Lea and Rick's Travels - Life on the Wallaby: January 2014

After Standown Park we returned to Lake Cooroibah to look after Nelly and Terry's home while they traveled to visit family for Christmas. We had a lovely five weeks, including several visits with Dad and Denise. The only downside was the weather - ranging between dry and warmish to dry and damned hot! The maximum temperature we recorded at the house was 40 degrees centigrade. Not as bad as WA and SA, but for south-east QLD it's very hot. And did I mention DRY! We were lucky enough to get about an inch of rain, which is well short of the norm, but compared to the conditions in western and northern QLD where districts have been drought declared, the coast has done pretty well.

We left Cooroibah on 22 January to spend a night in Brisbane at Pine Rivers Showground. The van made a trip to Kedron Caravans for a new TV antenna which was fitted by Tom and Boydie with their usual good humour and help. We've had our van now since March 2008, and have nothing but good things to say about all the staff at Kedron Caravans.

Next stop Boonah Showgrounds, QLD for the Australia Day weekend Kedron Owners Gathering. We've had a great weekend and thoroughly enjoyed the company. Boonah is a nice little town with several good cafes and hotels. On Sunday (which was the official Australia Day), we all had lunch at Simon's Tavern. The Chef had prepared Rump Steak Pies (tender, tasty, huge and with very good pastry), with Pavlovas for dessert. Great meal, and we all staggered back to the Showgrounds with very full stomachs. Nanny Naps were definitely on the agenda and happy hour was a little late. Late, but still happening of course.

Tomorrow, we're back on the road - destination Sydney. I have to have a basal cell carcinoma removed from the tip of my nose, and the closest surgeon to where we will be house-sitting at Elands is Sydney at Westmead. I was lucky enough to get an appointment for 4 Feb for the initial consultation. At that stage I will find out how the surgery will be performed and when. Whoopee! We will stay at Lane Cove River Tourist Park again (where we stayed for the International Fleet Review last October). From there to Westmead is 23 km - fortunately not through the city. Tomorrow night (Tuesday) is Armidale in NSW. We'll spend a couple of nights there and catch up with the washing before making the run to Gloucester and then Sydney.

Watch this space for nose news!