The tenants had to leave the house today. Two weeks ago I asked if I could get back into the garage to pick something up, they told me that I can wait until today.
They left the house just after lunch but did not return the keys until 5pm, inconsiderate bastards. That have done this deliberately for some reason and I have no idea why. When they owed me money I never pressured them, I let them keep the government electricity assistance payment of $200 and have always treated them ok.
I can’t move back in until the inspection is done and that won’t happen until tomorrow.
If there are any defects at the house tomorrow when I do the inspection then I’m not going to be lenient, fuck them!!!!
It would have been around December 2015, I was having breakfast outside sitting on the deck and just wondering about life the universe and everything. I had got an email about the number of Qantas Frequent Flyer points and I had about 200,000 and thought I wonder where I can go. After a few different locations I settled on a Business Class flight on Cathy Pacific leaving Brisbane on the 9th July 2016 bound for London and it only cost me $140 + 110,000 points.
I locked it in and I felt really excited. I was on a year’s contract with Bondor and it finished at the end of June so I thought I’ll go for a wander. This was a one way ticket to the UK. I suddenly felt alive again after being dormant for so many months, something to look forward to…………a journey to the unknown.
In the September of that year I landed in China and then the adventure really started. It got off to a shaky start and I’m not going to recap because it’s at the beginning of the blog and I’m sure I won’t capture the way I felt if I try to write it again.
In the next few years I travelled, I met many people, I learned about China, I made new friends, friends that I am separated from today due to the current global pandemic, friends that really could do with my help. Sissi was such a big part of my life and she is going through a tough time of it right now and I just wish I could be of more help to her in her time of need.
I’ve learnt a lot about myself and I have I have challenged myself so many times, not always though choice. New Chinese friends helped to push me outside my comfort zone even more and for that I am very grateful.
I’m back in Australia now but planning for the day when the borders are open and I can once again travel the world. I got back in March from China and it was a decision that was forced upon me but it was also the correct decision. I have friends and family here, the Covid 19 is not affecting life too much where I am and so life can pretty much go on as normal. But I believe that this is the best place to be at this time and I am happy to be here and yes there are things that annoy me about Australia, things that made me leave four years ago but for the moment my tolerance is greater. I also have my car back which is one of the best things about returning. Next weekend I should get my house back and I hope that I don’t have to do too much to the house to move back in. The garden however is another situation entirely. The tenants have two dogs and so it’s not in the best condition. The previous tenants were bastards and destroyed much of the garden as well as parts of the house, but I guess I will have things to do when I get back in. As long as the house is OK the garden is not so much of a problem. I’ll go to the local council and see if I can pick up some free plants because I think I am still allowed 8 per year. It will just be good to get back home for a while and potter around the garden, do the proposed renovations downstairs and once again be back in my world.
In 12 months time maybe the world will be coming back to life and normality will have begun to return. Trump will be locked up with any luck or at least completely humiliated by the plethora of books that will have been written by then. The world might even be a safer place; mind you I’m not holding my breath on that count. Still too many unknowns.
Covid 19 will be used by governments around the world as an excuse or reason for changing policies………to control the citizens……………….to pus through new laws and agendas. As I write this is it does give me a bit of comfort to see two countries in particular not faring so good, two war mongering nations that seem to be getting overwhelmed by Covid, and they are America and Israel. God speed to the downfall of both nutters at the helms, that’s appropriate I think………
I’m 60 this year, it’s also the year of the “Rat” and I can remember asking my Chinese friends was it good luck to have your birthday when it was “your year” so to speak and the answer was no, so I guess they were right.
Yesterday I went to Bulimba and caught the ferry to Westend and then walked back along the riverside. I’ve cycled along the Brisbane river many times but I haven’t walked this far before. I’m not sure how far I walked, maybe around 15km……..my GPS tracker app had a meltdown and told me that I walked 56km which I think might be wrong.
