A humid day.
John woke up grumpy, with a sore shoulder. Too much computing? He went to bowls in the afternoon and was happy enough with his game.
I walked for a couple of hours – right down to the town centre and back. Then I had a swim. The pool here is big enough for swimming to provide some decent exercise.
John checked at the PO on his way to bowls – still no Xmas mail parcel from K.
Tea was ham and salads.
The humidity is building again.
We went for a drive. Ventured down the Range – very steep. The several run out areas for trucks that lose their brakes is an indication of the nature of the Range descent! I guess my children got very used to this road, back in the days when they were visiting their father, in these parts, at holiday times. Not sure we will ever want to tow the van down here, though.
We went to a large roadside fruit and veg stall at the bottom of the Range, and bought some produce.
Drove back to Picnic Point to have a look at where we had been, and went for a short walk there. John was listening to the cricket on his little radio and was not really wanting to walk.
Drove back into town and parked near the water gardens along the creek and walked there. Lots of ducks had congregated by the water.
I made toasted (well, electric frypanned) ham and cheese sandwiches for our late lunch. We were then too full for tea – just had a few nuts.
John played late on the computer.
Another day the same as the previous couple. We varied the walk by going back to the Japanese Gardens. This is four days in a row that Truck has not moved. It is having a Xmas rest.
At the Japanese Garden, the gravel is raked in waves to suggest the ocean
We spent another quiet day, van based. Much as yesterday.
In the afternoon, walked the several blocks to the creek and associated garden development, walked along it for a way and then back to van – a big loop.
Tea was yet again, poultry and salads.
We spent a quiet Boxing Day. John was on the computer for most of it, and watching the cricket for the rest, on TV.
I phoned TB in the morning. His mother is in hospital. He may come and visit Toowoomba. Would be great to have a visitor.
I read, sewed, went swimming a couple of times – it was hot and a bit humid.
Tea was cold poultry and salads.
Xmas Day! Our first away from home.
It rained, on and off, but was warm and rather humid feeling.
I cooked a small duck, and a chicken, for lunch, in the electric frypan, outside the van. I got a bit held up by family phone calls – spoke with John’s brothers R and C, daughters R and V. The latter is very happy with the geode, from Atherton, that we sent her.
Our Xmas roast poultry lunch was most enjoyable, though not until 2pm.
After lunch, walked to the Japanese gardens – about a 4km walk in total. The Gardens are lovely. I have seen some small Japanese sections in gardens before, but have not been in anything of this scale. It was very interesting, wandering about through the different perspectives, and trying to work out the symbolism. Water is so integral to the design. There was even a goose swimming serenely about, but I don’t think that was part of the original design.
In the Japanese Gardens at Toowoomba
Tea was cold poultry and salad.
I phoned P and K after tea. They are happy with their gifts.
John played his new computer game until very late.
It was raining when we woke up, but not cold.
Xmas Eve seems very different, without the large family gathering that has been the routine, to plan for. But it is nice to be so relaxed, instead of racing around the crowded shops buying the last minute perishables, as I would have been doing at home. Even if we were home, the group would be smaller, as V is in WA and S in Port Moresby.
I did a final, quick, shop for last minute items for the holiday period.
Checked at the Post Office – the mail we were expecting has not arrived. This may be due to the Xmas mail volume, or K may have been delayed sending it.
After lunch, we both went to bowls. There were showers and one big rain interruption, but we managed to play 18 ends. I had difficulties with length and sometimes with width – and did not enjoy the afternoon at all.
Tea was chicken cacciatore.
I tried to phone friend TB; according to his last letter, he should be at his mother’s, in northern NSW, by now, for Xmas. But there was no answer.
I sewed and read, in the morning. John worked on bringing our fuel and accommodation records, that he keeps on spreadsheets on the computer, up to date.
He went to bowls in the afternoon.
I washed the van floors, cleaned our ensuite, then went for a walk around the streets for an hour or so.
John did not enjoy his bowls much. He was in a team that was skipped by a teenager, who became petulant and bad tempered when things did not all go his way.
Tea was steak and mushrooms.
Rain set in during the night. The lovely big shade trees that we welcomed, when we first arrived, dripped loudly on the roof, throughout the night.
