12 - December 2006

Friday, 1st December 2006  -  Day 637  - Berth H1, Gladstone Port Marina,  Gladstone 4680

First day of summer and a lazy start to the day.  The diesel mechanic came and did a compression test on the engines.  The injector tube is pitted which makes the starboard engine lose compression so we are looking at options at the moment.  Since the injectors have been serviced and repaired the engine won’t start at all now because all of the dirt and oil that was filling up the pits has now gone so they are having to replace the injector sleeve.  Hopefully the sleeve will come out without too much complication and expense.  Geoff’s guess is that this will all cost over $600 and that’s if it comes out easily.  If not the engine has to come out and who knows how much that will cost.  Still, it has to be done and its been worrying us for a while now.  Bob sent an email and he can’t find the cable for the Toshiba laptop that Geoff asked him to look for so we have sent an email with a picture of it.  We are keeping out fingers crossed.  I then cooked Savoury Pinwheels and Rick, Brenda and the woof, Vicky, came round for sundowners.  They came at 17:30 and left at 20:00 so it was a quick tea for us but a good natter with them.  Rick is lending us his car tomorrow, which is nice of him!

Saturday, 2nd December 2006  -  Day 638  -  Gladstone

Up at 06:30, shower, brekkie and head up to the Coastguard (VMR) for 07:45.  After introductions, Geoff is going to stay until 13:00 and do a shift  so I said I was off shopping (why did I get up so early)?  A lady, Pru, who was just going to keep her husband, Bryan, company at the VMR said she would go with me so off I went with my new friend.  During the course of the morning we learnt each others life history, albeit in a small way.  We are both Taureans with me being 1 year and 9 days older than her.  We had a ball and I expect we will probably see  more of them.  We ended up at the Port Curtis Sailing Club and relaxed, drinking our ginger beers and overlooking the VMR building.  Went back and met up with Geoff at 13:00 and we went off in Rick’s little car for a bite to eat and to get some shopping and diesel.  I had already got the gas refilled earlier in the day. I am now back at 2AB and pigging out on cherries, which I adore.  Yum!  Brenda’s son’s step daughter, Britnee, came to visit us. 

We had met her and her mum at Hexham Island last year when they were having a break on ‘Low Profile’.  Later, when I went up to the loos, I saw my first Cane Toad at Gladstone.  Horrid looking things. 

Sunday, 3rd December 2006  -  Day 639  -  Gladstone

Noisy Saturday night with the young bucks who live on their boats here doing their normal Saturday night drink binging.  I was woken up at midnight with them going out and woken up once again at 4am with them coming back.  Still, it only seems to be one night a week it happens.  I expect, as Christmas approaches it will get worse.  Geoff is up at the VMR for another five hour shift and he is on the radio on his own.  The controller won’t be far away though.  I kept myself busy with chores such a as laundry, putting food away, cleaning, transferring all the paperwork to a new file and then I washed off the deck (coal dust heaven here).  All the while I was working I had the radio on to see how Geoff was going.  His first day and he is thrown in at the deep end with an emergency.  A boat couldn’t lower his motor into the water and had to be towed back in.  Geoff did ok.  The controller told him he was one of the best he had on the first day.

Monday, 4th December 2006  -  Day 640  -  Gladstone

Caught the bus to The Valley as it is the first time I have to put in my payment form into Centrelink.  I thought it would take ages but it was quick and painless.  So far I have applied for five jobs with three still in the pipeline.  Two were advertised in the local paper so I have complete control over them but the others are through Job Network providers so I have lost control of them.  It is getting quite warm and humid now which made me very sleepy so a nap was in order.  The canvas paint has arrived so Geoff did some more painting of the edges of the Genoa.

Tuesday, 5th December 2006  -  Day 641  -  Gladstone

Geoff is off on a 3 day course at his Job Network provider, Minnecon and Burke today.  I bet he will enjoy that!  It is getting hotter and hotter, well  it is only around the 30° but it is getting humid.  You do a little job and the perspiration just drips off you.  The diesel mechanic came today and he managed to get the sleeve off the injector after a big effort.  Nice man, as it means we don’t have to pull the engine out.  He worked on it for a couple of hours with me doing his bidding.  Once he had finished working on it he tried to start it and it wouldn’t start.  For a few minutes we were worrying then he noticed the start button had got inadvertently pushed in.  After that it started first go. Then he gave the injector a quick burst of Spray and Wipe to see if there were any leaks.  There weren't but bubbles would have shown if there were….a handy hint which I expect Geoff already knows about.  Geoff came home at 4:30 pm and said the course was tailored to first time job seekers so was in the “sucking eggs’ category.  He said there is one guy there who is 3 months off retiring and they are making him do the course, which he is not at all happy about.

