Decluttering

There's nothing like a good workout in the yard to clear things up - it clears toxins as you sweat and work muscles, it clears the yard of clutter and mess ...... and it clears your head.

Yesterday, Rob and I got stuck into the yard. A green skip bin arrived bright and early and by midday it was half full. While Rob played with his chain saw toy, I work steadily and systematically weeding out long grass and overgrown ferns. Then as Rob broke up branches and tried to avoid powerlines, I trimmed the lower trees with my trusty secateurs. (I didn't really work systematically - I just want you to think I'm organised).

Rob in the thick of it

The denuded jacaranda tree - the garbo will be pleased :-)

Showing off :-)

We both finished exhausted and sore, but very pleased with our efforts. My favouite time is the walk-around as you survey what you've done and how good is looks now. And our reward? - an icy cold beer, of course!

Our beautiful front yard - welcome!

A well deserved beer - icy cold :-)

Getting rid of all the overgrowth, we can now see the front gate ..... and the Gateway Bridge in the distance. Did I clear my head? Well, when you exercise you release endorphins - the feel good hormones - and while I don't know that my head is yet fully decluttered, I do feel quite positive - and that's a very good start :)

Today I can say, with confidence, life is good.

Letting go

OK .....going out on a limb today.

When I went to T.I. my Mum came with me and we spent my first week together. It was great. After she left I threw myself into my new life - mixing, mingling, joining, working and becoming involved in my new community.

All the while I missed my family and as time went by the desire for them to come up and see where I live and work and play intensified. And about two months ago, it peaked. If you've been following, you might have noticed that this is about the time that I was facing a few challenges.

The thing is that this desire has been consuming me to the point where it's affecting how I think and act. And it's turned into a negative emotion as my family sees my requests to come and visit as a "guilting" - guilting them to feel that they have to make the effort to make the trip. And it's turned into a negative emotion as I am unable to feel happy for those around me who can look forward to a visit from family or friends. I feel envy and a bit of anger.

But last night I was shown that my desire, my yearning for family and/or friends to come up is impractical and not likely to happen in the near future, if at all. So the best thing that I can do for myself and for my loved ones is to let it go. Let go of that all-consuming desire and want that is in effect bringing me down and clouding my thinking.

Today I am initiating strategies to help me to let it go. Already I feel lighter, sad, but lighter. And when I return to T.I. in four weeks I will start afresh and try to recapture that enthusiasm that I enjoyed when I first went up all those seven months ago :-)

Maybe this is something that I just have to go through - you know, keep walking until you get there - and I will come out stronger at the other end. I hope so.

At the moment ...... life is ...... challenging

Christmas 2010

I want to share with you one of the best Christmas days I've had in a long time.

As you know Christmas was to be spent on T.I. - a long way from home, family and friends - but it would have been a good day. Any "orphans" were invited to Robyn's place for breakfast and then later in the day Siobhan was hosting her annual orphan's day lunch. We would not have been alone :-)

But Rob's broken leg put paid to that and on Christmas Day we found ourselves in Cairns en route to Brisbane. And I was determined to make it a special day, wherever we were, because I felt so blessed that Rob and I were together and that he was well. So to that end I bought all the gifts that had been sent from home with me to open on the day. And I am so glad I did :-)

Rob woke me on Christmas morning with a ho-ho-ho and a cup of hotel instant coffee - delicious because it was made with love. I had put the presents out the night before, and after coffee we sat on the bed to open them. It was fun - lots of little gifts thrown in with the bigger ones. And fortunately Rob's gift from me arrived  at the last minute - luckily I checked at the post office before I left.

After a light breakfast in our room we went for a walk along the esplanade in the rain. It was drizzly rain, yet quite a few other people were also out walking, probably before the big lunch time feast.

Drizzly rain on Christmas morning. The structure in the foreground is the roof of a wedding chapel.

Lunch - where to go? what to eat? after all this is Christmas Day. Well - here's the thing - the view from our hotel balcony was pretty nice (see above)  and Rob had gone shopping the day before for a few essentials - so why go anywhere? We had it all there.

Our Christmas feast! Cheese, salami, olives, chocolates and wine - all food groups were covered :-)

Merry Christmas Rob :-)

I have never enjoyed a Christmas lunch as much as I did on that day. It was perfect in it's simplicity and satisfaction.

After the obligatory Christmas day nap, we both felt a tad peckish, so we borrowed an umbrella from hotel reception and strolled along the esplanade to the Pier. There we found the Mecca Bar and a cosy little alcove just for us .

Our romantic alcove at the Mecca Bar

We enjoyed a delicious pizza with real sardines, olives, roasted capsicum and tomatoes and topped with rocquet - exquisite! It was light, tasty and very satisfying. A stroll to the gelato bar for dessert and back to the hotel to watch a  movie - Miss Potter with Rene Zellweiger.

And so ended Christmas Day 2010. During the day we both received calls from our kids. And that's the best part - talking to your loved ones so far away, hearing their voices so clearly and happy, having them tell you that they're thinking of you and missing you.

Don't get me wrong - I love Christmas Day with the family - the fun, food, companionship. But this year - the year when (to quote my brother Anthony) nothing went according to script - I was still able to enjoy such a day. And I was blessed to be in a very beautiful part of the country with a very beautiful man ...... and he with a very beautiful woman (right Rob?) :-)

Life is good.

Update on Rob

The power of positive thinking - all your good wishes and healing thoughts have come to fruition.

Yesterday, after undergoing an MRI the specialist informed Rob that his leg is mending and he does not  require surgery. But it does require a lot of rest and slight exercise in order to continue the healing process. We are both very relieved and happy.

