Year in Review 2023

Here I go again with trying to Condense One Year into 12 Photos!

JANUARY

Saw Solar Panels Installed on the Roof

and Old Rooms in New Places Organised

FEBRUARY

We fixed the Leaky Porch Roof

and I started the never ending task of Sorting Photos

MARCH

DH quietly Reached His 500th Blood Donation

APRIL

I Remembered ANZAC Day by thinking of My Dad 

and the Stories He Told of "When I was Up Darwin"

MAY

I was drowning in Copies of Copies of Copies of Digital Photographs

Trying to Sort through the Mess.

(And I am STILL  not Finished!)

JUNE

Still Sorting and Getting Sidetracked by Researching the Photos

and the History of Melbourne's Airports

JULY

Another Precious Grand-Daughter Arrived

Early and in a Hurry!

AUGUST

We decided to Take a Break and Go to The Zoo

Because we Could!

SEPTEMBER

Saw me trying to get a bit Fitter and Healthier 

with Fresh Juice and Long Walks and Hydro Therapy

OCTOBER

More Work inside and Out

We Started Our Bathroom Rebuild,

 the Council Removed our Street Tree

and Finished the Month with the Gift of Some Concert Tickets

NOVEMBER

Was so Busy with The Bathroom slowly Progressing,

and Time Spent with the Grandchildren

DECEMBER

Walking out on The Bathroom Reno we Hit the Rails

Melbourne to Brisbane and Back Again Via Kangaroo Island

ALL by Train. (And a Lot of Busses)

Was it Relaxing - Well.... No

Was it an Adventure - Definitely!

And there we have 2023 in a Nutshell

There was much that didn't make it here

(You will just have to go back and Read the Posts)

And of Course a LOT more that didn't make it to the Blog in the First Place.

Thank you for Reading

Don't forget to say Hi sometime

and God Willing,  I'll see you in 2024

Christmas 2023

 Christmas comes but Once a Year...

And for us it is accompanied with mainly Handmade Greeting Cards

(And in case you are wondering the Pink one is from "The Tinsel Monster")

It also is NEVER Organised.

Which is why it was spread over several days and necessitated a rather LONG 'Phone call' to a Missing Cousin

An ample amount of paper was spread all over the room as many gifts from Great Aunts and Uncles unknown were unwrapped.

(How they managed to buy "Just the right Gift" is a mystery to me!)

It was repeated until ALL the Gifts had been exchanged!

Thank Goodness

Christmas comes but once a year...

Merry Christmas Everyone!

A Christmas Eve to Remember

The Plan was:

7:30 Overland Train from Adelaide arriving Melbourne 6:50 pm after a relaxing day watching the Scenery pass by. 

 

After which we would take the Local Tram and walk home from the Terminus.

You can probably Guess by now that it's not how the day unfolded.

"Sorry Folks, we have been delayed leaving the Terminal - But Good News is we will be making up time over the Day."

Everything was fine.  

The Train travelled on through the South Australian Countryside and across the Murray River

Once we were in Victoria we started noticing that they had had "A bit of Rain".  

What we didn't know was - 

We were travelling behind a Massive Storm 

Our First unscheduled Stop was ... 

"We have been advised there is a Problem with the Signals ahead we have to wait for a Technician to arrive to fix them before proceeding - He will be an Hour....."

Which turned into TWO hours.

Finally on our way again when, an hour later ....

"Sorry Folks - We have been advised that a Lightening Strike has taken out the Signals ahead - 

It's going to be another 2 Hours..."

Fortunately, We had tickets in Premium Economy and we were comfortable.  

And everyone was well looked after. 

Some of us got a bit bored and went for a walk - 

Finding people to Chat to, 

and a Santa to have a Selfie with.

We finally pulled in to Southern Cross station at 11:01 pm  

It was Christmas Eve.

Everyone was in Good Spirits

We had missed the Storm 

and were kept Safe

Arriving Home (By Taxi) 

just before Midnight.

Merry Christmas to all

(Especially the Staff at 

Journey Beyond)

And To All

A Good Night.

Kangaroo Island - Day 2

Wow - That's more like it.

I can't remember when the last time we actually got to "sleep in" was. 

If you count 6:45 am a sleep in 

At least it was leisurely.  

Watch the Sun rise with a Cuppa on the Balcony,

a Stroll along the "Beach" (Tidal mud flats), 

Breakfast and ... 

wait for the Mini Bus to arrive.

Our trip to connect with our coach for today was spent with a lovely driver who amongst other things, reminisced about the 2020 Bushfires and the loss of his Best Mate.  

Wonderful stories of what they used to get up to and how much he misses him.

Our First stop for today was at the Raptor Domain arriving in time for the 11:30 Bird Show.  

This was possibly the Best Interactive Bird Show we have seen. From the Environmental message with a Magpie that had been trained to PICK UP Rubbish

To the way they respected and handled their Birds and the Trust they have with each other.

