Final Visit to RiverStink (Riverlink)

This is Riverlink the nearly shopiung centre to Rosewood, its probably about the same size as Churchill Square but has more shops inside it aswell as a massive food court. 

Before all of this i got to drive Kens 4 litre V6 Ford Falcon, oh my did it go.  I couldnt give it the beans because i had passengers and baby Haiden in the car, but i gave it some welly on the straight.  It just kept on going and pulling faster, thsi was deffinately the highlight of the day for me. Before we went to riverlink  we went to i cant remember the name of it now, but anyway it was just like walking into Dunelm Mill, you had you fabric section which was absolutly massive, no a frames though just laid one on top of the other on shelves.  This is where i picked up 10 xmas decorations for $2.  

Just before getting to riverlink, Kylie spotted a cup cake shop that we just had to go in.  So we did, and mum got us a cip cake of our choosing, you had lemon, rocky road, strawberry, oreo, kids ones and more.  I choose to have a malteser one, the maltesers on top were minging but the cake itself was nice.

You would never have known it was there unless you saw the small sign out the front.  This shop was with about 10 other shops buried inside an old flour mill.  It was from there we went to riverlink, and today was the day i was going to have the kebab wrap for lunch.  I had been eyeing up this bad boy since my first visit and today knowing how much money i have available to spend i thought i'd slpah out, it was only $8.00 so about a fiver. 

Then it was time for some stupid retail therapy for mum, Kylie and Haiden... which left me and Ken wandering around aimlessly like little sheep.  But it wasnt a problem because i left them to it and decided to have a wander around myself, so i went to look in target, and in there i found my first present, mini golf for the Wii a bargain at just $15, from there i went to wollies and got a few little bits to take home (i cant disclose these because there a surprise for Johnson for when i get home), urmmmmm then i went to JB's (no not you mr briggs) but an electronic store that did everything gadget and peripherals.  I could have spent hours in there, but couldnt be too long i didnt have a phone and didnt wanna get lost from them. 

As we were coming out, i went into the toy store, and got my final present.  Its really nice and get hours of fun with it.  While i was in there the others decided to just piss off, didnt tell me where they were going or anything, so good job i just used common sense and went back to the car where they were loading the car.

A great day out and god loads of things, spent far to much money but i dont care i'm on holiday !!!!

the next and probably last entry on here will be of my trip to Surfers Paradise that were doing Saturday, so i will keep you posted and upload some piccies

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

We got to lone pine, which was under water by the floods about 6 weeks ago.  Should have been $30 to get in but the joys of a NUS card meant i got in for just $24, that extra $6 paid for lunch and a magnum.

Looking at the show schedule and that, it was time for the Rainbow Lorikeet feeding, these are wild birds that come from all over to get feed at the same times every day.  You didnt have to pay for the feed which was good, and you could get really up close to them.

After the feeding of the birds we headed into the Kangeroo enclosure where you can just walk around with them, there quite tame and used to us so you could get really close and stroke them.  Ken went off to but some bags of feed pellets for $1 each.  Time for the roo feeding to begin, i was very anxious but got stuck in, as soon as one came over you would find that 2 or 3 would come over wanted a bit.  The sensation was weird because for such big animals they are very gentle when taking the foot from you.  It wasnt til mum was feeding the roos that i went over, and what must have been the biggest one wanted to have something to eat.  Mum chickened out and left me to feed it, all was going so well until one of the baby kangas came over and put the big ones nose out.  The big one boxed it in the nose clawing it, but whose hand was in the way? Mine, and with that i got 2 massive claw marks down my arm.

It was on that note that we decided to leave but as we were leaving mum spotted a ro with its joey in the pouch, so we hung around trying to feed the mother.  In the end the joey came out you can see the video of it here.

We then went past the Wombats, fresh water crocs and the Koalas.  It was time to decide what photo i wanted to have taken.  I couldnt really decide as they had 10 different packages ranging from the single photo through to the photo pass which i ended up getting.  For that you got 3 photos with the animals, you could either have the Koala, Crocodile, Snake, Owl or Eagle.  I choose the Croc, Eagle and Koala. 

From here we went to watch the brids of prey show, sheep dog show (inc sheering) the snake and koala show.  I must admit this was the best day of the holiday so far, although i spend a fortuine on the photos and that it was so deffinately worth it !!!

