Hi I have been really slack about posting a new blog these last few weeks. It's not like I have been rushed off my feet!
I flew back to WA from Melbourne in mid April. Leaving from my friends farm in Woodleigh, I was driven to the bus at Loch and went into Southern Cross Station , then transferred to a shuttle to get out to the airport. Spent a couple of hours in the Qantas Club, that place is a godsend!, and then nhad a good flight back to WA. picked up a hire car, although prebooked, I didn't get what I asked for! Sometimes I wonder whether it is all worth it?
I spent the night at Carol and Robs' and then hotfooted it down to South Yunderup to pick up my sewing things and then into Pinjarra for patchwork! Read on and you will find how I spent the next 2 weeks glued to the seat of the car! I did almost 3000kms and drove up and down to Perth , to Bunbury and Busselton, to Jurien and geraldton, then back to perth and Bunbury and busselton. get the picture?
I visited mum, who of course is one of the main reasons I travel back to WA, also to attend my patchwork groups retreat. (thank god that restores my sanity!) I managed to finish my friend Yvonne's quilt, with some help from Jean, my sister, thank you (XX). I also caught up with Kath in Busselton, and visited with my daughter in Bunbury. Least said about that the better! She is having a few problems at the moment, and don't start me on that or my blood pressure will go through the roof! (I also send this to her, sooo!!) One morning we woke up to the most beautiful sunrise, Lawrie took the picture, as I managed to take my camera over to WA but not the charger
Had a wonderful retreat with my patchworking friends at Jurien, then went on up to Geraldton for the night so I could see my son and his wife, and the grandchildren. They are all growing up so much now, I really see a difference in their maturity each time I visit, Genevieve's children too. Jye, genevieve's only boy, now towers over me, and had to bend right over to give me a kiss!
Got a clean bill of health from the specialist, which was good, also he did my medical for the Next years trip.
So finally the trip was over, I was only home for 2 weeks this time, flew back to Melbourne and stayed the night in a hotel opposite the station.!! Ha!! I chose this hotel as it said on wotif site, it was opposite the Southern Cross Railway station. Now, I am not a Victorian, and how was I to know the station is about a mile long on Spencer/Flinders st? (whichever?) So I come out of the station and can't see any hotel, I ask someone where is Little Collins St? "oh just up there, next corner" I drag my 25.8kg suitcase and carryon bag and enormous handbag, along the st for about a mile!! dislocating my shoulder in the process!! Then find it is a hotel with steps up to the foyer!! Who the hell designs these places anyway?? Well I had a good nights' sleep! and then back by bus to Loch and pick up by my friends' daughter and back to the farm at woodleigh. Where the weather had changed for the worst and I slept inside the house for the next week. Complete with a wonderful wood heater, which kept me cosy.
I had the loan of a vehicle again, not the convertible this time, but the farm ute! and was able to go into Korumburra to patchwork stitch and sew. Did I tell you in the last blog that I had started a new quilt, a reproduction one from 1920's, called the Farmers Wife, all 111 blocks, 6 inches, sewn by hand! Got hooked into that before I went home, managed to knock off a few blocks , and have been happily stitching eversince! have finished 8 blocks now.
I booked the motorhome in for a tooilet service back at Hastings, and went off there on Thursday, a week after I got back from WA. and apparently got the toilet fixed. Guess what? it isn't!!! I only found that out yesterday, as I have been cheating and staying with friends, since it was serviced, in their houses! Monday morning I will be on the phone again.
My Woodleigh friend, who dates back to when I lived in Donnybrook in 1980's, and I were continually playing catchup, as we crossed paths for only a day at a time, hence the reason why I stayed there so long! She came back from working away (in WA), so I stayed another couple of days and then pushed on east to Sale again, to catch up with another old friend. (from Exmouth days 1970's) She is a teacher so I arrived on the weekend and we had a good catchup, We actually visited her in 1977 when we went around Australia in our Kopmbi van, at that time she lived in Heyfield, a pretty little town just outside Sale, and she also recalled visiting us in Donnybrook in the 80's, as she went sailing with us on our yacht. But it has been a long time. Margaret had Monday off, so we did a little sightseeing tour around, and lunched at a wonderful place with a great range of local wines!! I was at Salwe over Mothers Day and she visited her children up in Melbourne for the day, so I had a quiet time catching up on washing and watching dvd's of Downton Abbey, (bliss).
