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Australia Trip - April 2009
I flew back to Australia at the end of April, arriving just in time to spend Easter with Damion, Danielle, Kane and Kynan. This was the perfect way to start my trip, finally able to recover from the long German winter (6 months this time!!). I also managed to catch up with Jason and Mandie while in Brissy, will have to get some photos from them and post them soon.
Highlights were a beautiful lunch at Morgans (photos to come!) and a leisurely afternoon spent in the valley doing a lot of nothing!
After a week of R+R in Brisbane, I headed to Griffith via Sydney and Neranderra...sounds like a long way to go? Sure was...but it was well worth it. Mum and Nigel came down from Ivanhoe with Dad and Callum to pick me up. It was great to be with family again, and Ivanhow was surely an eye-opener. The highlights of Ivanhoe were spending time with Cal and the family, watching Cal get fake-arrested by Nige, the table tennis tournaments (and tennis) the sightseeing tour of Ivanhoe including the plane of the RFDS. The golf course was a must see, and what trip to Ivanhoe would be complete without a trip to the cemetary? Oh, and I saw pepper trees for the first time!
Highlights for Cal included playing table-tennis, his ipod touch, his gameboy, Pa Steve's computer and Jason's wii (OK the boys had some fun with that too, thanks Jason!)
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After a week or so in the 'hoe, Dad caught the train back and Cal and I climbed into the car with Ma and Nige for a road trip to Diamond Beach, stopping off at Cowra to break the trip, eat pizza and visit the museum...where were treated to a presentation with an astonishingly real holographic girl from the 1940's :-) Callum was reaching the end of his patience and we were running short on time, so we canned the DB idea and headed straight to Bateau Bay for a couple of days with auntie Amie and nanny Annie. We participated in the biannual bike ride down to the Entrance, followed by a treat at the bottom pub and also squeezed in a hole of golf while walking Mason.
Cal, Amie and I managed to squeeze in a quick visit to Richard and Kelly and Kelly and Gabriella while on the coast. Theme of the day was chips, dips and tennis, Gabriella clearly leading in the former and Richard in the latter. Callum was brave enough to jump in the pool (actually, it took some effort to get him out again), and Richard has demanded a rematch next year!
I only had a few days in Sydney, but managed to catch up with Les and Geek and Allira (and the animals), where I got attacked by a mysterious cat in the night. I also ventured over the harbour for a night to see Kylie in Manly, and catch up with Kara and Lou (love the chicken Kara!). As you can see, nothing but smiles here - thanks everyone! I caught the ferry back to Circular Quay as the sun was setting and managed to snap some nice photos from Port Jackson, realising once again how beautiful Sydney really is!
The holiday part of my trip was now over, and it was time to get back into work mode. I was representing EControl-Glas at the Form and Function trade exhibition in Melbourne, so had a lot of work in front of me. First job was unpacking my suits and shirts, second was stocking the fridge. The preparation of the stand was pretty gruelling but Les and I got it set up by about 9pm on the evening before the opening. We then spent three days introducing EControl glazings to the Australian public (and getting sore feet). Overall the results were very positive, some useful feedback and hopefully a project or two in the way. Big thanks to Les for his help on the stand!!
My last day in Australia was perfect (thanks Craig!), wandered around St Kilda with Craig and Kell then headed to the Espy for a quick beer before I took off. I stopped over in Brisbane for a home cooked meal with the Stimsons before flying out at midnight - was nice to end the trip where it started, thanks guys!
The last photos are from the airport in Thailand where I treated myself to an hour-long foot massage followed by a manicure and pedicure - a great way to break up the stopover and finish the trip. When I got back to Germany I picked up my car and drove home; after getting a flat tyre and changing it in the dark/rain, I arrived home more or less unscathed in the early hours of Wednesday morning - back to my own bed at last!
Last update: May 16, 2009
