Last night and today was all about wind and rain.

I didn't slept well as I was woken by the strong wind gusts overnight and due to the rain, we only went out for an hour, the remainder was spent in the fiver.

I spent most of today updating this web site with yesterday's report and photos.
About 10am, we drove the Bubble to the Runaway Bay shopping centre, mainly because Marg wanted some craft 'stuff'. While there, we had coffee and donuts at Donut King, checked out Big W, Target, Woollies plus Marg's favourite shops (the $2 shops etc). We arrived back at camp about lunchtime and settled inside for a LONG day and night. This is where our twin slideouts come into their own, they give you that extra space.

It rained for most of the day and blew.
Some wind data at 12:45am 87kph wind gust at 9:00am 83kph at 2:24pm 78kph, so you see it is a PRICK of a day.
The rain was just consistent with no 5mm in 10 minutes etc.

You will find this extremely hard to believe, but Marg managed a long nanna nap this arvo, while I buggered about on my laptop.
We even had the heater on for a few hours. Marg was sick of the washing being damp, SO we placed our 'blow heater' in our bathroom and it turned into a drying room. It worked very well, I did check it every 15 minutes by setting the timer, just to make sure there were no hassles, there weren't.

Shit. Hang on. (it is 4:15pm and it looks like the sun is trying VERY HARD to break through the rain clouds). See photographic proof.
It's now 4:40pm and it is pissing down again, you just can't win.

We couldn't be stuffed cooking dinner so we had egg rolls, something nice and easy. They were yumma.

Tomorrow, there is nothing planned.

Last night and today, the weather is definitely improving. We had strong gusts and moments when it absolutely PISSED DOWN but it is improving.

I slept a lot better. By the way, over the previous nights, Marg would wake in the morning and say what wind or what rain.

As the weather had improved, I felt like going to Pacific Fair for a coffee, Marg was in agreement, as she wanted to check out the shops. We left about 9:30am and drove down along 'Beach Rd'. The ocean was as rough as buggery and filled with white caps. All beaches are closed. There is no one about on the beach. We arrived at Pac Fair in the Bubble and managed to find a 'small car' only park, right in front of the entrance.
We walked in and turned left and all the shops that we past were high end, such as Tag Heuer, Tiffany and other expensive shops. I said to Marg that 'they' have destroyed Pac Fair by only catering to the wealth, BUT as we turned the corner, we were back to the normal shops that you expect to find at a shopping centre. I found an info map and that first street was called 'Luxury'. Typical. We came across the Coffee Club and settled in for a coffee and read our iPads, before continuing to walk around most of Pac Fair. We finished with a small shop at Woollies. Marg found a Stacks for her craft stuff.
We thought that we may not find the Bubble, but without 'too much trouble' we found it. We drove back along the same route, except we visited The Spit. The waves were beautiful, crashing over the end of the seawall. I asked Marg to walk out to the end of The Spit and take a photo. She refused. I thought that was extremely selfish. I couldn't do it, as I was the 'nominated driver' of the Bubble.
The whole way from Pac Fair to camp was 'bathed in sunshine', so I hung a towel on the clothesline and within 10 minutes the 'heavens had opened up' and it was wetter than it started.

After lunch, Marg had a nanna nap, while I buggered about on my laptop. At 4pm, we got ourselves organised and drove the Bubble over to our club "CSI Southport", as we were meeting Mase and Lukey there for dinner. While waiting, Marg played the pokies and I wrote today's blog. Mase and Lukey arrived about 5:20pm, I was sitting in a booth near the windows. Each booth has its own TV.

Marg had garlic prawns, Lukey had a chicken parma, Mase had a kids cheeseburger and I tried their mixed grill. They were yumma.

Tomorrow, we have a full day minding Mase and Mont, while Jo works from 9am to 6pm, at least, Mont will be at school.

Last night and today, the weather is definitely improving. We had strong gusts and moments when it absolutely PISSED DOWN but it is improving.

I slept a lot better. By the way, over the previous nights, Marg would wake in the morning and say what wind or what rain.

