Australian Travel Life
DEVONPORT ULVERSTONE PENGUIN BURNIE WYNYARD BOAT HARBOUR HELLYER STANLEY SMITHTON MELLA CHRISTMAS HILLS MARRAWAH ARTHUR RIVER YELLA WARATAH TULLAH ROSEBERRY ZEEHAN STRAHAN QUEENSTOWN DERWENT BRIDGE TARRALEAH WAYATINAH HAMILITON GRETNA CRADLE MOUNTAIN LANITTA HOBART RICHMOND PORT ARTHUR BUCKLAND ORFORD TRIAKUNNA SWANSEA COLES BAY BICHENO FALMOUTH ST HELENS WELDBOROUGH MOORINA SCOTTS DALE BRIDPORT GEORGE TOWN BEACONSFIELD BEAUTY POINT EXETER PERTH CRESSY POATINA BLACKWOOD CREEK HADSPEN WESTBURY DELORAINE STEPPES BOTHWELL PONTVILLE INGSTON SUG GORDON CYGNET HUONVILLE DOVER SOUTHPORT IDA BAY GREVESTON PORT HUON GROVE OATLANDS RAILTON SHEFFIELD PORT SORRELL
These are just places in Tasmania one of the most beautiful places that I have visited,Having spent almost 2 months driving around the Isle and tested a lot of pubs and the local brew is BOAGS a beer I became quite easily addicted to !! and would early love to visit .Most Australians have not been to ALL states and Territories ,I am lucky enough to have travelled them all .I have just watched an Australian movie “Three Summers” and it has given me the urge to do it all again.Age is not on my side and I will put a lot of thought over the next few months to decide what I will do. Meeting extraordinary people on my travels was fantastic,some of the caravan sites are situated in the most inhospitable places on this planet. The outback the bush the deserts and flies,the bloody flies made it into an incredible journey.In between Australian travels I have been fortunate enough to have seen a lot of this wonderful world,if only mankind would stop buggaring it up .The country has allowed China to buy Huge bits of this country and that doesn,t gel very well with the general population and hope they (the Chinese) dont block off entry to certain areas.I will finish of this particular blog by showing some of the mainland parts of Australia I have passed thru and thank “Three Summers” for inspiring me .
DONGARA .GERALDTON .CARNARVON .CORAL BAY .EXMOUTH .NINGALOO .CANE .RIVER .KARRATHA .ROEBOURNE .PORT HEADLAND .KANGAN .PILBARA .MUMJANA .KARAJINI .TOM PRICE .PARDOO .80 MILE BEACH .BROOME .DERBY .WUNJANA GORGE .TUNNEL CREEK .FITZROY CROSSING .LOUISA DOWNS .HALLS CREEK .PURNULULU .BUNGLE BUNGLES .WARNUM(TURKEY CREEK) .DOON DOON .WYNDHAM .KUNUNURRA .LAKE ARGYLE .TIMBER CREEK .WILLEROO .KATHERINE .PINE CREEK .BACHELOR .LITCHFIELD .DARWIN .HUMPTY DOO .JABIRU .KAKADU .MATARANKA .LARRIMAH .DALY WATERS .DUNMARRA .ELLIOT .HELEN SPRINGS .TENNANT CREEK .DEVILS MARBLES .WARRABRI .WYCLIFFE .TI TREE .ALICE SPRINGS .ORANGE CREEK .KINGS CANYON .ULURU .KULGARA .AGNES REEK .MARLA .COOBER PEDY .WOOMERA .QUORN .WILPENA .PARACHILNA .WELLMINGTON .ORROROO .PETERBOROUGH .HALLET .BURRA .WAIKERIE .RENMARM .MILDURA .OUYEN .LOXTON .MURRAY BRIDGE .MOUNT BARKER .WULLUNGA .GOOLWA .SAILEM BEND .PINAROO .TOOLEYBUC .DENILIQUIN .NARRANDERS .WEST WYALONG .CONDOBOLIN .FORBES .CANOWINDRA .ORANGE .WELLINGTON .DUBBO .GILGANDRA .COONABARABRAN .NARRABRI .MOREE .GOONDIWINDI .DALBY .KINGARONG .CHERBOURG .NANGOO .CROWS NEST .TOOWOOMBA .WARWICK .STANTHORPE .KILLARNEY .CASINO .NIMBIN .LISMORE .MURWILLUMBAH .BOONLAH .NERANG .BEENDLEIGH .SURFERS PARADISE .BRISBANE .SUNSET COAST.CABOOLTURE .MAROOCHYDORE .NOOSA HEADS .GYMPIE ,TIN CAN BAY .RAINBOW BEACH .MARYBOROUGH .HERVEY BAY .BARGARA .BUNDBERG .1770 .AGNES WATER .GLADSTONE .MOUNT MORGAN .ROCKHAMPTON .YEPPOON .EMU PARK .CLAIRVIEW .SARINA .MACKAY .PROSERPINE .BOWER .AYR .TOWNSVILLE .BALGAL BEACH .CARDWELL .TULLY .INNISFAIL .GORDONVALE .EDMONTON .CAIRNS .PORT DOUGLAS .CAPE TRIBULATION .KURANDA .MAREEBA .ATHERTON TABLE LANDS .RAVENSHUE .MILLA MILLA .MOUNT .GARNET .40 MILE SCRUB . MOUNT SURPRISE .GEORGETOWN .CROYDEN .NORMANTON .KARUMBA