Wet 'n' Wild

What a day, i was looking forward to this day more than any other so far.  There was Ken saying he was looking forward to it because me and him could do the wave pool and that, but oh no i had bigger plans.  He was worried about keeping up with the girls (Abbie and Skhy) but it was me he needed to keep up with.  I wanted to go on everything that was open, unfortunately the ride i wanted to go on was closed (see picture).

Never mind though, there was plent of other rides to go on, so we headed to the back of the park and went on the black hole, followed by the kamakazee, oh i cant remember what came next.  But we had lunch and i wernt paying 16$ for burger and chips so i had a hot dog, she said do you want capsicum with that, so i said yeah ok.  It was red and yellow pepper, and instead of getting once sausage liek i was suppose to i was given two.  She must have liked me, lol.

After lunch was time for more rides, so we headed to the one that was sitting there all on its own.  We got all the way to the top and 86 steps later we were tld that it was closed as the converoybelt that brings the rings up wasnt working.  It could be up to half an hour they said, i wernt going back down for nothing.  So we waited and after about 15 /. 20 mintues it was working again.  The water was so cold as we had time to dry off and by this time the clouds had come over ahd was quite windy.

By this time it was getting to be about 3ish, so we went in the lazy river and then headed towards the surf rider, you didnt get wet was just a ride, you can see it below..

Before we knew it it was 4pm and we had dont everything, so we made out way back to the care and set off on the 100km drive back home.

A Day Out

We went to Wivenhoe Dam, Fernvale and Ipswich fire station.

We first of all headed to Wivenhoe dam, this dam was 12 months ago only 15% full.  But due to loads of rain and the recent flood the dam is now 200% full.  So today they were going to open the flood gates and release some of the water.  But when we got there the dam was closed, but further up you can go over the dam itself.  So we parked up (illegally) and started taking some pictures.  I'd never seen a dam before and the vast openess and volume of water was hard to take in.  In the car it took 5 minutes to cross the dam doing 60kph.

We soon left there as there was no need for us to stay, so on the way back to ipswich we stopped off in Fernvale where its regarded that this pie shop has the largest variety of pies in the whole of Australia, the menu will give you an idea of the varieties.

I had a lovely minted lamb pie, and it was strange because you wouldnt think to have minted lamb in a pie.  and for $4.50 you cant go far wrong really.  I even treated myself to a cream bum aswell, it was while eating these that Ken got a stroke of good luck, he got shat on by a bird. 

After Ken cleaned himself up we left and headed for Ipswich fire station (where Ken is the fire officer).  Personally i had never been inside a fire station so sad as it may be i was looking forward to it.  So we started off by seeing the truck that they use in case of a big bush fire, it had TV's, friedge, microwave, radios and maps of the surrounding area must have been about 50 maps so they know access roads, and buildings incase of such a fire.  We then ha a look at the normal truck, seeing the connector pipes and jaws of life etc.  After seeing the trucks and hearing the siren we went downstairs and saw the guys gym and chill out room (which had a fully stocked gym and FULL SIZED SNOOKER TABLE !!!!).  We finally finished off with seeing the training area where they practice navigating in the dark, and the BA (breathing apperatus room).

I must admit what looks quite small from the outside is decivingly big on the inside.

Caloundra for the Day

Well what a long stressful day in which tempers were high and the heat had got to everyone.

This monster 2 hour drive and 170km to Caloundra was one i don't wish to do again in a hurry, it didn't help by the fact that i felt sick for the majority of the trip.  Thank god we stopped for petrol at a BP garage, it might be me but i didn't think they had BP in OZ.  Instead of just having a Wild Bean Cafe they had a KFC and McDonald's.

We didn't eat there or stay long only so devil child could have a KFC (and still didn't eat it all).  It was only half hour later and we were there, having gone past Steve Irwin Way.  We stopped and parked up in a FREE multi storey car park, and as it was time for Haiden to have a feed everyone wanted Subway, which i was under the impression we were having KFC for lunch, nope WRONG !!!! So from there with me not feeling too good and probably throwing a strop i was in a shit mood.  We walked up the street and i saw a nice kebab shop that i was thinking about having somewhere to eat from, but then it was time to leave and go to the beach, at 1.30pm.  We had only been there an hour and hadn't seen all the shops.  It was probably me because i don't like the beach at all. 

