WYONG TO TUNCURRY FORSTER

OK before we left the campsite at Wyong we crossed over the road to do our shopping ,the shops were back to normal after good Friday .Then we started out on the coast road through Swansea ,Belmont,Newcastle stopping on the way for lunch on the side of the road (we shared a table and chairs with them) they told us that they were on their way to Tuncurry Forster and it probably would be a good place to stay so that is what we did.we carried on through bulahdelah and then followed the coast road round to tuncurry.Had a job getting into a campsite being the Easter weekend but the fourth one we contacted had just had a cancellation so we had the last powered site.very busy site and the guy in the reception mentioned to Betty that it was bingo tonight (she was over the moon!).cooked evening meal and after getting freshened up went for a walk and found a RSI club,really big club with lots of facilities but not many people there but they all seem to run courtesy buses to and from the clubs,so we took advantage of a lift back to the camp and slept well.love Betty and Brian xx

BACK WHERE I STARTED IN THE BACK OF A VAN!

Hello well it`s a good job it`s easy to find a McDonald's and the milk shakes are lovely! After a lovely walk Thursday along the beach the weather was great and as we hadn`t got any nice pictures of Sydney we went back into the city. It looks completely different when the sun was shining. Everyone eating and drinking along side the Harbour. Great atmosphere so decided to stay for the evening. Found a great bar with music and sat at the waters edge. Met a couple and spent a couple of hours with them. They were deciding whether to move to Sydney or Stay in Stevenage. Well we mulled over all the pros and cons with them and had a good night. So yesterday we left the hotel at 9am to go and pick up the camper van. That was a long and drawn out process,we had to watch a DVD. It wasn`t the exact van we wanted but said we can swap it when we meet up with Lyn & Pete in Brisbane. Anyway it is ok it just hadn`t got a pullout BBQ but we can live without that.

Now this is the big test on a relationship!!! I was putting everything away in one place and then Brian would move it. We have got a shower and loo but emptying it seems a bit of a pain so we will try and use the sites facilities. We didn`t get very far on our first day we stayed at a place called Wyong which was only 80 miles from Sydney. Lovely place and we cooked our evening meal and had a drink at the local rugby club. Were taking the old pacific highway north and our next stop will be Newcastle. Hope you are all well and don`t eat too much chocolate Betty & Brian x x x

THURS 1ST APRIL BONDI BEACH

Got to be quick here the battery is about to go on computer,had a lovely walk this morning starting at Bondi beach and following the coastal path visiting Clovelly beach ,Bronte etc.picking up camper van tomorrow will have to see how we get on with Internet connection when we are mobile(could be having a few MC Donald's)happy Easter,bonne paque Betty and Brian xx

AUSTRALIA WELCOMES ZENA

Well the anniversary meal went well at the Indian restaurant,the food was lovely and the service was great the only problem was when the food arrived it was on tinfoil plates!(Bet wasn`t amused but we soon sorted it).She found her happy face the next morning when she had her hair doo (she made sure that cost me).So after the hairdressers we made our way to Darling harbour and the weather started to pick up,we had our lunch on the quayside and then made our way through the Chinese quarter and to Paddy's market.I did take Betty to look at the camper vans that we could be hiring(see photo) i don`t think she was impressed with the bottom of the range!.Then it was back to the hotel for a shower and change before we met up with Zena and Andy,now this was a big day for Zena because today is the day that she receives her Australian citizenship and a lovely ceremony it was.There was about 40 people receiving their certificates,the mayor was there to conduct the ceremony and we all had drinks and canapes afterwards,then the four of us went for a meal at a Portuguese restaurant and a good time was had by all.After saying goodbye to Zena and Andy we took a train back to central station and had a nice walk back to the hotel.goodnight Betty and Brian xx

RAINY DAY IN SYDNEY

OK so today started off with rain and it looks like its finishing with rain.Down to breakfast early (that was a bonus didn`t` realise that we had that) and it was ok.So off we went with our umbrellas and soon found ourselves in the salvation army charity shop looking for a kagool for me.No luck with that but Betty

came away with a nice skirt and a pair of black trousers.I managed to find a lonely planet guide of Australia and a good map and things to do in Queensland, which we will need after Friday when we pick up the camper van.While we were in the charity shop Zena rang and we have arranged to see her Wednesday evening and looking forward to that.Then it was a walk through Hyde park and a visit to the parliament building of new south wales,that was interesting.After that we had a walk into the botanical gardens where we heard such a noise coming from the trees,we thought it was birds but no hanging from the branches were hundreds of flying foxes(and they are not small).But the gardens are lovely and we will go back there on a finer day.We walked then down to the opera house and viewed the bridge(didn`t post any pictures of these we need a nice day) had a sandwich and drink at circular quay and then returned home .So now we are in the Sydney library where we have a great internet connection and when we have finished this post we are going to eat and celebrate our anniversary. bon appetite Betty and Brian xx

