Leaving On A Jet Plane...

So...



On the 6th of September Lauren and I booked and paid for our entire East Coast adventure. It's hectic! We are both very excited to be doing even more than we originally planned, but I am rather apprehensive about leaving Brisbane and the Family and also my dance school. It has been amazing to come away here and find Mad Dance and rekindle a passion that has laid dormant in me for far too long now.I have got to try and keep on the straight and narow in terms of eating properly and getting in shape by running/pilates/stretching/sit ups etc. I have hurt my back though so today I am on the hunt for a chiropractor to get him to take a look before I leave Brisbane and see if something can't be done. It appears to be something spinal as I've been doing lots of extra core building activities and trying to stretch my back out. It is at the very base of my spine in between the top of my bum and my hips which is a very hard place to stretch and so this is why we think it could be a boe thing. Fingers crossed it's not really bad because that could be a rather large setback.




Recent events...



7th/8th September - House was burgled. Access door is about 20 foot from my bed, where I sleep and the afformentioned robber will have been in my "room" as I slept. Freaky as. I haven't slept very well since as every noise I hear makes me jump and even pulling the blinds freaks me out as I imagine some rabid druggie (there's a bit of a crystal meth issue in Australia) on the other side all foaming at the mouth. Don't you just love an overactive imagination?



13th September - All day dance workshop. 6 hours of full on feeling like a totally unco-ordinated twat. Being fat does not help me in dancing at all because in a class full of waif bendy types I feel like a frumpy elephant with zero confidence and I want to curl up in a corner and die of shame that I am still lacking in so many areas of class work. Idiot, but as long as I keep at it and get to the required shape to do podium I will be happy. Dance classes are all about fun and i'm improving every week. I don't think I've ever put this much effort into anything!



14th September - Went rock climbing up Mount Timbeerwah. Lauren slept at the top of a cliff and I worked my ass off to get up there. Sooooo much fun. Would have been better if I'd have had climbing shoes, but as it was jazz shoes had to do (climibing shoes or jazz shoes, dancing won of course) I met Jay Jay who is ranked at 19th best climber in the world. Was one of Bens finer moments of keeping it together under ridiculous amounts of excitement and wanting to just be silly. Was pretty amusing actually as Jay Jay comes walking down the mountain towards us Ben looks up and gasps "Jay Jay" like he's Jesus right there before him. Jay Jay of course has no idea who Ben is and just looks rather bemused until Ben introduces himself as "Belayers Nightmare" which is his screen name for some climbing forum. Jay Jay then knows exactly who he is and Ben is doiing really well not to hop from foot to foot, holding himself like he's going to wee and dribbling etc.



On Thursday 18th i'm sad to say that Laurens Grandfather (Stephs Father) passed away and so we spent the evening at my house with Nic and her friend Amanda chewing the fat, staying up late and drinking. Didn't actually have much to drink, but sleep deprivation from the past month is beginning to take it's toll on me. Got up Friday morning took the children to a BBQ at their Dads work and then we all loaded up and drove to Nanna and Pa's. Crashed pretty early, but still up at silly o'clock because children have no concept of a lie in. On Saturday we went to the carnival of flowers which was the whole point of staying with Bob and Jean (Pa and Nanna) as they live in Pittsworth about 30 mins from Toowoomba, as oppossed to coming from Brisbane which is about 2 hours the other side of Toowoomba. So basically I went West for the weekend. I have learnt from my nannying experience do and see evrything you want to before you have children. That way when you do the good parent thing and take them to things you won't mind only seeing 50% of everything because you'll have got to see everything once and that 50% twice. If you're clever about it you'll engineer it to see your favourite stuff twice. I will be clever. I am definately in no rush to have children though, I want to do all the things I want to do first. Of course I'd also have to find my other half, but that will all come. Anyways we managed to see about half the parade and get some lunch and then I took children to the fair part and they went on a few rides and played some games to collect toot prizes and drank some sugary sickliness of an ice drink. It was sooo hot. I am now the proud owner of a knock-off Akuda hat. One of those Aussie hats that they whack corks on. We didn't get around to seeing any flowers.



:(



After that we went to the middle of nowhere so I could see where Jonny was brought up. A farm. Fully in the middle of nowhere. Went and saw Wendy and Aiden who are the next farm down and have known Jonny for almost 30 years. Really felt like I was in the outback then. Dusty fields, creaking old rocking chair on the porch. Big storm hit. Felt like I was in Fantasia when I was driving back to Nanna and Pa's as you could see the whole storm in front of you (2 in fact) lilghtning striking the mountain, huge dark swirling mass of clouds. Was utterly fantastic.

Get back to Nanna and Pa's, where I discover Nanna has made Apple Pie in my honour and she has also patched my blue jeans that had a big hole in the crotch and removed a stain from my t-shirt. I told her if I didn't love my own fantastic Nanny so much I'd trade her in for sure. I keep telling them to come and live in England as the heat gets to them pretty badly now, but they don't seem to be up for it. After that I laid in the front room, listening to my iPod, writing and Nanna and Pa shouted at the rugby (football they'll call it) and me and Nic laughed about them shouting at the rugby.