So things have changed ever so slightly in that we can now plan and not be concernd about working around hospital appointments. And casts and crutches are no longer a part of the deal :-)

I'm still leaving the island tomorrow and we hope to fly back to Brisbane next week. Our Christmas plans have not changed and it's nice to know that Rob can enjoy the day in a little less pain and a little more mobility.

I've passed on all your good wishes to him - he thanks you.

Life is good.

Rob

I haven't kept you up to date about everything. Rob is in Cairns to see an orthopedic surgeon tomorrow and then he is scheduled for an operation on Thursday. Why?

Well about three weeks ago, while climbing to board one of our pilot boats, he fell. And he fell about four feet - flat on his back - onto the cement wharf. I was there and I got a big fright, especially when I called his name several times and he did not respond. Eventually he opened his eyes, sat up and carried on.

He called into the medical centre the next day and was told that he had bruised his knee. But after hobbling around the island for a week in a lot of pain, he finally went to the hospital where they x-rayed his leg and found a broken fibula.

So - Rob is now in Cairns awaiting further medical treatment. I'm joining him on Christmas Eve simply because there are absolutley no flights off the island and I was lucky to get this one as the company had nabbed this ticket as a "just in case".

We were both ok with the idea of spending Christmas Day together in Cairns, doing our own thing, perhaps enjoying a delicious lunch from one of the many lovely restaurants along the esplanade. But again, matters have been taken out of our hands.

One of our pilots and his lovely lady live on the tablelands about an hour from Cairns and he has invited us  to spend Christmas Day with them. How blessed are we?

After that, on the first available flight out of Cairns, we will fly home to Brisbane where Rob will recuperate for the next 4-6 weeks. Life is what happens when you're busy making plans .......

So now things are a bit hectic up here. ARP is having to find replacement staff and there will be a constant relay of people coming up from Brisbane to fill in until Rob gets back. We are short a cleaner, and I have been filling in until we hired someone, but I'm out of here on Friday and so far we have not had any response to our ad. I hope they find someone soon.

The pilots and crew and all concerned about Rob and wish him a speedy recovery. They're also worried about how things will work while he's away because as one of the pilots said to me today "with shipping, it's just another day". In other words - there is no festive season, there is no slowing down because it's holiday time.

But you know - God or the Universe or whoever or whatever you believe in, works in mysterious ways. Rob needed to stop and rest. But unfortunately, he was not going to do this of his on accord. Now he has to - he has no choice. The matter was taken out of our hands and dealt with accordingly. In the scheme of things this is not a tragedy - it could have been far worse when I think of the way that he fell.

Ok - so a holiday would be nicer without a full cast and maybe a bit of pain, but hopefully Rob will stop, breathe, smell the roses, taste the coffee ...... and enjoy.

As I've learnt so many times this year - life is unpredictable.

Mondo

I don't normally post every day - but I just wanted to share with you the wonderful evening I've had tonight. There's an amazing cafe at the pier - Mondo - it's part of the Hilton hotel. And I discovered it quite by accident.

I was actually on my way to the marina to have a drink and maybe a meal at one of the other restaurants. While I was watching for the turnoff I noticed a grassed area with tables and chairs. So, I wandered over ......

Mondo - a garden of Eden in Cairns

OMG - it was a paradise, a garden of eden in this already beautiful city that is Cairns. I took a table with water views - well, actually they all have water views, but mine was the best :-) The cafe overlooks the river and part of the marina, the mountains are just over there, boats are dotted everywhere. A cruise ship cruised by as we sat and enjoyed the scenery. I just had to ring Rob - he told me that it had been in T.I. a couple of days ago and that one of our pilots is on board to take it through the reef. I wonder ... did he see me waving?

The cruise ship that just cruised by

I have enjoyed a couple of glasses of wine, a cheese platter and a special indonesian rice with chicken satays. Totally indulgent and soul nurturing. I sat for two and a half hours just soaking it all in - the scenery, the atmosphere, the music, the food and the night.

My friends - this trip is the best thing that I have done for myself in a long time. I can't wait to get back to Rob. I have a big sloppy wet kiss just waiting to plant on him.

Life is good.

Update from Cairns

I love Cairns. Last night I bought a t-shirt from the markets. You know, one of those "I (heart) Cairns" and I intend wearing it :-) This is such a pretty city - lots of greenery, not too big, hot - but hey I'm used to heat now and ....... civilised.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying T.I. is uncivilised, I'm just saying that it doesn't have a lot of things. Before I came here I'd forgotten how much I love shops - not so much for the shopping but just to know that they are there. I'd forgotten how much I love crowds - not big unruly uncontrollable crowds, but little crowds - in restaurants, walking along the streets, along the esplanade - giving the place that lived-in look, that lived-in feel.

Last night I took myself to dinner at the marina. There are about half a dozen restaurants there and I chose to dine at the Waterbar and Grill - I felt like a steak. The place was fullish - and it was nice to hear the buzz of conversations and to watch people coming and going and interacting. Afterwards I walked home along the esplanade - this is the cafes, restaurants, ice cream shops, souvenir shops street - and I felt quite safe, even though it was late, because again, there were people everywhere.

I'm loving the variety of shops, and that once inside the shop there is a lot to choose from, especially in the supermarket. I nearly went crazy yesterday - the only thing that stopped me buying fresh crusty bread, olives, cheese, salami and a heap of fresh vegetables was that I'm staying in a hotel and there is no way I could eat all that food in the remaining time I have here. But I did buy a crusty bread roll, slices of pastrami and fresh ricotta to have for lunch ....... yummo!!

Now I know what you're thinking. Oh-oh the T.I. honeymoon is over, she's sick of it, she wants out, she's coming home. No!!! you're wrong - on all counts.