Next destination was Raymond Island to visit Bet, Carol's mother, who I went to Usa and a Carribbean cruise with in 2009. I met her at Paynesville, which is a wonderful haven for yachties and other boats on the Victorian lakes, and you take the ferry over to Raymond Island, only about 10 minutes, and a great service for the residents. Raymond Island is home to a large colony of Koalas, every house has koalas in their trees etc, (not this week!) Bet took me for a drive around the island, it is apparently 9 miles by 7 miles large and we only managed to see 1!! Oh well them's the breaks! I went over to Bairnsdale with Bet as she had a meeting at the RSL Club, so I amused myself "playing" the pokies! Losing !! Then we had a lovely afternoon tea with some of her friends and dinner with her sister in law and niece, lots of champagne being drunk, Bet is a woman after my own heart! She arranged for me to go down the road to a neighbours for a stitch and bitch session, lovely!! I finished off my stay with a quick trip to the local dentist! where I found I need some majpor work to be done, so I have already booked into Geraldton for August! and here I am noe in Lakes Entrance for 10 days, planning my route to Qld . God bless to all especially Adele ( keep strong!) and I will send again soon
Love Vicki
Friday, May 18, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
Week at Woodleigh
Hi Everyone,
It has been a little while since I last posted a blog, and life has been very interesting to say the least! After Yarram, I went off to a few spots in the Latrobe Valley to fill in the week before I was due at Sale for the next Rally! I have been most impressed with the beautiful scenery around this part of Victoria. I have always loved to see hills and trees and rivers etc, I think it comes from WA being so flat and dry! Parts of Victoria , just leave me driving with my mouth hanging open! Very reminiscent of Tasmania!
Back to motorhoming rally. At Sale we were 850 odd, motorhomes and about 1500 people. I was "lucky" enough to be issued with a site with electricity, not that it stayed on all day! and was in the middle of the Sale showground oval. The 850 motorhomes, were scattered around the Sale showgrounds, Sale Greyhound track, and the Gippsland Grammar schoo1 grounds also, there was an area between the showgrounds and the cattle sale yards, known as Siberia where the "big" rigs were parked! It was amazing the orgasnisation that went into getting this rally off the ground. Over 250 volunteers put in an extra week before the rally starts, being inducted into occ health and safety issues! For the privilege of working their butts off they pay for their sites and get a shirt and a hat and 2 bbqs!
Obviously because of the larger numbers at the national rallies, they don't supply meals, like they do at the solo rallies, but they supply some really beautiful entertainment at nights. We had a fabulous pair of popera singers, gotgeous voices. The poor woman never was able to take off her overcoat, as we were in a very large marquee, which was absolutely freezing! she changed her gown 3 times, but you only saw what hung down below the length of her coat! There was also a back to school social, which was the theme party. Motorhomers are really into dressing up parties! I seem to be very much a stick in the mud!
I have booked myself into the next national rally at Boonah in south Qld, where I have also put myself down for a voluntary position with the craft barn.
Finally the rally was over and I drove to Woodleigh to visit with my Victorian friend who used to live in Donnybrook in WA. It has been a great reunion, from 1988 about, since we last saw each other. Glenda and Ray, actually travel back and forth to Donnybrook annually, to a farm there, but we have never been able to tee up the connection, So here we are in Victoria. I am parked here on their farm, and able to leave the motorhome here while I fly back to WA for my regular visit later this week. Unfortunately, Glenda and Ray had booked a trip to Tasmania, they left on Sunday, but she left me the keys to her convertible!! for me to go sightseeing while they are away! How lucky am I? Today I drove to Wonthaggi and along the bass strait coast, seeing magnificent scenery, of course who is the idiot who left the camera behind? Oh well my mind will recall the scenery. I found a fabulous patchwork shop and of course had a little binge shop, and tomorrow I am going to the shop to spend the day sewing with the local ladies and getting my head around a new quilt! oH JOY.
Well folks , that is about all for this episode! I will be in touch again soon.
It has been a little while since I last posted a blog, and life has been very interesting to say the least! After Yarram, I went off to a few spots in the Latrobe Valley to fill in the week before I was due at Sale for the next Rally! I have been most impressed with the beautiful scenery around this part of Victoria. I have always loved to see hills and trees and rivers etc, I think it comes from WA being so flat and dry! Parts of Victoria , just leave me driving with my mouth hanging open! Very reminiscent of Tasmania!
Back to motorhoming rally. At Sale we were 850 odd, motorhomes and about 1500 people. I was "lucky" enough to be issued with a site with electricity, not that it stayed on all day! and was in the middle of the Sale showground oval. The 850 motorhomes, were scattered around the Sale showgrounds, Sale Greyhound track, and the Gippsland Grammar schoo1 grounds also, there was an area between the showgrounds and the cattle sale yards, known as Siberia where the "big" rigs were parked! It was amazing the orgasnisation that went into getting this rally off the ground. Over 250 volunteers put in an extra week before the rally starts, being inducted into occ health and safety issues! For the privilege of working their butts off they pay for their sites and get a shirt and a hat and 2 bbqs!
