As I visited with friends during my UK/European travels(who had stayed in Perth and thus met Mum and Peter) , they were all interested in knowing how they both were. Well, while trawling through my photo archives, I just found some important photos that were meant to be posted some months ago! Here we all are celebrating Mum's birthday at the Yeppoon (Claire- the Summer Bay town) ice cream parlour.
small but important details-look for the Australian flags!; Grant (the brother) look for the date stamp on the photo!
You know that a shopping centre (mall in America) is seriously big, when they have a 'plan your journey' section on their website! Oh and I have just discovered I COULD download a year planner on 2006's activities at the TC....think I might not.
Lets compare some facts:
Trafford Centre- 280 stores, 38 restaurants, 20 screen UCI cinema and fantastis leisure facilities all under one stunning roof!
Mall of America-525 stores- all in one undercover mall (the largest in USA), 40 eating places, and a 15-screen cinema complex, bowling alley, underwater world, and contains an amusement park (Camp Snoopy) at its centre
Oh- Fancy that! the one in the USA is bigger (and scarier!). The Trafford Centre in its main dome area where the light (even if it is grey outside) filters in, is really quite elegant.
Other thing these photos show: that one year on I still look shocking wearing the cap and Claire continues to look much better in the Langsford SheepCrush Hat than I.
I am posting from Lancashire, England! I have 3 weeks here (including 5 of those days in Paris!) and then I go for 10 days or so to my FAVOURITE international place (will Paris or UK challenge?....) Singapore.
Yes I am a lucky fish.
If you read the top of the header of the blog, it states the j9blog reason for being. The pusuit of good tea, good food, good friends and one UNIQUE hat (that would be the Langsford SheepCrush hat- famous amongst a select few...). Well I am in England- home of the tradition of the type of tea of Love- English style tea !...I am with Claire (good friend)...we have two Langsford SheepCrush hats between us...and we are absolutely going to be eating good food.
The good food and good tea has started. Is there anything better than a really good cup of tea when you are jet-lagged .Photos to support coming soon.
I am living in luxury at Claires family home. Being spoilt rotten. AND I have finally met Sally, the much talked about (by Claire admittedly) labradour. Sally in 1 day has convinced me she is the dog version of THE cat. I will explain why later.
I am having a quiet day today- but will soon walk in (in some showers! it is grey and 16/17C ish...) to the local village (Leyland). Hang out in the local supermarket (SO exciting for a dietitian to go to overseas supermarkets, my brother gets BIG POINTS for working this out on recent US trips!). And then spend time in the local library (as one does..finishing some work that travelled with me!).
On Wednesday I am going for day trip to London. VERY VERY exciting. Christmas present suggestions will be taken by keen blog readers (who have an awareness of how AUD converts to the GBP!....).
Where am I? I flew into Manchester (a great idea! versus going through Heathrow) and I am in Leyland at the moment....look for under Preston.
and to put that into context...maybe you can find this North West Area of England on this map below
Ok back soon with more news...time for a cup of tea
First of all let’s address the title of this blog entry. I announced to Mum (while she was pottering in the galley) that in my mind I was working on a blog entry detailing all my lessons learned while on the boat.She replied “Is it really lessons learned or is it just lessons seen until they are followed through with?”.Some banter back and forth followed this comment ;-).Hmmmm. Mum has struck the deep question about the relationship between the translation of knowledge to life behaviours.My quick reaction to her comment waslikely due to the fact this hit on one of my characteristics (?and a difference between me and THE mother?): I love observation and theory building, and can be fascinated by learning/understanding even if I don’t apply it to my own circumstances!
So onto some of the things observed on Family Affair. Are they lessons learned? Well time and my choices on whether I WANT to apply them will probably only tell…….
These are not in order of importance
#1A- Time and Tide shall wait for no man
Not the only proverb to be understood on a deeper level during my visit to Family Affair….
Our boating this year has been on the Capricorn Coast of Queensland ie at the latitude around the Tropic of Capricorn on the East Coast of Australia.The tides up here are a big deal and the difference between getting easily into anchorages or grounding your boat on a sand bar etc etc.Even I read the tide time timetables and have been forced to consider the impact of the moons cycle on the magnitude of tidal difference . I was on the boat during the full moon and thus saw how DRAMMATICALLY the tides could change and how the scenery I went to sleep to was completely different to what I woke up to!
* insert a photo*
#1B- The Mosquitos at Yellow Patch – shape your days activities even more than the tides (once you have arrived) and lead to questionable fashion choices
First of all lets reinforce Yellow Patch is a wonderful place to visit (see glorious photo below) ; you just need to visit with a DEEP respect for the BIGGEST (and possible slowest)Mosquitoes I have ever seen. The Mosquitoes were so big I could look out one of the boats stern windows , at night, and clearly see a mosquito (known as Skipper Mosquito) , sitting on top of the Helm as if he was planning to stage a mutiny and sail us away.We could actually hear the swarm of mosquitoes coming from the Mangroves to the back of our boat, before they arrived. And when the hundreds did arrive, you continued to hear them until all our lights had been turned off.