Yes - I have been a little out of sorts lately, yes - I have felt a bit disconnected. And that's why I'm here - to get back on track. And it's working :-)

I am feeling pampered, indulged and nice. I am doing nice things for myself, and staying in this hotel - Rydges on the Esplanade - is a great start. I have a beautiful room on the 12th floor with magnificent mountain views and that in itself is so relaxing and calming. The hotel has a large pool surrounded by greenery and I go there every day to lie, read and swim - very very relaxing.

The pool at Rydges - lots of chilling out happening here

I take myself out to dinner to nice eating places, choose what I want and enjoy a glass of wine with my meals which so far have been delicious and satisfying.

We look after our physical health, but sometimes we neglect our emotional health. Well, I'm looking after my emotional health, and with Rob's full blessing and support. We've talked and texted every day and in the busyness of what we're doing, we still miss each other.

I'm looking forward to going home - to T.I., to Rob - relaxed, refreshed and ready to continue our adventure. I guess I've underestimated how big an adventure it is.  My beautiful daughters Vera and Nikki - my rocks (it's very humbling when the child becomes the parent) - reminded me of this before I came down.

I am so grateful that I had the opportunity and the means to do this. I am so grateful for the blessing that is Rob - my partner and my friend.

Life is good.

Musings on a very rainy day

Yesterday I bought a Christmas tree and decorations - baubles and tinsel. And I still have to get a star for the top of the tree and a crib for underneath - the reason for the season. I wish I'd planned ahead and brought up my decorations from home - I have a beautiful nativity crib and a silver star that's been around since the kids were little.

At the moment there are no presents under the tree - but today I'm planning to wrap a few. The thing is, once they're wrapped, I'll be posting them so that - hopefully - they get delivered in time. Apparently Nikki is posting up a "big parcel" so I'm looking forward to receiving it so that I can complete the tree. And once Rob's present arrives, well there's another one :-)

But you know, who would have thought 12 months ago that I'd be here - Thursday Island - sitting at this outdoor area, listening to the rhythm of the pouring rain, no let me rephrase that - bucketing down rain - and feeling quite good about it all. Who would have thought that a remote island in the far north of Australia could hold such attraction and peace of mind.

I wish my family could come and see where I'm living and playing. I wish I had to make room in the donger for their bags and spare beds. I wish that I could walk them through the pilot house, meet some of the pilots (who are all very nice) and share a meal with them one night.

I'd love to take them to the Gab Titui cafe to meet Mikey and enjoy one his meals. I'd love them to experience the Torres on a Thursday night, to have a coffee at Uncle Frankie's coffee shop and to take them shopping at Mona's, Col Jones and the Pearl Shop. I'd organise a trip to Friday Island to the pearl farm, and Rob could get them on a pilot boat or even a helicopter (but not me - remember? I don't do helicopters).

I want them to see the beauty of this island - the water, the scenery, the people, to get a feel for the place. I want them to see how and why I'm happy to be here for as long as we're here. I want, I want, I want ........

Life is what you make it - and I want you all to know that for me, now, here - life is good.

Did I say I was OK with it all?

Lightbulb moment

You know, I'm living in the Torres Strait - one of the most beautiful places on this planet - and up until now, I haven't done much about it. Yes - I go for walks, especially along the foreshore, and I do appreciate the scenery - in fact I love the scenery. The water that surrounds T.I. is a sparkling aquamarine and the neighbouring islands are within touching distance. It truly nurtures your soul to sit and take in this amazing vista.

Today, for only the second time since I've been up here, I went out in one of the pilot boats. We picked up a pilot from a small cargo ship from the Goodes Island pilot boarding ground. What that means is that we came up alongside the ship, both vessels slowed down to 8 knots, and the pilot came on board. Usually the pilot has to come down a rope ladder, but as the ship was low in the water, he simply stepped from ship to boat.  The while trip took us just over an hour.

Coming back to T.I.

Goodes Island - the pick up was off shore from here

Goodes Island - taken from the boarding ground

As you can see the water was calm and the day was perfect. The pilot boat, the Bindy, is very comfortable - it has a galley, bunks, an upper deck and a lower deck from where I took these photos. Rob and I shared a wine on the way back while he threw a line overboard and half-heartedly tried to catch a fish.

After our boat trip, Rob and I went for a quick dip in the water along the foreshore. It's a very pretty and popular spot and together with other families we enjoyed the warm weather and even warmer water. Crocs? - well, you don't go swimming early morning or evening and there are certain spots where they tend to hang out. Am I a local or what? When I first arrived up here I wouldn't even go near the water, let alone go in it. (Luckily my Mum doesn't have a computer - she would freak out reading this)

OK - so what's my light bulb moment? I'm going to do this more often. I'm going to take advantage of where I'm living and the fact that my partner works in an area where going out on the water is as common as going out in a car. I'm going to visit the foreshore every day, if I can, and either just sit and take in the scenery or go that one step further and actually become part of the scenery - sort of like becoming at one with nature.

After the stresses and down times of the past few weeks, this is exactly what I needed to nurture myself and my spirit. I had fallen into a rut whereby I could have been anywhere and not here on this beautiful tropical island. But today, I remembered where I am ...... and I don't intend to forget.

 I am living on T.I. - and life is good!

Gourmet on T.I.

Another busy weekend on T.I. Saturday night saw us at the Sarpeye Ball - yes, another ball :-)  This one is held outdoors at the army barracks and like the Wongai ball held in August, it's an occasion to dress up, dance and have fun. We were treated to an amazing seafood buffet and very reasonably priced drinks.