Obviously because of the larger numbers at the national rallies, they don't supply meals, like they do at the solo rallies, but they supply some really beautiful entertainment at nights. We had a fabulous pair of popera singers, gotgeous voices. The poor woman never was able to take off her overcoat, as we were in a very large marquee, which was absolutely freezing! she changed her gown 3 times, but you only saw what hung down below the length of her coat! There was also a back to school social, which was the theme party. Motorhomers are really into dressing up parties! I seem to be very much a stick in the mud!
I have booked myself into the next national rally at Boonah in south Qld, where I have also put myself down for a voluntary position with the craft barn.
Finally the rally was over and I drove to Woodleigh to visit with my Victorian friend who used to live in Donnybrook in WA. It has been a great reunion, from 1988 about, since we last saw each other. Glenda and Ray, actually travel back and forth to Donnybrook annually, to a farm there, but we have never been able to tee up the connection, So here we are in Victoria. I am parked here on their farm, and able to leave the motorhome here while I fly back to WA for my regular visit later this week. Unfortunately, Glenda and Ray had booked a trip to Tasmania, they left on Sunday, but she left me the keys to her convertible!! for me to go sightseeing while they are away! How lucky am I? Today I drove to Wonthaggi and along the bass strait coast, seeing magnificent scenery, of course who is the idiot who left the camera behind? Oh well my mind will recall the scenery. I found a fabulous patchwork shop and of course had a little binge shop, and tomorrow I am going to the shop to spend the day sewing with the local ladies and getting my head around a new quilt! oH JOY.
Well folks , that is about all for this episode! I will be in touch again soon.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Hippy Wedding Rally
Hi Everyone,
I have just finished a week at Yarram in Victoria, withthe Solo motorhoming group. The theme of the rally was a Hippy Wedding. We finished up a really fun week with a big party night with everyone dressing up as hippies going to a wedding! It is amazing how people who live in motorhomes can come up with all this stuff to wear! I know I have a bit extra, (the cruise clothes!) but most people flock to the op shops to get their gear!!
We arrived at Yarram and parked ourselves around the local recreation reserve, toilets and showers supplied, but only a few could have power, and of course we all had to hold our " grey water" in our tanks.
First night we had a lovely meal supplied by the local footy club, then it was alll go for the next 5 days. There were early morning walks, for those so inclined!, information sessions, instructions on motorhoming facts and fiction, rock and roll and line dancing, stitch and bitch sessions and MY Patchwork Class!
Most nights there were food supplied, if you wanted it. Every afternoon of course there was Happy Hour! ( my liver could do with a rest!) and so the week passed, we were within walking distance of town, but there was also a courtesy bus supplied, which was handy as we had a few days of heavy rain! The oval and roads around were awash with mud and slops! It really didn't dry off at all over the week.
Yarram was a pretty town and we had several excursions to nearby town Port Albert and the TaraBulga National Park. The townsfolk were very welcoming to us, I guess it makes sense as we probably dropped a few thousand dollars into their pockets by the time we left. There were approximately 230 odd solo motorhomers came to town.
We had an interesting talk from a local lawyer, about wills and power of attorney etc, then the local undertaker talked about preboooked funeral services etc. Very interestingly he had a booklet printed up with all the information you need to supply at that time, and it is true, not everyone in the family knows all that stuff. So although it was pertinent to his company, I decided to take one and fill it out and leave it in a prominent place - "just in case". Course now I need to tell someone in the family where it is, so if they get a dreaded call they can direct someone to what my wishes are!
The trip over to Port Albert, was a lovely day, we took a trip to a very old church, that was made by a prefabricated method, and we ended up with the most delicious fresh fish at the pub and some of us had seafood at the wharf. The pub was warmer, they had massive roaring open fire in the bar, it was wonderful!
At the end of a very enjoyable, tiring week, I decided to try and book into the Sale rally over Easter. A lot of the Solos were going there and so I will have a few friends to catch up with , also it makes it easier to go there for Easter as everything will be very heavily booked, it is also school holidays! I can't get used to other states timetables!
Any way, I am at Leongatha now and have another problem with my reversing camera!! It fell off the windscreen! I can't get it fixed until Traralgon.
To end off this blog, I am deleriously happy!! The Fremantle Dockers, My footy team, won their first round game on the weekend! Against the trophy holders from last year!!! Yea!! Also the eagles, West Australia's other team also had a win! what a great start to the footy season.