* photo of yellow patch*
Of course, because the family affair is skippered by THE Peter, we were very well mosquito proofed inside…but any trips outside after were planned with military precision.
The previous posts photo of Dinghy Woman (paste in link) has lead to some questions about why on earth I am dressed that way on a clear, sunny morning.The answer is really three fold : THE MOSQUITOS (covering as much as the body as possible was the best protection and the mosquitos were out early morning and after sundown); it was really cold (and thus the wind-break jacket); and a the tide was REALLY strong and our dinghy trip was going to be a LONG one ( ~ 30 minutes)and thus even though I
#2- Staying 17 days on Family Affair is much better than staying only 5 days
It has been observed that many Australians now take their leave in little chunks rather than taking the 4 weeks together.Research has found that if it is possible (of course its not always) than longer stints of leave have a better ‘re-creation’ effect.
In 2005 I visited the boat for the first time (link website) and squeezed in a 5 day stay in the
Hervey
Bay
district in between my semester 2 teaching commitments.The visit last year was really good and invaluable in understanding what Peter and Mum were up to for 3-4 months each year…..but a longer holiday offers much more.You do relax more into the flow with longer time, you develop more long term jokes and fun with the people you are staying with…..oh and if things are going well (ie its 25 degrees every day and sunny…staying longer is great) .In the case of a visit to the boat a longer stay offers hiccups in the weather to be dealt with- on my 5 day visit last year 4 days were really average…the weather got good AFTER I left.
And I got to see A LOT more:Gladstone Marina and Gladstone itself; The wonderful yellow patch on Curtis Island; Great Keppel Island; Middle Island (off Great Keppel Island); Keppel Bay Marina, Yeppoon; Rockhampton etc
#3 A Good Skipper is invaluable OR is there any limit to the talents of Peter?
Now note this statement is said in awe and wonder.
Peter is the skipper of the Family Affair. He is the force that gets us from A to B with style and safety all in an atmosphere of friendly, focused good nature.I believe given a piece of string, wire, wood and maybe a pair of pliers he could fix anything.It is hard to actually sum up how much he does and how it adds to the comfort of being on board.
What was not appreciated at the beginning of this voyage was that Peter is an accomplished mosquito Ninga.That is someone, you can with at least 90% effectiveness on first attempt, kill with only the use of his hands, mosquitoes with stealth and speed.Mosiquito Ninga Peter has his own theme music, Of course this is…”Kung Fu Fighting”……
#4 Do Not underestimate the Joy that comes with a well stocked pantry and the value of a top class First Mate.
The Mother as Peter’s Partner is the First Mate.She is in charge of assistance to the skipper, overall cleanliness and order of the vessel and also arranging (and in most case) cooking the meals.We have eaten VERY well.Its one of the major bonuses of holidaying with Mum.
In the starboard hull several cupboards and one pantry contain food. All sorts of wondrous food. When you plan the meals for the day you can go for a shopping trip on the other
My fridge and pantry sometimes at home, as a sole house occupant, run a bit sparse…I like looking at provisions thinking of the 16 things I COULD make for dinner tonight.
#5 Travelling on large, well fitted out catamaran is a great way to experience some of the outdoors/nature in SUPREME comfort.
I have seen some wonderful things in the natural world. While sailing we have been visiting by a pod of around 6 dolphins who have come to check us out and play for a while.At
Middle
Island
in the Keppels (which is National Park) we have seen a number of eagles, eagle nest and even seen some of the babies (through binoculours).At Yellow patch I spotted a wild pig in the scrub. There have been heaps of fish to fascinate (more on this later) and I have again remembered how very MEAN a angry mud crab is.I feel like I have been outside a lot- but all within about 3 feet of a very comfortable home.
#6 Technology is a wondrous thing and I have a newfound respect and wonder for all forms of energygeneration (electricity and renewable sources)
We may have been on a boat, but as you can tell (by the blogging), we have been on the internet, we have had our mobile phones, we have the ipod playing through the speakers, we all have our digital cameras, and at night we have TV (and in most cases reception for it….).Even in remote places, we have light, gas cooking, working plumbing, fresh water, electric toilet…..and with Honda 2KBA 240 volt generator at the flick of the switch we have power to run microwaves, toaster, and charge up all our electrical devices!
But the Family Affair is also an eco-friendly energy generator . We of course have solar panels charging the batteries, there is wind generator off the back of the boat and there is….the SOLAR heated showers.