The weather was kind - apart from the short downpour later in the night - but that was not an issue as luckily the barracks has a decent undercover area and the revellers were able to take shelter while the heavens opened. But Rob and I missed all the excitement as we had already left by then and were safely home.

Rob and I enjoying a pre-ball drink with Rina and Steve

Glammed up for the ball

Peter of the red vest and Pastor Jan .... yes - Pastor :-)

Sunday saw us up bright and early to look after the pilots. I've been helping out in the pilot house kitchen over the past few weeks, but only on a Sunday. The cook takes a well deserved day off and as I'm not a stranger to catering and cooking for others, it seemed only natural for me to fill in on those days.

Traditionally the pilots have a BBQ on Sunday nights to give the cook (who used to live in) a night off. But as that is no longer the case Sunday nights have taken on a slightly different slant so when Rob suggested that we do pizzas - well, why not? He makes a mean pizza base so the pilots were in for a treat.

But what's a pizza night if you can't do your own toppings? So while Rob mixed and kneaded and worked his magic with the flour, I supervised the three pilots in Pizza Toppings 101.

"They're my olives"

Creating gourmet delights

Mamma mia! Tony, Richard, Rob and John looking very pleased with their creations

It was a fun night - the pilots don't usually hang out in the kitchen - so to be invited in and be given free rein was a novelty. We made four pizzas - one for each pilot and one with all the leftover toppings (that one was mine) - and they were all eaten with gusto ..... and with a pretty decent red.

Who said you can't eat gourmet on T.I.? Life is good :-)

Not long now

School is almost out - December 3rd is our last day. And while the kids technically still have just over a week of schooling, the time will be spent on activities, rewards for hard work, recognition of achievements .... and cleaning up.

The HUB - my desk :-)

One of the many cultural artworks that you will find around the campus.

The teachers are madly marking and writing reports and the teacher aide is madly giving them all the support they need :-) Today the year 8s were treated to a mediterranean feast as a reward for their hard work on their Ancient Civilisations unit.  We prepared platters of chicken, cold meats, lamb kebabs, greek potatoes and salad, herb bread rolls and a cake for dessert.

By the end of lunch most of the food had gone and we had enough left over for a few older stragglers who wandered in and politely asked if they could have something. I'd forgotten how much teenage boys can eat! A job well done for Vanessa, their teacher, and the four year 11 students who very ably assisted us with the preparation. BTW - there's hope yet for the year 9s if this is what they will eventually become :-)

This time of year also gives rise to a condition called Mango Madness. No, it's not a rush on buying or collecting mangoes - which are in abundance at the moment - it's a state of mind. I don't know if it's the heat or the change in temperature from hot to a bit hotter every day, but your mind starts to play tricks on you and emotions can run high.

For this reason, maybe (?), most people leave the island once school has fininshed and return some time in January. Rob and I, at this stage, have not made any definite plans. The nature of his work does not give us the luxury to plan too far ahead.

But I have to say that I may have a touch of MM. I'm hoping that once work is finished and I have time to myself, I may settle down and start to find my groove again. Perhaps the cure involves having something to look forward to, so for this reason I'm thinking of spending a few days away, maybe in Cairns.

I am a bit nervous about staying on the island over the festive season. It will be as good or as bad as I make it - and so far I have made my time here good. There is a cure for MM - it's about a change of attitude, it's about taking control and knowing that ultimately you can make a difference for the better.

At the moment - life is uncertain.

Only on T.I.

Every day on this beautiful island I experience something new :-) And while my days are filled with sameness and the mundane, some little event will always creep in and I think to myself  "only on T.I.".

* Only on T.I. can you wear a bright orange floral dress -anywhere - and not stand out like a sore thumb. Julie - this photo is for you. I know you've had trouble with the whole muu-muu thing but is this acceptable? (LOL)
The leg-ins are for modesty - it can get windy up here and big dresses are quite loose and tend to fly up. So at school we wear leg-ins as a precaution  against any sudden exposure.

* Only on T.I. have I felt so far away from family and friends and as a result fell into bit of a hole. But then I would not have experienced the love and support that came pouring out to me, in some instances, from unexpected places.
An afternoon Skype session with Carleen did wonders for my spirit - it was as if we were in the same room, nothing had changed. Carls - can't wait to get your package :-)

The beautiful people in my staff room - such caring, loving souls. Little kisses, hugs, little chats - it meant so much to me - thank you.

* Only on T.I. would I pay $5.35 for a lettuce and not flinch - well ok, I flinched a little.

* Only on T.I. do I walk home from work and as I come over the crest of the hill I catch a view of the beautiful aquamarine water that surrounds our lovely isle. This water is so calming to the soul.

A visit to the foreshore - which is only minutes away - does wonders for me. And I don't do it enough. It's like everything - when it's all around you, you take it for granted and it's not until you stop, look and listen that you realise what you have at your fingertips and how lucky you really are.

Life is good ..... again :-)

Feeling lonely

Today I felt it - the distance. Today I was alone. Today, I wanted more than anything, to be with a friend - to have a coffee, maybe even a drink, to chat, and to have a little vent. Today I wanted my support network but distance got in the way.

So ...... I went to the foreshore. The water was perfect - flat, clear and inviting. The sky was blue and cloudless. The neighbouring islands provided a peaceful backdrop as I sat on the rock wall and felt lucky to be there.

I'd bought a book with me - reading relaxes me once I can get my mind to stop racing - and together with the groups of families and friends around me I enjoyed the beauty of the T.I. foreshore.

There is no substitute for a friend - as beautiful as this place is - but it did wonders to restore my soul and peace of mind. I'm still in a mild turmoil. I'm a talker - that's how I 'heal'- I get the words out of me, and I feel better. That's what my wonderful friends do - they listen, they help me to heal.

