MMDown Under

I have a vintage General Motors Fridge, which I couldn't give away, which I turn on every Christmas to keep excess food and drinks really cold. When we lost power, like everyone else, my daughter was able to buy two bags of ice from Woolies. Local servo had sold out of ice. I just checked a week later, there is a little of Woolies ice left, but the freezer is frozen over and badly needing defrosting. All content kept in perfect condition. Who would have thought this old fridge would have saved the day at Christmas/New Year 2023/24! Its previous claim to fame was the coldest drinks and watermelon in Queensland hot summers.

Yes I understand, but how do they get the mother culture to start the process?

I understand I feel the same way. It is "the Coast" to locals, only differentiated between South or North. Anglers Paradise, such a perfectly named suburb name, suffered the indignity of becoming a place name in Runaway Bay (Sounds like a TV show)

I did this, after a lovely walk along the edge of a golf course.

I got drenched putting the rubbish bins out. I had to wade through wide gutters due to torrential rain. Yes, we had thunder soundtrack also. Never seems right in daylight. Wishing everyone a healthy Happy New Year. With memories ot those who have passed during the year. In Scotland, I went first footing which is the tradition of the first foot in the house after midnight strikes on New Years eve. I remember it was good luck if the first footer was a tall dark stranger. I failed the tall bit. We took a piece of coal. Anyone know why? They don't get sad on New Year's Eve, but on Christmas midnight. Any wonder I love Scotland.

Ah memories My grandmother used to make her own ginger beer, with the occasional explosion. Can someone please explain to me "the mother"?

I tried the taxi system the previous two days but neither taxi turned up, so I had tm Yes I have one of these which I take on the bus, but I didn't intend a big shop. Just an enjoyable Boxing Day Sale browse in an empty shop. BYW I bought what I came to buy, which isn't always the case.

plus Mortein Outdoor Mosquito Coils in a tin (It is Qld after all)

How not to end up with one bag too many on public transport. Don't buy six heavy books (2 theatre, 2 travel, 1 cook book like I need another cook book and 1 Refidex for Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast Street Directory 2024) 1 Kitchen Rubbish Bin 2 heavy thermoglass baking dishes 3 litres 2 cushions to line other new cushions 2 reed diffusers plus misc light kitchen stuff

I'm sorry. My keyboard jammed. I kept coming back to it, to no avail. He took ALL my heavy shopping bags, told his wife in the passenger seat to shove over and follow us around the corner. (He had parked illegally in a bus stop). As his wife parked in front of my house, the green bin truck driver waited patiently to collect my green bin, as she ran around the back of the big black vehicle back to her passenger seat. . Michael of Hope Island, what a gentleman!, ably supported by his wife, who waved as they drove off. Anglers Paradise, a place name, in the old northern part of the Gold Coast, is a wonderful friendly place for seniors to live. Even though an inpatient driver once told my elderly neighbour 'He should get a horse and cart" and his indignant elderly wife gave them "the finger". A day doesn't go by that someone doesn't offer to help me.

I just returned from sale shopping on a local bus with one bag too many. A gentleman on the bus helped me carry my shopping bags off the bus. I amalgamated my shopping, but was still had one bag too many. Then an angel appeared at my shoulder and asked whether he could help me. Yes, please, I only live around the corner. He took ALL

"Compulsory viewing" wasn't meant to be a directive, but recommendation for quality viewing and a qood laugh.

Edinburgh Military Tattoo, this year featuring War Horse, with its most magnificent horse puppet. Always very moving. Highlights marching, dancing (red white and blue), violinist, and flute, bagpipes, gaelic singer, choir, solo singers, the finale with the lone piper always makes me cry. i attended one year without a ticket, so had to listen from a park below the Castle. "Dinner for One"1963 brilliant comedy where the butler plays all guests, who have passed, for 90 year old's birthday party. SBS

I went on q Christmas cruise to NZ, which ended in Sydney on Christmas Eve. I couldn't wait to get off the ship and race up to stand outside David Jones Christmas decorated windows to soak up the atmosphere of the awe of the young children.. I reallsed Christmas is what you personally are used to, like bon bons, party hats, Christmas carols, etc. I have since gotten used to the gingerbread villages on ships. The next morning I sat overlooking the harbour for the start or the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, I realised Christmas cruises are not for me, Has anyone been on a British cruise ship Christmas cruise?