Wednesday, 6th December 2006  -  Day 642  -   Gladstone

Geoff has gone off to his job search course again. 

 I rang Centrelink to change his appointment for 4 pm today.  This meant I had to grab his Centrelink stuff and catch the bus to The Valley.  He wasn’t at Minnecon and Burke but I found him in a café having lunch.  I then decided to walk back to the marina as I wanted to have a look at the shops in the main street.  I got back to the marina an hour later but that was after going in the health food shop, chemist and Katie's.  Geoff got back around 4:45 and was a little peed off.  Apparently he can’t lodge for voluntary work whilst he is involved on the special program.  The Centrelink person said they didn’t know why he had to do the course as he hadn’t signed an activity agreement yet.  He now has to ask Minnecon and Burke to release him from the special program, which they may or may not do.  Here was me saying how painless it had been.

Saturday, 9th December 2006  - Day 645 -  Gladstone 

We had a nice drop of rain last night so it has washed down the boat of coal dust.  The last three days have been life as usual so not so much to report.  Geoff was able to get released from his intensive program with his job network provider and sorted it all with Centrelink.  He has been to see the VMR about his 15 hours a week and they have told him that he is on constant stand by so he will be covered.  I have got a job interview on the 18th.  It is a 3-4 month contract job doing data entry.  A boring job but one I can probably do with my eyes closed.  We will see...it all depends if they want me and what they are offering, pay wise.  I have also submitted my resume to the Water Police who are based at the marina offering to  do voluntary work.  Rang Sal to see how she is and she is still in a lot of pain, poor things.  They are busy preparing fire breaks etc in case the bad fires come their way.  I’ve also been to the chiropractor for an adjustment to try to sort my back out.  It was quite a painful adjustment this time but I fell better for it.  He had a look at my thumbs and said it is definitely arthritis. I have a doctors appointment on Monday so will also see what they say.  It’s a worry as it affects my typing abilities.  I can type without using my thumb but I am very slow and make a lot of errors.  On Friday, Geoff spent most of the day fixing the water leak coming from the hot water system so that’s done now.  The only other thing that we have finalised is our trip to the UK.  We leave 1st May and spend 7 days in Dubai on the way over and come back middle of July or earlier.  We also hope to do a side trip to visit Mara in Russia.  Something nice to look forward to. 

Thursday, 14th December 2006  -  Day 650  -  Gladstone

Where has the time gone?  I have spent the last couple of days incapacitated.  I went to the Kin Kora shopping Centre on Tuesday to get my hair coloured and did it whilst bending to pick something up.  It is the lower side of my back and was so painful I could hardly move.  I have been using our little TMS machine and it definitely helps it plus I have been dosed up but am trying to stop taking the stronger stuff now as it really plays havoc with your body if you use it for a prolonged time.  Geoff is also in the wars with a very swollen foot.  He thought he had gout but I think he has a bite that has got infected.  So I expect he will be off to the doctors in the not too distant future.  I went to the doctors on Monday about my thumbs and I am to have blood tests to just check that it is arthritis and not something else.  I haven’t had them done yet because of my back.  Last night we managed to hobble to the VMR for an info night.  There wasn’t much of the technical stuff we didn’t know but the local content was interesting.  Geoff is on the radios again this Saturday morning so I will cycle up to meet him towards the end of his shift.  Apart from this it has been work on the boat. Geoff changed the oil in the engines and has finished painting the canvas edge of the Genoa.  It needs to go back up but I can’t help him yet with my back being iffy.  We have been following the Bright fires closely on the news and the Buffalo Lodge (Tatra) has been razed to the ground but they saved The Chalet.  The fire got down to the bottom edge of Sally and Martin’s tree line and Lois is just waiting to see if it comes her way. 

