from yamba

We have just done a 4 hour beach walk, with lots of poking into rock pools along the way. I am reliving my teenage experience of Yamba, where my grandparents had a holiday house. Gran used to go fishing every morning and come home with whiting and flathead which I always thought she caught, but mum tells me that some days the fish came from the neighbouring fisherman. I don't think I have ever tasted whiting as sweet as that. This pic shows thew beach where I swam as a 16 year old, and was ignominiously saved from drowning by a handsome lifesaver who I consequently avoided afterwards due to my acute embarrassment. We ended our treck at the Pacific Hotel, as also seen in this photo, a beer or two for Charles and a g&t for me.
Tomorrow morning we head for Sydney, but not before a sumptuous meal we have planned tonight, after checking out all the possibilities. Duck and oysters are on our menu.

countdown

Well, it's only a matter of days and we'll be on the road, heading south. In the time we have been here, we have seen Remi grow at the rate of knots, fuelled by an amazing appetite. I measured him a few days ago, and since May he has grown one centimetre a month. He is now over a metre tall and close to 20kg. The photo above may give you some idea of his size, and he's not quite three and a half.
He is not keen on us going, and told me a few days ago, in most earnest tones, "I don't want you and Grandpa to go to the farm, Tuppy, I want you to stay here."
Today is Charles last day of building round at Skinner St and he is looking forward to it enormously. He has got increasingly tired as the tools have become increasingly blunter. A couple of days at Yamba on the way to Sydney will be wonderful.

shifting

Here we are at Manly West, not far from the coast and 30 mins drive (45 in peak hour) from West End. A very different Brisbane. We are staying at Claudia's until we leave to head south at the end of the month. We arrived on Sunday morning having gone to see The Audrey's the night before with Lisa and Simon, Claudia and Sam, and Zoe (my niece) and her boyfriend Gray. It was one of the last shows of the Brisbane Festival, and was a great night in the Speigeltent. (not sure of the spelling)
The weather is beautiful. Hope it warms up in Victoria as we are quite acclimatised to Brisbane warmth now. Looking forward to seeing everyone when we get back.