Rainforests and Barbecues

Shirley wasn't feeling too hot on Tuesday so we canned Mooloolaba.

We thought about going to Nudgee Beach in the morning then Maiala in the afternoon, but the tides weren't right so we switched around, then canned the beach anyway as we didn't feel it would come up to the exacting touristic standards our visitors might expect, and opted for a barbie down in the city by the river under Story Bridge.

The rainforest seemed to go down pretty well, as it's kind of a unique experience with an atmosphere you don't get in too many places what with the huge trees and gentle calm punctuated by exotic bird calls and a subtle all-pervasive insect buzz coming from some mystery direction.

We walked all the way down to a waterfall, which was actually a-trickling a little bit, surprisingly. I looked after Eloise so we were trailing behind most of the way but we had quite a jolly time.

Then we stopped off at a nice little restaurant in Mount Glorious and had a light lunch thingy on their veranda. A veranda incidentally which offers views down across the D'Aguilar Mountains and the Samford Valley across to Strathpine and Sandgate on Moreton Bay with Moreton Island in the distance.

Nicole's special barbecued kebabs were consumed with relish across the river from the gleaming towers as the sun went down underneath Story Bridge.

On Wednesday morning we took Eloise swimming, I in the pool with the little tinker, the others sipping coffee on the edge. She did quite well, but is developing a distressing reluctance to jump into the water. Instead she employs a safety-conscious turn around and climb gently into the water tactic unless her hands are being held. We'll have to work on that.

When Eloise went to bed I took Dad and Shirley off to a hotel. They had to leave for the airport at 3am and very kindly didn't wish to disturb our slumber at that hour. So I took them down to the Hacienda Hotel in Hamilton and said Adios to them.

And there, dear readers, ended the visit. I think they enjoyed it. They certainly liked Brisbane. Well who wouldn't.

So off they go to New Zealand. It was a bit hot for them here, I hope it isn't too cold for them there!

It was nice to see the old boy, and great that he could make it here. It's a long journey, no mistake, but one that's worth making.

So it was with a twinge of emotion that I pumped up the car stereo to 11 and high-tailed it home with hardcore acid-techno blaring. And got lost.