The next morning we got up, got ourselves and the children ready and loaded in the car to go see Jonnys brother Matthew race his motorbike. The whole Weinert clan (except David) was there and we all had JW Concept t-shirts on which is Jonnys company who sponsors Matthew and were looking pretty swish.

It was hot and dusty at the racetrack and we just hung out under a camping shelter, trying to stay cool, drinking lots of water and eating watermelon watching bikes go round and round. That's bike racing. There were a few big crashes which I luckily missed and so did Nanna! Nic unfortunately did see this guy go circling through the air. Jonny rides a KTM 950 and thinks he's going to start racing, Nic has other ideas for him. Once that was all done and dusted we packed up and trooped on home.

25th September - Lauren and I went down to Kangaroo Point and walked along the river to find a place to let of a balloon for her Grandad as it was his funeral on this day. We ended up getting a a citycat ferry (bus service in the water) and letting him go from the back there. Lauren had attached a letter for him to the string and this was how she said goodbye. We went home and drank a few farewells to him in the form of pink champagne.

Rest In Peace Grandad. My thoughts are with all of you the Toop Troop at this time. I love you very much.

26 September - Loaded up into the car and headed to David and Judys about 6 hours north of Brisbane. David is the eldest brother of Jonnys and moved to Gladstone years ago when he was a police officer and got transferred there. They actually live in a little village/town called Calliope (pronounced cu-lie-p) next dooor to Galdstone. They have lots of space and it's all very pretty. Reminds me of Mums house although the stars are even more pronounced. Basically just spent 3 days hanging out there, drove a UTE (which is an Aussie pick-up truck) to go get some chooks (chickens) which fell over on the highway on the way back. Everyone has chooks for eggs it seems over here. They like their fresh stuff. Learnt and failed to crack a whip. Pretty impressive when somebody does it right though. Saw an acid green spider. Yuk. Oh had a giant moth fly right into my shouldre so hard I thought maybe it was a bird. Freaked out when someone pointed out it was on my shoulder and I turned around to see it staring at me on the bag of my shoulder. I probably moved as fast as Nanny that Christmas with the spider on her plate (sorry Nanny). Leapt across the decking swatting at my shoulder. Everybody thought this was hilarious and wet themselves laughing and tormented me for the rest of the meal, everytime and animal moved I wet myself and they kept sticking insects under my nose etc. Very nice. I also got called a smelly POME (prisoner of mother England, the Aussies all call me it and I find it rather offensive from people who I don't know, kind of like strangers calling a black man a nigger, there's no need is there) by Davids son Chris. It was his UTE I drove and he'd been away and Judy had let me drive it and he said "you let a smelly POME drive my car?". I pointed out to him that every Aussie boy I had met so far had turned out to be an arrogant, bigoted, neanderthal and I could see he was no different. I'm sure he was nice enough, but hey you going to give it then so am I.

Monday 29th - We left David's in the morning and went to the town 1770. Jonny took me on his bike. Fabulous, so very different to be on a bike in that sort of scenery to at home on the A413 with Daddy. But I do love going on the bike with Daddy. I'm pretty keen to get a bike now, but all in good time. Hung out on the beach for a bit and splashed in the Ocean. Went and had lunch at a little cafe down the road before heading straight for Hervey bay, which is still about 4 hours north of Brisabne. Booked into our apartment where we'd be staying for 2 nights and went for a swim.

Tuesday 30th - Today we got up and went Whale Watching. Not as good as when me and Lauren went, but there were a few calves breaching. I did however miss this as I was inside the boat sitting next to Olly to make sure he didn't fall of the seat he'd fallen asleep on. Went for a swim that afternoon, Jonny headed home on his bike and me and Nic watched Casino Royale before crashing out.

Wednesday 1st - Up and out of the apartment. Down the road for yummy eggs benedict and a massive long walk along the jetty. About a mile in length I'd guess. Had an ice cream, in the car and begin heading to home. Make it to the Enoggera pub, which is next to "Aussie World" for lunch and a bit of a rest before the last hour home, where I ran in got changed and off to my last Severe Stretch and Jazz class.

:( Very sad. I almost choked saying goodbye to Michael. Jazz has been the toughest class I do and he doesn't take prisoners so I've worked really hard in it. Thursday I had to say goodbye to my Samba teacher and Meg who is the principal of Mad. She has been a legend in helping me to appreciate putting my body through pain and just coping with it and knowing your actual boundaries and that it's good for you. When it hruts, you're pushing your body furthur than it's gone before and everytime it'll take a little longer to hurt. It's good, she's nuts. Love her. Love them all in fact. Excellent bunch of people.

Friday I babysat and had a pyjama party with the children. We mad Ice Cream "Fridays" and snuggled up on a mountain of duvets and pilows in the front room to watch "The Wild". Nic and Jonny came home late and we stayed up and had a bit of a chat. On the way home from swimming that day (the last lesson I'll see them do) I'd put on Tiny Dancer, turned around in my seat to see Oskar singing "blue jan baby, LA lady" with this huge grin on his face and promptly burst into tears. I have no idea how I will say goodbye to them. You''ll see in our itinary that we stop in Brisbane again for 4 days on our way down the coast. Nic and Jonny are having a party for me so I'll see them again in a month, but after that...goodbye. Not looking forward to it, Tillie and Oskar because they know that i'm going away for a long time, but Olly just won't understand. Nic and Jonny will be a toughy too. I'm beginning to choke just typing it.