ARRIVED IN SYDNEY

Hello! oh you don`t know how much trouble we have gone to to get this blog done today. No wi-fi at the hotel so we went to McDonald's on George St and that was hopeless. Anyway we have found a bar and at last were connected only to find it was so slow! I know Jo will tell me off because she said not to spend to much time on the Internet but it`s such a shame if we give up. I am a bit worried as to how we will get on when were in the camper van. Anyway we are becoming a couple of winging poms!

Lorraine had got tictets for the Western Bulldogs against Collingwood in the Australian Rules Football League at their new Etihad Stadium. Brian said there were nearly 50 thosand people which created a brilliant atmosphere. Unfortunately they lost but a great day was had by all. I had a shopping trip with Jodie and Bethany to High Point ,it`s a bit like Merry Hill.Had to get some t shirts for the sunny weather we are expecting! then had to send the winter clothes to local charity shop.

Well after 4 weeks without a decent curry Paul suggested we tried the local Indian cuisine in Sunshine Melbourne. It was Delicious and enjoyed the company of Paul`s friends Debbie and Richie and of course Jodie. All had plenty of vino as usual but no bad heads.

It was up early in the morning and had to say our goodbyes to Paul and Lorraine. It was tearful but had had a great time. We will miss Lorraine and our water bed. Bri kept dreaming he had been ship wrecked on a desert island until I got in and he thought there was a tsunami ! he`s no lightweight after all this travelling.

We have now left melbourne and arrived in Sydney and looking forward to having a good look round tomorrow.

PENGUINS PARADE AT PHILLIP ISLAND

Ok so we are back online,it`s difficult to get a connection to the internet while we are at Lorraines.Where she lives is a retirement village and she has got everything to hand,there is a community centre (with a bar),lovely swimming pool and plunge pool,bowling green,little putting green,restaurant and dining room if she wants,and all the residents live in bungalows.

So the only way we can get on to the internet is by walking up to Mc Donalds and getting a couple of cups of coffee and hooking on to their free wi-fi.

It was great speaking to you last night mom and Pat.

Well yesterday (Saturday)we had a great day out with Paul,after first walking up to Lorraines local shops in the morning and then having breakfast Paul picked us up at about 11am and after packing a picnic (and flask)we set off for a day trip to Philip Island .

Now this island is about 70 miles out of Melbourne so we had to pass through the city ,now this took us no time at all,they have a tunnel which literally goes from one side of the Yarra river to the other,all three lanes so that was pretty quick.

We stopped on route at a little place called fisherman's cove for a quick cup of tea and then just before going on to the island we stopped again for our picnic at a village called San Remo,which was very nice.

So then on to Philip Island and our first port of call was the Koala and Wallaby sanctuary which was a great visit,now these little bears sleep for 20 hours a day(Betty's very jealous they are beating her by 2 hours) and they sleep up in the trees in very precarious positions.

There is a nice walk throughout the sanctuary in amongst the gumtrees where you can find wallaby's hopping around ,kookaburras in the trees and many other forms of wildlife (Betty was really excited about seeing the Koalas)but still haven`t seen a kangaroo yet.

After this it was time for evening meal and we found an Italian restaurant in Cowes where we all had a good meal and some of us had a glass of wine.Now time was getting on into the evening but the highlight of the day was to come at about 8pm when it started to get dark.Now what happens is that all the penguins that have been out in the ocean all day ,probably covering about 50 kilometres would be returning home,so we all took a seat and sure enough they all started to pop out of the water.Now they wouldn`t` attempt the walk up the beach until they had waited for their mates to arrive,so when they were formed into groups of about 15 they started to waddle up the beach and back to their chicks in the nest.This is where we managed to get a closer look because they were in touching distance.It is called the penguin parade and it is amazing.It was a shame but no photographs were allowed for this event.So it was back to the car and our return to Lorraine's where we arrived at about 11pm.A good day was had by all and a big thank you to Paul. love Betty and Brian xx