In the morning, I read and sewed. John spent time on the computer. I began work on a small tablecloth, on cheap blue fabric I bought way back in Queanbeyan. I am using a Hardanger style pattern on it – not sure how well it will work. Will use the tablecloth on our small folding table, when we have picnics.
Flohr Motors phoned and we took Truck to them. The State Manager was very nice. They will arrange for the panel work to be done, to fix the roof; they will also repair where John backed into the tree at Lake Maraboon, but we will have to pay for that! Maybe $100? They will also arrange a new roof rack, as they agree the paint should not have peeled on the one we have. They are not sure when they can fit us in for the work – will phone us. We were very satisfied with the service we are receiving, to date.
Did a big grocery shop, at Woolworths. Bought some Tattslotto tickets – live in hope! Bought ourselves a little portable chess/backgammon set, and John bought two very high quality kitchen knives – a small and larger chef’s knives. Cost $85! They are very sharp – good finger slicing implements for me, I suspect.
Drove to the edge of town, to the Woolworths fuel outlet, for cheaper diesel – 70cpl. With the Xmas holidays coming up, I think the price of fuel is elevated.
Had a late lunch, after all that.
Later in the day, went for a walk around the streets, and along a creek/drain, several blocks to the east of us, that is being done up as a water garden. It was a good walk.
Tea was chicken maryland pieces, marinated Greek style before cooking, with salads.
The TV signals here, as one would expect, are good, so John is happy.
After breakfast, had a big hunt for the video warranty documents. This involved searching through some cupboards, John’s collection of papers in about three different locations, and the small expanding file that is meant to hold important papers and is stored under the bed. Eventually found the warranty, but not the receipt for when we purchased it in Geelong.
John phoned Daewoo/Retravision and was told he’d need to do a Stat Dec, obtained from a Post Office, re the purchase details. They don’t make it easy!
So, we drove to the Post Office in Margaret Street, through the Xmas shopping traffic, in the centre of an unfamiliar city. At the PO, John was told that newsagents sell Stat Dec forms. This was beginning to assume farcical dimensions!
John decided to try the repair place anyway, since we were in the city centre – Dent’s Radio and Repairs. They were happy to take it on, but said it will take a week or two to get to it.
Then we went to Flohr, the Landrover dealer. Their Service Manager was at lunch, so we walked over the road to the Woolworths shopping complex, browsed a little, then bought lunch – pizza for John and a ricotta and spinach pastry for me.
I bought John the KKND 2 computer game – for his Xmas present. Cost $90.
Back to Flohr, where we saw the Service Manager. He will phone us tomorrow, as the State Manager will be there then and we can take Truck in for him to inspect the problem rivets and the roof rack that is peeling paint in large sections. It was a proper Landrover one, and should not be deteriorating like this.
Then, of course, we had to suss out a couple of bowls clubs – one by the Botanical Gardens/Queens Park, and one in Toowoomba South. John booked himself in for a game on Wednesday, and us both for one on Thursday.
While we were by the Gardens, we went for a walk there. They are most attractive. The walk was enjoyable, as the weather is mild here, compared to where we have been.
Drove to Picnic Point, which is in bush land on the eastern side of the city, and admired the view across the edge of the Range, past Table Mountain, towards Brisbane, down in the distance. It was pretty hazy, but I attempted a photo, anyway.
The outlook to the east from Picnic Point, past Table Mt, towards Brisbane
Toowoomba is about 700 metres above sea level, perched on the edge of the Great Dividing Range, at a point where it rises abruptly from the coastal plains. This means that the road to Brisbane has some steep gradients! Its elevation means that it is much cooler than Brisbane. The area was settled in the 1840’s and the city grew as the centre of the rich Darling Downs agricultural district. Today it is, I think, a similar size to Geelong – about 120,000 people.
Back at the van, relaxed for what was left of the afternoon. I finished my first significant Hardanger project – a white table runner, destined to eventually grace the centre of our big red gum table at home.
Tea was cold rissole sandwiches for John, rissoles and salads for me.
The evenings here are so pleasantly cool – it is really refreshing.
This Adventurous Age 