Qld Holiday Day 10 - Broadbeach

We wanted today to be a relaxing day of sorts, just enjoying the weather of the Gold Coast. After breakfast we went downstairs and enjoyed the complex's pool, which we pretty much had to ourselves for the whole hour or so we were in there. Very nice, although I was once again accosted by kids. as much as I'm sure it is fun for them, sometimes in the pool it gets a little bit too much. However, they do enjoy being chased around... crazy kids... After this we walked the short distance to the beach. as you can see from the two shots, if you looked north it was a glorious day, but if you looked south, well, the weather that was approaching was obvious.

After the kids had paddled for half an hour or so, we stopped off at a playground just over the dunes, where Jess enjoyed the flying fox, while all the kids enjoyed the two bikes on a rail, where they were able to chase each other at fastish speeds.

We headed back for a quick shower and a change of clothes. Then it was time for another walk back into town, this time in fine drizzle, to find a spot for lunch. Helen eventually decided on a Coffee Club outlet, where the food was good and the kids enjoyed their food as well.

We had a quiet couple of hours back at our apartment as the rain fell around us, before we headed out at 6 o'clock for dinner with Helen's old (very old) school friend Anne and her family. A very good choice in the Lone Star Tavern was made, where the girls started talking from the time we arrived, and barely stopped for breath until we left some four or so hours later. Funnily enough, our eldest daughters Jess and Maddy got on straight away, and mimicked their mothers perfectly. In fact, all the kids - our Jess, Maddi and Josh, and Anne & Bruce's Maddy and Benji - got on so well, that they all decided to become pen pals. Crazy stuff.

Most importantly, the steak and chips and salad was again superb.

By the time we got back to our apartment it was time to get some sleep, before our return to Dreamworld the following day.

Qld Holiday Day 9 - The Gap to Dreamworld to Broadbeach

Despite the rain yesterday and the dampness in the air this morning, today it was off to Dreamworld for the Brisbane Wade's the Newcastle Wade's and the Albion Park Wade's.

We headed off to ensure we got to the doors at opening time at 10.00am, and after a 45 minutes journey we did, to find that, at 9.40am, the park was already open. Apparently they open their doors at 9.00am in school holidays - pity they didn't actually advertise that fact anywhere!
Once we had all gathered together inside - and had the above photo taken for posterity - we headed off for Goldrush World and the Thunder River Rapid Ride, where we could all go through in family groups. And, much to my dismay, get wet. Quite wet. I thought the water park was next door? Worse was to follow in that respect, as we then headed for the Rocky Hollow Log Ride, and yes, it seems that I was the one that all of the water was attracted to once again. Awesome.

Lining up for water rapids

From here we broke into two groups. The elder kids headed off with Linda to do the elder kid rides, while the rest of us were headed for easier pastures. We climbed aboard the train, and made our (very slowly paced) way around to the Model T Vintage Cars, which excited the young boys to no end. Maddi very kindly drove me around the track, allowing me to relax in the passengers position, while the boys all went around twice to make sure they got value for money.

Helen being driven by Fraser and Josh

Maddi taking me for a drive

From here, it was off to the fiery depths of hell by heading for... Wiggles World. And it really lived up to its reputation. We lined up for the Big Red Car ride, and it was horrific. I did ask the kids manning the gates how he could stand to do this job day after day after day. I think he was too polite to agree. But really, this brand has surely clocked up over a billion dollars by now, and the rise you get - even though it is designed for young kids - could surely have been a LITTLE more exciting. Travelling through different rooms, getting just some snatches of their most famous songs, and then you are pushed through the exit, which of course takes you straight through the Wiggles Gift Shop. UGH!

We walked around the corner to Tiger Island, where the big cats were out and lazing around, and had lunch at the cafe overlooking their domain. The kids were excited - foot long hotdogs! And they demolished them.


