The sunshine state

Well, here I am at Brisbane airport waiting for our flight to Proserpine in the Whitsundays. It's a beautiful sunny day and very warm up here, although the locals find it a bit cool now it's autumn. Brisbane is a lovely city and we've been extremely well looked after by Janelle's aunty and uncle. Yesterday we were taken down the river on the catamaran and saw Brissie from the river. There's some lovely waterfront properties with private jetties, not dissimilar in parts to the Thames in Surrey. Last night we went out in town with Janelle's cousin and sat at a waterfront bar with views of the city and bridge and had one too many bottles of sav. Still, we're on holiday.

Later we join a tall ship, the Whitsunday Magic, for a three-day cruise around the islands. I can't wait. We seem to have been quite hectic up until now, what with the move etc, so it will be nice to get on board and not have to worry about anything for a while. Do some reading. Maybe some snorkelling. Enjoy the food and the company. It'll be interesting to see who we meet on the boat and funny to think of them getting excited for the same trip right now.

Anyway, I will update you on the end of the Melbourne leg when I've got more time but just wanted to check in and say hello. Thanks for the various texts and emails you've sent - it's always so nice to get them and hear how you're doing back home. Happy belated birthday to Marra Hooch - hope you had a good one. Get back to work Molly Mackey. And a final big up to the Toon who will lift our first bit of silverware in a canny while at the weekend. Haway the lads!