Friday, 15th December 2006  -  Day 651  -  Gladstone

Oh what a couple of old crocks we are today.  Geoff was nauseous and dizzy overnight from the new medication for gout and my thumb is the most painful it has ever been.  I have had to pull out my old thumb brace from my PV work days when it first happened.  I had to write up my journal with my left hand so you can imagine how spidery it looks.  I  can still type but have to be careful.  Rang Sally and Martin this morning and they said all hell broke lose yesterday afternoon with the fires.  At one stage they thought they were going to lose ‘The Chalet’ (Tamara's little unit) with the flames at least 20 feet high.  A friend and neighbor, Johnny, arrived with his orchard water spraying truck and they kept playing water on it, which saved it.  The one thing they have lost is their brand new fencing.  This is nothing to what others in Victoria and Tasmania have lost so they are very thankful.  Photos will be on the way shortly, they tell me.  We have the loan of Rick’s car for three days as they are off to an area called ‘The Oaks’ to beach ‘Low Profile’ to clean her hulls.  Our hulls are starting to get bad growth on them from being in the marina so will probably have to do something similar soon.  We went off in the car with me driving and picked up the back deck long cushions which we had got covered and they look so much better.  We have also bought some new ropes for the Genoa which we also managed to put back up, even with my bad thumb.  I also have a job interview for data entry on Monday  and an interview for voluntary work on Tuesday but this, again, will depend on how my thumb is fairing.  I was so painful last night that it actually made me cry so we shall have to see!

Saturday, 16th December  -  Day 652  -  Gladstone

Geoff’s foot is still swollen but he is off to the VMR today 0800 to 1300 hours.  He is feeling a little down so I hope it perks him up.  He’s not the only one feeling down as my thumb is making me feel quite miserable.  After a shower, I went off to the pharmacy at The Valley and bought some anti inflammatory cream and had my blood pressure taken on their machine and waited a while and checked with our little machine and it was really out so we may have to look at buying a better one.  I then popped into VMR to visit Geoff and found he was out on the new rescue boat.  I went back at 12:00 and he still wasn’t back and he eventually got back at 14:00 hours.  He had a great time and is on again tomorrow.

Sunday, 17th December 2006  -  Day 653  -  Gladstone

We are trying to drink more water and swap refined salt for celtic salt as it is supposed to cure all ills.  We shall see.  We lazed about a bit.  It is getting windy now.  After lunch Geoff went off to the VMR and I listened to him on the radio and he has another emergency.  Does he attract them, or what?  I cycled in to visit him with quite a strong head wind and when I got there he had another call out.  A yacht’s engine had gone kaput and he was now aground in The Narrows. 

Geoff finished at 18:00 and we went to the Port Curtis Sailing Club for dinner for the $8.90 buffet.  It was bit ordinary but it WAS only $8.90.  We then cycled back to the marina and when we eventually got there..shock...horror...my purse had fallen out of my pocket.  I started walking back and then Geoff passed me on his bike and found it further along the path.  How lucky can you get?  Phew.  He then stayed up listening to the radio to help out with the rescue boat as he towed the stricken yacht into the marina.  Once it was tied up he helped with the refuelling and air docking.

Monday, 18th December 2006  -  Day 654   -  Gladstone

Up early and borrowed Brenda’s car to go to the pathology to have our blood tests done.  Onto Centrelink to make a claim.  I then called Reliance Petroleum to confirm my interview time and was told they already had someone in mind for the job but I could still go to the interview if I wished.  I said I wouldn’t bother as I was having trouble with my thumbs at present.  The pharmacist suggested I took Paracetamol three times a day and recommended Panadol Extend and only use the Voltaren when I really need to.  I will give it a try anyway.  A touch more shopping and that was it.  Getting lazy in our old age.

Tuesday, 19th December 2006  -  Day 655  -   Gladstone

Didn’t sleep very well and I have a headache which is probably due to caffeine withdrawal as we’re also trying to cut down on our caffeine intake.  Today I had an interview with the Gladstone Volunteer co-ordinator and it looks like I may be doing some admin work for Conservation Volunteers Australia in the new year.  Went back to the pathology to drop a sample off and then went to The Warehouse to get my money back on the cheap blood pressure monitor that is no good and then on to the chemist to buy a decent one that is on special at the moment.  Caught the bus back and had to partake of a real coffee to ease my headache.  I’m feeling very tired and lethargic at the moment due, probably, to my painful right thumb. 

