FIRST WEEK

First Week

Yes it will be two weeks tomorrow seem like we have been here for years isnt it strange how quickly you remember your surroundings we have just returned from the shops (which here there are plenty including fishing tackle the best one is BCF boating , camping fishing all under one roof its as big as two football pitches ) anyway we have just returned from Noreen type shopping

to do this we borrow Mary's car quite a large automatic so in a short run I had to get use to the automatic, road signs, ausi drivers, and the setting sun, still we hae returned didnt get lost and no scrapes even though the precinct car park is underground and as tight as a rabbits warren

The hard part of the week was the two days blues festival we were both still in jet lag mode having just spent three days travelling But I would not have missed it for the world what a fantastic two days But it did leave us quite exhausted for the rest of the week so we hae been very lazy I have been on three fishing trips two with Roger and one by myself and if you think driving a car for the first time is nervy try sailing a strange boat in strange waters But I got out caught some fish and returned with everything intact. From the house I have about 25min sailing on the canal to get out to the Broad Water, the canal is wonderful; All this land was once swamp then the developers moved in they first built a canal system as a meens of draining the land then divided up into plots for house building so now the canals are lined with some fantastic houses this being one all with pools and private jetties it really a wonderful place for those who like water as we do

The rest of the from your perspective has been boring because we have just been visiting old haunts and getting accustomed to our new habitat though I have some great pics to show

God Bless you all

Getting ready for a day out on Mary's boat

Noreen with the best seat going down the canal to open water

Out on the spit its a great walk after a good Lunch

Two Sisters causing chaos Just look at that weather closing in 

Noreen and Mary rounding up some of the locals

Looking Down just one of the canals

Me and Roger in our little fishing tinny

First two days

Hi Everyone
Well we have arrived more by good luck than good management as I predicted there was not enough time to disembark in Sydney collect baggage, pass through Passport control, security  then change.
from international to Domestic airport all in 90 mins. we missed our connection to Brisbane, and managed to get the next flight which was only an hour to wait. Other than that the trip was relatively  smooth all except the turbulence, from Manchester to Abu Dhabi it was like riding a roller coaster, at times  I thought we were going to fall apart. However we made it and your ticket only gets you to your destination it never promises it will be done in comfort  but the flight from Abu Dhabi to Sydney was almost empty at least 150 spare seats we just stretched out in the spare seats it was most relaxing
We arrived in Brisbane to a fan fare of welcomes; but were knackered but after a few hours we were up and at them and went to the Big Blues Festival at Broad Beach I like Glastonbury without the mud and rain which is replaced by Sun and sand well most of it takes over the of Broadbeach town centre difficult to explain like most music festivals "you have to be there " My nephew Mark who is another wonderful Musician is now a festival organiser and has done a great job with this one, look it up on google, We went again last night to see the finale my favorite blues band "Canned Heat " were heading  why is it that guys and gals of my era can still play and entertain with such passion and freedom truly remarkable. I know that all music should be experienced life but when you see these guys some who have been doing now over 50 years it makes me realise why I love my music. I have a little note printed on my guitar that reads "I dont understand music but I love the sound it makes. " I cannot read music Maryanne has tried to teach me now, Thomas is attempting to teach me all without success. However  I still manage to make an acceptable sound ? and as I am not writing music or conducting I have never found it a disadvantage
So thats the week end over today has dawn wet we had a bit of a storm in the night and its still raining however its only 06,10  so there is time for it to clear up. This morning Roger and I are sorting out the boat and fishing gear ready for a few trips out trying to empty the oceans of its fish stocks don't worry all you environmentalists we only take what we can eat the rest go back .
Then this afternoon I have to go shopping as I omitted to pack my Toilet bag luckily I don't need mu to to keep my appearances up to a very high standard so the cost will be kept down to a very bear minimum ????
So Folks thats it for the first two days of our 72 day stay down under
Stay tuned in
God Bless
Buggerlugs

Well you have o start somewhere

great big Blues bands

and those who just love music

The place 

The  Place 

US

Off we Go

Up up up and Away

May the 16 we fly today

I knew the day wasn't going to mode well when at 04.00 this morning the phone rang now with little Evie not being so good it was panic time anyway having released my self from the arms of Orphius I found the offending phone and answered expecting anything BUT what I got was “ good morning did you order a airport Taxi in my confusion I said well yes I did He then said well Im here could you open the gate and let me in I said of course I can but would he mind waiting about 12 hours as the taxi I had booked was for 4.00pm not 4.00 am The poor an was devastated and couldn't apologise enough.

I will state now that at 15.50 Lee called to say he was waiting in the car park so that episode with the taxi's. Except on the way it was incident free free no traffic going into Manchester but I said to Lee you had better book a late tea as the traffic leaving Manchester was grid locked.

The airport was very relaxed and unusually quiet. However I do think that security just wait for me and use me as a training aid. As usual I set all the alarms off with my Biomic Body this then meant a full search I know it was my fault that I forgot I had a “credit card multi tool in my wallet. Now this little inoffensive little card caused more alrm than an AK45 you would have thought that I with my credit card multi tool were going to take over the world or even single handedly Solve Brexit. I have found with Security that you must smile ignore all sarcastic comments and giggles and just act stupid which as you know I have down to a fine art anyway ha ing done as much humiliation as they could with the Multi Tool the decided to go one further and started to swab for drugs.

Noreen thought all this was hilarious mainly because when flying I always wear very loose trousers however this dosent help when you have to stand a kimbo with your arms in the air with no belt to hold up what dignity you have left Howeer when they realise Noreen was with me and therefor a co-conspirator in the attack on world domination and the solving of Brexit they called her back shoes off the lot that took the smile off her face

lol

The rest of it was or I should say it is at the moment as we are just taking off I will continue after I have sampled dinner or from Abu Dhabi where we have 3 hours on the ground

Well flying long haul is just as bad as short haul The days of relaxed flying can now only be enjoyed by the elite . you have to pay for the most recent films, Snacks, any extra drinks. The food is included but its awful, however sleep is free so we took quite a lot of that. We are in the Airport lounge Noreen has just returned after buying a smoothy and a coffee she only had sterling and is fuming because she has about 5 rehad change out of a tenner

Flying out in three hours

the Fun starts in Sydney wait for the next episode

Abandon ship (for ten weeks)

Hi Everyone

Well its arrived  only 5 days to go and we fly to Australia another long trip of 10 weeks ish
This time it seems we have been waiting a long time I thought we would never get it together however it seems we have arrived at count down. Our intentions are to have a few weeks in Runaway Bay with Mary and Roger just acclimatising then we fly up to Darwin couple of days exploring the sites the we pick up a large camper and we all go off for 10 days exploring the Northern Territories, I have always wanted to  there  but never made it problem is its so bloody big. one day traveling is like going from Devon to Argyle when you are on a road and you see a sign that says "no Fuel for 650k " then you realise that you are on your own, its a great feeling of freedom cant beet it

I will of course be running the blog I hope to do at least one a week or more but ther could be times when internet is not possible

We depart Manchester at 20.30 hrs on the 16 May its an epic journey via Abu Dhabi, Sydney then onto Brisbane

I know we are only away for 10 weeks but it has been a very busy time getting the Buggerlugs ready to be abandoned, though thats not quite true as she will be getting lots of visitors and may even go out for a little run, So I have had to get her ready for that as well.

Thats it keep an eye on the blog starting next week