They predicted showers and so I was smart enough to take my brolly. Sitting on the ferry was a little bit chilly and the rain was light but on the water with the wind chill it was more comfortable sitting inside. I quite enjoy this social distancing, some young kids came on the ferry and wanted to sit up at the front but guess what I had my arse planted at the front window and their mother told them that they would have to sit somewhere else………..so I quite like this.
It was dry when I started my walk and as I wandered along the road I realised that it was 20 years ago that I had first come to this spot on the river with a young girl called Beth. She introduced me to Brisbane and as we strolled along the waterfront hand in hand I realised that it was time to leave Sydney behind and file it. Haven’t seen Beth in many years but I hope she is well.
As I walked past the gallery of Modern Art the rain began and in no time it was bouncing off the ground and the brolly was getting a workout. I stood under Victoria Bridge with many others sheltering from this massive downpour which seemed more at home in the warmer months.
As I walked along I passed the Southbank Beach where there were a few brave souls swimming, I guess this is when your obesity helps in fighting off the colder weather. There seemed to be a few beached whales out today.
Walking through the Botanical Gardens is always a favourite and the old fig trees get more majestic with age. There are some spectacular old trees along here and the smell of freshly laid mulch and rain was a lovely combination. The tide was low exposing the many mangrove roots but I didn’t see many crabs scurrying around.
Along near the Storey Bridge the old wharf has been developed after lying vacant for many years. It’s been filled with eateries and there is even a brewery on site. I nearly stopped for a coffee but the smell of fish’n’chips in the air did not make it very inviting and so I moved on.
New Farm is the next port of call; I nearly bought an apartment here when I came to Brisbane. I looked at 3 locations, New Farm, Coorparoo and the Gold Coast………….the latter only because I was already living there, but I wish I had managed to get up to Brisbane instead. So when I get that big Lotto win I will get a place in Brisbane and another on the coast near Wellington Point.
The last section from New Farm to Tenerife is almost all boardwalk. When I got back to Tenerife I then jump on the small ferry across to Bulimba and back to where I started. Bulimba used to be a lovely wee place, a nice place to come for lunch and a stroll but now it’s become very trendy and it was hoachin and it’s expensive too because of its location.
Next time I will do this on the bike and it’s good to see that more bike paths have been added n the last four years, to make it safer and more user friendly. There are a few places where you need to venture up to the roads briefly but generally on this whole trip from Westend to Tenerife I was on a shared bike way.
Another thing that I saw yesterday which I found amusing was the number of girls and women that cake on the makeup, they look like clowns, many hadn’t brought a brolly and so when the rains came their faces melted and fell into the river…………..what a liberating experience for them…………..
The sun was out again this morning but it looks like there is rain coming in over the next day or two so I thought I would make another excursion to the coast, this time I went to Victoria Point. At first it didn’t seem to be as nice as Wellington Point but as you leave the jetty and head north hugging the coastline, then it begins to become a bit more palatable apart from some areas where the big square architectural monoliths have appeared lowering the tone of the whole neighbourhood. I think there are too many home design programmes on TV now and the dumb folk with money think that building a monstrosity in a place without any sympathy to the existing landscape is a fun thing to do or maybe all the available architects had the same stupid teacher.
I’m more of a traditionalist but I do like to see modern innovative design but you would be hard pushed to find it on this part of the coast. Build big for big’s sake and forget about design seems to be what happened here. Mind you in amongst the failures there are a few that excel with forethought and the results are plain to see.
This morning I went to the Daisy Hill Conservation Park for a walk around the Buhot Loop, it’s my first time here. I’m using “Alltrails” which is a great app for finding walks, cycle routes and basically outdoor activities. The entrance to the park is only 15 mins away which was great.
From the car park I walked up a short trail and then came to a notice board showing you the track options. There are tracks for mountain bikes, horses and for walking and many of the trails are communal so you have to be aware of any bikes that may sneak up behind you. Mind you today most of the cyclists were very courteous and I had no problems.