So good luck to you all for the footy tipping competitions! Until the next blog
Vicki
I have just finished a week at Yarram in Victoria, withthe Solo motorhoming group. The theme of the rally was a Hippy Wedding. We finished up a really fun week with a big party night with everyone dressing up as hippies going to a wedding! It is amazing how people who live in motorhomes can come up with all this stuff to wear! I know I have a bit extra, (the cruise clothes!) but most people flock to the op shops to get their gear!!
We arrived at Yarram and parked ourselves around the local recreation reserve, toilets and showers supplied, but only a few could have power, and of course we all had to hold our " grey water" in our tanks.
First night we had a lovely meal supplied by the local footy club, then it was alll go for the next 5 days. There were early morning walks, for those so inclined!, information sessions, instructions on motorhoming facts and fiction, rock and roll and line dancing, stitch and bitch sessions and MY Patchwork Class!
Most nights there were food supplied, if you wanted it. Every afternoon of course there was Happy Hour! ( my liver could do with a rest!) and so the week passed, we were within walking distance of town, but there was also a courtesy bus supplied, which was handy as we had a few days of heavy rain! The oval and roads around were awash with mud and slops! It really didn't dry off at all over the week.
Yarram was a pretty town and we had several excursions to nearby town Port Albert and the TaraBulga National Park. The townsfolk were very welcoming to us, I guess it makes sense as we probably dropped a few thousand dollars into their pockets by the time we left. There were approximately 230 odd solo motorhomers came to town.
We had an interesting talk from a local lawyer, about wills and power of attorney etc, then the local undertaker talked about preboooked funeral services etc. Very interestingly he had a booklet printed up with all the information you need to supply at that time, and it is true, not everyone in the family knows all that stuff. So although it was pertinent to his company, I decided to take one and fill it out and leave it in a prominent place - "just in case". Course now I need to tell someone in the family where it is, so if they get a dreaded call they can direct someone to what my wishes are!
The trip over to Port Albert, was a lovely day, we took a trip to a very old church, that was made by a prefabricated method, and we ended up with the most delicious fresh fish at the pub and some of us had seafood at the wharf. The pub was warmer, they had massive roaring open fire in the bar, it was wonderful!
At the end of a very enjoyable, tiring week, I decided to try and book into the Sale rally over Easter. A lot of the Solos were going there and so I will have a few friends to catch up with , also it makes it easier to go there for Easter as everything will be very heavily booked, it is also school holidays! I can't get used to other states timetables!
Any way, I am at Leongatha now and have another problem with my reversing camera!! It fell off the windscreen! I can't get it fixed until Traralgon.
To end off this blog, I am deleriously happy!! The Fremantle Dockers, My footy team, won their first round game on the weekend! Against the trophy holders from last year!!! Yea!! Also the eagles, West Australia's other team also had a win! what a great start to the footy season.
So good luck to you all for the footy tipping competitions! Until the next blog
Vicki
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Halls Gap
Vicki at Bokara Lookout
Scene from Mt William
Friendly cockatoo
Cute Monkey at Halls Gap Zoo
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Halls Gap
Hi Everyone,
I have had a great few weeks since I returned from the cruise. Of course it wasn't a good start with a flat tyre from my newest tyres! Luckily , although the roadside assist people couldn't help me directly, they pumped me up and directed me to the right tyre people. It is just amazing how quickly the people were able to repair the tyre, and for such a small amount! So off I went again.
Back to Geoff and Adele's to pick up my mail, my herbal pills, and just say hello again to my good friends. Then the big plan happening, down to the travel agent to make the booking for my next big trip. (A surprise for you for the moment!) Next day I go with Adele to the hospital for her visit to her Kidney specialist. we meet up for a coffee with a friend of hers, and afterwards on the way home, poor Adele had a nasty tummy upset, and I had to drive the rest of the way back! I am really spoiled with a GPS! It was a bit tough finding the right roads with poor Adele groaning in the seat beside me! But we made it! Sh e made a good recovery. It is just one of those things that go with waiting for a Kidney transplant.
Next morning off to Loxton and back to favourite cousin Pauline's house for a last visit before I finally say goodbye to SA! On the way I go through a fruitfly checkpoint, have done this many times as I criss cross the states, I realise I have done a big shop of salad and potatoes and onion, I decide to take a chance, and carry on. Guess what, just up the road the guys are out doing an inspection! I 'm sweating big time as I know I have been naughty! and then God feels sorry for me and the inspector waves me past as they had a full checkpoint! I swear I will never risk it again and give all my stuff to my cousin!.Next day I head off to Victoria.