As the weather had improved, I felt like going to Pacific Fair for a coffee, Marg was in agreement, as she wanted to check out the shops. We left about 9:30am and drove down along 'Beach Rd'. The ocean was as rough as buggery and filled with white caps. All beaches are closed. There is no one about on the beach. We arrived at Pac Fair in the Bubble and managed to find a 'small car' only park, right in front of the entrance.
We walked in and turned left and all the shops that we past were high end, such as Tag Heuer, Tiffany and other expensive shops. I said to Marg that 'they' have destroyed Pac Fair by only catering to the wealth, BUT as we turned the corner, we were back to the normal shops that you expect to find at a shopping centre. I found an info map and that first street was called 'Luxury'. Typical. We came across the Coffee Club and settled in for a coffee and read our iPads, before continuing to walk around most of Pac Fair. We finished with a small shop at Woollies. Marg found a Stacks for her craft stuff.
We thought that we may not find the Bubble, but without 'too much trouble' we found it. We drove back along the same route, except we visited The Spit. The waves were beautiful, crashing over the end of the seawall. I asked Marg to walk out to the end of The Spit and take a photo. She refused. I thought that was extremely selfish. I couldn't do it, as I was the 'nominated driver' of the Bubble.
The whole way from Pac Fair to camp was 'bathed in sunshine', so I hung a towel on the clothesline and within 10 minutes the 'heavens had opened up' and it was wetter than it started.

After lunch, Marg had a nanna nap, while I buggered about on my laptop. At 4pm, we got ourselves organised and drove the Bubble over to our club "CSI Southport", as we were meeting Mase and Lukey there for dinner. While waiting, Marg played the pokies and I wrote today's blog. Mase and Lukey arrived about 5:20pm, I was sitting in a booth near the windows. Each booth has its own TV.

Marg had garlic prawns, Lukey had a chicken parma, Mase had a kids cheeseburger and I tried their mixed grill. They were yumma.

Tomorrow, we have a full day minding Mase and Mont, while Jo works from 9am to 6pm, at least, Mont will be at school.

We slept very well, woke up about 7:30am and got up. We had brekky and about mid morning, we drove to Spotlight, as Marg needed more 'crafty' stuff. After that we called into Aus Fair and had a coffee at Zarraffas, and did a small shop at Woollies.

Back at camp for lunch, I was going to ride, but the weather looked threatening, so I stayed home and watched the V8s practice in Darwin. While I watched TV, Marg managed to have a nanna nap.

Dinner was Mrs Sargent's Mexican Spicy pies. They were yumma.


Tomorrow, Jay and I may ride and Lukey and family may come around.

We slept shithouse last night. Jay and I didn't ride.

Marg and I got up about 8am and had brekky. The weather showed promise, so I took a large pile of clothes to the Park's laundry. 24 minutes later, our load was finished and I hung them out on our clothesline. We had periods of sun with a light breeze, so it may dry. (I will 'light candles and pray'). During the arvo, there were a few spots of rain, SO I hung all the washing inside the fiver, it will dry over the next day or two.

About 10;15am, we spotted Mase walking up to our camp, mowing the bitumen with his lawn mover, while his daddy was holding his 'whipper nipper'. While we were sitting in the fiver, chatting, Jay rang and said he and Bec were calling in for a few minutes and arrived shortly after, as they were at Main Beach. It was a little cramped with 6 adults in the fiver, but we managed.

After a little while, Jay and Bec had to leave and Lukey, Jo, Marg, Mase and me walked with them to their car and continued over the road to the cafe 'Frigg'. Marg and I had bacon and eggs on toast for lunch, while Lukey had the new fad thing 'Acai' aka a fancy fruit salad, Jo had a 'bucket of coffee'.

About midday, we walked back to camp, saying 'Goodbye' to Mase and family, they headed home and we walked about 100 meters back to camp.
I settled in for an arvo of watching the V8 Supercars in Darwin. Go Lowndesy. Marg forced herself to have a nanna nap.

Update: Lowndesy finished 7th.

Dinner was a scratch meal. We had cheese and bikkies plus Marg made a choccy cake with my Hokey Pokey ice cream. Very yumma.


Tomorrow, Nothing is planned.

We slept very well last night. It was SUNNY ALL DAY.

While Marg slept in, I got up at 7:00am, had brekky and I left camp at 7:28am and headed north to my Northerly turnaround point at Lands End, stopped and took some photos, then headed south past the Southport YC, along The Esplanade, stopping at Surfers, to take my daily weather photo. I did see a 6'8" spida jogging along the Esplanade. I didn't turn around and take a photo, because he was looking buggered, BUT I was sure that it was Peter 'Spida' Everett. I then rode out to the Spit and ate my bananas, taking more photos, before continuing to Cafe Rockpool for a coffee, before heading back to camp, arriving at 10:15am after 37.8kms.

