Australia 2026

When we got back from Fiji, I FINALLY got to go to the exhibition where Emily's photos were being featured. I have to admit that I was grateful for the seating just opposite her photos, as I was able to sit for a while and just have a little Proud Mumma cry. Emily still had the weekend off as part of her anual leave, and we decided we were not quite ready for our adventures to end. What else could we do? Of course we hired a camper-van and set off for another adventure! W

Our stay in Paradise is over, and Emily and I were sad to go, but we got a great send off! Bye Paradise Cove Our penultimate night was without the usual Kava mat celebration - the musicians had the night off, so we were entertained by Crab Racing! The height of competitive gambling in Paradise Cove. A circle was duly drawn in white chalk - and it was circular enough...but no! That circle was mopped out and a new 'cirlce' drawn in pink chalk - much more circular... we all g

Eat, sleep, snorkel, repeat has been our mantra for the last few days, and we are not complaining! We have done other stuff, but they essentially fall into those categories. For instance, we went for a night time snorkel which opened up a whole new (terrifying) world of snorkelling. I have also never fought so much with a snorkel and mask in my life - I am not sure what has happened to the shape of my face since I got here, but I just cannot seem to get a good seal on any m

We started the day with a 'happy birthday' banner quickly hung in the bedroom room while Emily was in the bathroom - she had had her present after all (new camera bag that she chose herself) so she was not expecting anything else today. I kept her cards and gifts hidden until we were at brekkie - who does not love a bawling birthday girl at 7.30 am! I had been telling all of the staff it was her birthday, and it seemed that they had told everyone else, as Em had so many peop

WOW! We are currently in Paradise Cove in Fiji, and truly, it is paradise! Before I get on to Paradise, let me take a step back to yesterday. We flew from Sydney - it only took us about 4 hours to reach Fiji, but sadly, we landed 5 minutes too late to catch the transfer to our slice of paradise, so we had to book an overnight hotel. I chose the Hotel Capricorn (what3words begs.plot.identifying) - I am a sucker for a pretty promo picture and good reviews.... to be fair, the

Although it is Emily’s birthday month, Tuesday has been all about me :) It started off with this card Emily wanted to mark my retirement, so although she had to work today, she told me to get my glad rags on, grab my ID and be ready to leave at 6. I had no idea where we were going, but kitted out and ready I was at 6…. All I knew was that we were not going to the Sydney Opera House because I had tried to get us tickets a while back, and everything was fully booked. We took

As anyone that knows Emily will attest, she does not celebrate a birth DAY she celebrates a birth MONTH, and as we are officially in May, that month has started! I didn't specifically time my trip to coincide with her birthday, I timed it so I knew I would be retired and free as a bird...it is just serendipity that I am here in May. I am thankful too that the weather is not too hot - it is hot by UK standards, just not melting hot which is the Ozzy standard for summer. On E

Emily was up and out early doors this morning as she had to go into the office which is about an hour away, meaning that I was up at early doors too! I put my big girl pants on as I had to navigate the whole travelling by myself in a big city thing...I swear Emily was more worried than I was - I mean, how lost can you get in Sydney? Quite lost as it happens. I took the train to downtown (trusty Citymapper glued to my phone) and managed to get off at the right station for a w

I didn’t not write a blog yesterday as it was an easy day, and not many scrapes to be got into… I know that will not last! I was awoken, not by a dawn chorus, but by the neighbour hoovering the garden…. It is not even astroturf…. Enough said. Emily was working from home for the day, and in her lunch hour we went on a walk (forced march!) down the street in Newtown so I could get a better look around, and I was enticed by promise of a fantastic bakery at the turning point…. T

Today has been a bank holiday, so after a fabulous sleep, Em and I did what all Aussies do on a BH and took an Uber to the beach! Got to say, I am just not sure what all of the hype is about Bondi Beach - it's nice and all, but it is just a beach, and not all that big either. we have better beaches in the UK - but what we don't have is the weather... It is Autumn here, and I was swimming in the sea! Pretty cool. We did not swim at Bondi, we did the Bondi to Coogee walk - i

But have I though? Flight from Edinburgh was fine - except that I got there at 2.30 for a 6.20 flight to London… that pretty much set the tone for the whole journey. I could only check in for the first 2 flights, the 3rd flight was not open, so it meant I would have to collect my luggage in Guangzhou (China) and re check it. No problem. When it came to my second flight from Heathrow, I was at the gate good and early (Emma Gooch would be proud!) and was quietly minding my bus