Sunny in Paradise……

November 25, 2024 / brisbanefrannie / Leave a comment

We had a locally made curry last night – the house managers get local people to provide a takeaway service to the house. It’s great. It saves cooking your own meal in the shared kitchen and the only 2 restaurants on the island are only open once it twice a week and not at all in the rain.

Our night was very peaceful – only waking to hear the rain pouring and then the call to prayer at 4am onwards.

When we woke the sun was struggling through. It looked completely different outside. The water opposite the house the most delicious aqua blue.

Paula provided us with a beautiful breakfast. Soaked oats and a bowl of exotic fruits, scrambled eggs and three types of local honey. Very delicious.

Paula Carnell along with her husband Greg have travelled from Somerset England to here to be house keepers for this house. One reason is to see the impact on bees this local environment has.

Paula studied art and became a very well successful artist painting on silk. Sge ran a successful card business. She produced a book of 40 paintings – After an illness put her out of action for nearly seven years it was during her slow recovery that she became interested in bees.

She started keeping bees and never looked back. She is studying to be a medical herbalist has a business called Creating a Buzz about Health. She is a bee consultant, artist , author of several books, traveller, podcaster and charming.

They are minding this house for a year. Adventurous! Paula wanted to keep bees in Cocos and they were offered this house to housekeep. They aren’t the managers. They simply ( or not so simply) do the house keeping.

Our walk this morning took us along the lagoon side of the island.

Come along with me……

Out the front door facing the water and a quick greeting to Bruce and Natsuko who were returning from fishing.

We saw the little beach in front but decided to head to the other end of the island while there was no rain.

We walked over some paving rocks with the stamp from Glasgow brickworks clearly visible. The Clunies-Ross family came from Glasgow when they arrived.

Past the original main gates

Along the waterfront

Past the houses. All the same.

The roads are paved some have fences.

We saw the Museum which we’ll visit tomorrow.

The supermarket has a little restaurant attached. Closed now because of the weather.

We arrive a the most gorgeous beach. Sandy white bottom crystal clear water turtles further out.

I’m going to post this now as wifi is so unstable. Rain presently torrential at 8am.

Part 2 of the walk will follow.

Move to Home Island – in the rain

November 24, 2024November 24, 2024 / brisbanefrannie / 3 Comments

The sun was out this morning and spirits lifted. But not for long. By the time we had breakfast and made some food for Jo and Martyn it had started to rain.

Martyn stayed at the clinic with Jo last night. It’s not a hospital so no night staff, no bed sheets – everything disposable as there is no laundry. A nurse left her medication and when they returned in the morning her pain was extremely uncomfortable.

We sat chatting trying to lift her spirits but the medivac wasn’t able to arrive so Jo & Martyn were feeling a little stressed.

Lovely Pete, our boat man from yesterday and Amy, the very capable nurse called to see Jo and promised to bring them some dinner tonight.

Amy the nurse and Pete the boat skipper arrived with a fish curry

We packed up and headed for the ferry to get us to Home Island. We have 3 nights at the historic Clunies-Ross home Oceania House built in 1893 built by the grandson of the original Scottish settler John who arrived in 1827after the islands were discovered by William Keeling in 1609.

The crossing took 30 mins. ( it would have taken the boys about 4 hrs to swim!) It was calm though rainy. Not like yesterday with waves that caused the boat to pitch up and down.

Looking from the wharf to where we set out yesterday!

Gary, the house caretaker met us and gave us a short tour of the island. It’s very different to West is. There are more people here and the houses are very different. It’s a Muslim community so there is a call to prayer sounded five times a day. And there is no alcohol.

We drive through the wet streets- some closed due to flooding! Gary pointed out the attractions and the best places to swim. His wife Paula met us on arrival at the house and explained a little about how it’s run. There are 6 bedrooms 3 with ensuites the other 3 share 2 bathrooms. Ours – the Daphne room is large with old world furniture and a view of the garden.

