Vera Macdonald

Went to Byron Bay yesterday afternoon. It’s quite the busiest resort in the area, with lots of backpackers but also some more ‘aspirational, alternative’ types so it’s got galleries and a bit of a new agey feel to it too. It’s mainly about surfing though it was a bit dull yesterday – not that that stopped them, but it did stop me taking any decent photos. Having dinner sitting outside watching the people coming and going made it a real holiday treat for me. I do love people watching.
As the weather wasn’t so nice, we’d gone to Kingscliff (a small town near here with an upmarket holiday atmosphere) in the morning and yes – I did a bit of shopping. For those who know me well, it won’t be a surprise to know I bought a new pair of shoes. (Can you ever have too many?) Very Australian style, so they may not be so cute once I get them home, but they’ll be good for walking around the city (Sydney, later).
A few of us are going to a blues festival next Monday which will be my first ever music festival – and it sounds like Glastonbury – a mud field! I’m on the hunt for a pair of gum boots (or wellies to you and me) as I forgot to pack mine. The only ones I’ve seen so far are very decorated, ultra cool, but at £100, not really what I need.
The sun’s out today, so I’m dedicated to trying to get a tan as I’m still a bit peely-wally by local standards. And one does like to try to blend in.

It’s a scorcher!  Blazing sunshine and not a cloud to be seen.  Had freshly squeezed fruit juice for breakfast with toast and a home grown banana.  Spotted a cuckooburra in the nearest tree and shooed the cheeky wee lizard from the verandah.  He’s so keen to be amongst us we caught him climbing up a chair the other day.  From experience, I’m told they shouldn’t be allowed near/in the house as the last one was found nestling between two cushions on the sofa – not a good palce for a lizard when you lie back to watch the telly.

I finally went to the chemist yesterday and got some hard core spray for my mozzie bites as they were driving me mad, especially at night, so I’m sleeping under a net now and we’ll see how that goes.  It must be that guid Scots bluid but I’ve got a crop of about 20 of them all around the back of my neck – ouch.

I’m not really getting a handle on the time zones, either with home, or here.  I’m in New South Wales and here it’s an hour different from Queensland – but Queensland’s only about 10 miles away, so we go there regularly and arrive before the shops are open.  Maybe it will be better when our time changes again at the end of this week – or maybe not!

I think what strikes me most about sitting on the verandah is the variety of different noises and all strange to me – Noisy Miner Birds, Green Parrots, Rainbow Lorikeets are three I now recognise, but then there’s a barking gecko which is a wee lizard which scoots about the ceiling making a noise like a dog.  Add to this the possum running over the roof and it’s just a whole world of unfamiliarity.

I feel totally at home now, though, completely settled in.  When I walked to the shops and got a hoot and wave from a passing motor bike (even if it was my host Dennis) I think that did it.  I’m still having a few technical problems with the blog, so be patient for the photos and/or videos.

And as for April Fool’s Day – we don’t have it here…that I know of…I’ll have to go now as apparently there’s a kangaroo knocking at the back door looking for its breakfast.