After lunch the Peters family had to go and get their photo IDs taken for our year-long passes, before joining up with the others again. First stop was the Puss in Boots Sword Swing. While almost everyone jumped on board the Escape from Madagascar roller coaster, I kept Josh and Zander amused. Then it was off to the Ogre-Go-Round and the Dronkey Flyers.

 

Maddi and Josh on the Dronkeys

Maddi and Josh of the Ogre-Go-Round

Helen, Jess and Linda on the Ogre-Go-Round

All the kids wanted to go to the dodgem cars, and so Josh and I teamed up and took on the rest. Super driving by myself saw us being crowned the Ultimate Champions, just because we were. Jess and Maddi then had a go on Gingy's Glider, before Jess along with Helen and Linda took on the Pandamodium, while I kept the other kids in check in the Kung-Fu Panda section.

Everyone was to meet up again in *shudder* Wiggles World, where the magnificently thought up ride of the Big Red Boat (really truly) caught our people's eyes. Following this, it was time for the Peters family to head off to book into our accommodation for the next two nights, at Aruba Surf Resort at Broadbeach, and farewell the other family's for a couple of days.

Kids in their own bedroom (with TV and bathroom) at Aruba Surf Resort

We walked down into town, and found an excellent restaurant with great outdoor seating, Valentino's Italian Restaurant. Great food, great service, good beer. Jessie had the Chicken Parmagiana, which looked great, while I had veal schnitzel with spaghetti bolognese. A winning combination!

On the way back to our apartment we picked up some essentials, and then settled in for the rest of the night. Helen and I watched Silver Linings Playbook, which wasn't too bad.

Qld Holiday Day 8 - The Gap

It was back to work for Martin today, though I at least got to witness his wonderful effort in spilling hot coffee all over himself as he made it for his bride-to-be, in the process soiling his entire work ensemble, and then having to re-dress for the day ahead. Pretty funny from a spectators point of view, I must say.

The day itself was full of child minding for yours truly. With Martin at work, the girls had to head out to decide on flowers for the wedding day, leaving me in charge of some crazy kids. That lasted only an hour and a half before lunch, but for the afternoon there was more, with Helen going out for a full body wax (or something like that - all I knew was that it was going to probably cost me a fortune) while Linda was heading for the doctors to sort out an ear complaint. Their departure time was to be for 4.00pm. As well as this, the newly arrived Wade's from Newcastle were due to arrive shortly thereafter. So - this is what then happened during that timeframe.

Ah, the good old fashioned afternoon thunderstorm. So long departed from our part of the world, but still alive and well in Brisbane. Lightning struck the lightpole on just the other side of the road, which is as close as I ever want to get to a lightning strike.
Once everyone arrived home from the chaos, it was Phil's turn to do the BBQ while I tried in vain to discover what had happened to the cabled internet connection to the local computer for an hour (think it might be the cable, but given that lightning strike I guess it could be anything. Of course, the wireless connection is still active, so I am certainly a little confused. Thankfully, it isn't mine!).

Phil cooks as the three women prepare salad. Craziness.

Another dinner on the deck

No doubt there is gasbagging going on in the kitchen

Phil, Fraser and the "Breaker Brothers"

The electronics room

Qld Holiday Day 7 - The Gap - 5-0 ASHES BABY!!!

Well, it may well be a Queensland holiday, but today it was all about the final decimation of the English cricket team, as Australia wrapped up the 5th Test by a whopping 281 runs, and thus inflicted just the third 5-0 whitewash in the history of Ashes cricket. What an amazing turnaround from les than six months ago, when Australia had been blitzed in the Lords Test match to go 2-0 after just two Tests of that series. However, it was from that moment on that the rebuilding and resurgence started, to the point that this amazing result is the climax.

As with yesterday, the pool and its occupants were constantly calling me, but there was no way I was going to miss this, especially when the moment came when England lost four wickets in the first two overs after the tea break. Brilliant.

During the collapse, an following its conclusion, I had taken on the cooking role for the evening, and had put together beef madras and tandoori chicken for the masses, as well as some chicken fried rice to accompany it for the kids. It was hot in the kitchen, but well worth it in the long run.