We made our way to the beach was another car journey away, they had a salt water pool as well which was nice and warm.  So the rest of the day was spent by the beach and then finally we got a KFC for dinner, OMG that was the nicest dinner ever.  Probably because my stomach had started eating itself, lol (i know exaggeration Johnson ay).

Mums Birthday Party

Dont worry mum i wont disclose your realy age, lets just say your aging well.  Well we had loads to do today in preperation for the masses to arrive (all 24ish of them) Ken had his whole family over, brother cousins his mum and son.  Then mum had Julie and Abbies friend Skhy over, me and Kylie put all the decorations in and arround the entertainment area, and moved all the chairs and got the table from inside the garage (all in fucking 30 degree heats) it got so so hot that i had to accedentally on purpose jump in the pool to cool down.

Before we knew it we had the guests arriving, i sat there as people were coming in didnt have a clue who they were as they sat down never to be spoken to again.  It got to about 3.00pm and they all went in the pool, leaving me, Kylie, Julie, Abbie, Skhy and mum sitting around the table.  I cant remembe ror tell you what the chats were about but i remember it got to about 5.00pm and they were all out the pool and hovering around the BBQ, you all know the saying.

What i didnt understand is that you didnt eat things as they come off the BBQ, yo uhad to wait til everything had finished cooking and then eat it.  But when it actually got round to eating the food alot of it was cold anyway.  But i wernt complaining the steak was nice but wernt to sure about the BEEF sausages (not my cuppa at all).

It wasnt long after that, that it was time for the cake to be brought out, she didnt have a clue what to expect nor the photo that was ontop of it...

As yo ucan see from the facial expressions it was a huge shock to her, LMAO.  Not long after that everyone left and it was left for us to have some cake and clean up after the rabble.

Movieworld

Well what a couple of days this way, the sun was shining and there didnt seem to be a cloud in the sky.  We set off at about 9.00am where the 100km journey would take about just over an hour.  I had the priviledge of having Mum, Abbie and Kylie in with me.... SHOTGUN FRONT SEAT !!!!

Upon arriving we made it through the massive Movie World Warner Brothers enterance and we were in.  We were greeted by a massive water fountain in which beyond that was the Superman roller coaster (i was deffinately going on that one later).  To the left of that wat the Batman ride (anyone that has been to thorpe park it was just like detinator but you shot up instead of plumeting to the ground). 

We then went into the undercover area and decided on what shows we would be going to see throughout the day.  We had the Stunt Show, Batman Show, Marilyn Show and the Looney Toons Show.  As the looney toons show was being shown where we were we decided to stay there and watch that (what aloud of shit though) perfect for kids but shit for me.  We then went to the kids section of the park where you had a carosel and kids rollercoasters, this was perfect for Haiden as he could go on some of these with Kylie with him.

As we walked back through the undercover area it was time for the Marilyn show, so i perched myself agaisnt a post and watched.  Half way through her first song she came over to me sang to me held out her and and said kiss me daddy, i was slightly embarrassed to say the least but i obliged and kissed her hand.  Mum who was over the other side watched but sisnt get her camera out in time, thank fuck !!!

Pretty much straight after that was time for the stunt show, i had been looking forward to this all day as the show on in the morning you could hear all the screeching cars, BRILL.  It was boiling hot in there with the tarmaced road and the blistering heat. 

 We came out of the stunt show with burnt feet from the fireball explosion and with that it was time for lunch.  As here your not meant to bring your own food (bags do get checked at the enterance) you have to buy what food is there, bollocks i know.  Previously Jared had the monster burger, which consisted of 3 burgers, cheese, large chips and a large drink.  So i thought it would be rude if i didnt take up this monster food challenge.  The burger was actually really really nice, but they let themselves down with the ammount of salt they put on the chips, oh well fed me belly.

After letting the lunch settle we headed over to the wild west section of the park (wouldnt call it section there was only one ride) and went on the thorpe parks equivilent of loggers leap.  This one took you on a 5 minute journey up and down forwards and backwards through various western back drops before taking you up the climb and then down to our soaking.  The drop was about the same as tidal wave at Thorpe Park, although you didnt get very wet at all as the photo below suggests.

