Pillsbury Press
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Last Sydney Leg: two days
Sunday, November 17, 2024
Brisbane Leg
Sitting on the floor of the Brisbane Airport because, just like many of the other airports, this one does not have many places to plug in devices. Back in the Sydney airport an Asian man and I both lunged for the only outlet in the gate waiting area. I won because my adapter had a slot he could use to charge his phone. Sharing for the win!
We arrived Friday afternoon. Met up with Andrew at his office to drop off our bags. After a quick lunch at the Vietnamese place across the street, we went to the Urgent Care site on the ground floor of his office building. For those keeping score, yes, this was the fourth doctor's visit in a week and a half. Hopefully the last as they offered much encouragement.
Don's swollen thigh with no discoloration has morphed into a purple swollen leg. By Friday afternoon we could see the purple giving way to green and yellow. No, I have not been taking pictures. He still uses the crutch on long jaunts, but can get by without it for shorter walks, such as around the house. The crutch also gives him sympathy from airport staff allowing for early boarding.
This office only opened up a few weeks ago. We were the only ones there. Like the Urgent Care in Melbourne, the visit was free and the attention plentiful. They said it will take 4-6 weeks to heal. "Little soldiers" are working to heal his leg.
As we sat there, I remembered Town Hall was not far away and that it has a free museum of the City of Brisbane, including free tours of the Clock Tower. We had just enough time to do both before meeting up with Andrew and his wife, Jo, to see a comedy show.
The comedy show was very funny. Australian comedian Celia P... She is a 41-year old mum to an 18-month old. Her hourlong skit was hilarious! We spent much of the weekend watching her in Don's new favorite TV show "Thank God You Are Here." We hope to be able to access it from the States.
Andrew scheduled to borrow a boat from his boat club on Saturday. It poured! At first it was a light drizzle with a forecast calling for it end soon. That morphed into pouring all day long! We went to Bunnings for a snag (a highlight from last year), and watched Australian comedy in their spacious living room. We were introduced to Bluey, who we learned is based in Brisbane on Brisbane landmarks, including Bunnings, which is called Hammerbarn. Bunnings' logo is a giant hammer, so all the Australians get the joke, and most Americans do not. Bluey came up because during her comedy skit Celia told us about how she was cast for the role of Bluey's mom, but lost it after a day.
It turns out, Andrew requested the boat for Sunday and not Saturday. The best mistake ever! The marina is only a 15-minute drive from their house, so we didn't lose much time. On Sunday we went on the boat to Tag..... , an island across from Manley Beach. You can take an hourlong ferry ride to the island, but going in the Whittley felt like living the life of the rich and famous. We bounced along mild waves and were grateful we did not go the day before. Andrew took me snorkeling among the submerged wreck. I kicked myself for leaving the waterproof camera I bought last year to go to the Great Barrier Reef back in New Jersey. It does not take up much space and will be added to my travel back for the future.
Despite best sunscreen efforts, I got burned on my shoulders and back. They are tender today. I've heard 2/3 of Australians develop skin cancer at some point. Skin scans are part of their regular annual health care regiment. I know I need to go soon. They say Americans are warned about big bugs, snakes, and dingoes but not the real things that are more likely to kills you, including skin cancer.
Woke at 5:30 am to leave with Andrew at 6:30 to get to the airport in time for the 9:05 am flight. The bag drop line was at least 30 minutes long, so I am grateful we were here two hours in advance. Other times we have arrived two hours early we've had at least 90 minutes of wait time. This time we had about an hour, but since the lines were so long, we have not been stressed.
Two days in Sydney, then we board three flights to come back (SYD-LAX, LAX-ATL, ATL-PHL). Since the election news, and its ramifications (cabinet picks being pushed through without background checks we all know they would fail, Neo Nazis in Columbus, OH, Muslims voting for T suddenly realizing he will turn on them like he did in his first term with Muslim bands, and other groups realizing what they will lose), I don't feel as if I am returning "home." We have big decisions to make, and are fortunately we are in a position to do so.
I hate that I have to depend on Republicans turning on T in order for us to not lose the ACA, same sex marriage, abortion rights (even medically needed ones), education, and so much more. It will be an awful two years until we can vote in more Democratic leaders into congress and the senate. We have no checks and balances starting on January 20.
Just as each introduction in Australia starts with the reminder we are on native lands, I will include in my posts how upset I am about potentially losing rights we have enjoyed thanks to Democratic leadership.
