Adelaide Festival Time…. Again

March 1, 2025 / brisbanefrannie / 2 Comments

I look forward to this time of the….. visiting family during festival time. And it’s made extra special as my choir are performing once more at the Fringe Festival.

Our choir, called Soul Singers , are doing as fun interactive show called Bangers & Mash Ups. It’s a combination of popular songs gathered into themes. Love Bangers, Boy Band, Rock Bangers etc. loads of fun and interactive for the audience.

Yes, it a sell out. Over 800 tickets have been sold. Not too bad ! And the envy of many other fringe shows I’m sure.

We arrived Thursday and it’s been all singing and family since then. Apart from my morning walk. The streets of Adelaide are still beautiful despite the lack of rain.

Residents seem to accept that gardens and lawns will turn brown during the hot dry summer months. They will regenerate later when rain finally arrives.

Fast forward…….

A week has passed. The concert went so well. Lots of fun.

What have I been doing this week?

Steve and I went to the pool at Burnside a few times. I have a swim trek to prepare for in June.

I’ve been walking everyday. The start are shaded so despite the heat it’s cool under all the shady trees.

We went to Zooma Zooma a fun musical festival show. I always love visiting the Garden of Unearthly Delights.

More walking. Lots of lovely walks here in Adelaide. Interesting suburban park at Unley with sculptures.

A visit to Payneham for the Soul Song choir there. There are Soul Song choir in 4 states. Find one near you. Payneham was fun.

Cindy the choir leader gives a great warm up using her drum.

Out to Glenelg for lunch with a view. Fish’n chips of course.

And two birthday parties.

One for Magnus 15 and one for Florence 7

Magnus requested a Wollies mud cake despite his mum Vashti offering any cake 🎂 he wanted – from the WW cake book. Florence chose the unicorn.

We made it to before school big band concert at Soraya’s school. She’s 17 and in Yr 12. her formal was on Friday. So lots of activity around that.

After the excitement of my choir gig it’s been lots of family time and relaxing.

More next week from the wonderful Writer’s Week

Leaving Cocos. Or Not.

November 28, 2024 / brisbanefrannie / 2 Comments

Tuesday. And the million dollar question is ….. do we leave today ?

No rain this morning but also no wifi so to find out what is happening we walked to the medical clinic. Thank goodness for these medical people. We used their wifi to talk to Martyn and Jo who said the word was out that our plane was going leave Perth.

We packed up and prepared for the 2.30 ferry back to West Island to spend time with Jo.

It poured with rain as we got on and off the ferry.

Got a lift to the clinic with Waka one of the nurses. Jo is in good spirits though we had a cry and a laugh. It’s now reached the stage that it seems the medivac company has put this retrieval in the too hard basket. It’s not the weather. The Doctor here is getting tough with them.

Our plane had landed We made our way across the road joined the queues. Got checked in, got on the plane. So far so good.

An hour later. Two hours later. A short message about the fuel truck breaking down. Someone looked out the window. Luggage coming off.

Captain made an announcement. We are out of crew hours. They have to stop work.

Off the plane and a vague message. ‘We’ll try and find accommodation for you.’ Didn’t sound promising

We struck it lucky. KL the nurse manager here has finished her contact and is leaving. She saw us and took us to the nurses flat at the medical clinic. Having Jo in the clinic all week has brought some lovely people into our lives.

We had a good night then in the morning started to rearrange our travel. Cancel our points business class seat. Book more seats to Brisbane. No more points seats. Double the $$$ as the cricket has just finished. but now whatever it takes. We’re leaving. And Jo isn’t.

It’s so sad that this beautiful place has left us feeling sad.

The people we have met has almost made up for it. I’ll write a whole new post about them.

Flight rescheduled for 1.30 Wed.

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.

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.

Definitely on Fiji Time

May 31, 2024May 31, 2024 / brisbanefrannie / 2 Comments

Our Swim Week is over but we allowed an extra day for downtime.

It was a slow start after parting last night. Though we were all in the pool by 8.15. A special session for all the swimmers.

