And another Australian Reunion

So having found Annamarie, she directed me to her Facebook page where I found Janelle Victor!

Janelle's husband is also ex Australian Navy, friends of Annamarie and her exhusband and in 1998 while I was staying with Annamarie, she sent me to Darwin to for a visit to stay with Janelle and Bruce.

So I made contact with Janelle and an invitation to visit was issued which I couldn't decline, I had enjoyed my time in Darwin with Janelle and wanted the chance to catch up on the last 12 years. In 1998 they had one daughter who was one, now Grace is 13 and they have a son, Harrison who is 11.

Bruce collected me from the airport and we had a long journey back to their home in Bribie Island, a sand bank island off the coast north of Brisbane.

I am not one to expect people to drop everything to entertain me when I come to visit and it quickly emerged that the Victors live very busy lives, but it meant that I was immersed day one in their routine and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

On the saturday, Janelle had to work and Bruce took Grace out early to swimming training, Grace is in the State Championships and is a serious swimmer, training at least 6 days a week it would seem.  When Bruce and Grace returned, we sat down to breakfast together at the dining table which I really liked, then Bruce apologised for the fact he would need to take advantage of the first sunny weekend in a while and paint their newly built deck/balcony.  The kids were tasked with washing the car, I was tasked with reading the paper and having a dip in the pool.  I then prepared some sandwiches with help from the kids then they took me out in the car, with me driving of course, to show me the sights of the island.  Its a lovely place, a bit sleepy but nicely away from the hustle and bustle of the city.  I really liked it.  

When we got back, Bruce had just about finished painting, he then washed up and we started getting the motor boat ready to go in the water.  After a small issue with the trailer lights which required a joint effort to fix, we left Grace asleep and headed over to the mainland to put the boat in the water and motor back over to the island, with a little detour of a pleasure cruise as the sun was setting.

On the Sunday, it was our big day out on the boat, everything was prepared for us to just hop on the boat and motor over to Morton Island for a day on the beach.  It was a little overcast but still warm and excellent conditions for a good day out, no sunburn if you're careful on a day like that!  There were lots of boats already there when we arrived at the island but we were still able to find a quiet spot on the beach and have some prawns.  What amazed me though was the clarity of the water and the completely sandy bottom, the only things you could see were dozens and dozens of starfish on the bottom.

There were a few sandflies causing Harry a bit of bother so we motored away from the beach for a lunch of roasted chicken, salad and pasta, lovely, oh and a beer or two!  We managed a little swim off the boat to cool off before returning to Bribie with a spot of dolphin watching on the way back.  What a wonderful place to live.

On the Monday, I fell in with the routine and went with Janelle and Bruce to look at properties closer to Bruce's work, with a view to them cutting down on the commuting and to generate some more family time.  Very interesting to see the choices available, its not like the UK where you sell a house and you buy a new house.  In Australia, you sell a house and buy a house, or a plot and build, or you buy a new build, or you buy a house, knock it down and build a new one on the same plot, or you pay someone for a design and have them build it for you.  Complicated but interesting to be involved in.

Tuesday was Melbourne cup day.  I helped Janelle with the household chores then we had the neighbourhood girls, Angela, Leonie and Jules over for a champagne and chicken lunch to watch the race.  We hadn't placed bets, the girls had, but none of us had predicted the winner so in the end we'd lost nothing and had had a very good day.

Wednesday I went with Janelle to the mall where she works and had a day of shopping, the first shopping I'd done for a long while.  I looked around the mall, had a walk in eyelash tint then took a bus into the city where I had a good wander round, looked in some more shops, found the farmers market and wandered over to the South Bank too.  Not much has changed but it was nice to be back and check it out.

My final day with the Victors was a quiet day at home to do the washing and get packed, I walked over to Leonie's house for a quick trim of my hair then she took me out to the surf club for a spot of lunch and glass of wine which was really lovely of her.  Another example of the increidble Australian hospitality.  I was able to make dinner for the family on their last night, it was ready for them all when they arrived home which I was pleased about as they do have such a busy busy life.  And then in the morning, I was awake in time for Bruce and Grace's departure to join them in the trip to the pool so that Bruce could drop me then at the aiport for my return to Fiji.  

It was such a good and very normal family week, I thoroughly enjoyed it and was very sad to be saying goodbye, but it was a little easier because the family will be in the UK next year in September as part of a European tour and will come and stay with me and dad in Gosport.  Can't wait. :)