The lovely bedroom with a bathroom 70’s style! But functional.

There is a shared kitchen where you can keep your food and cook your meals. Or you can ask for a home cooked meal – they have a few Malay people who cook curries. We did that for tonight.

We unpacked and had a drink in our lovely room before going down for our curry. We shared the table with two other two couples.

Bruce and Natsuko from Perth and Wolf and Marion from Germany. The German couple in their late 70’s and 80 something are staying a month.

We had a little look around the house but are doing a tour with Gary tomorrow. He has all the historical details for us.

We miss our friends so much. Wish they were here enjoying this lovely old house. They are still stuck in the clinic wondering what’s going on. We’re all very worried for Jo.

Tomorrow we plan to go for a swim at a nearby beach. Even in the rain they said it’s beautiful and we’ll see turtles.

Swim Plan Change

November 22, 2024 / brisbanefrannie / 5 Comments

We were up early and organised. Jo is a nurse and a nurturing type of person. She had everything planned ready to go.

Off we walked to Pete, the boat man’s house 4 doors away.

Old man . Wood sculpture in Pete’s garden.

The weather was still a bit rainy and windy but he reassured us it would be quite good to swim with the wind behind them.

We got to the boat ramp loaded the boat, had the safety talk and off we went. Straight away it was very bumpy and we were soaked within minutes. We had a 20 min ride across the lagoon to Home Is where they would start the swim back.

Pete had the lures. We were going to fish while they swam.

The surrounding coconut jungle was awesome.

10 minutes into the 20 min ride, we hit some waves. The boat flew up and bang. Down we came and then a scream from Jo. She landed on her bum heavily ( I did too but had braced a little )

She was in excruciating pain. Pete slowed and made the decision to head back. Jo was in so much pain she couldn’t move. Pete took control and phoned the ambulance and the Police. They were there in ten minutes and Amy and Chris, the nurses from the clinic took over. Out came the green pain whistle, the morphine drip and the very carefully placed support to lift her off the boat onto the stretcher with the two nurses , 3 police and Steve helping move her gently. It was hard to watch.

I went in the ambulance to the clinic. The Doctor who lives on Home island was on his way to where we were on West Island. He was changing over today when the plane arrived with another Doctor.

He took an X-ray. Sent it to Perth. Spoke to a specialist and within an hour found Jo had a compression fracture in the L1 of her spine. Fortunately, her feet and hands were moving.

The drugs kicked in and she started to relax as much as she could.

Plans got changed.

They managed to get a medivac plane to come tomorrow from Perth. She’ll be going to Perth hospital.

We spent the afternoon going to and from our house rearranging our plans. Steve and I will continue onto Home island tomorrow- and miss our travel buddies so much. They will head to Perth to see what is going to happen next. Poor Jo.

We bought fish and chips from Salty’s the bakery – come take away. Friday is Fish & chips , Tuesday pizza ( to coincide with the twice weekly plane arrivals. ) It is conveniently placed next door to the Cocos club. Where you go and buy a drink until they deliver your food!

By the late afternoon we had met all the important people here on Cocos and heard their stories.

Amy, the gorgeous nurse is the partner of Pete the boat man. KL another nurse comes from Currumbin and is headed back for Christmas – on our plane. Waka arrived 7 months ago and Chris arrived this week to replace KL. We saw them all at the Cocos club and Salty’s getting their Friday Fish and chips.

I took Jo her fish dinner as we are the only ones in the clinic. They usually don’t have anyone over night. So Martyn is staying the night with Waka only a phone call away.

We are thankful that the rest of us weren’t injured and Jo can get away tomorrow.

Oh …..that’s if the expected cyclone doesn’t arrive.

No swim this time. Steve and Martyn are planning another one.

Us with Jo and Martyn before the accident.

Quiet Day on Cocos

November 21, 2024November 22, 2024 / brisbanefrannie / 2 Comments

We were up early with it bags packed ready for a picnic swimming day on Direction Island.

