Our 2 weeks in the Tweed Valley has proved relaxing with warm sunny days and Dave settling in with a new whizbang fibro cast after his return from the orthopod appointment in Melbourne.  While Dave busied himself in Melb with sore paw appointments, I took the opportunity to visit Krystal Castle in the Byron hinterland.  I wandered the lush beautiful gardens, relaxed in meditation classes, had a healing through the crystals and altogether had a delightfully serene, ethereal experience...returning exquisitely embodied to take on the world.  A very tranquil experience.

This Tweed region is situated in a "volcanic caldera" originally triggered by the emptying of the magma chamber beneath a volcano.  The area consists of the largest amount of heritage listed national parks in Australia with the largest subtropical rainforest area.  Many waterways crisscross the beautiful landscape and Dave and I have spent balmy days cruising the Tweed River and enjoyed touring this picturesque area.

Cabarita beach has proved a great location, close to Byron hinterland and the many driving tours to be found as well as 20mins south of Tweed Heads and all the Gold Coast has to offer.   Dotted with eclectic cafes and lots of galleries with our favourite being Margaret Olley's permanent display of still life near Murwillumbah.  A modern permanent gallery offering space for lots of artists and sculptures and set high on the side of a hill overlooking the Tweed Valley.

We had fun taste testing cheese at a local dairy and gin at Husk Distillery... a true paddock to plate and bottle experience.  Needless to say the car is a little heavier with purchases.

Warm sunny days have us hoping that spring is beginning to appear back home in Melbourne as we say goodbye to this beautiful region, the warmth of the north and begin our trip back south.

Sorry to leave Yeppoon but excited to pick up Steph and Kate as we move on to Agnes Waters via Gladstone airport.  Our beachfront destination for the next week is located at the end of heavily vegetated laneway which makes it peacefully secluded right on the beach.  Perfect for walks, early morning swims, lazy afternoon book reads and strolls to the local eatery for sunset drinks.  Agnes Waters proved a sleepy, small delightful surprise merging into an even more picturesque township of 1770, home of the first sighting of Australia by Captain Cook.  Needless to say we did not move far from our beach home over the next few days, thoroughly enjoying the girls company, warm sunshine and even warmer sand as we walked the beachfront.

Dave flew to Melbourne next day for consult and has return to continue travels with a short further trip to Melbourne for specialist review.  Sadly break is right side so all activity is now restricted to left hand...just a bit tedious and slow.  While he puts on his socks I manage to shower, dry hair and knit a new pair of socks....hmmm.  May need to enlist some dedicated helpers for Dave on GF Day I fear.

We have moved on to Cabarita Beach for the last 10 days.  Located 20min south of Tweed Heads we are discovering that the Tweed Valley is a most beautiful location.

We made it to Longreach unscathed although our friends from the GC traveling 2 days behind us managed to run over a dead kangaroo requiring some minor car repairs.  Longreach is a land of large cars and caravans, leaving us feeling a little naked without the house on the back.  Nevertheless our AirBnB proved luxurious, large and welcoming and located well.  First night dinner we walked to the local caravan park...these are like mini cities with endless vans... and had a great meal in the onsite function centre complete with bar and great live entertainment.  We sat with 2 other couples who proved full of conversation and interesting local facts and then we slowly walked home in the balmy evening warmth.

We planned to spend our one day stretched across various local activities but after arriving at the Stockmans Hall of Fame for 9am opening we staggered out at 3:30pm...a mighty tribute to the pioneers and development of this drought and flood prone harsh country.  Too late to include tours of Qantas and Thompson River boat cruises.  But the drive-past the Qantas site confirmed the enormity and oddness of seeing large planes (including a 747) positioned in the middle of outback Australia.  This taste of outback has established the need for a return trip here and on to Mt Isa in the future.

Leaving Longreach we traveled 8 hrs to reach the coast and the small village of Yeppoon.  Another great AirBnB located us in the tiny main road on the beach foreshore with great balcony and well appointed beachhouse.  Great base for visit to Rockhampton, walking, harbour seafood yummies and a surprising visit to the local find...The Capricorn Caves.  First discovered in 1888 they are above ground dry caves with many discovered fossils of prehistoric animals from millions of years ago when this area was under the sea and covered in volcanoes.  Many fossils are still being discovered by the paleontologists currently onsite.  We had a marvellous 1 hr tour through the labyrinth of caves...highlighted by a rest in the "cathedral" area used for wedding ceremonies and opera performances.  Because of the structure of the caves the acoustics are equivalent to the Sydney Opera House.  With lights dimmed and then total blackness a rendition of "Alleluia" made the space almost surreal as we sat and absorbed the surrounds and music.  An absolute highlight for both of us.

Tomorrow we move on to Agnes Waters, picking up Steph and friend Kate to join us.  Still soaking up mid 20 degrees and sunshine...sorry Melbourne people!

