are you doing here? We had a last coffee with them, then time to go....
A very nice send-off, thank you Keith and Jenny. [Surprise was set up between Rod and Keith].




Super plane ride, a bit bumpy. Then a security nightmare in LA. [Avoid landing in the US from a country other than Canada, unless you are an American. I sort of get the feeling that we are not wanted there. People are photographed and fingerprinted while hundreds wait in the line-up.]. It took us 1 3/4 hours to get out of the procedures before we could get to the gate for next leg!

In Vancouver a sweet reception by daughter Jeanette and youngest, Adrienne.


Jeanette also had two months of mail opened and sorted by category, plus groceries etc. for us at home. A very, very nice way to end a wonderful trip. Into the very, very best bed in the world where we slept for eight hours. [some of us are still sleeping as I write this.]

I will not be posting here again on this trip. Thank you those who travelled along with us!!!

Doug and Fellette

Christmas at 35° C

Just before bed time last night, [our last sleep!] and, true to his word, the man across the street ''Illuminated" his house for us last night.

When we met him three weeks ago he said that he had a target date of December 1 to have his house ready to light up. When he found out we were visiting from Canada and going back to the land where we do have ice and snow he said he would try and have a test light-up before we left.

The photos are the worst that I have ever taken, done in a hurry under very poor conditions. Reindeer, snowmen, all the trappings of a cold climate. Amazing.







His music was not playing though. I would love to hear Bing Crosby singing "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas". We had to go inside a bit quickly, the mosquitoes were out and that is not fun in shorts!

Back to the real word in a matter of hours.

Doug

IT'S OVER!

We have had an absolutely wonderful time since leaving home September 24th. We have never had a vacation like this before, actually it was several different kinds of adventure for us...

1. The coach tour through The Kimberley in Northern Australia.

2. Our time 'alone' in Broome, Perth, Alice Springs and Ayer's Rock.

3. The road trip with Rod and Lyn from north of Brisbane to their home in Maryborough.

4. Living in Maryborough the past month.

Each had its own different flavour and high points. There were some negatives of course. Living out of a suitcase and sleeping in a different bed every few nights is not all fun.

The Australia that we saw and lived is not what most tourists experience. We never went to Sydney, Melbourne per se, nor Brisbane. We DID experience 'country life' in Maryborough. [It is technically a city but to me it is a large Country Town]. We saw no Opera, Theatre nor culture in the accepted sense of the word. We did experience some rough and ready parts of this big and varied country, from aboriginal towns with all their warts and faults to dried up farmlands with struggling families and dying towns. In the west, it is big time boom time. We have had long talks with many, many Australians who confirmed that we share many of the same problems and issues in our respective countries.

There was really no one thing that I can say 'this was the best part', it is all rolled up into one big ball of an educational experience. It was rather neat to experience an election from start to finish in a country other than Canada and the US, [where there seems to be one continuous election].

Some people may question what Fellette and I do regarding 'working' all the time. It is not work, that is how we play. Some people go to restaurants and bars, some to the Theatre, to some beach vacations or golfing etc. are big parts of their life. To each his own, all are perfectly acceptable. The problem with the blog is that you KNOW what WE are doing, you do not know how others spend their time.

We do have quite a varied life, and for that we are very thankful and grateful. The last two months have been a very busy time for us, it will take some time to sink in. I hope that at least some of you caught the blog once in a while. I imagine most, if they thought about it would say, "my gosh, are they still there?"

The two photos show the Puppet Theatre built for Lyn to give to their nieces and nephews. Our last bit of fun with the Lindroths.



We sincerely thank Rod and Lyn for their hospitality during our rather lengthy say. They were gracious hosts and very tolerant of our eccentricities. They regret that we did not spend more time touring about this interesting part of Australia. We, however have no regrets at all, we did what we wanted to do.

We are looking forward to seeing our kids, grandkids, relatives, employees, friends and neighbours and, sleeping in OUR OWN BED!

Hopefully the weather is a bit more moderate at home than in Saskatchewan where Vivian says it is somewhere about -28 C, with a wind!

Thanks for following us. To some of you, see you in a day or two!

Love to all of you, Fellette and Doug

To bed now for our last sleep!

TA-DA! We're Finished!!!!!

Below are the final pictures you will see of our major projects. We all feel very good about them and a myriad of other bits and pieces done in the last few weeks. Rod is a very capable handyman, but somehow it is more fun with friends of like interest and skills. Lyn's talents lie in other more homey areas so Rod enjoyed the companionship as well.

The pond bridge - before


The pond bridge - after


The trellis and fence - before


The trellis and fence - after



"Thousands Attend Doug's Birthday Outing", read the headlines!

Well, today was my Birthday. It was very touching to turn on the computer at six this morning and hear from friends who had remembered, I wish I had that certain something that special people have. I do, however, miss phoning my mother and wishing her a "happy birth day", she always got a kick out of that.

After we put the finishing touches on the fence this morning we got cleaned up and went to a lunch with friends of Rod and Lyn's who live about 14 Ks out of town. They have five acres in a bush-like setting in a neat and tidy house with humungous flower and vegetable gardens. Water is a major concern, many of their plants, trees and shrubs have died in the past 10 years.



In spite of that, their resourcefulness has enabled them to have, still, a very colourful garden. Their friend has a very serious hobby of birds and fish. They have about a half acre of aviaries where his finch collection flitters about. Hundreds of them. His fish collection occupies a converted sea-going container. About 30 odd tanks I estimate. Birds and fish have been his hobby since childhood days.



By the way, dig those crazy raised bed vegetable plantings made out of old water tanks, I would like to try that one day, easier on the back!




After lunch we all went out to a somewhat remote area to see a bridge that was built by an enterprising gentleman over 150 years ago to enable people going to the gold fields a direct route over a marshy area rather than a lengthy detour. Of course it is now condemned and a derelict. As a lover of construction methods I am amazed at how they would build such a structure in those days with only their backs and their wits.



While marvelling at their ingenuity, thousands showed up to join the outing. Those Damn flies again. We were in the area for about 30 minutes, some areas worse than others. They REALLY are annoying folks! Lyn seemed to attract more than her share. I have enclosed a couple of shots. The Australian Tourist Association will probably have a contract out on me. [I am constantly reassured that this is very unusual. Sure guys!]



All in all, it was a great day and one that I shall always remember. Throughout the day and evening I had numerous e-mails from friends and family and even a phone call from my good friend Keith Stafford in Melbourne. It is a little humbling. Thank you all, we are indeed blessed.

And guess what, tomorrow is my birthday, again, at home!!!! [except we won't be there]

Two more sleeps!

And The Lord said...

Remember the seventh day and keep it holy... on the Seventh day ye shall rest.

So I did!

[Actually I did a few 'wind-up' jobs, including putting the primer coat on a Hand Puppet Theatre we are building for Lyn's nieces and nephews].


Later, when Fellette was giving it it's final coat in the afternoon, I pulled up a chair with a glass of wine and kept her company. After about 30 seconds I was bored so I rummaged through Rod's shed and found a somewhat but not-too-old magazine. I read an article that said that the life expectancy of males in Australia was 72.

Inasmuch as my 72nd birthday is tomorrow, I immediately put the magazine back.

The moral of the story? Don't read!

Two more sleeps.