Best plans often get disrupted. This time by rain. It was raining quite heavily and we decided going to a deserted island – no matter how beautiful would not be the same in rain. For 5 hours. The ferry drops you at 9.30 and picks you up at 2.30.

So back to bed to restart our day later. Steve and Martyn had a visit from Peter the boat captain for tomorrow’s big swim. He took them to where they would be landing and discuss the route from Home island to here on West Island.

Jo & I caught up on our reading on the lovely verandah. We went walking in a break in the rain and ended up at Sally’s bakery. It it had closed. The only cafe and the 2-3 restaurants only open intermittently. Very strange.

We dropped into the supermarket and got some bread. $10 I don’t know how people live here. The prices are so expensive and it’s such a long way to go to get anywhere. It’s actually closer to Malaysia than Australia.

We browsed the little information centre / museum. Then headed back along the waterfront for lunch on our verandah.

Last night we’d gone up the Cocos club for a few drinks before dinner. But discovered the little restaurant that was down to open tonight was closed for the Year 10 formal. So we had to buy a frozen bbq pack to cook at home. It worked out beautifully. But the 2 glasses of wine made me sleepy so it was another early night. We are definitely settling into island life.

In the afternoon I went for another walk and spotted 4 black tipped sharks. Just off shore.

Then I found the old Government House. Government House, constructed in 1953, is an important symbol of Australian Government representation on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.

It features a similar design to other houses in the area. It’s one story , suited to local climatic conditions and includes a formal driveway with white painted edges, fencing, a flag pole and area for entertaining. It is sited with ocean frontage.

I walked past the High School which goes to year 10.

And I adored all the frangipani trees either bouys handing in them.

We had dinner on our verandah. A carb load g for Steve and Martyn getting ready for their 9 km swim tomorrow.

Off to bed early to get ready for when Peter arrives with his boat to take us over the Home Island to swim back. Jo & I will travel on the boat to organise the feeds. Regular drink stops and a sugar hit to keep them going.

Our friend, Martyn Southall in raising some money for National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Martyn and Steve are both looking to do a 9 km swim at Cocos Island on Friday.

The link is below.

https://fundraise.nbcf.org.au/fundraisers/martynsouthall/swim-for-breast-cancer

If you’d like to know more or make a donation please use the link.

Wish them luck. The conditions are not ideal so we hope they make it.

Cocos Keeling Island – History

November 21, 2024 / brisbanefrannie / 4 Comments

Many people (including myself ) know about Cocos Islands. I have now read a lot about it and its history.

The islands were on the ancient trade route between India, Burma, and Southeast Asia and were regularly visited by ships. In the 16th century, Portuguese sailors named the islands after the Portuguese word for coconut, coco

The islands were then discovered in 1609 by the British sea captain William Keeling but no settlement occurred until the early 19th century. One of the first settlers was John Clunies-Ross, a Scottish merchant; much of the island’s current population is descended from the Malay workers he brought in to work his copra plantation. The Clunies-Ross family ruled the islands as a private fiefdom for almost 150 years, with the head of the family usually recognised as resident magistrate. The British annexed the islands in 1857, and for the next century they were administered from either Ceylon or Singapore. The territory was transferred to Australia in 1955, although until 1979 virtually all of the territory’s real estate still belonged to the Clunies-Ross family.

Charles Darwin spent 12 days at the Cocos (keeling) Islands in the Indian Ocean during the Voyage of HMS Beagle in 1836. He explored many parts of the archipelago, and collected a large number of geological, plant and animal specimens.

The Two World Wars saw the islands become targets due to their strategic position in the Indian Ocean.

From 1944 to 1946 the tranquil islands came under military administration and buzzed with activity, home to thousands of military personnel.

The people of the Cocos Keeling Islands voted to become part of Australia in 1984.

