Terranorra continued

(hit a wrong key but here we go again) worked and is still working at 75 in air freight in Brisbane. We met them first 17 years ago and enjoy them. He is brusque, interrupts conversations with his own agenda, is very opinionated, but very thoughtful and kind at heart. (Right after we arrived he came by with a bouquet of gardenisa for Mom.) He reminds me of a puppy and we have some great conversations. When Kathereine is talking, I have learned to tune him out til she finishes, and he shuts up. She is a delightful person, excellent cook, sharp, with her own ideas, and gives Bo some line but keeps him from hanging himself with his very open, frank, approach to relationships. I always enjoy the visits; they are so different from other friends.

We didn't have beach weather so we spent alot of time in the car touring around to local tropical farms, tea plantation, winery, beaches for viewing, and finally, a short swim late in the day on Monday - we went down by train late Saturday and Bo drove us home after a pizza supper Monday. (He has a small townhouse near the airport where he stays four nights a week.) The water was delightful, the surf moderate where I swam sheltered by some large rocks, the sun came out to dry me off. All day we had alternating rain showers and bright sun with lots of wind - sound like Colorado?

The tea plantation was very interesting thanks to Aussie engineering. They had designed a tea leaf picker that is amazing to me. It is like a lawn mower raised 3 feet off the ground by large rubber tires. The photo shows it better than I can describe it. It reminded me of the cartoon Fred Brodaq sent about cutting heges - hold a riding lawn mower up in the air by a construction crane! It replaces hand picking of the new leaves which has been done for centuries - very efficient, but destroying employment for many. One of the machines was in use while we were there. Neither Bo nor Katherine had ever seen it operate before so we were lucky.

This week is schoolies week on the Gold Coast. We thought we might be overwhelmed but found they are heavily concentrated in several places - Surfer's Paradise and Byron Bay - Terranorra is in between the two locations. Schoolies is like the SPS/Andover party week after graduation but the kids go without parents to rented houses and hotels, drink alot, have lots of concerts, etc provided, and try to avoid the police and the older crashers who try to join in the fun. Rachael had been hot and cold about going, finally planned to go with a few friends for half the week - she didn't want to miss Thanksgiving. Pneumonia slowed her down so she cancelled, but has been to several parties in the city after which she can get some sleep.

Mom and Elli are walking Chai while Ken is preparing steak and kidney pie - one of our favorites. Emily's school ends Friday so she has been taking tests and doing last minute studying. She just came in from school and said she'd gotten an A- on a 500 work English comp she wrote last night until 10:30. Rachael is at a party. Such is life in Australia.