Geoff started the starboard engine and it is still very slow to start so thinks it may need a re-bore, hence more money.  Geoff has also fitted the press studs to the new back deck seat covers and they look so much better. 

Wednesday, 20th December 2006  -  Day 656  -  Gladstone

I had a call from the doctor’s surgery today saying my tests were back and I need to pop in for a little chat about the results but there was no hurry so all must be ok.  Most of the doctors in Qld seem to be from overseas and you really need to get your ears into gear to understand what they are saying sometimes. 

Geoff has just started the starboard engine again and has found an oil leak where the diesel mechanic put in the new injector sleeve so maybe, just maybe, that is why it is even slower to start than it was before.  We have just spent over $850 on the engines and it doesn’t seem any better.  We will be keeping our fingers crossed. 

I have just finished scribbling in Journal No. 6 and have started No. 7.  My friend-cum-boss Flic certainly started something when she gave me the first journal as a farewell gift. 
Low Profile is back in so we helped her dock.  Good to have Rick and Brenda back.

After dinner Geoff headed off to the VMR for a training night so I took the opportunity to head to ‘Low Profile’ to pick up Geoff’s Christmas present as they had been storing it for me.  Now I have got to find somewhat to hide it and it is rather big.  I have bought him a remote controlled speed boat.  Ah boys and their toys. 

Thursday, 21st December 2006  -  Day 657  -  Gladstone

There was a rowdy yachtie’s BBQ last night and a couple of the single lads got really drunk and were yelling and throwing things into the water at 02:30 in the morning at the bottom of the ramp right next to 2AB.  I got up in the end and asked (yelled) for them to quiet down and they staggered off to their respective boats as noisily as ever.

We received an email from Lois today with the DSE and Shire fire updates attached.  Seems the fires are threatening Noonameena Lodge, our business before the Backpacker hostel.  Glad we’re not there now. 

We then caught the bus to the hospital for Geoff to have his x-rays done.  He has to pick them up as they don’t sent them directly to his doctor so he will pick them up after Christmas.  Then we decided to walk to the Central Shopping Centre for a few supplies which was just a short walk away.  Then catch the bus back to 2AB.  The bus is very expensive (I don’t think).  It costs us all of 70 cents to go to either the Valley or the Central and a whole $1 to go to the Kin Kora shopping centre with our seniors or concession cards.  

Geoff then headed off on his bike to buy me another Christmas present (the more the merrier) and I headed off to the doctors to chat about my blood tests.  Apparently he wanted to talk to me about my excessive alcohol intake and I laughed at him.  I had originally told him that one of my liver enzyme readings would be abnormal but  he just wasn’t listening.  He must have thought I was an alcoholic!  I have looked it up on the web and it can also be caused from being overweight and is not a problem.  He wants me to have more blood tests to rule out any auto immune diseases but said there was no hurry.  I will see.  Apart from that everything else was normal, which was good.  I also got a medical certificate from him for Centrelink for my thumbs. 

After the doctors I walked down the road a little to the Conservation Volunteers Australia to have a chat with the woman there, Lynn.  She was on the phone but called me into her office to take a seat and what was the first thing that caught my eye?  There was a notice on her notice board with a very familiar photo on it.  I thought to myself “that’s Mount Buffalo” and on closer inspection it was the Cathedral at Mt Buffalo and was an article from the ‘Clean up Australia Day’ in November 2006.  And on even closer inspection there was also a photo of Darin Lynch, one of the rangers and a colleague who works on Mount Buffalo.  It felt so weird to go into an office so far away from the Victorian Alps and the only notice on the notice board, other than maps, was of the area from my previous life.  I was going to say “area from my home turf” but I’m not sure where home is now.  Wherever the boat is, probably. 