Saturday 4th - Went to Parklife festival.. What can I say except amazing! Dizzee Rascal and 2ManyDjs. ALso had to watch this awful Australian Hip Hop act Drapht. Aussie Hip Hop is like nothing you've ever heard. Search it on You Tube. Your ears will bleed. I love the basslines, but as soon as they start rapping...imagine the Aussies accent? And the lyrics, got smashed ona Saturday, wasn't good 'cos we had a show the next day...

DIABOLICAL!

Sunday 5th - Recovery.

Today - We fly out midday tomorrow. Lauren is currently soprting out what to pack so that I can put it in and then we are going to the city to get portable iPod speakers (vital, we both miss being able to sit and share music), a belly bar (mine is now far to big), socks, bikinis, we need to drop in to Peterpans to get all our final details, then back to mine to pack my stuff. Will read the bubbas a story tonight, then go for dinner with Lucy. Take the children to school and daycare in the morning as it will be the last time I get to do it and then Nic will take us to the airport to begin...

7th Oct - Arrive in Cairns

8th Oct - Scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef

9th Oct - Bungee jump and Minjin Swing. We have an unlimited day of bungees and various different styles of jumping, from regular "swan dive" to "running man". Fun, fun, fun!

10th Oct - Travel to Mission Beach

11th Oct - Sky dive over the Great Barrier Reef. What was above (well around) is now below

12th Oct - White Water Rafting the Tully River

13th Oct - Travel to Magnetic Island

13th-15th - Hang out at Magnetic Island, catch some rays and see some sights

16th - Leave Magnetic, travel to Airlie Beach

17th - Overnight at Airlie before...

18th Oct - Welcome aboard me mateys. Today we hop onto the Soulway Lass (look it up) and sail around the Whitsundays for 3 days and nights

21st Oct- Return to Airlie and overnight once more

22nd Oct - Travel to Kroombit Cattle Station, see what it's like on a real Aussie Cattle farm

23 Oct - After a morning of rounding up cattle we head on to Rainbow beach

24th Oct - Sea Kayaking with dolphins

25th Oct - Chopper motorbike tour around Rainbow beach and the surrounding area

26th - Safety briefing for Fraser (lots of wild animals including dingoes) and lazing around

27th-30th Oct- Fraser Island self gided tour. We hop in big 4x4 and drive around on the worlds largest sand island. I'm assured it's beauty cannot be measured

31st Oct - Travel to Noosa on the Sunshine Coast. Very affluent and pretty place.

1st Nov - Overnight at Noosa.

2nd Nov - Bush Camp

3rd-5th Nov - Canoeing tour of the Everglades

6th Nov - Overnight in Noosa

7th Nov - Back to Brisbane

8th Nov - Leaving Party

9th-10th Nov - Final farewells and final dance lesson (I especially planned an extra night in Brisbane so that I could attend one last class. Hip Hop with Storm who is a legend!

11th Nov -Leave Brisbane (boo hoo) and on to Byron Bay

12th Nov - Day trip to Nimbin, a little town that was started as an eco project to see what would happen if you were just left to get on with it. It's known as the stoner capital of Australia because drugs are legal to buy and sell here. Apparantly a day trip is enough because all the junkies and little children in the street cutting their drugs can be rather depressing!!!

13th Nov - Small trip to our secluded surf camp, where we attend an afternoons surf lesson.

At this point me and Lauren haven't booked any furthur. There is the option of staying an extra 1 to 5 days at the surf camp, but we will have to see on the money situation as to wether or not we do this. From here it's pretty much straight to Sydney, where hopefull I'll hook up with Gaffy. I don't mean to stay long in Sydney as Lauren has already spent a large amount of time here, it's a s expensive as London and a few days to see the sights will be more than adequate. everyone tells me that Melbourne will be our favourite place so we intend to fly down to Melbourne for a few weeks prior and over Christmas before back to Sydney to fly across to New Zealand on the 28th December. We have hired a campervan until the 15th January and we'll just scoot about in that for a few weeks with Gemma and Fiona our 2 Irish friends we met in Cairns before returning to Sydney and flying to Thailand on the 19th.

After that it's home.

Our bungee jumps will be streamed live from this address. It will probably be at silly o'clock in the morning your time, but I'll text you all and if you're up you can watch it. Otherwise you can watch the DVD when I come home.

http://www.ajhackett.com.au/webcam.html

The Oz experience bus that we travel on features added extras you wouldn't get on a standard Greyhound service so we will still be doing activities on these days also.

All in all we've got a rather insane 6 weeks ahead of us.

Can't wait.

I'll do my best to update as often as possible, but don't expect to much detail as I'll be paying for internet once again and as you can see from the above, my time will be strapped, not to mention I'll be exhausted!

Love you all.

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x xx x