The islands are now an internationally significant habitat for wildlife, and a remote tropical paradise for tourists seeking adventure, culture and space to breathe

The island is home to some rare bird including the red foot booby bird. I remember when we were in Galapagos we saw the blue footed booby bird.

Cocos is also home to the red crab. There are hundreds of them. Little ones to quite big ones who crossed the sandy road in front of us when we went cycling out to the yacht club yesterday.

The sunsets are also very special. Though we have had a lot of cloud cover tonights was rather lovely.

Tour da Cocos

November 20, 2024 / brisbanefrannie / 3 Comments

A lazy start to the day sitting on the verandah but not at all concerned that the weather looks a little cloudy. The breeze keeps the bugs and the rain away. Think positive.

The boys set off to organise e-bikes for us to discover the island. I haven’t ridden a bike for a few years but ‘they’ say you don’t forget.

Well, I’ve never ridden an e -bike. And yes, they help you move along at a cracking pace. But these bikes were soooo heavy, and very hard to manoeuvre. But we did it. All day ! We covered this little slice of paradise from north to south. Lots of kilometres.

First stop the cooperative supermarket. We were told to bring most of our food as the supermarket and restaurants are light on products and are only open certain days.

Our bags were crammed with cheese & crackers , jatz, fruit, cereal, wraps bagels ham etc etc. Frozen milk kept it all cold route. Lucky we did, as the supermarket had very empty shelves. Lots of deodorant? They definitely need it in the heat, but do the locals and visitors buy it at very inflated prices?

We visited the Big Barge. A unique barge repurposed into an Art Gallery and cafe. It’s by the water and a delightful spot for a coffee and sweet treat.

The barge built by the Clunies-Ross family on Home island and finally brought to West Island retired and opened as a gallery.

Back on the bikes and along to Trannies Beach – which we renamed Frannies Beach!

A beautiful swim in crystal clear water with colourful fish and tons of busy crabs going about their business.

A quick dry off and back in the bikes to next stop the jetty where the ferry leaves for Home island and Direction Island ( voted the most beautiful beach in Australia) – and we’re going tomorrow.

The boys looking at the lagoon across to Home island.

Thursday, the boys will be swimming across the lagoon. Partly for a challenge but mostly to raise funds for breast cancer. Jo has made a good recovery from breast cancer and Martyn wants to continue to raise awareness and much needed funds. I will include a link if you’d like to donate a $ towards it.

The weather isn’t great but it’s not boiling hot! That’s a positive.

We cycled back to Waves our house here and enjoyed lunch on the deck before setting off to the other end of the island to the Yacht Club.

Beautiful beaches.

Attractive reef shoes for these beautiful beaches.

The Yacht Club was a disappointment! Not an icy drink in sight. But pristine beaches.

Back to Waves for a well deserved shower and Gin & Tonic on the verandah.

Tonight we’re going to the Cocos club. There’s not much alcohol on these islands but there is at the Cocos club. But dinner! They don’t do food. The restaurant that’s open tonight is only for a school function!!! But they supply a bbq pack which we’ll cook at home on our verandah. Not a disappointment.

Apparently there are a few little sharks.

Cocos Keeling Islands here we come.

November 20, 2024 / brisbanefrannie / 5 Comments

‘No overseas trip for us I said.’ After our epic 9 week trip last year we needed to holiday closer to Australia.

2024 has seen us go to Adelaide twice. Once for the wonderful Adelaide Festivals ( and yes my choir Soul Song sang ),. Back to Adelaide in June for our nephew Luke’s 50th and his brother Kenrick’s 40th.

A visit to Sydney for my niece Pips 40th was fun with a beautiful High Tea at the Intercontinental Hotel.

A road trip to Tamworth for Steve’s birthday, staying at Goonoo Goonoo a cattle property set up for guests. It’s really beautiful with a top class restaurant called Glasshouse perched on a hill overlooking the green pastures.

