Saturday

 What was with the big bottle of water, a white cardboard diamond, a bicycle helmet and a phone per team - plus a survival kit, personal backpacks - and four teams setting oft towards Surfers Paradise - making sure they remembered "this number" - a different one given to each team.  Thus was our visit to Budds Beach.  

That wasn't our first of the day.   It started at Crave where we had breakfast with S.  This was the first one in a while so there was a bit of catching up to do.  But before we could get in to that,  or perhaps while, it was order-placing time and, just as on previous occasions, they seemed able to cope with our seemingly standard orders - we have what's on the menu but need bits of it (like toast and butter) on the side so they don't get "contaminated". Yes, yes, it's all going to end up at the same place but ... well, it's just something you get - or you don't. 

It was sad that Pearl couldn't come.  We had talked last night about what we could do so she wouldn't realise it was Saturday because we know she can't use the calendar - although,  come to think of it,  I don't think there are any calendars at Latimers.   M runs a diary (near the phone),  S uses her memory,  and I have my calender "in the cloud". 

While we were at Budds Beach - Brad the board instructor set up there again and except for the teams group, there were very few people there. I think it's something I've said before,  but it's going to be a shame if tourists ever discover it. Even at Saturday lunchtime you can go there and get a table under a shady tree only a few metres from the water.  

Then it was on to late lunch at M and A's for N's not-birthday.  She turns 24 today - and it only seems like a moment ago that she was playing "which paw was that".   We were having such a good time that we didn't make it to The Big House for the St Tropez draw.  But,  too,  we decided we didn't want the disappointment of not winning following so closely after not winning CSP! 

Back at home,  S had a nap while I did some television series catch-up before we scoffed down some fruit and took oursevles off to the dance.  Alas,  it was no better than last time except there was a thoughtful rendition of Abba's "Supertrooper" which I can just image S and M doing,  with friends A and S.   We left early - before the raffle was drawn - but we were there for the lucky door prize - which we didn't win.  

On the way back to Latimers,  we stopped in at the Gilston Hall where there was another dance in progress - one that has been going for 70 years in the same venue - on the third Saturday of the month.   M was intrigured because they were doing the Pride of Erin and other"non-modern" dances - we could see them through the windows as we drove past - then we went back and M went in to ask ("if I stand in the door long enough someone will come over and talk to me").