Thank you!

Our female whippet just shook and shook. I slept though it all. My daughter, who has lived in tornado alley in the USA, said it was just like a tornado.

My daughter was suffering withdrawal with no internet. She lives on her phone. She braved the conditions looking ror internet. No library no power. I missed not being able to follow the news. No-one came into our street to check everyone was OK. However, our street was least damaged in our neihbourhood. One good thing about Gold Coast is everyone walks so you can ask people 'DO YOU HAVE POWER"?

I got off a ferry from North Island in Picton. We picked up a high car to tour the South Island and took off, so I have no memories of Picton, except pretty water views. Picton - Any recommendations for day trip off a cruise ship - I enjoy small groups or solo only. Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady 278m length width 38m 17 decks 2770 passengers 1160 crew I know we can't look at the competiion. However can you just tell me how many people are on their roll call for cruise from Auckland, 12/1??

With so much happening, I forgot to mention no power and no internet access. Wishing everyone all the joys of belated Christmas, good health and every happiness in the New Year. We fly to Auckland on 10/1 for my cruise departing 12/1. Usual favourite things in Auckland - War Memorial Museum Parnell Rose Gardens Waiheke Island Davenport Auckland. I have a day and a half, Whilst my daughter has three and a half days,

i admired Richard ever since i saw his modern record shop in London, Also he was smart enough to buy/lease his own island in the Caribbean. My uncle had an oyster lease on Outer Newry Island, whilst my great uncle and great aunt had a tourist lease on Newry Island. They built basic accommodation and toilet blocks and the main building had a verandah overlooking the ocean. my first memories were swimming in a huge truck tire at 2 years old. These are people who were ahead of their time and understood what true wealth was, i now live in their fibro shack on the Gold Coast. We were just in a series of bad storms and the shack still stands. I've talked to people nearby whose garage imploded ?, verandah railings twisted, fences knocked down, trees of all sizes pulled from the ground with roots showing, street lights just hanging. Everywhere lost power, some are still without power. My great aunt had a old ice fridge, built by General Motors, which keeps our extra Christmas food and drinks, so cold when the power is on When power is off, in a cold fridge, it keeps bags of ice complete without melting. My daughter drove through devastation trying to find internet access. Servo sold out of ice early, however we were able to get bags of ice, cold grapes, creamy potato salad, Natural made with organic flour Natural Wraps. Sob, no sourdough bread anywhere. All perishable goods, like cheeses, removed from fridge shelves, so potato salad must have been made fresh. Had a free drink at local tavern because they didn't have any food nor ginger ale. Out of power. Have a list of things I need to buy, such as batteries, gas BBQ. What did I love - two cartons of bottles of ice cold Bundaberg Ginger Beer. Biggest shock - message from GCCC that power wouldn't be reconnected until 30/12!! Fortunately that wasn't true for my street, but is true for others. Grateful that all my meals were to be cold, except for seafood which has to be cooked. I keep putting ice cubes over the fish to keep it cold and fresh (advice from fisherman).

We are staying at Quest Auckland Serviced Apartments in CBD Auckland, for four nights from 10/1/24. I'll let you know what it was like after we have stayed there 4 star studio, 363 queen street ( $NZ704.94) I use booking.com

What a splendid idea.

I remember torrential rain in North Queensland in my youth. We travelled north every year on the Sunlander. We used to travel by car to Seaforth to be picked up by my great uncle in his tinnie to be taken across to his island (Newry Island). My fear was we would get caught on flooded roads and not make it to the Island (paradise). Once we got on the island it didn't matter, as the torrential rain on an iron roof was music to my ears. My aunt lived in Mackay. I had never seen such enormous gutters. King tides and torrential rain were to be expected in summer. We always left Mackay early in January before the summer school holidays finished, so we didn't get caught on flooded train lines.

The importance of keeping written records!! Well done.

Cant believe I've never heard of this place. Why would a cruiseline want to go there? Sounds like a fascinating place.