2013 January

Tuesday, 1st  -  January, 2013  -  Midtown Marina, Bundaberg

We woke up to an overcast day. The day turned out to be one of those 'just fiddle around' type of days as they often are when we are stuck in a marina during the summer months when cyclones can disrupt the sailing scene.

We went onto the Bigpond website and went onto 'Bigpond Live Chat' and organised a change over to the 4G Wi-fi modem from our 3G modem with a 'one off' fee of $48 and no charge to leaving our existing contract early.  We always find that we get a better deal when we go on the Bigpond ‘Live chat’ site than when we go into a shop or use the phone.   The last time we rang and they said we would have to pay out our contract first. Which was $49.95 for 8 months.  Strange when it is the same plan anyway.  So we will get the new modem in the next 5 working days and Geoff’s happy.  I also went on a few sites I could remember to change my credit card details for the new card.  I’m sure I will have missed quite a few.  We then got a bit of cabin fever so wandered up the arm to see who we could annoy.  First was Vicky and Don on ‘Dumnaglas’ where we accepted an offer of a cuppa and then onto Deb and Gary for a chat.  And that was our exciting day!

 Wednesday, 2nd January 2013  -   Bundy

We left the Air/con on overnight and we slept much better.  Well … it is the middle of summer and it is the first time this summer that we have had it on overnight as it has been quite hot!

After brekkie and a shower I packed up some clothes and food as we are dog sitting for Maryanne and Owen for four days whilst they go down to Inverell.  A big dog fix coming up~

I decided to lend Geoff my new Nook ebook reader whilst we are away to see how he gets on with it.  I will use my old cracked one which still reads fine.  So, he spent the morning loading on non fiction books that he wanted to read. 

Owen turned up at 5pm and we loaded all of our gear into his car.  You would think we were going for four weeks instead of four days.  We had a lovely BBQ tea and Geoff got instructions on how to work the TV as their system is complicated and it always stuffs up for us once they are out of sight.

 

 

 Thursday, 3rd January 2013  -  Dog sitting at Kalkie

Both dogs arrived on my bed during the early hours.  Meggsy, of course, soon had her tongue out trying to find somewhere to put it but my face was under the sheet by then.  Luckily they soon settled down. 

Owen and Maryanne were up at 5am and on the road by 6am as they had a 800 km drive ahead of them. 

Put the TV on as instructed to catch up on the news and, as usual, nothing so we will have to ring Owen later. 

Geoff had a bath, why … because he could and I started loading some ebooks onto Maryanne’s computer for her.  I have so many that I is going to be a long job. 

Whilst I was doing this a courier arrived and it was a parcel for me.  It turned out to be the new modem.  Wow … we only organised it on Tuesday.  How’s that for service?  This was great as we had forgotten to bring our old modem with us.  Geoff was soon installing it and it went on well with only one small hiccup, there always have to be a hiccup, doesn’t there., a soon both our laptops were connected via the Wi-fi.  Geoff said it was so quick that he was having trouble stopping it to change a few things. 

After lunch we headed out as Geoff had a dentist appointment as he had a soft gum which he was a bit worried about.   And so he should be as we came out a bit shell shocked as he found out that one of his back teeth that anchors his partial plate has an abscess as it is not man enough for the jovb it has to do.  This now means he has to have root control work and we have to find $1150 to have it done.  The normal price is over $1500 so I am so glad we joined that dental scheme which helps a little.  We have well and truly saved the joining fees already. 

Back to the boat to pick up a few bits and pieces and then back to Kalkie where we were greeted enthusiastically by the two dogs.  Owen rang and the TV is back working again … great!

Friday, 4th January 2013  -  Kalkie

Up at 7.30 am with a couple of warm dogs draped all over me!

Geoff had a look at Owens small stereo unit and thought the fuses had blown.  I got a crockpot meal cooking so I didn’t have to think about cooking later.  About 11.30 am we went out to fill up our diesel containers whilst we still had the car  -  $94 … ouch … and that was with a ‘10¢ per litre off’ voucher from Woollies.  Back to the boat to drop of the full diesel containers, pick up a recipe, some ingredients, strip the beds, grab some fuses and pick up the multi meter.  Back to Kinghorn St via Zacs Meats to buy some lamb shanks and loin lamb chops and Aldi for a couple of things. 

Back to Kalkie where Geoff installed the fuse.  Crackle, crackle and smoke and blow the fuse.  Hmmm … maybe the unit is cactus?  Replace the fuse and it is fine … weird!  I did the bed linen washing and got it hung out and then surfed the net.  Then, when it had cooled down a bit we took Mia and Meggsy out for a quick walk.  For small dogs they really can tug on the lead.

  Saturday, 5th January 2013  -  Kalkie

Up at 7.30 again and just fiddled around until just after 11 am when we decided to take some bits back to the boat and take the woofies out for a walk.  So, as I said, the first stop was the boat where we dropped of the clean washing and I picked up some spuds for tomorrow night.  A quick chat to Shirley on ‘Priority One’ and we were on our way again.  We decided to pop in to say hello to Connie and Hernando, if we could remember where they loved.  A couple of drives around the block and one false start and we eventually found their unit.  They were pleased to see us and invited us in.  Just as I was going through the front door I dropped Meggsy lead and she was in like a flash and on the lap of Connie’s visitor, also Columbian..  I apologised but he was happy and  had a good cuddle.  So did Connie as she loves gods, like me.  Mia, being the little lady that she is, behaved herself perfectly.  We didn’t stay long as we had the dogs with us and they had visitors but we arranged for them to come for a BBQ on the boat next Saturday. 

Onto Bunnings where the dogs and I sat in the air conditioned car whilst Geoff went in search of an outside light that would do the job for Owen that wasn’t too expensive.  Now it was the woofies turn so we drove past the Base Hospital and down to Queens Park which abuts the Burnett River.  It is a large woodland type park with lots of seat, shelters and BBQ’s.  It is also relatively quiet so we were able to let the dogs run free and they loved it.  My eyes were everywhere looking for foreseeable problems but there weren’t any. 

 
Back to Kalkie for some lunch and just relax for the rest of the day.

Alas ... on the 27th January 2013 Bundaberg was hit with its worst floods ever when Tropical Cyclone Oswald stalled over the city.  The winds were cyclonic and horrific and the river rose to its highest ever, 11 metres, within a few hours.  There was no warning given in time by the government weather departments.  2Abreast, along with 70 other boats was sunk and destroyed.  This is the end of the 'sailing adventures of 2Abreast '