My riding stats: Today's ride of 37.8kms is my 24th ride at Southport for a total of 814.0kms on the Gold Coast.
Wildlife count while riding: Today's count was ONE 6'8" spida. SO count to date is:

• 1 DEAD red-bellied black snake.
• 2 LIVE bush turkeys.
• 1 LIVE bearded dragon.
• 1 'nearly extinct rare Federation Walk Frog' - aka a DEAD frog.
• 1 LIVE Purple Swamp hen
• Numerous LIVE Ian Ibis
• ONE 6'8" spida

After showering, we drove the Bubble to BP and checked the tyres and filled it up, then headed to Helensvale. At Gloria Jeans, we had a coffee and a very yumma 'triple choc muffin', before doing a small food shop.
Back at camp, we had lunch and I settled in for a pleasant arvo watching the Supercars on TV, while Marg did her thing, before succumbing to a nanna nap. Go Lowndesy.

Update: Lowndesy finished 6th.

Dinner was another scratch meal. We had tinned spaghetti on toast. Very yumma.


Tomorrow, we are child minding in the morning.

We slept well, woke up at 6:30am and got up. Marg slept fair and got up at 7:00am. We had brekky and left at 7:30am, we drove along the Gold Coast Hwy, because last time we minded the grandkids, there were too many road works. Today, there were no road works and we arrived at Lukeys just before 8:00am.

Mont was ready for school and I dropped her off at 8:30am. Lukey was working from home, SO we thought that we would take Mase back to our camp and walk up to Cafe Rockpool for banana bread and coffee. I packed Mase's trike into the boot of the Bubble and we left Lukey to do some work. We arrived at camp, and I tied a rope around his trike so I could pull him.
As we just left camp, walking past the boat ramp parkland, the boys were erecting the main circus tent. We don't know who yet, but will find out. We arrived at Cafe Rockpool, and "B" was on duty and made our coffees and cooked Mase's nana bread. Wall and Ern from our camp arrived for a coffee. After we finished our morning coffee, we started back to camp, stopping just after the Rockpool, which is closed for maintenance, to play on the see saw. Marg went on first and then I took over. I pulled Mase along on his trike and he is getting better at steering it. We stopped and watch the 'digger' behind the swimming pool, as 'they' are now setting up for the Gold Coast marathon on 1st & 2nd July. We stopped at the playground, beside where the circus is being erected. Mase went on the slide and tried to climb the chains, but he is too young for them and finally, finished on the tandem swing with Marg. I didn't use it, as I thought that 'little' me might break it.
We walked along the path and sat down on a bench seat and watch another 'digger' unload a large speaker box. Mase was riveted and we had 'nearly drag' him away.
Marg changed his nappy before driving him home. He fell asleep, but as we were getting him out of the car, he woke up. Bugger.

We did what any grandparents would do, we left Mase with his dad and drove over to Helensvale for a small food shop. While there, I remembered that Mase's trike is STILL in the boot, SO we drove back to Lukeys and unloaded his trike, then headed back to camp.
We had lunch and then retired to bed for a nanna nap, we were both tired. Awoke mid afternoon and just buggered about on the laptop.

Marg made "Roothy's curried sausages" and while cooking it outside in the annex, we received positive comments from our neighbours 'downwind'. The smell was magic and it tasted extremely yumma.


Tomorrow is BINGO.

We slept well and woke just before 6:30am. I put on 2 loads of washing in the laundry, mainly sheets, doona cover etc. 24 minutes later I was back and managed to put it all in the dryer, 30 minutes later it was all finished. During the dryer mode, I managed to shower and get dressed. We buggered about on the internet, had brekky and were on our way by 8:20am.

We arrived at Sharks just after it opened at 8:30 and walked in and I claimed our table, while Marg went and ordered a coffee for me, while she ordered a juice and muffin for herself. I bought our normal set of bingo, which consisted of 2 sets of the normal games which comprises 40 games, plus 2 sets of jackpots plus 2 undercovers plus 2 lucky numbers for an even $50.
By half time, we haven't won a thing, as usual, close, as in only 1 number but no cigar. After half time, I was playing to my usual form and didn't win anything. Marg is now following my lead and also didn't win a cent. Bugger.

Our Bingo summary after our 7th appearance, paid $50 won $ZERO. Outlaid to date: $350 and won so far: $322 current LOSS is $28.

After bingo, we drove over to the Helensvale shops, as I needed to buy a new pair of jeans. We walked into KMart found a pair, tried them on, they fitted, bought them. All done and dusted easily within 5 minutes. Why do women take hours to do the same thing.
After my 'stressful shopping adventure', we stopped at Michels for lunch of pies and coffee. yumma.
Looked in Coles and Kmart for those metal coat hangers with a rubber coating. Didn't find any, I think they are a Woollies product. Couldn't be stuffed to walk to the other end of the Helensvale shops, SO we didn't. It has been added to our shopping list next time we visit Woollies.