This Beautiful elderly Wedge Tail Eagle was brought in after being hit by a car.  She has lost one eye and has a cataract on the other and is obviously a favourite.

Having the opportunity to interact with the Birds  DH got up close to a Crested Hawk  - 

Until she decided the closest tree was more fun and was banned for the rest of the show...

From here it was off to the Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery. 

We learnt all about the History and mechanics of this Family Run business.

No modern Factory here... It is all done by "Home Made" equipment that had stood the test of time. Producing an exceptional product.

After a light lunch and an opportunity to do some Christmas Shopping,  we were whisked away to The Kangaroo Island Ligurian Bee Company. 

Where we had a talk on keeping these gentle Bees before being shown their Honey Processing system.

One fleeting stop to Dragon Rock that made my heart sing.

I fell in love with South Australia's Turquoise Oceans and Big Skies a long time ago.  

It was like catching up with an old friend that you hadn't realised you'd missed.

I would have happily stayed at Dragon Rock but the Bus had a schedule to keep and it was on to Wine Tasting at False Cape Winery.

For us, it was a glass of  (not complimentary) Non-Alcoholic Cider.

And then to do what I normally do when bored at a Winery ....

Take Photos of any and everything else!

[I have just realised this tree looks like a Chick 😆 ]

Our Time on Kangaroo Island is drawing to a close and we are back at Pennington and and now we wait for the Ferry to take us back to Cape Jervis...

And on to Adelaide.

Another very long day travelling.  

308 km taking 5 ¼ hours.

By the time we returned to Adelaide, for our 2 day side trip, we were on the road for 12 hours covering some 800 km!

For those who like Stats:-

1.  Hotel To Rendezvous  25 min - 25 km

2.  Raptor Park 23 min - 32 km

3.  Eucalyptus Distillery 23 min - 32 km

4.  Bee Company 15 min - 18 km

5.  Dragon Rock Lookout 31 mins - 34 km

6.  False Cape Winery 21 mins - 24 km

7.  Penneshaw Jetty 18 mins - 16 km

8.  And Back to Adelaide 3 hours - 127 km

Total Travel: 5 hours & 16 mins - 308 km

Kangaroo Island

With our Breakfast 'packed to go' we climbed aboard the Coach and were on the road by 6:30 am for the (108 km) 2 Hour drive to Cape Jervis.  

When I took this Photo I said "Someday" we would Return 

It took 15 Years but here we are about to board the Sealink to Kangaroo Island.

(1 hr - 20.5 km Crossing)

Kangaroo Island is Australia's 3rd Largest Island (after Tasmania and Northern Territory's Melville Island).  

KI is 145 km Long with 540 km of Coastline.  Mainly Agricultural and Nature Reserves, It was a long way between Point A and Point B.

Basically this was a "Whistle Stop" Tour of Kangaroo Island. 

First Stop Seal Bay.

(1 hr 15 min - 88 km)

A light Lunch was served at The Wildlife Park 

We were hurried up with

"Don't worry Folks we will be back here later"

(30 min.- 36 km)

It was then on to the Iconic Postcard Destination that is 'Remarkable Rocks'

It truly was a Beautiful place and I took many Photos - wishing that I had taken my DSLR with me.

(60 min - 75km)

A quick side trip down to Admirals Arch (which we didn't get to see) and a Tantalising Glimpse of the Cape Du Couedic Lighthouse.

Built in 1906 it was the 15th Lighthouse to be built on South Australia's Coast

(8 mins - 6.5 km)

Bustled back onto the Coach we then set off back to The Wildlife Park.

They may have done wonderful work with Koala Conservation after the 2020 Bushfire but I am sorry to say that this ranks with the Saddest Parks I have been to.  

(60 min - 74 km)

Our day was drawing to a close and were dropped off at the Kingscote Airport to board a Mini Bus for the trip to our accommodation.

The view from our Balcony was of the Pelican Lagoon at American River.

(45 min - 62 km)

If you are still with me on this Post then you may have been taking notice of the Travel Time and Distance between each Stop.  

We travelled for 7 hours on Coach and Ferry a total of 467 km . Most of it with a Cranky Bus Driver on Country Roads - It was a VERY Big Day.

They tell me Tomorrow will be more relaxed ...

And on to Adelaide

The early start was spent watching the Wheatfields of the Wimmera roll by

And saying a fond Fare-well to our wonderful Cabin Crew who were more than accommodating in letting Stowaway Frog help with the final announcements.

Then on to Adelaide where I enjoyed some 'Me Time' Christmas Shopping while DH called in to the Adelaide Blood Bank for his regular donation...

 (Because he could!).

The day wrapped up with Dinner at The Playford Hotel.  

With yes, one of the Best Creme Brulee I have had this side of Paris.

Tomorrow is another adventure with another early start!