Busy Week

Yes, I do know it’s been a few days since my last post. What a few days it has been.

Singapore and India are all booked in. I leave here Tuesday morning, and return the following Wednesday night. The majority of the week has revolved around working long days getting things ready for that, as well as other Sportskeep / Datascore updates. I did manage to fit a game of Poker in on Wednesday night, but not much else for the week. Hopefully I’ll actually get to start the relaxing part of my time up here after India.

I’ve got my Malaria tablets (to start on Monday) – I was surprised the local chemist had them. I was expecting to have to go to Ballina.

How’s this – last night (Friday), I just had 1 drink at the pub during the members draw. I was at home, got some work done, and was in bed by 11.00! For a much needed good nights sleep.

Dusty and JJ’s christenings are tomorrow, so it will be good to be away from the house (so I can’t work).

Don’t know how posts will be from here-on-in. Depends on internet access and time availability in Singapore and India, but will try to squeeze a post or 2 in.

Today was a work day. Ensuring everything will be right for the trip to Sydney / Singapore / India (well, getting it on its way, anyway!). Also went in to Ballina to get a present for JJ’s birthday.

I went to the table tennis tournament at the pub after dinner. I managed to get 6 points (against somebody who brought their own bat), so wasn’t *completely* humiliated! After doing a token scoring of a game, I went to see JJ to give him his birthday present. He was well in bed though, so I stayed for a chat with everybody and then went home to get more work done.

Started the day with Canadian pancakes for breakfast. For those not in the know, pancakes, bacon and mapple syrup…just like the lenox surf club!

After breakfast, Gavin neded some boating supplies. So we went in to the seasonal sale at the wakeboard shop. Armed with skis for Harry, a vest for Molly, a new bcuit and rope, plus a few other odds and ends, Gavin was now prepared for the season.

We had lunch at Aunty Linda’s – Donna was round for a bit, and then had to leave. Which was followed by an afternoon of riding on the quad bikes, and the new dune buggy. So that was a bit of fun! After afternoon tea (which Donna returned for), we went back to Gavin and Donna’s, and then I drove back home. It was pissing down raining the whole way.

About half an hour after getting home, just as I was starting to catch up on the weekends emails, the power went out. Saved (again) by the UPS, so I was able to shut down my computer safely, and get a candle lit. Unfortunately I had to get my India Visa done, which required power. So I gave Sparky a call and went over there. Lennox Head was quite eerie with no lights on – until the pub, that is. Seems like it was just my side of town that lost power. At Rese and Sparky’s, it took an hour or so, but Brett and I finally managed to get the paperwork filled in, I got a photo (as the ones I sent last week hadn’t arrived yet????) and we were ready for him to take it all in tomorrow.

By the time I got home, power was back on. So finished catching up on the weekends emails.

I had some work to do to start the day. Once that was done, I started the drive to Brisbane. Getting a bite of lunch on the way, I arrived at Donna and Gavin’s around 2.00.

We spent some time in Gavin’s man-cave, and pottered around for the afternoon. Harry was cruising around on his quad-bike, and took Molly on a few laps, which they enjoyed. Aunty Linda, Uncle Owen, Nanna and Lochlan came round for dinner. So I got to pretty much see the whole family. Donna was out at a house warming though.

After the rest of the family went home, we just had a quiet night – we watched a movie, and then were knackered and went to bed.

It was quite a mad day, workwise. Between Datascore / Sportainment and FitGenes, I was very busy. But by 6.00 it was time to go to the pub for members night, and see if I would win the draw. No such luck, but one lucky guy in the raffle managed to draw the Joker and win $3,700! So it was a pretty good atmosphere at the pub.

Sparky and I went back to their place with some Jimmy cans, and played pool for a couple of hours. Needed to give the table a good run! Then I went back to the pub to listen to the solo guitarist playing for a while. Not as bit a crowd as last Friday, as there was a birthday party on tonite, and half the crowd was at that (so I heard). Also the solo guitarist just doesn’t draw the same crowd as a full blown band! So it was home around midnight. I’d already arranged to go to Brisbane tomorrow to see the family, and I have some work to do before leaving, so don’t want to be too late!

