Today, the plan is to go and visit a friend of Oliver's and also of Becky's, Tina, who I met once if I remember rightly way back about ten years ago and there's only one thing I remember about that meeting and that was to do with Oli more than Tina. It wasn't long after I had made a declaration that I didn't want to end up like my mother (who at that stage was suffering the effects of old age very severely!) and I had scribbled a note onto a paper napkin to the effect that being of sound mind (and not necessarily body), I gave my children permission to push me under a bus should the need arise. This came up in conversation with Tina on our one and only meeting, when I added that it might be a bit traumatic for the bus driver, to which Oli added that he'd drive the bus to save any problem! Well, I guess that's why we never met again, and I thought it wise to keep quiet and not remind anyone of the offer just in case Oli felt it might be time!
Waking up today, there was a hint of blue sky and sunshine, but we couldn't be sure it would last so we made the most of the morning and went for a walk along Kings Beach. The sea was really foamy, as if someone had tipped a box of 's Surf' (ha ha - other washing powders are available) or 'Persil' into the water - like kids do in fountains! Apparently the result of all the rain they'd had in Queensland and the fresh water mixing with the seawater has this effect - well well, who knew?
and had breakfast in another beach cafe, with a strawberry milkshake and a Toasted Sandwich for me and Eggs Benedict for Becky!
After this we packed up, as we were going to stay the night at Tina's, and got going. It was a long drive down past Brisbane so we stopped at Surfer's Paradise to have a look so we can say we've been there. Surprisingly it's just another long beach with surf and lots of hotels! We got stuck in the car park and, thinking we might have to stay there for the night as the exit we'd tried to get out of was not going to lift its barrier for us, we had to reverse back and drive randomly around in the hope that we would get out, maybe if we followed someone else, but we eventually found another level and a pay booth which actually had someone in it!
So we drove on into the top of New South Wales to a place called Lismore which is very remote but quite a big town. Oli had visited, and even stayed there before, so he knew exactly where he was going, until we got past the first roundabout and then was lost. We drove up a couple of roads, (I kept very quiet in the back) and drove back down them again, and eventually that man thing where you can't give in and ask for directions gave in and he phoned Tina to get directions. He drove and Becky announced the turns we needed to make (did Oli not remember how blonde Becky can be?) and we ended up going back out of town on the road we came in on! Phoning Tina again, we discovered the error and got back onto the right road and got to Tina's pretty quick after that. A quick reunion and we were soon sat on the porch enjoying the damp weather, slightly protected from the rain, and talking about old times over a few drinks.
Dinner, Roast Lamb, was on and all ready prepared so we just sat and enjoyed the moment. Becky and Oli went out to get some drinks from the Bottle Store to keep us going through the evening so I was happy when the red wine arrived! It seemed to be later than we thought, the drive must've taken longer than we thought, until we realised that we were now in New South Wales and they're an hour ahead so we had to get to bed soon or we would be over the Queensland 9 o'clock rule (10 o'clock here I guess). We had a lovely dinner, and a nice drop of wine to go with it, I didn't manage the whole bottle but after three glasses, I was spinning without even moving and definitely ready for bed. Becky and I shared a room and double bed but I don't even remember getting into it, I must've done as I woke up there but I had a very good nights sleep without hearing Becky's snoring at all!
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