Today I missed you so much.

Below: The beautiful foreshore on T.I.

This travel blog photo's source is TravelPod page: Thursday on Saturday.....

Dr Dolittle

This weekend the vet is on the island. She visits every couple of months. To let us know she's coming the council puts an ad in the Torres News and brochures are left on notice boards around the town. Then we ring to make an appointment - Friday for surgery and Saturday for consultations.

Today Rob and I took Kacee and Zoe to the vet for vaccinations and worming. Consultations are held in the animal control offices in the council compound. We wait outside on the veranda with the outdated, broken photocopier and a table and chairs. It was raining today so the verandah was wet and crowded.

After each patient, the vet comes out and asks "who's next?" and in you go. It's a grotty little room - it has a satinless steel operating table which Jo - the vet - uses as a treatment table. Kacee needed 3 needles - her yearly innoculation, an antibiotic and heartworm. She also had a worming tablet. Zoe got her first needle.

Jo is lovely and caring and thinks that Kacee has a sweet nature :-) $278 later and the pets are updated and healthy.

Looking after the family - life is good :-)

Resting after a traumatic visit to the vet



So much to tell you

Living on T.I. is a lot like living anywhere else - it never rains, it pours. Since Friday Rob and I haven't stopped. There's been fetes, drinkies, races, catching up with friends and just overall being very busy.

If you remember I was looking after the cake stall for the church fete. Now even though I am a bit of a veteran when it comes to fete stalls, I was a tad nervous about this one as I was following in the footsteps of one Mrs Pat Jones. Pat has been here for ever and doing the cake stall for as long, so - this was going to be a tough act for me to follow.

I had been hearing how she was able to muster up so much support that the cake stall was always the money maker on fete night. As it turns out my fears were groundless. I'd momentarily forgotten that I was living in a small community and that everybody rallies around and pitches in. Hadn't I met people in the street and asked them to bake for me? - well they did - and with a vengeance!!

Whether it was one cake, two cakes or trays and trays; whether it was bags of cookies, trays of donuts, fudge, jars of chutneys, damper from Hammond Island cooked in banana leaves and  ..... the mainstay of all fetes around Australia - toffees - the good people of T.I. supported the cake stall as they had done in years gone by.

At this stage we still have rough figures but in one and a half hours we took over $2000 - that's just for the cakes :-) The entire fete made over $22,000 in 3 hours. Not bad hey? But then we Catholics always did know how to raise money.

The next day saw Rob and I frock up - well I did, Rob went semi-formal, as you can see from the pics - for the annual T.I. Derby Day.

Rob and I in the pilot house kitchen. One of us is overdressed .....

The event was held at the boat club - spectacular views, icy cold champagne, delicious BBQ lunch and lots of fun betting on distant races. We had our own derby later in the afternoon - I was a jockey, but the dice rolls were not friendly to me and so my punters lost money :-(

Why would you want to be anywhere else?

Palm trees at Derby Day

Sunday saw me feeling very sorry for myself and laying low - you can draw your own conclusions :-) But then what better way to come back to life than a spot of gardening. Here is a pic of the donger as it it now - no longer bare, but warm and inviting.

A few pot plants to soften the look, a table and chairs to share our meals, a cane chair to relax in while talking on the phone to loved ones, a garden bed to define our space.  Yes, life on T.I. ..... is good :-)

Girls Night In update

Our Girls Night In on Friday night was very successful. Margaret and I played host to 12 wonderful women who came for a night of fun, food and a few wines.

The evening took on a special note when one of our guests, Fayleen, spoke of her breast cancer journey - she was diagnosed after a routine mammogram. After surgery she had to travel from Toowoomba to Brisbane every day for her radiation therapy - a journey that took two hours by bus.

This amazing and courageous woman spoke openly and honestly of her feelings, hopes and fears. She left us with a very positive message - regular check ups, education, and live in the 'now'. After her recovery, Fayleen took leave from work and treated herself to a backpacking holiday around Australia. What a woman! :-)

Here are some pics of our night.

Katie and Bron enjoy the lasagna

Margaret being Margaret

Pink cakes and party favours

Chatting and enjoying the company

Bec, Deb and Siobhan

Yes ..... is that so? Bron, Molly and Bec

A certain freedom

Kacee and I went for our daily walk this afternoon along the foreshore. She had a ball - running through the sand, chasing the sea birds (they're called terns apparently - I didn't know that, but Mr Bird Expert Rob told me), playing tag with me - and I couldn't help thinking that she truly has become an island dog. She has such a good life here - freedom to run around in the unfenced yard, freedom to come and go to the office, to play with the pilots and staff. And then of course there's our special walks.

How will she get on when we go back home? Do dogs have memories? Will she remember what she was doing one day and how it's different the next?

I've become bit of an island d-- um ..... I mean, I've become accustomed to island living too. There is a certain freedom up here that you don't have in the big city. Freedom from traffic, from crowds, distances are close, people are friendlier - there is a sense of community here that I didn't experience back home.

And it's never more evident than on a Saturday morning at one of my favourite places on T.I. - the coffee shop. A cup of coffee at Uncle Frankie's is a community event - you will always meet somebody :-) be it a fellow church goer, a fellow Rotarian, a colleague from work or someone you met at so-an-so's that night or at the pub.

Uncle Frankie's coffee shop - my favourite place

The next big community event here is the Catholic Church fete this Friday night and I'm looking after the cake stall. I can see my kids laughing and shaking their heads - yes, after all these years I'm back doing fetes. All I did was innocently ask "have you got anyone yet to do the cake stall?" and next thing my name is in the newsletter and I'm being given eggs to give away to any potential bakers.