Locals Night

The day started much as any other day – shower, shit and shave, have some breakfast, and spend the day working on various projects.

Rese had taken the kids up the gold coast for the weekend, so Sparky and I had a man-date – counter meal at the pub. After a couple of drinks, we went for a coffee nearby (well, Sparky did). Then he had the sense to go home and get back to work. Me? Well, I never show much sense :). So it was back to the pub.

Tonight was open mic / Jam night. These are always good fun nights! So I stayed until stumps, and got to know a few locals – born and bred Lennox Head-ians. It was an interesting ride home afterwards, but again made it OK. It’s always an adventure on that bike!

This morning I went in to Ballina to get a prescription filled, and made an appointment to see the doctor for my tetnus shot. I then got my passport photos taken and expressed them to Brett.

I got some work done, and after lunch I went in to get the shot. Managed to get it through medicare, which was good – saved a bit of money.

Spent the afternoon working, and after dinner I went in to the bowling club to see what the local poker game was like. Went OK but didn’t make it through. Managed to meet a few more locals though.

Stopped in at the pub on my way home from Poker, but it was closed up. So just came home.

Well, the hype has started to die down. Another productive work day.

Pub was dead tonight, so I didn’t even go in for a drink. Rese and Sparky popped in after dinner, with a fortune cookie.  Mine said “You will soon be travelling to a distant place”.  Scary thought…

I then just did a bit more work and called it a night.

What a week!!!

Woke up to another perfect day. Had breakfast outside looking out over the ocean. I realized that this time last week I was in Sydney. I reflected over the weeks events. It’s been a long time since I’ve had as crazy a week as this, and I couldn’t have enjoyed it more. Then it was time to start the day.

Spent the day working, with a lunch break outside in the sun (which I must watch out for in the future – i’m a bit red). Very productive.

Visited Rese and Sparky. Lizzy arrived in the morning so it was good to say hi again. Stayed for dinner, and then it was on my bike to the pub.

Table tennis comp started tonight. Seems to have done the trick – apparently there was a much bigger crowd than normal for a Monday night. Potential for Datascore to sponser the tournament? Would beat the clipboard flip scoring system they were using (which is still more than Maribyrnong have!!!)

Perfect Day

Started with the 2 minute walk to the beach, and then a nice walk along the beach to freshen up.
Got home and it was time to start work. Spent most of the morning working. Then walked in to the Lennox street market. Sparky, Tyla and I walked around, and then went back to their place, to find Rese bought a pool table while we were out! Sparky and I got it levelled and had the christening game.

We also got a pushbike “operational” for me to get around on. So that makes life easier than walking the 1km to the pub. It was then time to go home and get some more work done.

Pub was quiet. There was a solo guitarist that wasn’t bad. I cooked myself dinner without settng off the smoke alarm, so that was good. But then a quiet night to prepare for a big days work.

First full day…

And what a day it was!  Woke up not long before  a message from Rese that they were about to go to the surf club.  So it was off to their place for me, to get some brekkie.  It was quite overcast, and threatening to rain, but still not too cold (although I was the only one in shorts and a t-shirt :)) . The surf club was flat out, and it took about 40 minutes for breakfast to be made.  But finally we ate.

I grabbed most of the remaining things from inside Rese and Sparky’s, and went home to set up my “office”.  It took a while, and a lot of trips, but eventually I had my home set up.  But now I was hungry so had to go in to town to do some shopping.  I returned home with some lunch and dinner stuff, made a sandwich and enjoyed it and a beer outside.  What could be better?

After doing a few things, I was tired so had a nanna nap, only to be woken by the census guy wanting to pick up the form for the house.  I moved him on his way quite quickly.

Went over to Rese and Sparky’s for a roast dinner.  Had a few drinks with them, and then it was up to the Lennox Head Hotel to see another live band.  Haven’t done this for ages, and I’ve really missed it.

Back to the warmth!