Then a visit to the Tamworth Regional Art Gallery for a quilt exhibition and lecture by Jenny Bowker AM. Jenny travelled with her husband Bob to many middle eastern countries when he was an ambassador. She made the most of her time there by connecting with local craftspeople and has told the story of her adventures in her quilts. Quite extraordinary.

Our early November trip to French New Caledonia was cancelled due to the continued civil unrest in the country. hopefully we’ll get there at another time. Steve’s Grandmother grew up there so he’d love to discover the world she lived in there.

Our final trip is to the Cocos Keeling Islands. Sitting in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Western Australia it is close to Malaysia so many of the Cocos Malay inhabitants are Islamic.

We are on West Island for a few nights. Then Home Island.

There are around 600 people with many on West Island where the airport is located and then Home Island has many of the Cocos Malay people and the very old Oceania House.

After a very long travel day due to island winds delaying our plane we finally arrived around 8.30. There are only 2 flights a week from Perth and last week the plane got to Christmas Island then had to turn back.

An unscheduled stop at Learmouth for fuel ( in case we couldn’t stop at Christmas Island ). We managed to land at Christmas and dropped off passengers and picked up others doing the round trip back to Perth.

Our house is great. We walked from the airport as our host took the bags in her car. It’s opposite the water and has 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms for ourselves and friends Jo and Martyn.

Tomorrow adventures await.

Mad Hatters in Goondiwindi.

September 1, 2024 / brisbanefrannie / 6 Comments

The big day arrived. Our costumes were ready. we were ready.

To fill in the day we spent time at the Harrisons doing odd jobs. Well some did and most of us stayed out of the way.

We had an hours trip to get to Boomi so had to be dressed ready to go by 4.30. And it was hot.

Peter picked us up at our motel in a bus belonging to the local aged care home. What a sight we made.

A quick photo shoot and into the bus with a few bottles of champagne for the journey.

What a crew.

An hour later we poured out of the bus and noticed no one else was dressed up. There were a few simple hats but no one else came as the mad hatter, the rabbit, the scarecrow the witch, the wizard, queen of hearts or jester.

Just us.

We enjoyed drinks on the lawn and lots of admiring comments before heading in to the old hall set with long tables.

We decorated ours. Candelabras, ice buckets, oversized cup and saucers for our tea party!

The show was fun and the enthusiasm from the local cast was fantastic. So much work goes into this production- an original musical staged every second year. Funds raised goes directly back into the community.

The local talent is great.

I loved the local policeman who only on Thursday night was chasing a criminal through town only to smash into a fence and injure his foot. He was the King and made it through the show smiling and hopping but slipped in a reference to taking a pain killer !

Food was plentiful, supplied by local Gundy caterer Sandy Henderson who happens to be our friend’s daughter’s mother in law. Lauren was there working in the kitchen.

We were awarded joint best dressed. Which wasn’t hard as we were the only ones dressed up.

I love these country communities. Even we recognised people from Gundi like the lady from the cotton shop.

After a standing ovation we climbed back onto the bus with Peter driving the hour back to Gundi. We were all so impressed with the Boomi community. They pulled off a great night. It was worth the drive from the city.

The next morning we gathered at the Harrisons house for Helen’s country scrambled eggs before heading home laden fruit cake thanks to Anne, rocky road courtesy of Pam.

Thanks Peter & Carmel for a great few days.

Goondiwindi a Country favourite

August 30, 2024August 30, 2024 / brisbanefrannie / 1 Comment

We’re back in the border town Goondiwindi or Gundy as it’s know. Famous for the horse Gunsynd , for its cotton farms and friendly country welcome its been suffering bad press due to its outbreak of car thefts.

Pulling into The Border Motel we knew we would be safe at night when we spotted the black security gates and the police car in the car park.

We’re here to join our group of travellers for the infamous Boomi amateur thespian society’s musical. This years theme had us raiding dress up boxes and second hand shops. And for one of our group a trip to Bunnings!

