It is now spring in Queensland, temperatures are creeping up slowly and I'm getting slightly aprehensive about the summer. The swimming pool next door has opened and I had my first swim there this morning. It was built in the 1860s I think, and claims to be the oldest pool in Australia. It's wonderful. It has the changing cubicles around the outside - Mens on one side and Women's on the others - and there are signs about not spitting or smoking or diving off the spectators balcony! Reopening was delayed by damage to the heating system. black tubes run across the roof to warm the water, and when they turned them on a couple of weeks ago water spurted high into the air where the hailstorms from winter had severed the tubes.
I'll try and get a photo from inside the pool when I remember.
This was sunrise from our window the other morning:
Last Sunday we cashed in our wedding present from our friends in England. A group of them (you know who you are) combined to buy us a seaplane trip, which proved to be absolutely great!
We drove down to the Marina near Southport on the Gold Coast early in the morning, and then were taken for a flight up the coast to South Stradbroke Island. The views were stunning - a completely new perspective on the area. You can see for yourself in the following photos:
Once there we were dropped off by the pilot with a table chairs and hamper and left for the morning and early afternoon. Yes, of course the weather was good - this is Queensland, after all! We went for a decent half hour run on the sand, and then came back to eat a magnificent seafood platter. Huge tasty prawns, Moreton Bay Bugs (don't ask me what they are), Crab, then a fruit platter and a bottle of sparkling wine.
Tomorrow we are going to Fraser Island for a few days - again off the Queensland Coast - the largest sand island in the world. I'll put some photos up when we get back!
Bye for now.