"Silvana, I found that the more eggs I gave them, the more they'd bake" - quote from Pat Jones, my predecessor and island identity. Pat is the widow of Col Jones, the founder of Col Jones newsagency and all-round island shop. This lady is ...... not young - I hope she doesn't get offended - but has the energy of a 20-year-old. She's involved in the community, still helps out in the shop, looks after her grand children, and does weekly religious education at T.I. primary school. (She asked me the other day about taking it into the high school - I told her to not even think about it. She got it.)

So - what I'm feeling is that lovely freedom that comes with being in a small community. I love it. I love that I can meet people in the street and ask them to bake me a cake for Friday night. They all know what I'm  talking about, where it is, when it is, and most of them have promised me something on the night - cakes, tarts, chutneys and marshmallows.

How will I get on when we eventually go back home? Well I'll have my memories - lots of them. And to help me remember, I'll read my blog, and enjoy the photos I've taken to remind me of places and faces and events. I'll remember how well - and how easy is was - to become accustomed to island living. I'll remember that Kacee and I had a certain freedom, and that up here, on T.I. ..... life is good.

Girls Night In

Tonight I've baked a batch of brownies, a chocolate cake and written a letter to my Mum. No - Rob is not away. He's actually having a nap on the spare bed, but I suspect from the sounds of sleep that are emanating from that room, that he may stay there most of the night :-)

The brownies are for an event this Friday night. Margaret and I are hosting a Girls Night In. For those of you who don't know it's an initiative by the Cancer Council of Australia to raise awareness and funds for Breast Cancer. Women simply invite some friends around for a night of fun - be it watching a chic flick, sharing a meal or a cheese platter and a glass of wine. The guests are asked to donate what they would spend on a night out.

We have organised a game of trivia with prizes and will be providing dinner - a simple meal of lasagna, salad and garlic bread. Margaret is baking pink cupcakes and I have made the brownies to be given as party favours when our guests leave.

I was chatting with one of the teachers today in the staff room - I found out this morning that a friend of mine has just been diagnosed - and she commented that it would be unusual to not know someone who has had breast cancer. Too true.

My friend, Claire, has regular mammograms and so the disease has been caught in the early stages. Her GP is very confident that treatment will be successful. Her attitude is amazing, and her friends - myself included - will be supporting and loving her though this journey.

So Claire - this Friday is for you. And for all those other amazing women who have heard those two words and then with amazing strength, courage and dignity have fought, survived and now wear their scars with pride.

Best of friends

When Rob and I went home for the holidays we left Kacee here. We didn't want to disrupt her for the two weeks - and then there was the four day trip to Adelaide which would have meant having her looked after by someone else. So it was easier to leave her on the island.

Margaret, Rob's very able and capable assistant and Jules her partner, looked after her. We were all curious as to how Maui their cat would get on with Kacee - would she accept her and eventually befriend her or would it be a case of total rejection. Well, after their initial meeting when Maui arched her back and hissed  her displeasure, very soon they were playing hide and seek, having their naps together and sharing a food bowl.

By the end of the two weeks they were best friends. And when we came home - while Kacee was very happy to see us - after a couple of hours she became quite sad and mopey. I thought this would last for a day or two, but I was wrong. She was missing Maui .... badly.

So when Rob and I walked into Ibis - our local supermarket - and saw a notice on the community board "Kittens to give away" ...... well, was that a sign or what??? Rob rang the number there and then and made an appointment with the owner for delivery of the kitten. And that's how Zoe came to be a part of our family.

Are you wondering how she and Kacee get on? They get on beautifully - they play, they cuddle, they nuzzle. Kacee is so gentle with her - she's a darling. And Rob and I are getting so much pleasure watching them at play - they are delightful.

Rob has since told me that he thought I was being quite impetuous when I "suggested" he ring Zoe's owner (well I am a Gemini) - but now he's glad. He adores his girls - and I'm included in that group too :-)

Expanding our little family - life is good.

On reflection ....

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart - one of the oldest buildings on the island

When I arrived on the island I looked for different ways to meet people. I knew that Rob would not always be available to show me around - not because he wouldn't want to, but because he is so busy. To that end I started going to Rotary breakfast meetings - and eventually joined, I made sure that we attended any social events that came up, I put myself down for volunteer work ...... and I started going to church.

Now I'm not embarrassed to say that that's the reason why I went. Since joining that community and getting to know a few regulars, a couple of them have told me that they started coming for the same reason. Now that I am local, I continue to go every Sunday. No, I haven't found that ol' time religion. I have simply found a very caring and friendly community that gets together on a Sunday morning - and I like being a part of it. And the spectacular morning tea afterwards has nothing to do with it :-)

You know it doesn't hurt me to have to sit for about 40 minutes and be still. It's a lovely time to reflect, think things through and be grateful for the many blessings in my life.

Life is good.

Home is where the heart is

So where is home? Home is in Brisbane where we own a cute little 2-bedroom house with polished timber floors and carpet in the bedrooms, a wonderful front deck, a lush garden which at the moment is a picture of spring with lillies all in bloom, a very regal persian cat, 2 chirpy budgies and my own laundry.

Home is Brisbane - my Mum and kids live there, as do my friends and relatives. Home is where I can go to the movies, buy fresh flowers at the grocery shop or better still the florist, where the shops are well stocked with my favourite grocery items. Home is where I can't decide to go when I want to eat out, where new places spring up overnight, where I can go to the theatre or the opera, or the Story Bridge Hotel on a Sunday afternoon.

But I don't live at home - I live on Thursday Island. I live in a yellow donger (unfortunate name, isn't it) with ugly grey rubber flooring that shows ALL the dirt, a straw runner in the bedroom so I have something else to stand on besides the rubber and a couple of carpet tiles. The yard here has been sadly neglected. There is a certain amout of greenery and Rob and I are starting to tend to the soil so that hopefully we can add some variety to our garden and have it thrive.

