Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Trailor on Tour
Okay, okay, okay. I've been nagged into submission and have decided to postpone going to bed in order to keep my loyal readers happy.
On Sunday 6th I headed out of Brisbane to Beenleigh, about a 40 minute train journey away, to visit some friends of mum and dad. John Heppell was a student at Holt School in Scotland when dad taught there, many, many years ago. The world had not yet been introduced to Lee (lucky world) and I was a little tot of about 2 when mum and dad would get the 6th formers to babysit for me and John was one of these lucky lads who was entrusted with my wellbeing. I had met John and Megan (his Australian wife) once when they came to visit us in Swanley when I was about 8 or 9. Apparently, Megan informed me, I had whispered to mum that she looked like Wonder Woman (Linda Carter) at the time, and I have to say I think there is definitely a resemblance, even now.
Anyway, enough family history. I arrived at the station and was met by John and taken back to their place, whereupon, Megan's immediate reaction was how much I looked like mum - poor me! I met all the kids - Chelsea (20), Jordan (18), Blake (15) and Callan (12) and Chelsea's boyfriend, Tony. I apologise to them all now if I got any of this wrong! Following a great dinner eaten outside due to the heat, I discovered that they had the penultimate and final episodes of Outback Jack on tape, which I watched with much joy - sad, yes, but brain numbingly good.
On the Monday I got up and headed out to Surfer's Paradise to spend a day at Sea World with Chelsea. She works there part time whilst studying and so I got concessionary rates and discounts on merchandise and stuff - handy. When we arrived I decided I may as well be brave and try one of the special activities you could book. So I chose to swim with sharks (sorry mum) and Chelsea decided to give it a go as well. We did this first thing and set off to 'Shark Bay' to get kitted out and have our lesson. We were wearing wetsuits, boots, a balaclava type thing and snorkel gear. The part we swam in contained manta rays, sting rays and a few varieties of shark as well as the pretty fish. The sharks were about the same length as me, but even so it was quite unnerving when these or the rays swam directly towards you. The enclosure next to ours contained the big scary sharks with lots of teeth and it was very disconcerting as the wall between us and them was made of glass and at times it was like they were swimminfg towards me. I do have photos, but they are on a disposable underwater camera, so you'll have to wait until I get home to see those.
The rest of the day was spent watching shows, going on rides and looking at the animals, which was great. I even avoided sunburn and was very good at plastering the sun block on.
After a BBQ, it was off to bed ready for my trip to Surfer's Paradise the next day. John drove me out to Surfers and showed me various points along the coast, which was great as I hadn't made it down this far. We wandered around the main part of town and I bought some tacky souvenir bits, before having lunch at a beautiful spot further down the coast on the Queensland/NSW border and heading home.
After dinner Megan drove me back into the city, despite me assuring her that I'd be fine on the train. (I think she was actually scared of what mum would say!!)
When I got back to the hostel I had a farewell drink with my dorm companions, before hitting the sack ready for the flight back to Sydney the next day. S xx
- comments