Thursday, November 14, 2024
Lost track of Legs: Melbourne
I know I'm skipping ahead. I'll try to fill in gaps later.
The last travel post had us in Canberra. When we told people we were going to Canberra, even Australians asked why? The real answer was I wanted to see the capital. The bonus answer was we visited the War Memorial, which TripAdvisor ranks as one of the top ten places to see. Will have to look for a link to confirm, or see if there is a caveat such as "war memorials," or "in the Southern hemisphere," but for now I'll leave that here. It was amazing. It is worth seeing.
We caught an early morning flight to Melbourne so we could see a few highlights of Melbourne during our 10 hour layover, have some good food, worship, see a friend for lunch. Most of that happened. The friend cancelled on us, but we chatted the next day via WhatsApp.
What didn't happen was the rest of the trip to Bali. Long answer short, our flight was cancelled due to volcanic ash and we decided to skip taking the flight the next day because we saw it could happen again, and even if we made it to Bali, the return flight might be cancelled. As they were not adding a flight, there was a possibility we would be trapped in Bali, which I doubted was as romantic and charming as that sentence could be. After trying to figure out where to go next, realized Melbourne was our best option.
We spent a night in a soulless airport hotel. We met a Lebanese bloke in the hot tub who suggested Don go to the emergency room the next day. That added to the decision to keep off planes for a few days.
Melbourne is a lovely city. It is probably one of my favorite in the world. But, it was not Bali. We spent two of our four days on excursions out of the city, one day at Urgent Care, and a day in the rain wandering about. The excursions where what I needed. A driver taking us places. Seeing new things. And escaping a city when my head was on a Balinese beach.
Excursion 1: Great Ocean Road
Excursion 2: Penisula Spa (hot springs), followed by an hour in a cat café
Now we are at the airport heading to Brisbane to see friends. They have promised to make us feel like honorary Aussies for the weekend. We'll finish with two days in Sydney before catching our flight to the United States.
The world changed since we left New Jersey. I don't feel as if we are returning home. T knows the rules of government this time. He is filling his cabinet with Yes People who have zero experience. The felon is not subjecting his closest cronies to pesky background checks. It will be awful, unless Republicans stand up to him. It is a sad state in our country that we are dependent upon Republicans becoming our reality check when currently we have no moderate Republicans in office.
It will be bad.
Anticipate most of my posts will be political until the world rights itself again.
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Thing happen in threes, or sixes?
I know there are only five of you who regularly read my posts, and possibly a couple of new people who I handed a business card to on this trip. For the new people, this is not a typical post. For my loyal followers, just keep praying for us.
They say things happen in threes, we are up to at least six.
1) Last week Don slammed into a bench in Uluru. He skipped the hike the next day to rest and visit the doctor on site.
2) T was reelected. Can't even say his name, think his name, or accept this news. I know it will be horrible. It is already shaping up to be horrible.
3) Our Virgin Australian flight to Bali was cancelled due to volcanic ash, but the Qantas and JetStar went off as planned.
4) The hotel I booked at the last minute shares a window with a café in a courtyard. We were allowed to check in early on Monday (after another visit to Urgent Care) only to listen to two mates having coffee and the cafe's music.
5) The first friend we were supposed to meet up with cancelled on us, but did call for a much needed chat.
6) The second friend can't have us over early because of their plans.
Feeling like refugees with wallets.
Meanwhile the swollen thigh that was not discolored is a swollen leg and foot that is purple.
I don't want to go back to the states. I don't want to stay here. I just want to burrow under blankets and reemerge when the world is sane again.
Oh and the Aussie attitude of "No Worries" has lost it's charm.
PS:
7) Pastor is off on Wednesday when I went to see her in a fit of overwhelmingness
8) The cat café is closed on Wednesdays
Saturday, November 9, 2024
Fourth Leg: Canberra
Boarding starts in a few minutes. With Don's leg, we have been upgraded to early boarding. In my heart, I am a last minute boarder since I don't like to be in the plane any longer than necessary. In my head, I'm pleased with their compassion.
We took the train from Sydney to Canberra. Four hour train ride from the center of Sydney to the outskirts of Canberra. The ride was lovely. Not having to go to the airport and security and the hassles made up for the length of ride. Loved the extra leg room, the café, ...
The wheels on the trip fully fell off after Canberra.