The yellow donger which is now home to Rob, Kacee and I. Garden is looking a bit sad, but with some TLC will soon be lush and thriving.

The fake tulips which look quite nice I think.

The shared laundry. Sometimes all machines are in use - a case of getting in first.

As our donger is a part of the pilot house we share some faclities, namely the laundry. I used to take doing the laundry for granted - you know the clothes are dirty, so you wash them. But now there are times when the laundry is in demand so the trick is to do try and get in before the others.

It's not unusual to go to use a machine (we have 3) and it's being used. It's also not unusual to go to collect your washing and find it sitting on top of another machine, or else someone's put it in your basket. Sometimes if they're really keen they'll even hang it up for me. But it's all good :-)

The supermarket shelves are a bit bare at the moment - I'm thinking of joining Coles Online - I do miss my favourite cheese flavoured rice crackers. Rob says I'm addicted to the yellow food colour and flavour enhancer ...... probably :-)  And as for flowers - well, I'm enjoying those fake tulips that I bought up with me - they suit the dining table quite nicely.

There is no movie theatre here, or any theatre for that matter. Places to eat out are limited and there is definitely no Story Bridge Hotel - although the Torres on a Thursday night does come a close second :)

And my family is so very far away. But Rob is here, pup is here and now my heart is here too.

Life is good.

New discoveries

I've become a jet-setter :) Flitting down to Sydney for the day, then across to Adelaide for the weekend and finally back home. Phew! I'm exhausted. I wouldn't cut it as a politician or a celebrity, would I? So what have I discovered on my travels? Well a few things :)

I love Adelaide - I could easily live there. I've told Rob now that I've made the first move - which was the hardest and the biggest - I am now ready to try other places. Visiting the Central Markets on Saturday made me realise how much I miss some things up on T.I. - well stocked delicatessans for one. I'd forgotten how many varieties of cheese, olives and salamis are available to buy and how well they go with delicious crusty Italian bread.

K1 winery in the Adelaide Hills

The next day - the wine tasting. A short drive out of the city and we were in the Adelaide Hills and home of several well known wineries. What a pleasant way to spend a Sunday - tasting wine, lunching on platters and newly discovered wine blends, and driving through green lush country. How do you top that? You stop at a chocolate shop, that's how :)

As full as I was, there was still room for a Baileys Bomb - one little chocolate that had me oohing and aahing for ages. Once I'd bitten into it, I had to be careful and not let the liquor inside run out. It was like a chocolate shell filled with Baileys - it was truly a case of "I'll have what she's having".

Rob happily munched on a peppermint slice. I don't get it - how can you just eat chocolate. Don't you have to savour it first - sort of let it melt in your mouth and then you slowly swallow it while at the same time you try to keep it in your mouth? Isn't that how you eat chocolate? Not Rob - he bites off a piece and eats it - quick, no nonsense, done and dusted in a few seconds. I guess it's a boy thing.

I also discovered that I'm getting better at air travel - well I have to don't I, considering where I live. And I find that doing a crossword puzzle takes my mind off (i) take off, (ii) how fast we're going, (iii) how high up we are and (iv) the thing I don't want to think about the most - what keeps this thing up here????? So I concentrate on crosswords.

Reading .... well, my mind wanders and as for trying to sleep - well first of all I can't and secondly I hear every single noise, bump and swish, gear change and I'm sure there are times when that motor just cuts out. But if I'm thinking of a three letter word for "meadow" or another word for "room divider" then I don't hear a thing .... what was that??

And let me tell you I always listen to the safety talk - you can't hear that too often. But I still don't know - is that little red tube the whistle or the inflation thingy? And yesterday for the first time ever I actually felt under the seat to see if there really was a life jacket - there was :)

Rob and I packed a lot into our three days away - we spent time with his daughter and her new family and I met up with a friend. We shopped and we walked. We did a lot of our favourite things - we ate interesting food (stonegrill at the Strathmore - what a treat, crispy pizza at the Lazy Ballerina and amazing ethiopian food at Addis Ababa); drank new wines (hello K1) and we were merry.

But the best thing about our time away is that Rob and I reconnected - we talked, we had fun, quite a few laughs and we came home knowing that we love being together and want to stay together for a long time.

Life is good.

Love you Brisbane

We've been home for one week - and what a week it's been :) I couldn't think of one thing to blog about so I've decided to make a short list, in no particular order of enjoyment or importance, and share it with you.

In the past week I have enjoyed :

1. Family get-togethers. Since arriving we've had dinner at my Mum's with Mark, Carmel, Nikki, Dan and my brother Phil. As usual Mum cooked up a feast - had the entire population of T.I. come to visit, there would have been leftovers.

Above: Nikki and Dan
Below: Vera and Cameron. Phil is sitting behind Cameron

The following night Vera and Cameron joined us for a meal at a local turkish restaurant, complete with belly dancer. I must admit that I didn't need too much encouragement (after a couple of wines) to join in on one of her dances around the tables. Well - she did offer me a scarf ........

Yesterday Nikki and I went to visit my niece Pina, her 2 gorgeous little girls and her mum. We had a great time catching up and enjoyed a delicious lunch of individual quiche, salad, strawberries drowned in marsala and fresh cream. I came home feeling totally satisfied.

2. A session at the Story Bridge Hotel. It felt so good to be there and to see so many familiar faces - hi Julie, Kim, Margaret, Virginia, David and Sue. The jazz was there, the buzz was there and my favourite wine is still there to be enjoyed while chatting and catching up. Can't wait to do it again.

