The Birthday Cruise

 5th to 8th March - 3 days out of Brisbane.

Frank was our chaffeur to the Port of Brisbane.

The Hungry Hikers and friends had this shirt printed, with Jayne the party girl all over it.

We were only minutes on the boat and bumped into Jayne and her family.

I shared with Joc's sister, Marlene. Our balcony was hardly used as it was windy, and this left the deck chairs salt covered.

The weather was mostly overcast. A tropical low was headed south towards us, so the ship dipped and rolled most of the journey. Being an older boat, there were no stabilzers.

Sunrise after a shower of rain.

The second morning was sunny for a couple of hours.

Sunset from our position in the dining room.

Always windswept when we headed outside.

Our welcome bunny.

Early on the final morning, all the deckchairs around the pool were taken by the 'towel people'!

There was time for relaxing, reading inside or outside, a comedy show or two and one theatre event.

Pre dinner cocktail.

Party night for Jayne.

The crew performed in the dining room aisles each night. On our final night it was quite the event.

Some proof that we are not big drinkers. We enjoy a glass but rarely embibe to excess. We are holding the unopened bottles from our small wine package. They all came home.

A gloomy return to Brisbane.

River entrance. Our boat sailed past the mooring, headed for the cargo vessel. Seemingly at the last moment the azimuth lever was switched on and with the help of 2 tugs we successfully turned and docked.

 Bottom R - the backward thrust is in action.

Busy tugboat.

45 minutes has elapsed. We are now having breakfast in the dining room. The tug is all but finished the required manouevering.

8.30am and we are back on shore waiting for our chaffeur!

It is March Charge month. Each morning I was up early and walking the top deck circuit. My Stava GPS App was very kind. Within 20 mins, I had walked 7km! Seems it was clocking the ship's movement. I don't feel too guilty as we were constantly walking from end to end of the ship.

Big boat cruising isn't my thing. Why does the sound system have to be at full blast all the time?

It was however, lovely to celebrate with Jayne, family and friends.

I would love to read your comment.

Progress report

Life

 It is 3am and yet another morning when I am wide awake. 

Almost a month has past since I posted that we had suddenly decided to move to a retirement village. Every day has been full with decluttering and working through the proceeses of selling and buying. We are so grateful for all the help offered, especially from niece Betty and husband Bruce, and good friends Janice and David. Both couples arrived with their trailers for the dump and charity shop runs.

Joc spent a morning helping me sort the kitchen and preparing frozen meals for the slow cooker. So lovely not to have to think about what to eat when I am exhausted at the end of the day.

Time has been wasted as I recall so many memories of the boys growing up.

My childhood doll. I just can't let her go. I wish their was a doll hospital in Brisbane.

A number of my friends came at the weekend and shared all my plants. I am not sad as I will see them when I visit and I know that they will still be loved. Eight pots are coming with us.

We are taking most of our canvases and family photos to cull once we have moved in, but it has been sad saying goodbye to so many pieces on our wall. 

I will miss my first efforts at painting. I hope our buyer will say to leave my garden murals above. Update - the murals are staying.

Some of the canvases.

Our Open House last Saturday was a busy one. The golf course and view definitely drew the crowd. By Sunday afternoon we had a cash buyer, who didn't want a building and pest inspection. We signed the contract Monday. The 5 day cooling off period ended Friday. Settlement is 25 March, however when we contacted Tarragindi Green, they told us we could move in on the 18th, giving us a week to fully clean here. The Salavation Army charity is coming on the 19th to take our excess furniture. And, to add to all the busyness, this time last year I booked to join Hungry Hiker Jayne on a 3 day cruise for her 70th birthday. We sail out to sea and back on Thursday. Thankfully, I feel all is under control to do this.

March just happens to be Cancer's March Charge Month! I had signed up in January.

 

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