Lots of giggles. the energy in this group is infectious. We bounced and sang along and waved arms in the air.

Even the pool attendants got into it.

Quick showers then it was off to the champagne breakfast. Though I couldn’t face champagne. Definitely too much last night.

Groups were saying farewelling, hugging and swapping contact details. It’s wonderful how after 5 days of a shared holiday mostly in swimmers leads to friendships that last! A common goal like swimming unites.

We spent the rest of the day lounging, reading, walking and not eating. Definitely too many meals this week.

I walked and called in to see the kids club. No wonder so many parents love coming to Fiji. The locals are so beautiful to the little ones. You often see a restaurant attendant walking around holding a baby so the parents can eat in peace.

The kids club also offer hair braiding, colouring, and face painting. All the little ones have braided hair with beads dangling!

The day went quickly and by 6pm e headed to the Waitui Club for a farewell dinner and to celebrate Chris’ birthday.

It was a beautiful evening and our table for 7 was perfectly placed on the veranda.

I told our lovely waitress Kata it was Chris’ birthday -so at dessert time she and about 8 staff all gathered singing a special three verse version of happy birthday ending with cheers and blessings.

She then took a photo and put herself in it!

Our evening finished with farewell hugs for our NZ friends David, Kim and Avy.

It’s been a wonderful week and as if they knew it was out last night , when we got back to our room, fireworks started on the beach in front.

Farewell Fiji , you’ve been great

Malamala Island a slice of paradise.

May 30, 2024 / brisbanefrannie / 4 Comments

Our last swim day.

Blue skies, happy people , connections being made and no bananas left for breakfast.

Onto the boat by 9 and by the time we arrived 30 mins later it was windy and overcast.

Walked down the pier with Mesu who looked after me all day. Called me Miss Fran!

Islands always have a windy side. And thankfully a calm side. The swim had to be changed. Not around the island this time. A course with markers on the calm side. 1 lap for the 1km swim and 3 laps for the 3km.

But we chose…….

By the side of the infinity pool.
Cocktail in hand.

The first race was quickly under way. A woman won it – just beating the 11year old son of Ky Hurst. It was so lovely to see them hug after the race.

Then the racers came in thick and fast.

They got the 3km race off quickly as the wind was getting stronger.

We went to our great place got in the pool and watched them swimming by 6 times – a loop done 3 times.

Ky Hurst won in 32 mins. He was cruising. A lovely man named Dean Duckworth has been runner up to Ky in all three races.

David & Kim our NZ friends did well. Especially Kim. And new friend Avy was just amazing!

Avy came in 12th. Beating some much younger people.

My favourite group are the pink ladies. For lovely friends from Northbridge Sydney.

Medals were given to all and the prize giving will be tonight.

Then it was lunch time. Aset under the trees the choices had everyone piling their plates high. Lots of choices, places to sit and a great bar. Steve had two beers and fell asleep!

People sat, drank – mostly cocktails, recovered, snorkelled, walked around the little island, chatted until 3o’clock when we were herded back on the boat.

But not before the famous jetty jump. The game party people set off. This included Jill. They took the long walk out along the windy jetty. It was about a 3 metre jump. Jill just couldn’t do it. And I don’t blame her. The pink costume ladies did it and claimed they had the best sinus wash!!!

Back on the boat everyone was just a little quiet. A bit weary I guess.

A short break back at the hotel before the Celebration dinner.

Everyone was told to dress to impress. Most dressed right up.

The awards were given. On our table of friends we had a first place winner in the over 70’s. Avy was also about 10 overall!

Kim was 3rd in the over 60’s. We cheered our talented friends along with all the other winners

Then the dancing started.

Oh what a night.

Off to bed because we have aqua aerobics at 8.15!

It’s been a great swim week. We’re staying on another night. A lot are leaving for home tomorrow and some are going to another island for a few days.

If you like swimming then Swim Week Fiji is a great week. Very different to wonderful swim treks we have done. they have 15 swimmers. These have 200 and as they say 5 days , 3 swims and 0 worries.

frans travel tales

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Australians on holiday