3. My best friend. On Monday I went to see the Valentino collection with my best friend Maria - we have been friends for 51 years :) I met her on the first day of grade 1 at the old St Stephens school in Brisbane City. We have through so much together - marriages, babies, marital problems, breakups, our kids' weddings, good times, not so good times but mainly lots of fun times. Through it all she has been a great support to me - "the wind beneath my wings".

Going out with Maria is an event - lots of laughter, usually a deep and meaningful thrown in for good measure, a lot of understanding and a lot of fun.

4. Movies!!!! Since Sunday night Rob and I have been to the movies twice. Once to see "The kids are all right" and then today to see "Wall Street 2". I'm sorry I won't be here to see "Eat Pray Love". I'll wait for it to come out on DVD and watch it on T.I. on the big screen that Rob has rigged up at the pilot house.

5. Coffee shops. Yes I have my favourite coffee shop on T.I. but it's so nice to find and experience new ones that have cropped up since I've been away. There's a new one around the corner called "Espresso Stop" - I've enjoyed a coffee there most mornings after my walk and this morning I took Rob for breakfast. It ticks all the right boxes - friendly staff, interesting selection of meals, great ambiance and of course good coffee.

6. Fresh flowers. The first thing I did last Friday was buy myself a big bunch of flowers to add to the gardenias that my house sitter had left for me on the coffee table.

I am so desperate for the flower experience that today I purchased a bunch of fake tulips to take back with me. I have to say that for fakes, they look pretty good - if I keep telling myself that I will eventually believe it.

Rob and I have another week before we return to our island adventure. Another week of family, friends, catching up, eating out and hopefully a movie. Another week of enjoying our home, our garden with it's lush greenery, spring lillies that are all in bloom and healthy pot plants on our wonderful front deck.

My niece asked me if I was looking forward to going back. I told her that I'm living in the now .... and loving it.

Life is good :)

Home sweet home ... for now

Before I left for T.I. I had to decide what I was doing with the house. I didn't want to rent it out because the time frame between making the decision to go and actually leaving was very short. And I didn't have the energy or willpower to pack up the place and do the whole rental thing.

So I decided to get a housesitter. This way I could leave everything as is. Then, when and if I decided to come home I could let them know and not have to worry about leases, contracts and fair notice and any other stress that having a tenant entails.

What a great decision :) On Thursday Rob and I walked into our home after an absence of several months. And nothing had changed. It was as I had left it - clean, neat and tidy. In our absence it has been lovingly and beautifully looked after by my lovely housesitter (I won't embarrass you Scott by mentioning names)(wink).

I'm sitting in my lounge room this morning, on my couch in my home. And it feels as if I have never been away. I'm finding it hard to realise that for the past three and a half months I have been living in another place.

On Thursday, after our flight, Rob and I shared a wine on the front deck. It all felt surreal. A few hours earlier we had been at the top most end of Australia and now here we were back in Brisbane ..... drinking wine as if nothing had happened. But it has happened. And this is a pitstop along the way.

Over the next few days we'll be catching up with family and friends. On Friday we go to Sydney to attend the memorial service for Chris - he's the reef pilot who died in the PNG air crash a few weeks ago - and then we're off to Adelaide to visit one of Rob's daughters. Busy busy.

But in all this whirlwind of activity I am reminded of a couple of things. Although things here all look the same and feel the same, I am not the same. I am different for having made the decision three and a half months ago to leave home and try out life on a remote island in the far far north of Queensland.

I've been to places I never imagined going to, I've done a few things that have scared me and challenged me and met people that would never have come into my circle in the normal course of things. I'm still in the middle of my adventure - don't know when it will end or change for that matter. But as I sit here on my couch, in my lounge room, in my house - it feels so very good to be home.

Life is good.

Feeling belonged

Do you remember my earlier posts, before and just after I came to T.I., when I talked about feeling 'belonged'? I used to wonder if I would feel a part of my new surrounds, if I would make a connection with people and places, would I feel a tug if I had to leave.

At the moment T.I. is in a frenzy of activity. September is the month of the Winds of Zendath Cultural Festival. This festival is held every two years (on alternate years a music festival is held) and this year we, Tagai College, are the hosts. While the festival is held here on T.I. all the outer islands partake. The school grounds have been taken over with tents, marquis and entertainment areas. It starts tomorrow with a parade and then the fun begins as we see dance exhibits from the different islands, taste traditional island food, and watch displays of the traditional crafts of weaving, braiding and other island activities.

And the streets of the town are also in festival spirit as shops and businesses decorate their frontages with palm leaves plaited and then tied around posts or hung from the eaves.

While there is officially another week of school, today was the last day for lessons as the rest of the week is taken up with cultural activities. The kids have been practising their island dances for weeks and over the next four days they will be performing them at the festival. Together with the teachers I have been assigned a supervision roster, but what that means is that I will roaming the grounds for a set period of time and actively encouraging students and visitors to partake in the number of activites planned for this happy occasion.

This week, and leading up to this week, I have felt belonged. I have made a connection with my new community, with my work colleagues, and today as I welcomed students and teachers from the outer islands to the school I felt like a local, I felt like a part of T.I.

On Thursday Rob and I are flying home to Brisbane for a two week break. Will I feel a tug? Yes - a little one. But the biggest tug for me will be the tug from home as I get closer and closer to my family - to Mark, Vera and Nikki and their wonderful spouses, as I get closer to my Mum. A bigger tug will be as we drive from the airport to home and as I wait to hear their footsteps on the front stairs when they all come to see me. And then let me tell you, no tug - no matter how strong - is going to keep us apart.

Going home to my loved ones - life is fantastically good!