There are literally hundreds more places in Oz that I have forgotten about,thankfully this blogging has helped me remember some of them
Upwards and Onwards
Well into 2021 and future prospects looking great. My huge family in the UK have had their lives turned upside down. Pubs have been closed down (a way of life in my home town of Blackpool) and I feel for my family and friends .My local (when I go back to UK) is a great meeting place,lots of silly chatter and arguments, pub filled to capacity when England football team are playing, dart matches, dominoes ( yes dominoes) sadly all closed down due to the pandemic.There is hope though and vaccines should hopefully (when fully administered) help the UK back to a near normal life.Here in Perth our way of life has not altered much and good governing has made life very easy. My life is great at the moment and I have been re-elected as Vice President of our local Seniors Club (Joondalup Probus) I have made lots of friends and I also organize and run the popular quiz show (Ive also been lined up to organize Bingo !!) Our club enjoys great activities such as Cinema,Theatre,Restaurants,Cafes,local Tours etc and as a sideline a great Mahjong weekly session,I go just to stir the ladies up because I will never make Expert as some of the other players are but it is great fun,morning tea and nibbles all provided free and on occasions the ladies make lovely cakes.If you are in the area why not look us up?
Covid/Hospital & Life
It all started as a pain in my side as I self diagnosed (because I’m an expert) as wind ! Went to bed feeling sorry for myself and 12 hrs later the wind had gone,however,I was feeling lethargic and regularly vomiting and unable to eat and continued for 4 days.My son in London rang and I had to fob him off quickly because I was about to throw up! Within hours my daughter came over ( my London son had rang her and told her about my sickness ) virtually dragged me by the ear to a flying Sunday Doctor visit! I was sent to Joondalup Emergency Hospital. All was going well at Triage when I started coughing,I was immediately given a mask and put in a COVID isolation Ward..arrgh because of these awful times everyone is a suspect !!! I wasn’t allowed visitors for 24 hrs and all staff had to wear equipment that was immediately destroyed after leaving the room ! Female staff were brilliant , the only exception was a male staff who seemed terrified of being in the same room ( I didn’t have COVID). One nurse made me a lovely cup of tea and I mused are you tea connoisseur ? she promptly said Yes and showed me cup & saucer with a teabag tattooed on her arm , honestly ! At around 1 am I was taken to the Isolation Ward and remained there for 24 hrs and given the all clear…hoorah…and moved to private room in the main ward . I am still here awaiting further examinations and hoping to be sent home tomorrow.Its a wait n see situation now.Staff have been incredible,,to all my family and friends who have sent Well Wishes I thank you,they have really helped. Upwards and Onwards now..The moral being ? DO NOT cough at Triage interviews if you do not have COVID !!!!
