MONDAY 21 SEPTEMBER     CAIRNS

John watched some TV and played his computer game.

There was a letter for us at the Office – from the accountant. We are not going to get much tax return back for the last financial year. The lump sum termination payments we both got have affected the tax situation. I don’t think there was any way around that.

Usual sort of day for me – read, sewed, had a swim.

Tea was cold roast pork and salads.

SUNDAY 20 SEPTEMBER     CAIRNS

John watched Games. They are ending this weekend. Thank God for that!

I did some embroidery, read, had a swim.

Cooked roast pork for tea, in the electric frypan outside. It does not make the skin crisp, though. Had vegies roasted with it, and apple sauce.

SATURDAY 19 SEPTEMBER     CAIRNS

In the morning, drove to the Smithfield Centre. Bought paper, wine, groceries, and a special loaf of bread for lunch. Spent $125 all up.

After lunch, John watched Games. I read the paper and then had a long swim.

I made pizzas for tea, using bought bases and adding my own toppings. Had to light the van oven to cook those, which rather heated up the van.

THURSDAY 17 SEPTEMBER     CAIRNS

We have been in Cairns for a week now and it has been a pretty boring time for me.

John watched Games, then went to bowls.

I cleaned the van and did a load of washing.

After lunch, I cycled to the Smithfield Shopping Centre, for something to do. Browsed the shops. Being in the air conditioned shopping complex was pleasantly cool. Bought a caravan magazine that had articles on some interesting destinations, some postcards, and a few groceries. Spent $19 in all. Cycled almost 12kms.

Tea was bacon, eggs and fries.

WEDNESDAY 16 SEPTEMBER     CAIRNS

Another hot day.

John watched Games on TV in the morning, then after lunch we went to bowls at Stratford. I won a meat tray of steaks- not by the quality of my bowling but because all the scorecards were put in a draw, and the card of the team I was in, was the lucky winner. As the bowls cost $9 to enter, plus $2 for raffle tickets, which one is expected to buy, and $6 for a round of post-bowls drinks, we probably broke about even on the value of the meat! Still, John enjoys it and it makes a change from TV!

Tea was pork chops with apple sauce and vegies.

TUESDAY 15 SEPTEMBER     CAIRNS

It was quite hot again.

In the late morning, drove to Stratford and practiced bowls for a couple of hours.

After a late lunch, John watched the Games. I had a nap, then went for a swim in the late afternoon – it was very pleasant.

Tea was sausages, potatoes and asparagus, and strawberries.

These interludes between adventures make for short entries here, and a lack of photos!

MONDAY 14 SEPTEMBER     CAIRNS

It was a hot day and a little humid.

After breakfast, drove to the city. Called in at Stratford Bowls club on the way for John to see if it was ok for us to practice there, and it is. He booked us in for a game there on Wednesday.

At the PO, collected mail from R with John’s Fathers Day present – a book: Great Working Dog Stories. She also sent lots of ALP election propaganda!

I left a film for processing and picked it up after an hour.

We drove over to the fish co-op and bought some tropical fish fillets. I bought groceries, wine and beer, and got some cash money – all very mundane! We spent about $120 on these supplies.

After lunch, John was back to his TV watching. I dried some rather elderly Roma tomatoes – they were only 99c a kilo and dried well.

I went for a long swim in the afternoon. It is nice to be able to swim regularly. That is one benefit of being here, rather than at Wonga Beach.

Tea was fried rice.

V phoned to finish our conversation from yesterday. She wants me to send her a bread recipe – being about 100kms from the nearest shops has motivated her in hitherto unthought-of ways