The track was about 11km and pretty easy and rather uneventful. Not much wildlife possibly due to the amount of humans running, riding and walking through the park. It was enjoyable but I don’t think that I will return in a hurry, too busy and too easy.
After lunch I drove back to Wellington Point just in time for low tide so that I could walk out to King Island which lies about a kilometre off shore. There is a wide curving sandbar which is exposed for a few hours which makes it easy to have a casual stroll out and back and if the shop hadn’t been so busy I would have got ice-cream, a well maybe next time.
An old Clipper
Sunbathing
Nice….
This looks like an old rusty cannon lying in the mud……..
Two weeks ago I moved from NSW to QLD. I’ve been enjoying the lovely Queensland winter days, the usual temperature is around 21C although if there is a wind it can feel a little bit chilly. It’s been great for walking and cycling because you very rarely feel like you are getting too hot and the sun does not burn you but instead feels very pleasant on the skin. So yes I have been enjoying being back in my home state.
I’m within 10 kms of the coast which makes it easy to cycle to and I must admit that if I had the cash I would buy in this part of the world. Most of the roads are smooth and wide and there is usually a space for the cyclist. It’s not too hilly and not too busy during the week. I’m staying at Peter and Cheryl’s home for a few weeks till my house becomes available when the tenants move out. The house is on two acres of land in Capalaba only minutes from a busy shopping district but you would never know it when you look out the back door. We are surrounded by wildlife and nature and I quite often see the kangaroos bouncing across the back lawn.
Two nights ago was my first night alone in many months. In the last three years there has only been a handful of nights where I have had the house to myself, I’ve lived on my own for years and this has been common place. Peter and Cheryl headed off for a few weeks holiday leaving me all alone in this big house in the middle of this suburban oasis. Every creak and groan and possum grunt could be heard, but in the dead of night there is silence and I found it rather strange to have so much silence around me once more. I could hear myself breathe. For years this was the norm but I must admit having shared my life with others over the last few years this does not feel like the norm anymore.
I still enjoy my own company and I’m not feeling lonely or anything like that but I am surprised at the way I am feeling. Maybe it’s time to buy a goldfish……………..
When I went to the house the other day I picked up my bike and today I took a run to Cleveland. I did 30.5 km and although there were a few hills I felt not too bad when I got back. It’s quite a busy road and I’ve driven it many times before but this is the first time I have cycled it and you certainly realise that the hills are a bit more challenging. On the way there you drop down to sea level but on the way back with the head wind I felt the old legs complaining a little, but as usual one must never get off.
For my first run in this neighbourhood it went well and I’m going to look for more of the bike paths that are around this area to make the going a bit easier, there are still too many dickheads driving on the roads to give you a fright.
Tomorrow if I feel up to it I might go for anther wee run. The bike is running well and it’s good to get back on board, although using the clip on shoes took a bit of getting used to again. I had to make sure that my knee is in the upright position before twisting my foot to unclip or I may twist my knee instead.
I went to the lighthouse at Cleveland overlooking Moreton Bay which is a very pretty spot, although the wind was a bit fresh…………..
Well yesterday I went with Peter to the house to pick up the Olde Ford, my trusty steed has been resting for over two years tucked away in the shed at the foot of the garden.
The tenants were home but they had removed their dogs and left the gate open for us so that we could access the shed. After a few minutes trying to remove the padlocks they finally opened and in I went to a dry smell free shed with only a few cobwebs. I made my way through the maze of boxes to the car and then opened the garage door which I had screwed shut from the inside.
The car was covered in dust and the towels covering the windscreen had fallen down. I opened the door and popped the bonnet. The inside of the car was full of clothes and towels, in the boot were my computers and monitors along with my bicycle shoes which I was hoping to find because I wanted to take my bike back with me today.