Good Management
I am the Vice President of the local Probus Club ( an Australian wide organization) and very thankful that as Western Australians we can go about our lives in a very normal fashion . Visiting Theatres, Cinemas, Restaurants, Cafeterias and various places of interest is now a regular theme. I watch with sadness how life is unfolding in the UK where I have lots of immediate family as they go into self isolation with the hard possibility of Christmas being banned. Carol singing in my younger days was a great way of making extra cash ( I can imagine that festive activity, also part of my heritage has also been cancelled) In our part of the World we have followed instructions on how to get through these horrible times and very difficult to carry out at times,however we have persevered and life as mentioned is near back to normal. Overseas travelers are still required to do 14 days Quarantine at their own expense. If the UK still insist on having demonstrations or huge gatherings I fear they will never win this particular war. I wish all my overseas family and friends the very best in fighting their way out of this pandemic and wish you all safe lives. Be Strong
Almost the end of 2020
This was a big year for me as I reached my 75 th Birthday my daughter had organized a reunion party,but sadly that was cancelled because of this infuriating disease cast upon us. Because most of West Australians have abided by the restrictions we are able to carry on with our normal lives with exceptions thrown in for good measure i.e. Social Distancing etc .I spent the beginning of August in Hospital and that has given me a new outlook on life ,at the time of writing I am over 100 days without alcohol (self initiated) and wouldn’t you know it? the bloke next door has installed a still !! Probus is going from strength to strength and we are able to carry on with outings (Cinema,10 pin bowling,picnics,morning tea venues etc) during these horrible times.I have started to use my free transport pass and use the trains regularly enabling me to travel extensively around Perth-Midland-Mandurah-Armadale and so on all for Free.Life for Seniors is pretty good here (I even have a Gvt supplied cleaner because of my Diabetes 2) Our Club ( Probus Joondalup ) has organized a Christmas Dinner and I have been tasked with doing a Pub Quiz in December ( and I am really looking forward to that) Members have involved themselves by doing Raffles and organizing other activities within our community centre ( built 2019 and has all the amenities including large meeting space,lots of tables and chairs and best of all,a fully equipped kitchen!) The Monday Mahjong sessions are going well and I thoroughly enjoy those weekly get togethers ( the ladies also bring in delicious home made cakes) Saturday next I am for the seventh time going with my family to see the show ” We Will Rock You” at our wonderful theatre situated in the Crown Casino. Since my hospital situation I have lost 17 Kgs and feeling great. On a lighter note,I visited my local Mall Shopping Centre on a 30 C day and Frosty the Snowman was blasting out over the loud speakers !! Roll on Christmas and to all my world wide pals Stay Safe
Forward,Positive Outlook
All that can be said about this year is not printable, I fear for my family over in UK and listening to UK Talk back radio doesn’t really help at all ! HOWEVER because people in my Australian home town Perth have behaved and followed the rules we are currently free of all restrictions (and of course that could change in a heartbeat) My life style is going really good thankfully. I am currently Vice President of the local Probus Club and this group is making good progress. Christmas has been organized and I am looking forward to that !! A Cinema group has been formed and out first movie is next week, morning tea sessions are held regularly with an outing due next week. The Christmas monthly meeting to be held in December has been changed so that I can run a Quiz (should be fun) and of course there ia the regular Monday Mahjong Sessions and that is a favourite of mine and I am still in learner mode ! Hopefully future events may include a trip to Kalgoorlie (around 600 kms) using our Government issued free rail pass.All in all we are still very functional and hopefully the future looks rosy…Stay safe everyone
2019 Wot a Year !!
What can I say? this year has been exceptional, the first half was in UK and July moved back to Perth where life is great. I still do my Sunday radio show and charts tell me it is going along very nicely. In September I became a founder member of our local Seniors group (Probus) and hold the position of joint editor of our newsletter. I have been invited to various functions and meeting some lovely people. Our group has so far amassed around 60 senior members and they are a great bunch of people. I am currently learning and playing Chinese Mahjong ( a very good game having to use my brain a lot !! laughing not allowed) Our President Moy makes the best syrup lemon cake ever !! Next year our club will really take off with a host of outings already planned and next week we will hold our first ever Christmas Lunch at some fancy restaurant. Christmas is already starting to look good with a big family Christmas envisaged. Last week was Helen’s 70th birthday and was held in a fancy Perth restaurant (all this fine dining is making me pile on the kilo.s but who cares?) My weekly visit to Emmas is now highlighted by fish and birds visiting me because of the bread I have introduced on my visits and its truly lovely watching them.Next year (hopefully) is a big milestone in my life and it looks like the club are arranging a day out at the wineries !! (noooooo!!!!!!) SO? do have a wonderful Christmas and all the very best for a bright 2020 (sounds like a cricket match!!) Life is good,keep smiling coz its infectious ! x
My New Life and it begins in my 70,s
What can I say? I have been rather lax over the past couple of years and not had time to “do” this Blog. I have lived a very full life in Blackpool my home town past few years and had a ball, hell,I even played in the Pub Domino teams (yes domino,s very popular in the North of England PLUS it gets me to different pubs and Taxi,s paid for by the Queens Pub Team) I also have some legends from an era gone by,by some of the best people who have been in my life and I also have a GREAT grandson. Family , naturally, play a huge part in my life and sadly living in remote Hervey Bay has robbed me of that event. Friends I have known practically since birth has passed on to other places. I have recently moved back to my Australian “birthplace” as I have previously mentioned and with a community radio station, having my own show and loving it.I will extend the radio information as the weeks roll by ( and my,I am sure days have been taken of weeks since I retired !!)
