I know it has been a while since we posted, but it seems that the time has just flown by. Since the crash heading home from Airlie Beach, it seems as though only moments have passed, rather than months!
So- by way of catch up, I thought I would just post a quick catchup update with some of the highlights, and I PROMISE to get better at staying current!
We had the good fortune to be able to go down to the Gold Coast for Easter to celebrate Fred's 60th birthday. We cooked at Mum & Dad's first for the family (with the exception of Jac & Jase). I love it when we get together as a family- it would have been perfect if the 'Perthies' could have been there too, but those that were there still had fun. It was a shock to Jane to find that she could be cold on the Gold Coast- but then again, it still hasn't got below 23 degrees at night here in Townsville. Just ridiculous! Fred's party was a ripper! He did Hangi's in old kegs that were fantastic. only problem is that Jane isn't too keen on me 'liberating' a keg so I can make a hangi for us too... Might have to wait until the next time she goes on holiday!
Jane's cousin Paula came and stayed for a couple of nights, which was lovely. She was up for work, and has just been nominated to walk the Kokoda track. Lots of training ahead, but what an experience.
On the travel front, we have managed to escape Townsville at least once every month since we arrived. Jane had to go to Brisbane for a week for work, and managed to get to a Wiggles concert while there. I secretly think that the Wiggles was the real reason she pushed for the trip! I had to go to Darwin to support an exercise, and then spent a couple of weeks at a charming seaside resort called Cowley Beach. If anyone ever suggests that Cowley Beach might be a pleasant place to retire- take a line from the Castle, and 'tell 'em they're dreamin!' Plenty of water there- and most of it comes in horizontal to the ground. It took a couple of weeks to get the sand out of everything, and getting into wet sleeping bags every night isn't my idea of a holiday either.
I had to go to Cairns last week, to provide support to a senior planning conference, and then I am off to Canberra in early June to give a presentation to RMC. Jane is planning to make the trip with me too, as we can spend the long weekend with family, and look at a couple of blocks of land!!!
Yes- The first big ticket item on our life plan may soon be in the bag. We have identified a couple of small farms that we want to have a look at. They are all about 100 acres, and have some sort of water (we think). If they look alright, we are planning to 'land-bank' them for the next few years that I am in uniform. We will develop and plant the land, and get water and fencing sorted out. Just prior to leaving the Army, we will build a house and bakery onsite. The future plan is for Jane to breed and 'husband' rare breed pigs for sale to a select and discerning clientele. I will run a bakery from home and we will sell at Farmer's Markets- again, only to a discerning audience! We will have a farm shop and eventually augment it with a B&B accommodation setup. Very much planning to live the 'Good Life'!
Again- apologies for the tardiness, and the lack of photographs in this blog. Promise to sort it out for next time!
