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.

*****************

WEDNESDAY 30 DECEMBER     TOOWOOMBA

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.

TUESDAY 29 DECEMBER     TOOWOOMBA

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.

SUNDAY 27 DECEMBER     TOOWOOMBA

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.

SATURDAY 26 DECEMBER     TOOWOOMBA

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.

THURSDAY 24 DECEMBER     TOOWOOMBA

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.

WEDNESDAY 23 DECEMBER     TOOWOOMBA

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.