You may recall me mentioning Sian’s extraordinary power to make it rain on arrival. After seven years of drought she landed at Harare, Zimbabwe and there followed days of thunder storms. In gratitude President Mugabe dubbed her an official ‘Rain Goddess’.
I thought she might be losing her touch – until we arrived in Brisbane. On Sian’s arrival at my cousin Ainslie’s city apartment Brisbane experienced relentless super cell tropical storms for days (hail the size of eggs falling) – a national disaster was declared and the troops called in.
In between storms the weather was quite pleasant and we walked through Brisbane’s riverside parks in a pleasantly mellow mood.
Ainslie and I found it necessary to do a spot of red wine research (Holly and Lara her delightful twin daughters were on carpet cleaning duties). Included in the study was a field trip to the local casino (where I won $700 at the poker- yippee).
We then went on to Ainslie’s home in Hervey Bay for a few days as we needed to get toughened up after all the city slicking. Here’s Sian in the pool – very British – she refused a pina colada and went for the weak tea instead.
For some reason Sian demanded that I took a picture of her on the way to the fishing in the back on Ainslie car.
And as for the fishing – I caught a smallish shark – but more importantly Danger-Woman caught the most poisonous fish in Australian waters – the deadly ‘Puffing Toad Fish’
That evening was a little blurred on account of the day’s excitement but I do remember meeting a fellow refuge from Zimbabwe and winning the Melbourne Cup all over again.
On the drive back to Brisbane we hit the storms again – for two solid hours we went through 3/4 ‘can’t see out the windscreen downpours’. As we approached Brisbane the car was surrounded by fork and sheet lightening – it was pretty scary. Driver Ainslie was given a hearty round of applause and a wee moothfie on arrival.
A while later we had a rooftop Barbie – notice the lack of men – in Australia they do the cooking.
We spent the last couple of days in Byron Bay where we went to the most easterly point in Australia. Sian was delighted to spot turtles, dolphins and the rare Australian Lump-Faced finger snapper on Tallow beach.
At this time of year all Australia’s school leavers (schoolies) congregate on this part of the coast to get drunk etc- it’s a sort of right of passage. We were lucky to meet a couple of schoolies on the beach. This is Andy and Jen. Andy wants to become a sales representative for Harry’s Pies and Jen wants him to grow a groucho style moustache (I have granted her wish).
Here comes Hong Kong.
