Scintillating Hervey Bay

I don't know if I mentioned it, but mum and dad went up for the long weekend to Hervey Bay to visit the rellies and I decided to tag along. I was, at least, staying at Jodi's place and this time got her old flatmate Jodi's room (confusing right?) This meant bigger bed and sunlight in the morning. Jode had Saturday off so we were free to cruise around the Bay at leisure. I actually had a decent time, surprising even myself. I suggested that we go op shopping which I didn't envision having a chance of happening (she's not really the thrift store type) but I did manage to get in a Lifeline and Salvos before Jodi got bored of it. I think she was happy at finding a $3 work uniform though, and I got enough ties to complete my tie skirt! (Thanks for that idea Ayla- will have to post some piccies when it's complete!)

Continuing on, a few other stops included Zaraffas for Jodi's Chai Latte, (she continues to astonish me) Bunnings for a sausage sizzle and Nanna's pantry for a few bags of lollies that we really didn't need. Jodi then drove me out to Harbour drive where the 'docks' of the Bay are. It's pretty much a one way road with a dead end, surrounded by a rock wall and water on both sides. We went right to the end and sat on the grass by the rocks and looked out on the ocean toward Woody and Fraser Island. It was lovely and cool, very peaceful baking in the sun and just relaxing. We then went back to hers and watched the Fifa World Cup opening and first match South Africa vs Mexico. The crowd was going off with all these horns so that instead of cheering there was this constant drone like a bee. It annoyed me after like 10 minutes so I can't imagine how frustrating it would actually be for the players. It was mostly just irritating because there was no fluctuation that there usually is with cheering etc. In the game England vs. USA there was some singing at least. 

Great to watch a few matches anyway. I forgot how much I love soccer, even got up at 4.30am on Monday to watch the dismal game between Australia and Germany. Crushing defeat. We're really not there on that world stage for soccer yet. Still, I must say we have got to have the best looking team if nothing else- Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill, Lucas Neill, Vince Grella, Carl Valeri, Jason Calina, Nikita Rukavytsya,

We had a few family dinners, only one with all of us (fish n chips- mmm!) Grandpa was luckily in a good mood for that one, mostly due to Wade and Uncle Max placating & humouring him the whole time. The other main dinner we were not so lucky. Let me explain: grandpa had alzeimers and sometimes gets very grouchy and short with everyone over sometime obtuse. He also can't hear so usually doesn't really know what's going on most of the time. This all started with mum mentioning that he should get his hearing aid after the fifth time of someone having to repeat sometime again. He went off. And then starting ragging on me. Of course I don't take anything sitting down so I just snapped back at him, disease or not, he was just being so rude. Eventually I just had to let it go. He has always been a bit iffy towards us (Jodi, Wade, Sam & I) because we are officially his step-grandchildren. Now this attitude is more evident, as he has less of a filter now. Maybe it's payback from when we were kids and we made sure everone knew he was not our 'real grandpa.' Still hurts though.

Took us about 4 and a half hours to get home on Monday, the traffic was horrible from about caloundra south. I have always thought that was such a quick drive between North Brisbane and Sunshine Coast but when you're going 20km an hour, that's a lot of pine trees.


Thanks go out to Wes who inspired me to try and use scintillating in my vocabulary more...such a cool word to pronounce, yes?