I took the slow road to Halls Gap via a route that I have done part of before, stopping at a couple of caravan parks where I was able to do my washing and get ready for a few days at Halls gap. I arrived at the town ship and was quite surprised as I thought the town would be up in the mountains, instead it is down it the valley. But what a lovely spot! I always love mountains, as of course WA doesn't really have any! I had another couple come and share my time at the caravan park, this was a "travel auction" best buy! We had some lovely weather for the first 4 days, and then it rained as I was packing up to move out. Hazel and graeme were lovely companions to have, they drove us up the mountains to Mt William, one of the tallest in the Grampians group and there were some lovely views as we drove through this picturesque area. We took a drive to Great Western to wine taste at Seppelt which makes some great bubbles wines!! My favourite! Naturally we had to buy a few bottles! We also went to the Halls Gap Zoo, whuch I found pretty amazing! I expected it to be a pigs and sheep and rabbits sort of thing, but it was great, they had Meerkats! lots of cute monkeys, the white fluffy faced ones , mostly miniature ones, snakes, lizards and big monitor lizards, crocodiles, But only small ones! Koalas, wombats, Tassie Devils, emus, kangaroos, of course, ostriches, brolgas, cassowary, so quite a few animals I had never seen before. The really good thing though, was that each evening a big mob of Kangaroos came through the park and there were sulphur crested cockatoos which ate out of your hand etc. I hope to include some good photos .
Next is motor homing rally at Yarram.
Keep laughing and loving and I hope you are all in good spirits, until we meet again. Vicki
I have had a great few weeks since I returned from the cruise. Of course it wasn't a good start with a flat tyre from my newest tyres! Luckily , although the roadside assist people couldn't help me directly, they pumped me up and directed me to the right tyre people. It is just amazing how quickly the people were able to repair the tyre, and for such a small amount! So off I went again.
Back to Geoff and Adele's to pick up my mail, my herbal pills, and just say hello again to my good friends. Then the big plan happening, down to the travel agent to make the booking for my next big trip. (A surprise for you for the moment!) Next day I go with Adele to the hospital for her visit to her Kidney specialist. we meet up for a coffee with a friend of hers, and afterwards on the way home, poor Adele had a nasty tummy upset, and I had to drive the rest of the way back! I am really spoiled with a GPS! It was a bit tough finding the right roads with poor Adele groaning in the seat beside me! But we made it! Sh e made a good recovery. It is just one of those things that go with waiting for a Kidney transplant.
Next morning off to Loxton and back to favourite cousin Pauline's house for a last visit before I finally say goodbye to SA! On the way I go through a fruitfly checkpoint, have done this many times as I criss cross the states, I realise I have done a big shop of salad and potatoes and onion, I decide to take a chance, and carry on. Guess what, just up the road the guys are out doing an inspection! I 'm sweating big time as I know I have been naughty! and then God feels sorry for me and the inspector waves me past as they had a full checkpoint! I swear I will never risk it again and give all my stuff to my cousin!.Next day I head off to Victoria.
I took the slow road to Halls Gap via a route that I have done part of before, stopping at a couple of caravan parks where I was able to do my washing and get ready for a few days at Halls gap. I arrived at the town ship and was quite surprised as I thought the town would be up in the mountains, instead it is down it the valley. But what a lovely spot! I always love mountains, as of course WA doesn't really have any! I had another couple come and share my time at the caravan park, this was a "travel auction" best buy! We had some lovely weather for the first 4 days, and then it rained as I was packing up to move out. Hazel and graeme were lovely companions to have, they drove us up the mountains to Mt William, one of the tallest in the Grampians group and there were some lovely views as we drove through this picturesque area. We took a drive to Great Western to wine taste at Seppelt which makes some great bubbles wines!! My favourite! Naturally we had to buy a few bottles! We also went to the Halls Gap Zoo, whuch I found pretty amazing! I expected it to be a pigs and sheep and rabbits sort of thing, but it was great, they had Meerkats! lots of cute monkeys, the white fluffy faced ones , mostly miniature ones, snakes, lizards and big monitor lizards, crocodiles, But only small ones! Koalas, wombats, Tassie Devils, emus, kangaroos, of course, ostriches, brolgas, cassowary, so quite a few animals I had never seen before. The really good thing though, was that each evening a big mob of Kangaroos came through the park and there were sulphur crested cockatoos which ate out of your hand etc. I hope to include some good photos .
Next is motor homing rally at Yarram.
Keep laughing and loving and I hope you are all in good spirits, until we meet again. Vicki
Monday, March 5, 2012
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