And I didn’t even tell you I was going … sorry about that. Didn’t want anyone to pinch our wood while we were gone. 😀
We’ve been to Adelaide to visit my mum who I haven’t seen since my sister died four years ago. It’s such a long journey and we kept putting it off … the car needed servicing … the car needed an overhaul of the cooling system … what about the dog? … and so on.
With the car repairs done just before Christmas, we still put it off. I even thought of flying over on my own and leaving Mr R to look after the dog. But, with Mother’s Day the perfect timing arrived and off we went early Saturday morning. Taking a dog driving is like taking a child with you, but she handled it well and wasn’t car sick. Eventually (on the way back) she actually managed to sleep. We left 7am and arrived about 10 hours later, just before dark.
We stayed at The Retro Shack in Aldinga Beach, south of Adelaide, for three nights.
Back in Victoria, we spent Tuesday night in a one-star cabin at a Port Fairy caravan park. An hour closer to home, at Mortlake, we visited my daughter, and checked out her restaurant (closed Wednesdays), unfortunately having to miss seeing the grandkids since they were in school. Wendy makes great garlic bread.
Once home, just on dark, we unpacked the car, loaded in the work gear and went off to work for nearly two hours. Yesterday, I found myself shunning the Internet and choosing to catch up with the business book-keeping. Huh? 😮 I still cannot understand that.
That’s it, in a nutshell! I’ll tell you more later.
Christine R 
Welcome back 🙂
… but you didn’t say whether you had a good time!! I hope you did. I didn’t know you had lost a sister a few years ago. My condolences. I lost my mother 4 years ago and I still miss her.
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Oh yes Joanne, I had a good time! That was remiss of me. Thanks for the condolences. I’m thankful that I got to know my sister a bit better before she passed (pancreatic cancer). Sorry about your mum. Mine will be 80 next year.
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It’s hard to loose a sibling to cancer. Very sad.
Your mom is much, much younger than mine. I hope she is enjoying good health.
Had my mom lived, she would be 91 next month.
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My mum is doing well, bit of vertigo and a broken wrist but has now discovered the joys of having a cleaner for her little two-bedroom unit and a gardener – organized for her by the hospital and she pays a small fee per hour. I was pleased to see her looking so well.
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Hi Christine, seems it was a lovely trip, I can imagine all the beautiful places you have seen, Australia is such a big and mysterious country. I hope you post more photos of your adventure.
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Hello Elizabeth, I took my real camera with me, but didn’t take photos at all with it. And I took a few on the tablet and phone, but the weather was so dark and gloomy it wasn’t much point in photos. I should have done people ones though – I’m annoyed I didn’t do that. Even a few selfies would be better than nothing! Anyway, I do hope I have some interesting things to share in upcoming posts. 🙂
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Looks like it would be a good place to stay. Great spot, hope you took advantage of the area, although it wasn’t very nice weather. You’ll have to make a return trip before another 4 years,
maybe spring would be a better time.
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I see the ‘low season’ goes to the end of September. Might take advantage of that next year, get in a bit of warmer weather.
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Welcome home! I’m glad you had a safe trip and managed to get to see your Mum for mother’s day. She would have been delighted. It must be hard living so far apart and making the time to get to see her.
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Mum rang a few nights before we left – sounded really excited about our visit. We had a lovely lunch at my brother’s place on Mother’s Day and then we visited her for lunch on Monday. Mum put distance between me and my kids as soon as I had them – didn’t want to be a babysitter. 🙂
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Please accept my condolences for the loss of your sister. You have been so busy and have traveled a lot of miles in a short time. Heartwarming to hear you had a good time as well. Funny about not taking pictures. Proves you had a good time. ❤
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Hope you had a good time, Christine, and enjoyed being with your mum and daughter again. Mothers’ Day was a good time to visit. It sounds as though you visited some wonderful places, too. We’ve just come back from eight days in Andalucia (research for Book 3) so I know how it feels to have had a great break. 🙂
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I did, thanks Millie. Glad to hear book 3 is getting a bit closer. 🙂
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Very slowly at present. I need a bomb behind me, Christine. I imagine yours is just about ready for publishing now? Let me know when it is – unless you do a post to let everyone know. I bet it will be great! 🙂
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Thanks for your confidence in my ability to write something great! At the moment I’m feeling it is awful rubbish and couldn’t read it! But I’m confident in my rewritin. I’ve decided not to publish until I have finished the first two volumes. I’ve split the original volume one into two smaller novels (of around 80,000 words) and aim to have them ready to publish by October (my sister’s birth month).
I’m printing out new weekly calendars today with the writing times marked in bright red. I am knuckling down and getting serious this time. I can do this! I will do it, this time. 🙂
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You are so organised! I know you aren’t posting as often now, and I know I should really follow your example. It’s funny that you have split your book into two, Christine. Shadow of the Raven initially went right up to the first hundred pages of Book 2 – and it was far too long. I just had to modify the beginning of the second book a bit to make it sound more like a beginning. 🙂 Keep at it, anyway. 🙂 It will be good to have two books ready straight away.
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All the self-publishing advice suggests two books to get going. I had a natural splitting point and I can include the next chapter as a teaser. The story takes a different direction from there. It’s good re-writing when I know what is happening this time. 🙂 I’ve accepted the value of planning.
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As always, Christine, you approach things with forethought, and you always make sure you find out how things should be done before you dive in the pool. I shall try to follow youe excellent lead in future! I’m glad you’re feeling happier with things now. Happy writing! 🙂
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