The Gold Coast

Tuesday dawned and I felt a little rested... 5 1/2 hours the best sleep I've had since I got here. I started going through the stuff in my room as soon as I woke, but it's very hard, so many memories tied up in these "things" that I am discarding into the garbage bin. In a way I wish I had stayed at Aaron's place to do this, there I could have the whole house to myself and not need to worry about disturbing anyone, and I feel as though I need more time at Redcliffe.. maybe I'm just too tired.

I had breakfast and a cup of coffeee with Lisa and felt better about being here, I hadn't disturbed her when I was sorting things and Shane gets up early anyway. We went shopping at Surfer's Paradise and I bought some t-shirts for my kids back in the States, then we went grocery shopping. James was here when we got back, Lisa invited him for the week so that we could spend time together. That evening all the kids except Robbie came over for a barbeque. Aaron and Lisa are spending the week about 20 minutes from here so it worked out well for them.

Surfer's Paradise on the Gold Coast, Queensland Paradise Centre on the Gold Coast, Queensland

Wednesday morning came too soon, I woke at 4.15, wrote some emails home and did a bit more sorting, it's 7 o'clock now and Shane is getting ready for work... I wonder what this day holds?

Well the day was good, I'm now not in a hurry to get back to Redcliffe, but I need to get back there to spend more time with my Grandchildren. Also I have to get pictures of my Mother's paintings that Evan is looking after for me and see if there are any I can bring back with me... at least one each for the kids, I also need to sort out one each for Sharon and Iain.

Rob visited with his girlfriend Lindy, she and Rob seem happy together. It was good to meet Lindy.

The antiques are sorted, I found some for all my kids, and for Sharon and Iain, I'm bringing a few back with me, just smaller things that shouldn't be damaged on the flight. I'm feeling almost at peace, this trip has been wonderful in so many ways and it makes me feel so sad that I have to leave so soon.

Thursday arrived and I'm feeling a little rested, it was 5 when I woke so I managed a bit more sleep, maybe I won't feel so drained today. I had a lazy day, Lisa had to go shopping so James and I went along, then on the way back I kept falling asleep in the car, Lisa suggested that since I'm only here a few more days that I should stop trying to fight my body clock and just sleep in the afternoon when I get so tired. So when we got back to her place I laid down on the sofa and slept for almost two hours. This made me feel almost human instead of a zombie... I had been having odd little dreams while I was awake, so I must have been very sleep deprived.

The when I woke up I packed away all the boxes that I had finished sorting and then started on the photos... now that's a bigger job than I thought it would be too, and more emotionally taxing, but after the sleep I felt better able to cope. After supper Shane decided that he had to finally get the map of the world he wanted to buy so they can mark all the places they have been so we all went out to the shops again and I bought maps too, mine came in a set of four; the world, Australia, the night sky in both hemispheres and the human body. Then when we arrived back I sorted out more of my things.

My big concern if I sleep during the day is that I won't sleep at night, but Friday morning finds me feeling very rested after a little over six hours last night. I just went to the bathroom and my face looks a lot more alive than it has in several days, it's going to be a good day.

Karissa, Lisa and Taylah
Taylah

I was right, it was a good day. At 7.14 Karissa called and asked if Lisa could bring me over for a while today to spend time with her and Taylah, so around 11 we headed off to see them. Karissa seems to be doing very well after such an emotional family time so soon after the birth of a new baby. I was so thankful for this quiet day with them. I got to spend some time just holding Taylah, it was really good since she was wide awake and alert, so I got to gaze into her eyes and make contact [yes of course I cried... I'm a baby addict]. While I was there I sorted out all my Mothers paintings, and since Evan has been looking after them I gave him his choice of his two favorites then distributed the others between my kids and Sharon and Iain. It was hard saying "Good-bye" to Taylah knowing that next time I see this new baby she will be a child.

Some of my Mother's paintings.
Windmill at Sunset Misty Morning Autumn Leaves

Lisa and I went out for supper and to the Gold Coast markets. Supper was good, but the markets were so expensive, and didn't have what I was looking for. It was interesting to see the prices and quality of things that the tourists were buying. Out of all the stalls there were only a few whose merchandise I would have even taken for free, and only one or two where I would have bought anything if the prices were lower... all we were looking for was rocks and crystals and we found none of those with the exception of some made into trinkets.

Saturday morning, I awoke at 5.15 after getting to bed just before midnight. I feel good and am now ready to pack. I am leaving my photos here and Lisa will eventually make the time to go through them all, scan them and save them all on cds to share with all the family. I'm so thankful that she has offered to do this for everyone. This morning I packed, now that was a job, I hope they don't decide to inspect my bags when I arrive back or I could miss the bus because of the time it would take to refill them, I squeezed so much in them and worry that I wouldn't be able to get it all back in.

Sean in the tub... cute goatee! Sean and Emily ready for bed

Lisa decided that we should see if Emily and Sean can sleep over tonight so we drove to Redcliffe again to collect them, but by the time we got back it was close to their bedtime. It was good to see them again before Joshua's Christening, that way we could spend time together in a more relaxed atmosphere, I helped give them a bath and tuck them into bed... I'm going to miss these little people, it seems as though they have known me all their lives. Karissa and Evan do talk to them a lot about me and the kids, I'll have to send them photos more often.

After my Grandkids were asleep I finished tidying up my left over stuff at Lisa's place... meeting with ghosts of the past is a difficult thing. I finally crashed at about midnight, I'm looking forward to sleeping properly again in my bed.

Sunday morning I didn't wake till about 6, I checked my email, packed my bags in the car and helped get the kids ready. We are taking them to the church then handing them over to their Dad. They have been really good and fun to be with, I'm pleased that Lisa decided to have them stay the night.

Page 1.. My Trip to Australia Page 2.. There at last Page 3, The Wedding Day Page 4, Redcliffe
Page 5, The Gold Coast Page 6, Brisbane Page 7, My trip Home Page 8, Back in Winona