Day 65 (Monday)

Okay, who put in the order for torrential rain? Because it seems to be being delivered here by mistake. Talk about wet! And we wouldn't have minded so much except we were driving to Brisbane this morning to meet W and K off the cruise ship. No easy task given the research was undertaken while under the effects of "man flu" - and what an absolutely shoddy job of research it was! We ended up at the Port of Brisbane all right - where the container ships and bulk coal and grain are loaded. The sign I should have been looking out for was "Cruiseship Terminal" - which I might have known if I'd kept reading after "Port of Brisbane" or listened to Gomez the GPS. Still, it was only a half-hour detour and it was interesting. Of course, if I had been on the ball we would have taken the train up and then the River Cat to meet them. Ah well - there's a plan for next time. And to make sure - since we knew it was going to be cool - that both S and I have packed our "layers" and that if S does forget hers that I have a flannelette shirt which is not "skimpy" (S will be able to fill in the other words she used to describe the shirt I had chosen primarily to colour coordinate with my other layers) but a good, thick, substantial one.

We now have a photo of W and K embarking on their tropical cruise of the islands looking like drowned rats, one of them wearing an overcoat, and with the ship's bow framed by the gray skies of Brisbane. But we had a good time and it was great to see them.

We took the River Cat up and down the river, trying to work out where we were using the map in the timetable a kind Translink employee came round handing out. We were able to locate N's suburb which I had thought was off in another direction, and not quite so close to the airport. We passed the PowerHouse and remembered the Robyn Archer concert there, and that that's where they have the markets on a Saturday morning where you can get good, well-priced cheese.

The architecture, especially the mix of old and new, is amazing. W and K have picked out a couple of places that they wouldn't mind having. They did point out that it would be good if someone ran a "This is Brisbane" tour - where they'd pick you up from the boat and give you a day-tour of the key places in and around Brisbane, together with commentary and history. Sounds like a great idea!

A couple of the wharves are home to swallows which came and perched on the Cat's handrails and then flew besides us, as best they were able. Those River Cats move at quite a speed though - W, who is a bit nautical and who has recently fitted a new propellor to their boat - estimated it at about 25 knots. This was, they said, a good deal faster than the 9-knot average the "Pacific Sun" had maintained on her way up the Coast.

They were enjoying the cruise (Day 3) - mostly. The ship's routines have changed a little since they last went and they were saying that now that tipping was optional, the service rather than improving seems to have dropped off greatly as the ship folk seemed to think they wouldn't be getting one - so why bother? But they had managed to win the "rock and roll" dance contest (prize = beer coolers) and Wayne's correct trivia answer gave him the chance to impersonate Elvis Presley (which was more of a Tom Jones according to K).

On the way up the river (why does that phrase always remind me of "Apocalypse Now"?) I was able to point out the new building I'm working on, and where I'm currently working - as well as the Treasury Casino and a few other points of interest.

We lunched at South Bank in a pub called the Plough Inn which served beer that had W in raptures of delight. It was in stark contrast to the beer on the boat which had been served in warm just-washed glass, which still had half a centimetre of hot water in it. When W pointed out that it was flat, they shook the glass to give it a few bubbles and half a head, and handed it over to him. He then commented about a lack of command of the English language that prevented them from understanding his protests.

As S keeps saying, cruising is her idea of hell, although she was willing to concede that it did depend on the cruise. The one that S and A went on over in Alaska would probably be okay and not just a "floating Leagues club". But ... each to their own ... and we had them back at the boat in good time ... they had to be on board no later than 5.30pm and that was after they had been through customs/immigration/etc. The regulations are so strict that they are not able to take any foodstuffs, including water!, back on board with them when they have visited a port.

So, we all went home tired but happy ... and were greeted by a honour guard of animals who seemed to have spent their day inside - waiting for their dinner time to roll around. They have now eaten and have settled in next to S in their various positions on and around the couch. Not that you could blame them as the rain keeps falling outside - and is supposed to continue tomorrow.