Friday, 21st December 2006  -  Day 658  -  Gladstone to Cape Capricorn

The diesel mechanic came early today to fix the engine leak so we are able to head off today.  After a shower and brekkie we got the boat ready to depart for the off as we have decided to spend Christmas out of the marina.  We have to be back by the 27th as Geoff has an interview for a job at Bunning's.  After washing the boat free of coal dust we headed for a place called ‘The Oaks’ The forecast was for SE/E winds at 15/20 knots but in reality it was NE at 14 knots.  The Oaks was only a couple of hours away and it was really hard to see the entrance as there were no markers, murky water and a strong tidal flow.  We followed the books to ‘the T’ but the tidal flow was stronger than we thought and pushed us sideways and we scraped our hulls over the reef.  Not badly but what a horrible noise.  We checked the bilges and there was no salt water so we will have to check the hulls to see what we have done.  You would think they would put in channel markers as it is such a popular spot and boats are always coming to grief there.  We eventually got in but then didn’t like the anchorage as we weren’t sure the anchor had set and the tidal flow was so strong that if you dragged you would be back on the reef.  We still had plenty of time up our sleeve so decided to push on to Cape Capricorn for the night.  We got to the anchorage by 17:00 and it was a little rolly but fine.  It was then I realised I had the wrong photo flipped over on my flip top photo stand.  I know you will think I am superstitious but, when we are sailing, I always have a photo up of a sailor so they can look over us.  I had forgotten to do it this time so that is why we scraped our hulls over the reef!  This only reinforces my superstition.  The only time I haven’t had a sailor up on passage, something goes wrong.  I only have photos of five sailors/mariners and they are Martin, Sally, Wade, Chris and Mark so you can guess these photos are displayed a lot. 

Saturday, 23rd December 2006  -  Day 659  -  Cape Capricorn to Yellow Patch

Not a bad night, not too rolly. 

We left the anchorage around 09:00 and made our way over to where we thought the entrance to Yellow Patch was.  It was a guesstimate as the books said the entrance shown was from 1990 and the entrance could have changed.  It also said that there were sometimes home made buoys put in by he locals.  At least this entrance only had sand bars and no reefs so we tentatively inched our way in (with Martin looking over us from the photos) and then saw the local’s markers.  We had missed two of them but looking back we weren’t far out.  The markers were 25 ltr white containers bunched together in twos and threes and held to the floor bed by besser blocks.  We didn’t like it where we first anchored but were happy the second time round.  It is a very still and calm anchorage at present.  ’Reef Dancer’ is here and Geoff popped over to visit Juta and Helmut and invited them over for sundowners.  He checked with them whether there were any stingers about and then donned his bathers and snorkel  to check our keels.  Luckily we hadn’t done much damage at all, mostly scratches and a few nicks which can wait till she comes out of the water and we get back from the UK in late July.  He then cleaned all the marina growth off from the waterline and it was time for lunch and relax. 

Later I cooked up some savoury pinwheels and Helmet and Juta came for drinks.  They are originally from Germany and came out in 1970, the same year as us but four months later.   They came out on an old rust bucket on its last journey before being scrapped.  An old rivet job, apparently.  Whereas, ours was the flagship of the Sitmar line, the Fairstar.  (which has been scrapped  too, now)

After they left we put up the mozzie net as there are some really nasty, biting mozzie’s and sandflies here and we didn’t want to get bitten overnight.  The sandflies are the smallest of bites but, boy do they itch!  The B1 certainly dulls the itch but you can still feel them.  Just before dusk and at low tide Geoff decided to go off in the tender to check out and map the entrance on the GPS.  It was very visible at low tide.  As the sun sank below the horizon he had not returned and, as usual, I was getting a little concerned and then  saw a little dot on the horizon so I was able to breathe easily again.  I always get a little concerned when he goes out sight.  What would I do if he didn’t return etc?  We will order a slide on battery pack for our portable VHF radio on our return to Gladstone.  After a light tea it was off to bed.  We had only been in been in bed a few minutes when there was a clonk on the side deck.  Geoff got up to investigate and found it was a squid that had jumped onto the deck.  I didn't know squids could jump that far.  Geoff kept him for bait.

Sunday, 24th December 2006, Christmas Eve -  Day 660  -  Yellow Patch

Nice, quiet night.  A nice breeze came in the hatch early morning.  Geoff says there are about four boats at Cape Capricorn awaiting the tide to come in here (he saw them last night in the tender).  Bacon and eggs of course today. 