After having a few goes on there, it was getting towards 4.00pm and we needed to head to the Journey to the Centre of the Earth 4D show.  OMG what an amazing experence, i had never been in a place like it, you had water jets getting you from the front, wind getting you from under the sear, the seat going up and down backwards and forwards.  It really was a great show, although its a good job it was only 15 minutes as you couldnt sit through an entire 90 minute movie like it.

On the way out me and Abbie decided to look in the gift shop, and right at the back there were character cushions, so as big adults we are put them infront of our faces and had a right old laugh.

What a great end to a great day !!!

About Ipswich

Over the past couple of days me and Ken have been going around Ipswich telling me all about Ipswich and local landmarks.  The first place i was taken was the disused water tower, where you can see for miles and miles if you looked in the right place and squinted a little you could see the high rise in Brisbane.  I was shown at this point where...

• Kens kids went to school,
• Kens brother works,
• Rosewood was in comparision to where we were,
• Bribane high rise was,
• Private school that costs 200$ a week to send ya kids there,
• The hospital where mum went for her operation.

I have also gone over the bridge that must be at least 50m above the rive underneath but when the floods arrived the water was just 2m under the bridge.  Really unbelievable as to what really happened here, just down the road from the river you could see where the floods had ripped through.  There were so many shops that are obviously low lying and got flooded because you could see them either still boarded up or gutting the places and building the interior from the ground up.

I was taken past a few other places of interest, we had RiverStink (sorry River Link), this was just over the bridge where it nearly flooded but because RiverLink was just above the bridge the only thing that flooded was the underground car parks.  Just down the road from there is where Ken lived for about 16 years with his ex wife and two children.  We even went up to Richards old place where Ken was living when he first started talking to mum on the computer.  Oh my god it felt so sureal seeing this place that i've seen so many times on the webcam.

I think that sis everywhere of extreme interest to me, urm whats coming up next for the blog..... well on the 24th we are going to pick up Kens son Jarrod and his gf and son, and then Friday we are going to Movie World (like thorpe park but all the rides are based on films, funny that really) and then Saturday is mums birthday party, dont worry mum i wond disclose your age for the world LMAO !!!!!

The First 48 Hours

Saturday 19th February 2011

Well the first 48 hours have been a great one, i was planning on just relaxing on the Saturday but Ken asked me if i wanted to go to his saxophone lesson which i did.  Met a Scots man who supported Manchester United, and man after my own heart.  We chatted about the floods that were over here a few weeks ago and also abit about his life and how and why he moved to oz.

Ken was given 3 new pieces to learn, the pink panther, phantom of the opera and and Abba melody.  These are the pieces he will have to play in a couple of weeks in the band show.  i asked Ken if he could teach me the basics, as if i could learn an instrument i would have loved to have been able to play the the sax, so in a couple of days i was going to have my first play on the sax.

After Kens lesson we took a drive around Ipswich, where i went on top of an old water tower and had a good look over the town.  If you looked very carefully you could even see Brisbane (24 miles away), was shown where Kens kids used to go to school, and eventually went to McDonalds to have a cappachino and hot chocolate in the McCafe, yes i said McCafe it has its own little cafe where you can get cakes and hot drinks.  We made our way back to the house in what must have been 38 degree heat.  Its a good job the car had air con or i would have melted to nothing.

Finally got back and decided to just mong about by the pool.  I was so looking forward to my steak (t-bone) for dinner.  At around 10pm me and Ken decided to go for a swim in the pool, by the time we got out it was about 11 and i was ready for bed.  Ready for going to SeaWorld in the morning.

Sunday 20th February 2011

SeaWorld today !!!!!

Left at 9, and took nearly 2 hours to get there.  The weather was again baking hot, we managed to get our national VIP passes and headed for the penguin enclosure.  OMG, Kylie did the funniest thing and decided to walk like a penguin

We then made our way back to the pirate show, which started at 12.30.  By this time we had everything panned out in terms of seeing all the shows (Sea Lion, and Dolphin Show).  The pirate show in my opinion was great, you had base jumpers and gymnasts as the actors.  But what i didn't find funny is the way us pommy's are portrayed as having some posh high brow accent.  It was so bad that after the show you could have your photo taken with some of the cast and i happened to mention that the captain (pommy) didnt have a English accent, to which the cast laughed. 

