Whirlwind visit home

It was 18 months since I'd been home so I decided at fairly short notice to squeeze a trip home in before Christmas. I had 10 days in Australia which flew by so quickly. It was still worth going though.

The first two days were in Brisbane. I stayed with Rob and we had a night out touring some of the local bars in the Valley near his work. I also got to catch up with Lou and little Roman at a park in West End right on the river; had dinner and drinks with Dunja in the Valley, and breakfast at the Corner Store in Toowong with both Dunja & Marcus. And I had lunch with Alana and her kids at the Powerhouse after a play in New Farm Park.

Must have Merlo coffee

Dunja and I out for dinner

Alana, Isobel and Dylan (they were posing happily 2 seconds before this!)

I haven't seen Jacaranda season for a long time

Drinking in 'laneways' with Rob

On Saturday morning Rob and I drove to Sunrise Beach to meet Mum at our beach house for the week. It was a nice big house overlooking the ocean and only a short walk down to the beach. We had a relaxing time there reading by the pool, playing board games, watching dvds on the one day it rained, and spent a day in Noosa. In Noosa we started with breakfast at Bistro C, and shopped until it was lunch time, so then we went to Season. A lovely day out. We also walked down the beach to Sunshine Beach a few times. The surf club there had excellent fish and chips for lunch. I met Aleta there for dinner one night too.

Our beach house for the week. Not bad!

Action shot. I made a roast while it rained.

Sunset after a day of rain

Woo hoo!

The boardwalk down to the beach

Hello beach!

Smoothies at Sunshine Beach

Spot Mum

Walking along the beach

Pool time!

Obligatory Massimo gelati shot!

Noosa Main Beach

Lunch at Season with Mum

An excellent vanilla slice at Perigian Beach

We took a detour through Caloundra, and look what we saw!

And a visit to Granny & Grandpa

A pit stop at Shelley Beach in Caloundra

Six relaxing days later we headed to Toowoomba. On Friday night I saw Lisa for dinner, and Hamish and Louise briefly too. On Saturday, Mum and I did lots of jobs in town and had a good lunch at a new cafe. That night I saw Kristy for dinner at local Thai place for a nice long catch up. It would have been longer, but the restaurant closed and turned the lights off when we still hadn't left! For my last day, Mum and I went out for lunch to a new fine dining restaurant in town which was really good. I took the bus back to Brisbane and had a last few drinks with Rob at the Regatta before taking my late flight back.

Mum and I

On the slide with Hamish and Louisa

The only shot of Rob and I.. in the taxi headlights as I was leaving