At 10:30 we popped over to Reef Dancer for morning tea with Joota and Helmut on ‘Reef Dancer’ which is a 33’ Fastback catamaran.  It was very nice and the space inside was very impressive for a small cat.  They have a lot more inside space than us even though they are a tad narrower than us but have a very small back deck so not much entertaining space outside.  It was also a little more expensive than ours. 

Back to 2AB and then Geoff took off to climb the huge sand blow that gives Yellow Patch its name.  I declined….it looked much to steep for my liking!  I did a bit of fishing and settled down with a good book.  When Geoff came back I decided to check my line and found it was way, way out.  I seemed to reel in forever but whatever was on the end wasn’t fighting much.  I turned out to be the biggest sucker fish I have ever seen so he went back in to live another day.

It is much cooler today with a few spots of rain but the rain cover will keep it all out and allow us to keep our hatches open.  Nice to see a drop of rain now and again.  Queensland certainly needs it.

Monday, 25th December, Christmas Day  -  Day 661  -  Yellow Patch

Up and open our pressies.  I gave Geoff his remote controlled speed boat and he gave me a 1GB USB stick, an electronic Times crossword plus a book on fishes (that was really for both of us, I think).  He had a bit of fun with the speed boat but reckons it won’t last long.  We will see. 

John and Jan from the green ketch ‘Walk Tall’ popped by and invited us to Christmas lunch ashore with Juta and Helmut so it was quickly put the turkey in the oven to cook for 12:30, make a salad etc and head ashore.  They had ham off the bone and we had turkey plus the salads so it worked out very well.  Whilst we were having lunch a large motor cruiser up anchored from where they were and came and anchored right next to us.  Apparently they have a generator going all night so that should be fun. 

We got back about 15:00 and relaxed and then at high tide went for a walk on the drying sand banks.  Back to 2AB for a light tea.  Off to bed and we could hear the motor cruiser’s genny but it wasn’t too bad although there music was very loud.  I suppose so they could hear it over top their genny.  Well, they certainly lived up to the bad reputation that motor cruisers have.  I got up at 02:30 to see if I could get their attention for them to turn the music down.  All I succeeded in doing was treading on one of our ceramic mozzie coil holders and breaking it and cutting the ball of my foot badly.  Geoff then shone our 3,000,000 candle power torch on them which certainly got there attention and “told” them to turn their music down.  At last, some relative quiet apart from their genny.  I must say he also told them they were inconsiderate bastards.

Tuesday, 26th December 2006, Boxing Day  -  Day 662  -  Yellow Patch to Gladstone

After taking a couple of Panadol last night my foot stopped throbbing and I got some sleep.  We got up and took down the Christmas tree and lights, took down the mozzie net, sun cover, side panels and back sun shade had brekkie and waited for the tide.  We left at 10:00 just three hours after low tide and followed the GPS track and markers out.  The forecast was for a strong southerly change in the afternoon/evening but as we passed Cape Capricorn we had a light NE wind blowing.  We passed Rick, Brenda and Britnee on ‘Low Profile’ on route.  They were on their way to Yellow Patch for a few days and we warned them not to anchor near the big motor cruiser.  We thought we might have a hard slog down for a few hours as the tide ran against us but the wind freshened and we were able to have a good sail until about an hour out of the marina.  On route ‘message in a  bottle No. 5’ was launched at S23º 28.98  E151º 14.49.  Once docked we scrubbed the decks down well before we put the covers up.  It was hot and humid and the perspiration was just dripping off us by the time we had finished so it was hobble up to have a shower before cooking dinner.  

Wednesday, 27th December 2006  -  Day 663  -  Gladstone

Nice drop of rain overnight and today it is still raining and quite cold.  Cold enough to have long pants and socks and shoes on.  No sign of the strong winds expected although the cold is from the southerly change.  My foot is not so tender today although it is very hard walking without hurting it as it is right on the ball of my foot.  It’s a good job I’m a quick healer.  Because of my foot I didn't do much today except for a heap of clothes washing.  Geoff headed off at 15:00 for his group job interview for Bunning's.  He said he actually quite enjoyed it.  If he doesn’t hear from them within two weeks he knows he didn’t get a position.  They are putting on another 150 staff as they are opening a new store here in Gladstone.  It rained all day so we weren’t able to do anything much although in between the showers Geoff managed to play with his remote controlled boat a bit.  Oh, by the way, Geoff has been taking his blood pressure three times a day with the new blood pressure machine and keeping up with drinking the water and the cetic salt and his blood pressure has been perfect.  Apparently some people suffer from ‘white coat syndrome’ and their blood pressure is only high when they have their blood pressure taken at the doctors.  They then get put on medication that they don’t need.  We will keep monitoring it closely and if it stays good Geoff will have to go back to the doctors to discuss it. 