Qld Holiday Day 6 - Hervey Bay to The Gap

This morning we bade farewell to Hervey Bay after a lovely three night stay. The wind was still fierce here this morning, but the temperature was fiercer. It was 30 degrees by the time we left at 10.00am, and worse was to come.
We headed off back down towards Brisbane, indulging in yet another Roald Dahl classic (this time "The Twits"). But the temperature was rising, and of course there was then the usual problem with being on the roads with kids - the dreaded "I need to go to the toilet!". Fortunately, on this occasion, it occurred just as we approached the Ettamogah Pub, where we could not only make the pitstop, but also a chance to see a wicket fall in the cricket (well played Gary Ballance, good first Test innings...) and have our photo taken out the front.

The temperature was now oppressive, and so not much further down the road we pull into the old faithful, McDonalds, to have some lunch but also enjoy their super-conducted air conditioning. As the photo shows, it was really boiling material outside. When I had to take Josh back to the car to get him changed (that's another story...) we both almost melted, it was that hot.

WE arrived back at The Gap around 2.30pm, where it was plainly obvious that the heat was no better than it had been further north. In fact, the newspapers reported the following day that it was record temperatures for many areas in Queensland this day, including where we had eaten lunch!

Meanwhile, the cricket was on (at least, I was defying the heat in order to watch it), with England having been bowled out, and Australia looking to stretch to an undefeatable lead.

I was eventually dragged out of the sauna that was the TV room at The Gap, and forced to go into the pool and drink more beer in there. I'm sure it was a plot, just to get my photo taken once again in a body of water.

Speaking of irrational things, here is a photo of my nephew Ben. Yes, it has been 40+ degrees today, and when this was taken it was still plenty more than 30 degrees. But he is wearing a onesie. Great job Ben, one for the fans there...

Dinner tonight, with the whole two families together, was a BBQ. No, I know what you are going to ask - did you have to cook it Bill? Because we know what has happened on previous occasions when this crew gets together. Well... I'm pleased to say that, on THIS occasion... yes, I had to cook again.
It's a good thing that I actually enjoy doing it, and actually feel a little lost when I'm not cooking the BBQ, isn't it?... :)

L to R - Ben, Maddi, Jess, Katie, Linda, Martin, Josh, Fraser, Helen

Qld Holiday Day 5 - Hervey Bay

After four pretty big days, either in the car doing five to six hour drives, or yesterday's huge day, today was decided to be a much mor relaxing kind of day.
It started off as a good decision. The wind had picked up overnight, and yesterday's calm blue iceans were today's wild seas, with waves crashing into the walls and going right across the road that fronts our apartment. Glad we weren't heading across to Fraser Island today!

We spent the morning having a swim in the pool (kids) and watching the start of the Fifth Test (Bill). Being in Queensland, play started at 9.30am. After polling my Facebook friends, it was decided that it wasn't too early at 9.10am to have a scotch, so I of course went with that.

We went out for a walk at 11.30am - yes, the middle of the day, not one of our smartest decisions. First stop was to get a photo at the "Big Shark"!, a shop just around the corner from our apartment.

From here we headed out onto the old Boardwalk, to walk out and see how far it went in the good old days. Maddi ran out of puff about half way, so while she and I waited with our friend the pelican, Helen and Jess and Josh went out to the end.

Checking out the surf conditions

Josh leading the way

Good weather for pelicans

Jess, Helen and Josh head for the end of the pier

Maddi awaits their return

At lowish tide, it was perfect for wind sports

We got fish and chips for lunch at one of the takeaway's close to our apartment. We then relaxed through the next couple of hours, before going for a drive up to where we had been told there was a free waterplay park - which there was! It closed at 5.30pm, so we only had half an hour or so, but the kids had a ball.

Back at the apartment it was time for another dip in the excellent pool area, with the weather still just perfect for swimming.