I had set the alarm, as I knew I would have a busy day today.  After taking care of a few things, I drove to Tullamarine.  Spent the morning working there.  At 2.00 Brett drove me to the airport.

Flew in to Brisbane, hung around at the airport for a couple of hours, then caught the bus to Byron Bay.  Sparky picked me up and took me back to their place.

Grabbed some supplies for the morning from Rese, and went do the pub at Lennox Head.  Band was playing there – it was going off!  So had a drink, and then decided I should find my house for the next 5 weeks.  Wow – what a place!  Even in the dark, it looked pretty awesome!  So had a walk around inside to get my bearings, then connected to the internet, and decided I had had enough of Schmasebook, so installed WordPress as a blogger on my own sub-domain.  And here we are…

What a day!

Cruisy start to the day.  Sparky drove me to Ballina to fly back to Melbourne.  Brett picked me up and said I need to get shots done for India.  So another thing to squeeze in that day.

Went to the doctor to work out what I needed (based on what I had had before the Maldives and Vietnam).  Then went to the chemist to get the needles.  Had to go to 4 to find one of the scripts!  Then the doctor was at a patients house by the time I got back, so went to Heather’s to look for my passport in the boxes there.  No luck :(.  Back to the doctors to get the shots, and then down to Geelong.

Luckily it didn’t take long to find my passport there – once I saw a particular bag, I knew that’s where it would be.  After dinner (Mum had left in the oven – what a gem!) I went out to my usual Thursday night poker game.  It was relaxing to know I had done all I had to do that day.

My original plan was to go to Coffs Harbour for a couple of days, and get to Lennox Head on Friday (when I can move in to the house).  But I was wide awake around 4.00am, with my mind racing about what I had to do before the trip to India (late August).  So since I was awake, I started driving.  Saw the sun rise as I went past Coffs Harbour, and arrived in Lennox Head (on Rese and Sparky’s doorstep) about 9.30.  Went for breakfast at the surf club – felt like I had never left there (last time was in February).

Went to O-Sushi in Byron for lunch…love Sushi Trains!  Rolled out of there extremely satisfied!

Went to the real estate office and convinced them to give me the keys to the house – I wasn’t moving in until Friday, but I had booked my flight back to Melbourne (to find my passport) to leave tomorrow, and return via Brisbane (and a bus to Byron Bay) and wouldn’t be arriving until 11.00ish Friday night.  Luckily they came to the party.

Dinner was at the bowls club (schnitzel night).  A couple of drinks and then it was time for bed.

Census day…

Had a very cruisy start to the day.  After checking in at the caravan park (got a powered site for the day), I went in to town for breakfast and a bit of a wander.  At lunch I had a call from Paul (FitGenes) which prompted some urgent work.  Spent most of the rest of the day working on that (had PC set up in the back of the van – thankfully had a powered site!).

Spoke to Brett while working on FitGenes.  Sounds like some very interesting developments in India with Sportskeep.  Things may be getting interesting.  My “holiday” hasn’t really started yet, and it already looks like I have to get back to Geelong some time very soon to find my passport and get a visa.

Did my census.  It is definately not tailored to those of us living in a van in a caravan park!  Had to enter 4 addresses (current, usual, 12 months ago, 5 years ago).  Some very interesting questions that had me scratching my head while answering.  Really had me thinking that the accuracy of such a feat is going to be pretty far off.

Casual day.  Went to the stadium at Mascot for a 4.00 meeting (Sportskeep 3 installation).  After dinner and a couple of drinks, I took Brett to the airport – left about 8.00 pm.  GPS said < 400 km to Port Macquarie, so off I went.  Arrived around 1.00 am.  Found a caravan park, and parked there.  After a drink and a wander around the caravan park to wind down, I went to sleep to the sound of waves crashing on the beach.

Left Geelong about 10.30 for Bretts.  Productive trip – got a bit of work done, and lots of discussions for the Datascore future, and arrived at a hotel in Sydney about 8.00pm.  Long day, but fun.  Couple of drinks and dinner, and that was us done for the night, as we had both had a big one Saturday night.