Saturday

Toowoomba. There's nothing like going from one cold environment to another. I learnt something today though - that there is an "apparent temperature" which I think is what it "feels like" when you're outside. Here in Toowoomba yesterday at the airport, the apparent temperature between 2 and 3 pm was -16 degrees Celcius. Mind you it was starting to feel a bit like that this afternoon and I have photographs of S and I all rugged up in our winter overcoats (last worn in Sydney last weekend), gloves, scarves and beanies (I had two on) - and thankfully that was enough to get us warm - but not quite toasty.
We are here instead of at Latimers because my sister is moving to Mt Isa in a couple of weeks and we have come to say goodbye, good luck and bon voyage. Her daughter, aka my niece T, is going to stay in Toowoomba with her daughter because she doesn't want to make the move - and even though we think, at 16, she is too young to be left alone she appears to be making sure she has supports in place to make it possible for her to look after her child (now a year and a half old). At least Mum will be on the ground there as well and we have made sure T has our numbers in case she needs help with anything. Of course, there will be closer to Toowoomba as wwll, but it doesn't hurt for her to know that there are plenty of us there for her.
The farewell picnic and barbeque that had been planned for Picnic Point, a popular tourist destination at the top of the range where Toowoomba sits, and overlooking the Lockyer Valley, was cancelled because of very cold weather. We had lunch at Mum's instead and then one of the aunts and her family came around for afternoon tea. It has been too long since we have seen these people and just a shame that it was W's leaving that was the catalyst for the get-together. This was the aunt who had organised the family reunion - nearly 20 years ago now - must be almost time for another one. It was there when S realised that she was one of the tallest people in the room of over 200 of our folk, that we may be big of character but are fairly short of stature.
Strangely enough, they had just been in Mt Isa a couple of weeks ago on their way back from Alice Springs and were saying what a lovely place it was now, and what improvements had been made, since last K had worked there, over 30 years. It would be a fascinating place to visit and now that W is going up there, it might be time to think about visiting one day. But first we have to get back to Latimers and find out what is going on there - especially as it is Markets day tomorrow.