During the arvo, I buggered about on my laptop and Marg managed a nanna nap.

Dinner is the same as last night, as we have 2 meals left. One for tonight and one in the freezer for 'Ron' as in 'later on'. It was still yumma.

Tomorrow, we are minding Mase during the morning, so Lukey and Jo can have some time together without Mase.

We slept well and woke just before 7:30am. Lukey texted us to tell us that they were dropping Mase off about 9am. We had brekky and buggered about at camp until Mase arrived. Lukey and Jo arrived and unpacked his bike and food. Mase and I waved bye bye to mummy and daddy, and then we walked back to our camp, where Marg was getting dressed.
When Marg was ready, the three of us walked along the path to Cafe Rockpool. Mase's bike had the pole attached and I pushed him, it was easier than pulling him. We had raisin toast and coffee at Cafe Rockpool. On the way back to camp, we stopped at the see saw area, which also has a very large sandpit. Watched the men erect the fencing and grandstand etc for the Gold Coast Marathon. Stopped and watched the men erecting the circus tents, they now have set up 2 tents. We then stopped and tried out the playground, Mase enjoyed himself on the slide and then the swing. Finally, getting back to camp just before midday, Mase had his lunch and we got organised and drove him home in the Bubble.
He had a 20 minute power nap and as we pulled into his house, he woke up. No big drama. He wanted to watch 'Peppa Pig', so he settled down in his comfy chair with the remainder of his lunch and watched numerous episodes and then Mummy and Daddy arrived.

We headed back to camp, stopping at Woollies Pac Pines. I bought 2 'lots' of coat hangers that I was after. They are only available from Woollies.

During the arvo, I buggered about on my laptop and watched a few episodes of 'Outback Truckers', while Marg managed a nanna nap.

Dinner was a scratch meal, I had egg rolls, while Marg had pikelets with jam. They were yumma.

Tomorrow, we are watching Mont do her solo dance at Ipswich Civic Centre at 9:00am.

We slept well and woke just after 6:00am. Marg and I got up, got organised and left camp at 7:00am.
We had to drive to Ipswich and thinking that the traffic will be ratshit, we left early. Mont had to be there by 9:00am. We went in separate cars, we drove the Bubble, had bugger all traffic and as we were early, we stopped at Maccas Ipswich for brekky. As we pulled up at the Ipswich Civic Centre, Mase and Lukey were waving to us. We parked in a 4 hour street car parking. Walked into the Civic Centre, paid our $7 each and sat on the end of a row about 6 rows from the stage.
There were 15 entered in Mont's Hip Hop section, a few didn't front. Mont was the last entrant. This was also her FIRST SOLO performance. She came on stage and was brilliant. I am rather biased. Mont ended up getting 3rd place. That will give her heaps of confidence.

Marg and I left after the judging and headed homeward. We stopped at Helensvale for a coffee and 'triple choc' muffin.

Back at camp, the weather was nice, so while Marg had a nanna nap, I did a short ride.

I left camp at 1:24pm and headed south to my Southerly turnaround at Surfers, stopped and took my daily weather photo, then headed North with a beautiful tailwind to the Spit, rode the south Spit first, then headed out to the beacon on the normal Spit. Watched a dude on a jetski, tackle the waves. He was brilliant, doing somersaults on his jetski. I have never seen that before, one of the photos just caught him. I headed to Cafe Rockpool for a coffee, then along the path to my Northern turnaround point at Lands End, then headed back to camp, arriving at 3:55pm after 38.3kms.

My riding stats: Today's ride of 38.3kms is my 25th ride at Southport for a total of 852.3kms on the Gold Coast.


I had a beautiful shower with heaps of pressure and hot water.

Dinner was a scratch meal, the same as last night, I had egg rolls, while Marg had pikelets with jam. They were yumma.

Tomorrow, we are minding the grandkids from 6:30am to 5:30pm.

What a busy day!.

We slept well and got up at 5:20am. Marg and I got up, got organised and left camp at 5:50am.
We drove the Bubble to Mont and Mase's home arriving about 6:25am. Jo left for work at 6:40am. Marg fed Mase, while Mont got herself ready for her 'last day' at school. About 8am, we realised that Mont's schoolbag with all her 'stuff' in it was in their car boot. I drove to Jo's work and picked up the schoolbag plus Mase's backpack. Back to pick up Mont and I still got her to school before the final bell.

