Lunch by the Pacific Ocean

Another walk round by the river this morning. You'd never get me up and out for an hour's walk in Edinburgh!

This morning took longer, as I stopped for a coffee and a read of the local rag. Of course, reading the letters page, you realise that there are plenty of issues that people are concerned about. I then stopped and talked to a woman with two lovely collie dogs. She trains pups for guide dogs.

While I was talking to her, the lady who cleans up the park every morning came over to pat the dogs too, and we all had a yak. Her name is Raylene, and she and her sister Di (Lady Di) have been cleaning then riverside park for 18 years. They clean up the free barbecues, but I think everything is left fairly clean anyway. They'd have a hissy fit if they had to clean up the Meadows after a nice evening!

Our neighbours, K and J invited us out for a drive round the coast. We had a fantastic lunch sitting outside at the Sunshine Beach Surf Club. The Pacific Ocean was thundering just below us. Fantastic spot, better than the Noosa Surf Club, as it's mostly supported by locals, not just tourists.

We are finding most things are more expensive than in the UK, except petrol. Our Aussie house swappers are finding things quite cheap, and are especially fond of the M&S meal deal!

Back home for a rest, then out to the beach for the evening sunset. We walked along the beach walkway to watch the surfers and the sunset. There are seats and tables all along, and they get filled up with people with picnics, or just a glass of wine, waiting to watch the show. As do the seats and tables down along the river.

K told me that those wonderful trees are called pandanus trees. They are everywhere. She also told me that the birds who serenade me every morning are butcher birds. Not a terribly nice name, and they're quite plain birds, with black or brown feathers. But boy, their song is lovely. I'm sure there's a lesson in there somewhere...


PS Happy Birthday A! :-)