Catching up

I haven't blogged for a while, so I thought I'd bring you up to date with the help of a few photos and a brief summary of events as they happened.

IBIS cook-off
In an effort to promote healthy eating IBIS hosted a cook-off between the mayor, Pedro Stephen, and a member of Anna Bligh's community cabinet that was visiting the island last Sunday.

IBIS employs a full time nutritionist, Jasmina, who assists in the presentation and display of healthy food choices throughout the store. Sadly it's a bit of a battle up here. And while the cook-off "kitchen" was well set up with lots of healthy looking vegetables, brochures and posters it was not all that well attended.

But - Jasmina is not giving up :-) and IBIS will continue to offer healthy alternatives to the community.

Healthy food cloices at IBIS

The contestants are briefed by IBIS nutritionist Jasmina

Mayor Pedro cooks up a healthy stir fry

Rob's Birthday

August 30 was Rob's birthday and what better way to celebrate than with family and friends. And while our real family is back in Brisbane, we are fortunate to have another family with us here on T.I. - our backpacker family.

I gave Rob two choices for his birthday dinner - a meal at the Fed or let's stay at home and have dinner with the "kids". He opted for dinner with the kids.

Toasting Rob with Hannah and Zoe

Leanna, Yves and Hannah

The birthday boy

Rob's girls - Nikki, Hannah and Leanna

Our birthday feast :-)

Farewell Leanna and Dan 
While I love having the backpackers living here there is a definite downside - they eventually leave. Today we farewelled Leanna and Dan as they move onto to the next leg of their backpacking holiday.

These gorgeous young people did steal my heart - the gentle, softly spoken, protective Dan; and Leanna - petite, beautiful, cool, calm and collected. Both of them showed a maturity beyond their young years. Saying goodbye was hard.



Dan and Leanna

Leanna, Nikki and Dan - they are all from the same place, Newcastle upon Tyne. Nikki will meet up with them in November.

First class seats on McDonald's ferry - amazing views and fresh air

Rob

This morning, before the kids left, I had another farewell. Rob has flown to Brisbane for a back operation. After months of pain, doctors, physio, numerous drugs and sleepless nights we have decided that enough is enough and last week Rob was finally given a referral to go to Brisbane.

Dr Redmond will perform keyhole surgery tomorrow and Rob will be out on Wednesday. Natalie, his daughter, will take him back to her place in Oakey to convalesce. I will join him in two weeks.

We are both looking forward to starting a new life - a life without pain, a normal life.

Waiting for the good news and keeping positive - life is making us stronger.