From there we made our way down to the Sea Lion show, i wernt to keen on this one.  But everyone else seemed to enjoy it, but watching sea lions.  By the end of the show it was about 2.00pm and i was starving and had a Dominos Pizza (Just for you Ginge and Stef) and yes it was a meteor !!!!!!!! but they called it a meatosaurus.

While eating this we walked past the stingrays and polar bears and went to the dolphin show, this didn't start til 3.00pm but by the time people had gone to the loo and had a fag (mother) we just made it.  WOW what a show, i had never seen dolphin since i was 7 (which i cant really remember) and boy some of the things they did was amazing.  The show must have gone on for about 30 minutes.  After the show it was then time to hit the sky ropes that i promised abbie i would do !  I soon realised that agreeing to this was the wrong idea, as you can see from my face in the pictures.

I was at this point 15 - 20m off the ground with just a rope stopping me from falling, Abbie on the other hand was loving it.  She couldn't stop laughing at me as i was walking tentatively across the elements.

After we had 30 minutes on here, the park was closing.  So we made our way back to the exit but going through the stingrays.  I couldn't resist but having a feel of these slimy creatures.

Even at 5.00pm the temperature must have been in the mid 30's still, but thankfully the air con in the car cooled us all down.  After another 2 hour journey home, i could relax and reminisce on the days events.  My highlight must have definitely been the high ropes i did with Abbie and of course the dolphin show !!!

The Journey

WOW what a past couple of days, 40 minute delays, turbulence as i start eating dinner, chinos knicking our seats on the last leg and a chicken and lettuce croissant.

When i got on the plane at Barcelona i knew that it was going to be a great journey, the people were great and the decor was something I'd never seen on a plane.  I walked through first class, then business and oh my god.  The little mini suites you get but for the price I'd want the same.  Got through to the cattle market class and sat down.  Thank god we managed to get bassinet seats, the leg room was enormous so i started looking through the 142 films to watch and over 170 TV shows.  So i started to watch megastructures (sad i know Johnson but its how i roll, lol).  As the flight to Milan was just over an hour i decided against a film.  But once we left Milan i watched Unstoppable, i was a bit disappointed having watched the trailer.  I then watched RED (again slightly disappointed but still a good movie).

Before having a kip we were served our first meal, which was stir fried steak with rice, carrots and cabbage.  About to take my first bite and boom turbulence and the steak went all over my white t-shirt (great had to spend the next 20 odd hours with a filthy t-shirt).  Before i knew it we were about to land in Singapore, (7.50am local time).  2 hours needed to be killed before we were taking off on the last leg of the journey.  I got to a computer and managed to speak to Emma for about 15 minutes before the Internet kept cutting out and having to verify who i was as facebook didn't like me signing in in Singapore (Mark Zukerburg you are a USELESS MAN !!!!! Ginge and Stef that's just for you).  After getting mother some smokes and a drink for Kylie we headed to gate ready for departure.  Only to find that when we got on the plane some chinos had taken our seats, so i kindly asked them to move and flashed my............................................. boarding pass at them !!  I managed to get about 3 hours sleep on this flight and watched the very weird film Coraline, just as it had finished we started to descend into Brisbane, the view at night with the moonlight shining on the clouds while seeing the sky scrappers below was something special.

We arrived in Brisbane waiting to go through customs, and after seeing Nothing To Declare  i was slightly nervous (although i knew i had nothing to hide), i filled in my little legal document and proceeded.  Told them about my pills and then about the food and were out of there in 15 minutes, brilliant.  Then it was time to get some food, and KFC it was.  Typical though that on the way back both mum and Ken got stopped for random breathalysers we just got to KFC in time before they closed.  Got back to the house with the grub and munched on some KFC Mash and Gravy..... mmmmmmmmmmmmm that was some good shit.

Then the joint highlight of the trip so far, i got to speak to my baby to let her know everything was good and arrived safely.  After having a chat with Em it was time to go to sleep, i must have finally dosed off at 1.30am (3.30pm BST).

TOTAL JOURNEY TIME FROM LEAVING THE FLAT IN SHOREHAM TO ARRIVING AT THE HOUSE IN ROSEWOOD

49 hours TOTAL !!!!! (A VERY VERY LONG TRIP)