Yes, I know most of you know about solar heating a bag of water for a shower on a boat. But, when you combine this with the skills of the skipper and one specially shaped piece of wood- you can have that shower…..in the shower.Here are photos of the reach, and turn on the shower operation.Then you have a couple of minutes of shower heaven. Seriously, its made me think about how much water I waste in the shower when this little bag does the trick (on most days I estimate I would need 20 bags to wash my hair).
#7 Travelling on public transport when visiting place gets you to meet people and learn LOTS about the character and nature of a place.
I always do this when I travel. We used the buses quite a bit at Yeppoon on the
Capricorn
Coast
.We got to meet many west Australians on the bus…as you do….
#8 I really am NOT interested in Rugby League and this is a Disadvantage in
Queensland
I think Rugby League is the one sport I don’t like. It dominates the TV sports news. We were lucky and got several AFL matches on TV.
#9 Travel sick medications do help with sea sickness (But don’t take more than recommended!)- so does ginger and so does just trying to sleep through the travel
I slept A LOT during the actual sailing.This seemed to cut out most travel sickness.I can handle the ROCK of a boat, I can’t handle the ROLL.
#10You can get good TV reception in really strange places (and visa versa)
We got great reception in the remote anchorage of Yellow Patch…but its not so good here in the marina.
#11 Mullets are SCARY fish and not to be messed with
There are at least 40 or so BIG Mullets (fish) that live at Keppel Bay Marina .They hang out in packs (not schools) andI am sure normally street gang rules apply.They look mean and ugly. I have met SCAR MULLET- he is a large 50cm plus mullet with a a huge flesh wound scar on his head.He has had a nasty scrap and won.
The mullets also like scaring you when you do the long walk to the toilets at night. They actually leap out of the water in front of you and make huge splashes behind you…..
#12 Shopping in good country towns is great.
I had great experiences in well valued unique shopping in both Yeppoon and Rockhampton.
#13 You can get really good tea in regional
Queensland
.
Yay!
#14 It is still possible with a little travel to have a pristine island all to yourself in
Australia
*picture*
#15 A stitch in time saves nine……
Lets finish with another proverb as spoken on the deck by the skipper.
The mother and Peter are always on the go, doing stuff. The work ethic on board is strong. A little may have rubbed off…..
Another quick post! today is my 7th day on the boat. Wonderful sites have been seen. Last few days over at Great Keppel Island- lovely place. White beaches, pristine waters, interesting bush walks etc etc.
A photo to whet the appetite....as I need to go and try to control my hair! (see previous comments on posts!)
Hello! I am writing this quickly from the Roslyn Bay Marina, which is the Marina that acts as the ferry departure point for Great Keppel Island (that some of you may have heard of). I have been on the boat (12m cattamaran) for 4 days and it seems longer (in a good way!). We have done a lot! The Family Affair (the boat) is VERY comfortable- and so far the seas and wind and overall weather has been kind- so there has been good sailing, no sea sickness (yay!) and LOTS of sunshine.
I am on board with Peter (known as Skipper), Mum (first mate), Stephen G (lieutenent) and myself (dhingy woman!-see photo attached with the amazing yellow patch (the name of the anchorage behind).
Food and tea have been GREAT. We caught some mud crabs (delicious) ands a tuna was also caught
If you have read the most recent comment posted from Sarah (the LOVELY sister-in-law) you will see that THE BROTHER took the photo of the MBT shoes very LITERALLY and thought it was a picutre of MY new shoes and then was concerned about me wearing 2 different colour shoes....
Hmmm. I am not that dippy (yet). Grant here is a picture of my new shoe- on my foot. MBT shoe update- not yet fallen over, new blister on heel...just applied band-aid....evaluation continues....
There has been a j9blog breakthrough!! the brother after ~ a 3 month absence is back in comments land!! Yay.....
He provided a very technical insight into what a test pattern REALLY IS (see previous post)......I prefer to think of it as the default picture that comes on when transmission is down....in my case therefore something THE CAT related.
Welcome back Grant (and last week Sarah(his RATHER lovely wife) re-appeared too! )
I am a lucky, lucky fish. On fairly short notice I have come up to Singpore for 5 days (did my first ever midnight horror flight). I go back Tuesday night. I wanted to visit with the lovely McWilliams family...that would be Donna, Stephen and their daughters Amy (nearly 4) and Erin (20 months). Singapore is a very HAPPY HAPPY place for me, so I will post again soon with some stories and photos
Ok my mention ~ 8 days ago that ANY internet related contact from the brother (Grant) and the sister-in-law (Sarah) has been met by silence. My blog nows lists you as AWOL (FC) with FC standing for From Cyberspace.
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