We removed the spark plugs and Peter had prepared a petrol and oil mixture which he delivered straight into each cylinder using a syringe. This was to lubricate the cylinders and to try to lessen damage to the engine when we turned it over. It was a bit fiddly and Peter cut the tip of his finger as he tried to remove the first HT lead. After 20 mins or so we had removed and replaced all 6 plugs and then connected the battery via jump leads to Peter’s car. The time had come to see if the Olde girl would start.
The first attempt was half hearted, mainly due to the lack of juice in the battery. The second attempt sounded better but after a few seconds stopped. On the third turn of the key she burst into life and I was fair chuffed. There was blue smoke filling the garage which came from the concoction that we had thrown down here throat. I eased the car forward after a few minutes and took her outside the shed and just let her tick over. We were expecting this to be more difficult but were pleased and relieved that the car was running.
I got my permit and stuck it to the dashboard. The tyres were a little bit soft and so I drove up to Danny’s to use his compressor to pump up the tyres and then I hosed off the last two years of dust and gecko shit. After which it was time to take my wee Ford to the garage to get the first of the certificates to get her road legal. The first certificate will be for the gas tank, this is supposed to be checked every ten years but I have had the car for 16 years and never had it checked. This will cost $550. I then need to get a RWC (Road Worthy Certificate) before finally getting the car registered. This is a bit scary because I know of a few faults, for example the blown exhaust, a small oil leak and the steering wheel needs a new cover. These are all very minor repairs and so I am hoping that I don’t have any surprises waiting for me.
The drive from home to the mechanic was around 30 km and the car felt OK and there didn’t seem to be any obvious problems so hears hoping. He will look at the car today and so I will just have to wait for his call to see what the damage will be. If all goes well I could be back on the road by the weekend which would be great.
Well after three months I have finally left Catherine and Stuart in peace and they can get back to normal, Stuart will once again be able to come out the shower without clothes and stand naked in front of the wood burner heater….apparently my presence stopped this behaviour, which I was happy about.
We drove to Ballina Truck stop on the highway near Ballina of course and not far from the Queensland border. My friend Peter came down from Capalaba near Brisbane to pick me up which was magic. I’ll be staying at his place for about a month until I can get into my house.
The rain was belting down as we approached the Queensland border which is closed to residents of any other state; we both had our permits on the front window. As we passed the checkpoint the traffic did not slow and the police were sheltering from the downpour, so much for border security…….every man and their dog could easily slip into the state.
I’m so grateful to Catherine and Stuart for putting up with me and giving me bed and board for the last three months, I’m not sure what I would have done if they were not able to help me.
Peter and Cheryl will be leaving in two weeks time on a road trip and I will be able to stay at their place for at least a month. The house is set on two acres of land and is very quiet, apart from the Kookaburra’s calls first thing in the morning.
Tomorrow Peter and I will go to the hoose and see if we can get the Olde Ford running, if all goes well I’ll take it to the mechanic to get the relevant certificates to get her back on the road. Hopefully it will be straight forward.
The car has not turned a wheel for over two years and so I really hope that all will be well. So looking forward to having my wheels back, having my freedom to go where I want when I want. be going for a few drives and catching up with friends and I’m really looking forward to just getting back to my own space and my own times zone, rather than having to rely on others.
Today we went to Wollomombi Falls which is about 30 mins from Armidale. It rained a little last night and so we thought that it might be good to go and see if there was actually any water flowing over the falls. The drought has been severe this year and rain is a rare commodity. There was a steady stream falling but I’ve seen it years ago when it looked a lot more spectacular.
There are a few short walks and if you arrive there and go left you can walk for quite a fair away. If you are lucky enough you may see some wild life, today we managed to hear and see the amazing Lyrebird. If you have not heard of this amazing creature before then you need to Google it because it is famous for being able to imitate almost any sound including chainsaws. Today we heard it going through its repertoire of bird songs and then we actually saw it running through the ground cover like the Roadrunner..
It was a pleasant walk today because the path hugs the gorge and the views are spectacular plus the fact due to the rain this morning everywhere had a freshness about it and the lichens and mosses looked very colourful indeed.
