FRIDAY 8 JANUARY     TOOWOOMBA

We used the alarm to get ourselves up at 7.30am, in order to play morning bowls at the Drayton club. It was a pairs event, and John and I played together. We lost the game – by 16! I played very poorly. John was alternately brilliant and erratic. We did not seem to have much luck, either. It was not an enjoyable morning.

After lunch back at the van, we drove to the dental place, to get the tooth reattached to its bridge. While that was being done, we went to the Central shops and walked around for a couple of hours. Checked for mail – there was a birthday card for me and Xmas card from R – rather late!

The tooth repair was excellent – my front teeth are all back to normal. It only cost $30, which I thought was very reasonable.

Back to the van, where John watched the cricket.

We ordered Domino’s pizzas for tea, and very nice they were, too.

WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY     TOOWOOMBA

John decided he wanted to play bowls this afternoon. He had some trouble finding a game, but eventually got in at the Toowoomba Club.

While he drove around, visiting clubs, I shopped for food for tea.

Then I had a swim before lunch, after which John went off to bowls.

T arrived about 2.15. There was much “school” talk, bringing me up to date with last year. We walked up to the Japanese Gardens and around those. It was a pleasant day to do so.

John was back from bowls when we returned from our walk. The men talked technology and the like, while I prepared tea – steak, potatoes in foil, mushrooms, salad, bread, followed by fruit and cheese.

T left about 9.30pm, to go stay with a local cousin.

It was a most enjoyable afternoon and evening and a break in this fairly monotonous time here.

TUESDAY 5 JANUARY     TOOWOOMBA

It is a calendar year since we set out on this trip! Hasn’t that gone fast? From my perspective, right now, can see us enjoying lots more years of this.

I did the washing in the morning and it actually got dry. It still feels quite humid and damp out there.

John watched the end of the Ashes cricket series.

After lunch, drove to the Tourist Information Centre, seeking some inspiration about things to do in the area. Then went walking for an hour on the paths at Picnic Point.

Received a phone call from friend T. He is coming to visit tomorrow. That is exciting news – it will be great to see a face from home.

We had fish and chips, and a nice bottle of champagne, to celebrate the year on the road.

I broke a front tooth off my bridge, eating tea! Not good. Fortunately, I carry the old plastic plate, from years ago, for just such an emergency. Does not feel a great fit, but will fill the gap until I can get the titanium one repaired.

Reviewed my photo albums for 1998: they are a great record of the year.

MONDAY 4 JANUARY     TOOWOOMBA

We had the usual slow morning.

John went to bowls in the afternoon, calling in at the Post Office on the way. Our bag of mail had finally arrived, from home.

When he got home, I had a lovely time sorting the mail and reading lots of lovely Xmas cards and letters. But I was surprised and saddened to read that a former boss of mine and his wife had separated – after forty years of marriage!

John was rather grumpy because there were no cards from anyone at his former workplace.

Tea was kumara soup, sausages and salad. We are still eating up our Xmas ham as lunchtime toasted ham and cheese sandwiches. I think I should have bought a smaller ham.

SUNDAY 3 JANUARY     TOOWOOMBA

There was more rain today.

After lunch, walked the local streets for an hour, for our exercise.

Apart from that, it was a computer, sewing, reading day. This really is a slow start to our year. It is just a matter of waiting out the main holiday crowds – and the bad weather.

Tea was kumara soup.

With all the rain of the past few days, I have appreciated having the ensuite site and not having to walk any distance to go to the bathroom.

SATURDAY 2 JANUARY     TOOWOOMBA

It rained on and off through today.

We had a slow start to the day and then spent it fairly quietly.

Walked to the local shops, twice. The first time, I went for the papers and also bought some magazines. The second time I wanted some fruit. Also had a 4WD photo copy printed to submit for the Nikon photo competition in the Overlander magazine. Mailed that off. This little, local, shopping centre two blocks across, is really handy.