Back at Mase's home, we got organised and the three of us headed to our camp to change into lighter clothes, then we parked at the Broadwater parklands car park and caught a tram to Q1 in Surfers. We missed 2 trams while trying to buy tickets for Marg and I, Finally, we were on the tram and Mase loved looking out the window. We got to Q1 and alighted from the tram, walked over to the other platform and caught the next tram back to the Bubble.

After walking back to the Bubble, we drove over to Zarraffas in Aus Fair, for a banana bread for Mase and coffee for us, then into Woolies for a shop for dinner. We called into our camp on the way back to Mase's home. He fell asleep while driving to his home, and we managed to put him in his bed BUT he awoke after his 30 minute 'powernap'. When he got up, we had 'quiet time'. He sat on his comfy chair and watched 'endless' episodes of Peppa Pig, that kept him riveted.

Just on 3pm, I left to pick up Mont from school, queued up with all the other parents and got back home without any hassles. Mont was very happy as she had just started her holidays. Back at Lukeys, Marg was preparing tonight's dinner, which was chicken, cashews, rice and other 'stuff'. Marg offered Mont some, before she went to Dance practice, she 'kindly' refused. At least Mase ate a small piece of the chicken, before refusing to eat anymore.

About 4:30pm, I drove Mont to Dance practice, then back to entertain Mase. Jo arrived home close to 6pm, while Lukey had a terrible run home along the M1 (there were 2 accidents that caused monstrous delays) and arrived home about 6:15pm.

Well, the adults appreciated Marg's dinner a lot more than the grandkids did. It was yumma and we managed to have enough leftovers for Marg and I to have it tomorrow night.

We got back to camp about 7;30pm, absolutely knackered.

Tomorrow, we sleep in.

What an absolutely magnificent day - weatherwise.

We slept extremely well until 7:30am. We laid in bed and watched Weekend Sunrise and as Lukey, Mase and Jo weren't expected until around 10am, we were in absolutely no rush to do anything. And we didn't.
Our 'neck of the Gold Coast' was very busy, SO when Lukey arrived, he checked out Frigg (it was full), our carpark out the front, was full. The carpark next door to our park was full, SO Lukey decided to drive to and park at Aus Fair. Marg and I walked there. It was such a magical day. Sunny with a very light breeze.

As we arrived at Zarraffas, I was spotted by Mase. We ordered our coffees and sat and chatted for an hour or so, before Lukey and family left to pick up Mont from dancing practice. Today is Mont's last dancing class until school holidays are over. We said our goodbyes and went our separate ways. Marg and I took our time walking back to camp, stopping to talk to the owners of "Bundy" the Lazza lookalike. Bundy is the labrador that his owners spent $8,000 on his legs, now he is as fit as a bull. He is only 5 years old.

Back at camp, we had lunch. I decided that I would go for a short ride, while (shock,horror) Marg had a nanna nap.

I left camp at 1:24pm and headed south to the Spit, I rode to the Southern Spit first and as I was riding back to the normal Spit, I saw a 'Mr Whippy ice cream van', I rode past, but by 100 meters past, I had to turn around and buy a double choc ice cream. It was YUMMA plus. After devouring the ice cream, I rode out to the end of the Spit and sat and watched the world go bye. I eventually left and rode to cafe Rockpool, where both Kamal and 'B' were working, stopped for a coffee and then got back to camp at 3:18pm after 24.7kms.

My riding stats: Today's ride of 24.7kms is my 26th ride at Southport for a total of 877.0kms on the Gold Coast.
Wildlife count while riding: Today's count was NIL.

I had another beautiful shower with heaps of pressure and hot water. I was the only one in the 12 shower area and definitely didn't want to get out.

Dinner was last night's leftovers and was absolutely yumma.

Tomorrow, I may ride and take a Hard Drive to Lukeys.

Another pearler of a day - weatherwise.

We slept extremely well until 7:15am. We laid in bed and watched Weekend Sunrise. We were in absolutely no rush to do anything. And we didn't.
I drove over to Storage King, looking for my portable Hard Drives, I found 2. During the morning, I went to Lukeys with my laptop, as he was updating my laptop. Marg stayed home, as she was quite content to stay in her traky daks and do bugger all around camp. I arrived back just before midday and we drove over to Zarraffas at Aus Fair for a coffee and did a small shop at Woolies.

After lunch, I couldn't be stuffed to go riding, so I didn't. We buggered about camp, before both of us having a nanna nap, sorry, a Powernap.

In keeping with the couldn't be stuffed attitude, Dinner was cheese and bacon rolls from Woolies.

Tomorrow, the mighty Navara is booked in to have its front bushes replaced.