Thursday, 28th December 2006  -  Day 664  -  Gladstone

My foot is still quite painful but to be expected due to where it is situated.  Geoff received a call from Bunnings and he has a ‘one on one’ interview next Wednesday.  Geoff told them he was surprised they had contacted him so soon and they said some decisions were easy to make so it sounds promising.  It is still cool and overcast today so ideal weather to work inside the boat so it was time to start a big clean.  I scrubbed the galley, shower and head, one cabin and the saloon.  It doesn’t sound much but everything is so tight and fiddly to do it seems to take ages.  Geoff had a play with his remote controlled boat and it brought another guy out of the woodwork.  He came running down and said “I am so glad there is another nut in the marina with a toy”.  He then went and got his boat and they spent the next few minutes ‘playing’ with their toys with other ‘big kids’ looking on.  It rained on and off all day so it was a R&R afternoon.  It also stopped us going to the yachties BBQ.

Friday, 29th December 2006  -  Day 665  -  Gladstone

My foot feels a little better today.  We had Rick’s car today so we did a large food shop plus got something for lunch as we were having visitors.  My great aunty Evelyn’s nephew lives near by and he came with his daughters and spent a couple of hours with us.  He is not an actual blood relative as aunty Ev was married to my Nan's brother.  After lunch they headed off to the shops for the girls to spend their Christmas vouchers. 

 Saturday, 30th December 2006  -  Day 666  -  Gladstone

As we still had Rick’s car, we decided to go out for the day so I made up some lunch and drinks and popped them in a cool bag and we headed off to the info centre to see what was close by for us to see.  A couple of places we fancied were just a little too far to go in Rick’s car so we headed off to Calliope (Have no idea how you pronounce this) to visit the historic village there.  It is a collection of authentic old buildings of the area that have been relocated and restored with info on their history.  It didn’t look much when we got there but turned out to be very interesting, especially for the price of $3 per head.  Plus there was a Driver Reviver stand outside so we got a cuppa as well for a gold coin donation. 

 

 By the time we had wandered around the village, my foot was starting to complain so it was a rest before heading off to visit Agnes Waters and the Town of 1770.  We had visited the Town of 1770 before in 2AB but we thought we would like to see more as we had the car.  It was actually further than we thought and we were a little disappointed in Agnes Waters when we got there but The Town of 1770 was good.  We took the car as far as we could to the headland, parked and then took the walking track out to the point.  An easy walk and great views and well worth going to. 

 The seas looked a little rough to me but Geoff said good sailing weather.  We stopped at the VMR to say hi on the way down but the station was being operated from someone’s house as it was the holiday period.  We met a couple there who said the seas were 3 metres so maybe not such good sailing weather.  We watched a cat sailing south from Gladstone area and they were bouncing about a lot.  By this time it was getting late so I drove back to the marina and we had a light salad for tea. 

Sunday, 31st December 2006  -  Day 667  -  Gladstone

Up late  -   slacko!  Greg from ‘Tritheum Щ came by and said ‘Low Profile’ was on their way back in so we got ready to help with the trying up.  Silly Rick forgot to take the mast of his remote controlled yacht (Christmas present) with him to Yellow Patch so wasn’t able to have a play with it.  Later Chris from ‘OTYA = “Over the Yard Arm” came with his son Fergus to play with Geoff’s boat.  For a six year old Fergus handled it rather well.  They stayed for ages and Fergus is a real live wire and, I think, quite a handful.  He is a big boy for his age and I think people think he is older than he is and should behave better.  It was New Years Eve and both Geoff and I are not New Year Eve people and this year we didn’t even stay up to see the new year in.  Luckily for us, but not the revellers, it rained so it kept the noise down.   So we actually managed to sleep quite well. We received quite a few text messages with HNY greetings...  thanks for remembering us.