After yet more toasted sandwiches for lunch, we drove to the city Botanic Gardens and walked there, for an hour.

I made kumara soup and we had that and salads for tea.

FRIDAY 1 JANUARY     TOOWOOMBA

We woke up to continuing rain, heavier than yesterday’s. It got worse through the day, too – steady, soaking rain.

I was up at 8.15 to start the new year, John at 9.45.

It was cool enough to wear windcheater and jeans – haven’t had to do that for a while!

We had a late breakfast and an early lunch.

John went off to bowls at 12.30, despite the rain. He was back by 1.30 – too wet for bowlers. He then worked on accounts and records on the computer.

I sewed, and brought my journal up to date. Had classical music, on CD, on in the background – it was very pleasant. I spent most of the afternoon inside the van because it was too damp to stay sitting outside.

Tea was toasted ham and cheese sandwiches.

THURSDAY 31 DECEMBER     TOOWOOMBA

Woke to a dull day, with a light misty rain that had begun falling during the night.

After breakfast, drove to the West Toowoomba Bowls Club, so John could check out what was on. Went on to Dents and picked up the repaired video machine. John later discovered that it still had no colour, unless he removed the booster lead. Maybe that was the problem all along? We have had a free head clean and re-solder of a couple of joins, for our trouble.

On to Woolworths for a few grocery needs, to chemist for a new blood pressure script for me.

Next was to Drayton’s Bowls Club, where John put his name down for tomorrow. He is loving this place with its several clubs and lots of games. I guess it is appropriate for him to see in the new Year with bowls. Not so me!

After lunch we did a long walk, up to beyond the Uni of South Qld. There were a lot of model planes having  workouts on an open area there. Apparently, the National Championships for these things are here, this coming weekend.  We walked back via the Japanese Gardens – don’t get tired of those.

John wore running shoes, without socks, and came back with sore heels.

We’d had his very good fried ham and cheese sandwiches for lunch, so had a lighter salad tea, followed by some cheeses.

We filled in the evening with John on the computer and me doing embroidery. Watched some TV.

John using his 1998 Xmas present game

We phoned R and left a New Year message, P and K ditto. Phoned V and spoke to B as she was not finishing at the Casino until 8pm; they were then going out to a pub.

We had a supper of macadamia shortbread, with champagne and strawberries, at midnight, which of course was an hour later than in Vic or NSW. We celebrated at the “proper” hour! The Sydney fireworks show looked great on TV.

John and I discussed our previous New Year’s Eves together, and where we were for each one. Most memorable was the first one after we married – in a hike tent, in the cold and rain, at a place called Lake Windermere, on the Overland Track in Tasmania. No champagne then, and I think we were asleep well before 9pm!

A year ago, we were gearing up for this trip, and were busy packing.

The Wet has begun properly in the Gulf country, with two days of solid rain.

And so ends 1998. It has been a wonderful year.

SOME STATISTICS FOR 1998

Kms travelled for 1998:  29848kms

Kms towed van for year:  8220kms

Cost of diesel:  $2532.21

Average fuel consumption:  8.3kms per litre       12 litres per 100kmh

Dearest diesel: 93cpl at Seisia     Cheapest diesel 63cpl at Charters Towers

Accommodation costs:  $4845.10

Dearest accommodation: $76 – cabin at Seisia        $19 camp site Woodlands CP Atherton and Garden City CP at Toowoomba (both were en-suite sites)

Cheapest paid accommodation:  $7 unpowered in Qld National Parks;   $10 powered Rubyvale CP

Average cost of fuel and accommodation per week for 1998:  $141.87  – budget allowed for $200.

Number of different places we stayed at:  46

Longest stay in one place:  Atherton – 5 weeks

Number of times we moved camp:  53

Budget allowed for diesel: $5200 – we only used half of this.

Budget allowed for accommodation: $5200 – we were just under this amount.

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