We are now 3 weeks into our driving holiday into Qld.  Have been blessed with fantastic weather, making use of the Artesian Springs at Mitchell while it snowed at home

Caught up with friends in Canberra, Lake MacQuarie and then the Gold Coast which has been a bonus as we motored along.

I am astounded at the endless open country we are moving through taking time to stop in small towns flushed with abundant history.  A 2 night farmstay 50 kms west of Mitchell has proven a highlight, staying on a 33,000 acre property called Bonus Downs.  Approaching was reminiscent of Faraway Downs from the movie Australia.  Night time meals with owners Lyle, Madonna and roustabout Charlie were full of stories both past and present.  Amazing photos and history gave us endless hours of reading dating back to the 1860’s.  Currently in its 4th year of drought, the stories constantly related to people reliant on weather, which has seen the oscillation between abundance with rain and ruin with drought for past 200 years.

Leaving Bonus Downs and dodging numerous road kill we have learnt that this area first settled with sheep but now only sustains catlle due to the wild dogs, we know as dingoes.  Charleville was sleepy at the weekend but we managed to see the Flying Doctor Service and a great show of the Bilby reintroduction in our one day here.  Currently heading north to Longreach.  This morning drive requires a driver and scout to avoid kangaroos and emus crossing the roads and navigating the large cattle droves, including their spare horses.

Recently Steph took on the "hardest thing I have ever done".  A climb to the top of Mt Wilhelm.  At 4,500m this is the highest mountain in PNG and twice the height Mt Kosciuszko and half the height of Mt Everest.  Even the altitude sickness tablets did not help being out of breath all the time.

Our current trip through the Yukon and today over the ‘Top Highway in the World ‘. Now in Alaska en route to Fairbanks then Denali National Park. Stunning journey with our daughter Erin who is on a teaching exchange to Vancouver.

Cheers Ian and Jenny Stevenson

During a recent holiday in China we found ourselves in Tiananmen Square on the 4th June, the day of the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre.  We were warned not to say anything controversial or do anything to attract attention to ourselves.   Security was intense and there were an extra 10,000 plain clothes police in the Square.  We were told visitor numbers were down compared to normal as it took so long to get through security, but there were still close to 100,000 visitors in the Square and the adjacent Forbidden City.

What was also interesting was China’s reaction to Americas comments after the Hong Kong rallies.  The headline of an article on page 4 of the China Daily June 15-16 read “US should improve its own human rights record” before going on to tell the US to stay out of China’s internal affairs.  The article backed up what most English speaking Chinese made to us – they were prepared to sacrifice personal freedoms for economic advancement, given that the Communist Party has lifted 800 million people out of abject poverty.

The ARH Tiger flown by Major Ben Lawler during recent exercises off the disputed island in the South China sea.

Amid growing concern about potential threats to peace in the Indo-Pacific, a Royal Australian Navy task force has completed a three-month tour of seven key regional nations.
Led by the flagship HMAS Canberra, the four ships on the Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2019 (IPE 19) operation visited India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia on one of the RAN’s most complex and ambitious operations in peacetime.
‘This deployment sends a very strong message throughout the region that Australia’s a very capable and committed partner, friend and ally.’
While a focus of the trip was on humanitarian and disaster relief operations, it can’t have been lost on anyone that the flagship carried four of the army’s Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopters from the 1st Aviation Regiment.
The army fliers were there to take advantage of the extended time at sea to qualify for deck landings by night and day and in varied weather conditions.
Despite years of problems getting the Tigers operational, their pilots say they have matured into very capable combat aircraft. They ‘go like Greyhounds’ and they’re very well suited to the ship.
It’s telling, too, that the helicopters were flown to Malaysia on the RAAF’s giant C-17 transport planes. They were assembled there and were then flown out to HMAS Canberra.
‘With the Tigers on board, the landing ships can carry out a whole range of additional missions with greater security.’

Starting with Expresso Martini’s - to sustain us through the first part of the show - a beautiful dinner ( and more wine and cocktails ) in a quiet booth at Federici Bistro next door to theatre and not too far to travel - it allowed us all to relax and have fun and enjoy the Magic of Harry Potter

When Harry Potter was first released I was one of those parents queuing at midnight for the books hot off the press- then purchased the talking book CDs - When the movies of Harry Potter were made we would all go so it was only fitting that when the play came out we would all go as a Family. It just so happened that the partners weren’t into Harry Potter and so didn’t come.
Would I sit through it again? Yes !
The time flew by.
The music, the stage effects, the story , the set designs - so much work and it was great .
The only down side is that it is the Princess theatre and if you are tall - there is NOT a lot  of leg room and seating is very cosy !!

Foot note :
What is interesting in JK Rowling’s play is the Importance of Love and she highlights the importance of the very early years in the development of resilience and personality. Harry was a loved and wanted child and is in stark contrast with Voldemort - who was the child of a loveless union .
So LOVE 💕 makes the world a happier place .