Money Changes People and not always for the Better
Its almost a year that we lost our youngest daughter who passed away having given birth to a very healthy baby girl. Almost immediately her “partner” who had claimed single dole whilst my daughter worked ( they lived in Melbourne for a while) as she has worked since leaving school started asking my family for relevant paper so he could quickly access her Superannuation and any insurance money . Behind our backs “his” accountant approached various Funeral Directors for Death Certificate (very honourable I think not) “he” had received over $5000 from a GoFundMe fundraiser (my family totally disagreed with this concept and have to wonder what the money was used for) My family have bent over backwards helping out BUT as a reward ALL my family are barred from seeing our very precious Grandaughter. If our daughter had survived this horrible tragedy we know for a fact she and her newborn would never be away from her mother/grandmother and her direct family and I feel sure it would be a far better environment than the one our Grandaughter is now in
The statement below was part of an email “he” sent although I feel his accountant may have written it
the author of the next statement is KOLIN KHUEN-KRYK
I would be more than happy, in fact honored, to pay for Emma’s funeral if my application for the Superannuation is approved. However, as you would understand I would like to receive the invoice made out to myself for the payment of the funeral expenses that you would like me to pay. In addition to the invoice; the bank details will be required for any payment. from KKK
Our daughters payout was around $250,000 (Super was approved) plus GoFundMe of more than $5000 and all of her personal stuff including her car/phone etc
NEVER at any time has “he” offered to contribute any finance towards funeral cost but probably bought a state of the art X-Box plus it must have been costly shaving a full blown Rasta hair cut ? I feel this man has NO remorse and has probably forgotten our daughter all together.I can only hope our Grandaughter sees some of the money our daughter left and gets to go to the best education that her mums money inherited
We are NOT interested in financial legacy,however it would be nice if Funeral costs were paid for out of that legacy
Community Radio here and there
A few years back I ventured into Hervey Bay and by chance found a niche in FraserCoast community Radio that lasted for around 3/4 years. After spending last 2 years having great adventures around the UK I have returned to my Australian “birth” place Perth. I have recently joined local community radio here in Joondalup WA and taken through the process of announcing that I have thoroughly loved (my late brother Jim actually worked for the BBC UK as a TV and Radio announcer circa 50/60 s) In doing so it brought back great memories (with a few hiccups) of my time at FraserCoast.I met a lovely man whom I trained with and have remained friends ever since.Memories of our lovely trainer Pat who was always stood behind us with a massive ( just kidding Pat) stick,prodding me if I got it wrong .Majority of the announcers ( and office staff) were really great.After training I was given my own show (Rock n Roll 60s on) Feedback was mainly good and playing time (3 hrs) went so quickly.I covered other shows with different genres and one in particular I had so much fun doing was playing music from around the world and why on earth my good friend Jutta allowed me to do her show is a mystery ! Pronunciations went haywire announcing songs and artistes name from around this wonderful Globe.Outside broadcasts were great fun I even got accused of stealing the Outside Broadcast van ( I didn,t ) Sadly I no longer live in Hervey Bay but I do listen in occasionally and see lots of newcomers and a revitalized studio.I made lots of pals there (ok and the odd one or two who thought they owned the station!) Good luck to you all at FraserCoast…Paul my ole mucker? keep smiling .New horizons are hopefully about to begin here in Joondalup ( the Studio is smack in the centre of a University) Heres to the future……..
Just a small selection of Radio Pals there are lots more ,especially the Country music players and it was great fun teasing each other (Bob,Carol,Andrew,Lorraine) ladies who assisted with “adverts” Libby and Kay who I believe now ( and quite rightly) have their own shows,the wonderful Mon,Carol and others.Thank you all for my my time mostly fun
Watch me play Didgeridoo
Geoffs Life After Work ! 