All shall be revealed tomorrow!

We rolled into Gundy in convoy on Thursday and rendezvoused at the Harrisons house before heading to the Railway Hotel for a country steak dinner.

Friday we headed off with guide Mike in a small bus for a tour to a cotton farm. The farm is one of the bigger ones in the area “Alcheringa” owned by the family who also own the Goondiwindi cotton shop in town. This business is well known in the fashion industry for its good quality cotton clothing.

Mike gave the best tour explaining the planting, growing, harvesting and production of cotton. It’s a great story especially hearing how it’s being managed now to save water.

We collected our cotton samples including handfuls of seed to plant our own cotton plant at home. Possibly not enough for a tshirt!

We headed back to town to the Customs House museum for coffee and damper – it’s a type of scone served with golden syrup. And it’s delicious.

Then a visit to the cotton shop for a few purchases.

A quiet afternoon wandering the town enjoying the bright street art.

Then a relaxed dinner at the Harrison’s house where we all lent a hand in the kitchen.

The front verandah was the perfect place to chat and show and tell about our costumes for tomorrow’s mad hatters dress up for Boomi.

Wait for tomorrow’s post.

I’m on Fiji Time

May 29, 2024 / brisbanefrannie / 2 Comments

Bula. This friendly greeting is said by everyone you pass in this land of smiles.

It’s a traditional greeting. A hello. Or Hi. It’s easy to say and so lovely. The breakfast staff are full of greetings and smiles. How can you not start the day well when you are so well looked after. Nothing is too much trouble.

Today’s swim is here at the Sofitel. Right out the front. So a light breakfast. Did I mention how yum the local peanut butter is!!!! I had a little on toast before we headed to the beach front. The flags were up. The swimmers were all greeting each other like lifetime friends – which they probably will be by the end of this week.

The end of swim flags with our grass skirt class warriors.

Scott Rice , the organiser gives a clear briefing for the first swim. The 1 km. Conditions are much better, so optimism is high amongst the swimmers.

People are all rubbing cream onto each other. The anti lice cream is getting a big following. Quite a few got eaten by the lice yesterday and we know there are lice here. So much rubbing is going on. Armpits, under swimmers- no one is shy here!

The first race is off- a deep water start.

Jill and I waited, then leisurely entered the water for our private race for two. Water temperature is beautiful.

We swam around the area next to the course until we saw the first swimmers returning. The pool swimmers were favoured today in the flat conditions. But Ky Hurst’s young son once again came second.

I spoke to him after and he is such s a lovely kid.

As they finished people had jubilation written all over their faces.

Then the 3km briefing.

The briefing with Kim & Steve centre photo.

Into the water and away to the sound of the conch shell.

The young Fijians filled in time teaching a little one how to blow the conch shell.

And practised doing the Floss dance. To the cheers of the crowd.

The US guy was able to pull his passenger along.

He set of last but unfortunately as he overtook people ( he’s such a strong swimmer) the kayak hit a few swimmers. They weren’t happy so she had to be towed back by a jet ski.

Once again Ky Hurst cruised home for a win.

Our friends from NZ, Avy and Kim came in not far behind the leaders in under an hour.

David and Steve swam well and came in just over the hour I was in a good spot for cheering on the swimmers. They are all shapes and sizes. And the variety of swimwear is amazing.

We had lunch by the water outside the Waitui Club. It’s an adults only section of the hotel.

Jill, Avy and I walked after lunch. Just down to the Marina about 2 km away. Bought a few tshirts for the kids and a jar of the local peanut butter.

Back to the infinity pool a sit on the deck chairs, a book and a cocktail completed the afternoon.

The evening drink session and days wrap was again a success. The 5 minute highlights movie is terrific. Lots of claps and cheering as some very happy people ran, jogged, danced and in one case fell over the finish line.

We sat with some new friends and had a pizza before heading to our room.

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