A Beautiful Weekend - Elandra!

Jane and I have been lucky enough to just return from two nights at the fabulous Elandra Resort at Mission Beach (just south of Cairns). We have been trying to get away for a while, and have needed a break to recharge.

The view from our room - What did we do to deserve this?

Mission Beach was one of the areas hardest hit by Cyclone Yasi, and the incredible damage is still evident wherever you look. Driving into Mission Beach there are still homes with bright orange tarpaulins for roofing, and homes where the reconstruction is just underway. Most of the holiday let properties have tradie's trailers in the driveways - evidence of the huge amount of work still to be done to restore this sleepy beach resort to its former self. There are very few trees that haven't been shattered by the storm. There are entire forests of matchsticks, just starting to sprout a tuft of new growth beneath what would have once been a lush rainforest canopy.

Driving through the gates of the Elandra Resort is something else. There is the same damage to the trees, and the tennis court is still out of action (unless you want to make up a few new rules for out of bounds!). Once you step through the front doors you are in a new world - one that takes no notice of natural disaster, or time taken to start repairs. Instead, the only focus of the entire place is to make you feel relaxed. From the moment we arrived, every member of the staff (it almost feels wrong to call them staff - family feels more apt!) made us feel incredibly welcome. 

The pool deck and bar area are beautiful and the views reach to just about forever. Wandering through we discovered the in-house library, and made our way to the day beds with a stack of books. It might seem rude to kick off your shoes and wander barefoot to the bar at a luxury resort, but it seems the right thing to do at the Elandra! 

My view when tired of the ocean...

We ate out in Mission Beach on Saturday night before settling in for an early night. You know what they say - Early to bed, early to rise.... Well, MacK was up and away at about 0445, so I took him for a walk to let Jane catch up on a little sleep. When I came back a couple of hours later, we settled in for a breakfast of tropical fruit and fresh pastries. The coffee was good - really good. 

Even at 0500, it looks brilliant!

Sunrise over Dunk Island

With clear blue skies, day beds and good books, it seemed like the only thing to do was to sit, read and recharge! Jane added hot chocolate to her morning, whilst I was almost tempted by the Innocent Bystander Moscato. At only 0900 that seemed a little too decadent, so I settled for more excellent coffee. At midday we picked up our picnic, and headed to the beach for a lovely lunch. We watched the Wallabies beat the Italians in their World Cup opener (even if the first half was a little nerve wracking) before heading back to the day beds and beer. Glorious beer - A Macs Sassy Red from New Zealand. Truly Heaven!

I could get used to resort living Mum!

I got it going on!

My first ever swim - a little colder than I was expecting!

We had well and truly selected our menu earlier in the day- Jane was going to have the Prawns followed by the Angus Beef, whilst I was going to start with the Sourdough bread with dips, followed by the Duck breast, shaved fennel and ruby grapefruit salad. The meal was brilliant, and I finished with local (Atherton tableland) cheeses, and Jane indulged with a soft centred chocolate pudding.

The view over the ocean at night. Me being unintentionally arty with the camera

MacK slept a little better on the Sunday night and we stayed in bed to watch Sam Stosur win the US Open. After another leisurely breakfast of champions beside the pool, it was time to pack and think about returning to reality. The weekend was magnificent, and we both came away feeling so relaxed and refreshed.

Even the baby baths are beautiful!

It isn't just the luxury surroundings, or the view that makes the Elandra so special. For mine it is the people. From Peter, who greeted us when we arrived, to Adam (the 'pool boy') who farewelled us; the Elandra team are brilliant. Mattie and Eric behind the bar, Rebecca (who only had eyes for MacK); and all the others whose names I didn't catch made our weekend away. Whilst not advertising that they cater for families, they all had a genuine interest in MacK, and made us all feel incredibly welcome (it naturally helps that he is a little angel!).

Another reason to keep kids well behaved!

I dare say it won't be too long before we have another wee break up there! If you want to share the experience, check out their website at www.elandraresorts.com

And for now - it is back to reality, and another day at work tomorrow.

LEST WE FORGET

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Lest We Forget

I have just had replicas of my Grandad's WWII medals mounted and framed. What you can't read is that it labels his name and service number, the campaigns he fought in (Italy and Africa), who he fought for (the 8th Army) and that he spent time in a POW camp (Badia).

I feel sad that this man, who was such an influence on me growing up passed away eight years ago, and that my son will never get to meet him, and to feel his influence. He was a man who could turn his hand to anything, and (to me at least) knew how to fix everything. I remember his garden in Rotorua growing up. The can on the end of a long pole for picking plums from the giant tree at the bottom of the garden. He had beds in neat rows full of vegetables and fruits. I have never tasted raspberries as clean, as fresh- as 'raspberry' as the ones we picked from his garden.

He was the one who would bring pram wheels to the farm so we could make billycarts, and was still able to chase us with a hose well into his retirement. I remember staying up until 0500 on the occasion of his 70th birthday. It was a surprise party, and I am sure he nearly had a heart attack when he came home to see his family and friends crowding into his house. We had a spit roast, and spent the night singing, drinking and dancing. He led most of the music on his ukulele.

I remember as a young boy spending a week or so on a shearer's camp helping him as he was the camp cook. During that time he spoke to me extensively about the war, and his experiences as a young sapper in the Light Aid Detachment. They were responsible for fixing machinery in the desert- or blowing it up if it couldn't be fixed. He loved Cairo, more for the booze and women than the history, and had incredible adventures. On the day we laid him to rest, I was told a story about him during that time. There had been an argument in a souk, and it was agreed that Grandad and the Arab merchant would have a footrace to settle the dispute. Being of a similar frame as me (ie short legs and long back), he knew that he couldn't win a fair race. Somehow he contrived to have the race run only in hobnailed boots. Apparently the Arab was too embarrassed to let his arms swing free, giving Grandad the advantage he needed to win. I can't guarantee that is a true story - but I dearly want to think so! 

He was a prisoner of the Italians for a time, and had to fashion a spoon from a piece of wood to allow him to eat. If you could call mouldy bread and watery potato soup a meal...

He always had time to tell us a story, to show us how to build something and to just sit with us. I will always remember his bandy legs bouncing backwards on a beach at Waihi until he fell over, unable to keep up with one of his grandchildren.

I remember how proud I was to be able to march in an ANZAC Day parade with him. At the time I didn't really understand the significance of the march, but felt the pride within him. He was a larrakin, but still stiffened at the call to attention of the parade Sergeant Major. 

I would dearly love to have MacK spend time with my Grandad. I will make sure he knows who he was!

Lest We Forget.