Castaways!

So.........today we had an adventure! We were off before  9.00 am, drove to Cleveland, parked Roxy and caught the passenger ferry out to North Stradbroke Island......

Flora and F-Annie.

The urchin, the camera and the unsuitable shoes.

So.......today was a Will-Free day as he went off to work at 7 am.By the time Anne and I had breakfasted, got ready and Anne had applied her sun cream, which took up most of the time, it was 11.00 am.My camera is failing again! I can't believe it but in the last few days, actually round about the time Anne arrived, it has been playing up and overexposing certain shots especially when I use the' zoom'.This is the second camera since they replaced the first one as they were unable to correct a similar problem with it.The camera decided the order of the day which was to head into town by train, walk to the camera shop, have lunch by the river and a walk along the bank and catch the ferry back to the train home.We ended up going to a completely different station than I had intended because Anne distracted me with one of her questions and I missed the turning. We parked Roxy at Rocklea instead of Cooper's Plains.We wandered the platform at Rocklea looking for information on when the next train was but could find nothing so stood in the sunshine and waited. That was when we saw the small boy, about 8 years old sat upon the bottom step of the footbridge over the track. He was clutching a white piece of paper that looked like a till receipt."The next train through the station is an express train. Please ensure you are standing behind the yellow line" said an automated announcement."That's not a yellow line" said the urchin.It was a thick line but it was made up of separate yellow dots." I can see what you mean," I said, "but we still best keep away from it."A train passed by on a different track. It had 'Test Train' on the front of it."It's not stopping," said the urchin."No, it's testing the track." I said."It's testing the track," said the urchin.The express train thundered towards us and he got up and stood on the yellow line."Oh, you best stand back," I said as the train passed and he reached out as if to try and touch the last carriages as it passed.He sat back down."I've come from Sydney today," he said."What? On your own?" I asked."No, with my dad.""Where is he now?" I asked."He's going to my nan's in a taxi but I thought it would be quicker on the train.""The next train from Cooper's Plains is approximately 14 minutes late" said an announcement over the tannoy."Oh no!" said the urchin, "and we have to wait in the sun."He got up and dashed up the steps and over the bridge and down the other side but I saw the train was coming."There is a train coming!" I shouted across to him. He hesitated and then dashed back over."Where were you going?" I asked."Oh, to get a drink from that shop over there. I'll get off at the next station and get one there."Anne and I got on the train at a different door from him. We couldn't believe that someone so young was allowed to travel on his own. I was glad to get away from him because he just filled me with worry and he was not my problem.He got off two stops later. He coughed to get our attention as the train pulled into the station at Yeerongpilly and I turned and gave him a wave."See you, " he said.We'll never see him again.It was on the train that I noticed Anne's shoes.......they were most unsuitable for the walking we had ahead."Oh, they will be alright," she said, " they are quite comfortable..........I forgot to bring my hat as well."Doh!We got off at Southbank, walked over the Goodwill Bridge and along by the river through the Botanical Gardens. We arrived in at the camera shop in Fortitude Valley to find a note on the door saying 'We've Moved!"......but the note informed us their new shop was not open for another two days and was in Newstead.I knew they had another shop in the city so we went there, calling in at St John's Cathedral on the way.They took the camera off me.......I told them that this was the second time this kind of problem had occurred and that I was losing faith in that particular model."They are usually quite a tough model," said the sales person."Well, I am very unlucky then," I said."I am very sorry," said the man, " we will be in touch as soon as we can about what we can do for you."Anne's feet were beginning to ache........we headed to Eagle Street Pier and ate our lunch in a lovely spot beneath a purple jacaranda tree beside the river but which would have been perfect except for the strong aroma of urine.We caught the ferry back to Southbank, walked back to the station and headed home.Today Anne walked approximately 9 kms in her unsuitable shoes.

In the Valley of the Leeches.

So........we had a kind of 'day of rest' today which was appropriate for a Sunday. We rose late-ish and did not go out until the afternoon.Will had to go to work......the Kindergarten were having a 'Spring Gardening' afternoon so Anne and I followed behind Jaxy in Roxy and dropped off his harp for him and then we went to the big shopping centre nearby at Indooroopilly (The Valley of the Leeches)."I'm not bothered about shopping," said Anne. We walked the whole length of Level three without even entering a shop but I took her into Wheel and Barrow at the far end because it is full of 'precious things' for the home which every house wants but does not necessarily need.Anne's first Australian purchase?........a whisk.Dropping to Level two we had hardly gone ten steps before she spotted some lovely shoes in the window of Florsheim. She peered longingly at them through the window, torn with the desire to look more closely at them but attempting to be 'not bothered about shopping.'Passing the next window was a large sign saying 'SALE Up to 30% off'."Ooh, do you think we could just go and have a quick look in there?"Florsheim has outlets in......

Who knew that Mongolia was on the up in the world of shoes?! There was I thinking they were only interested in yaks.

Anne was in her element.....

She tried on three pairs of shoes. Three times the young assistant went into the back to search at length for the right size before Anne finally said,

"Thank you......but I will have a think about it."..........leaving the assistant to tidy away the boxes, tissue paper and shoes.

Three shops down Anne spotted some more shoes.........

Anne in Heaven.

But again she left the eager shop assistant's hopes dashed.

We continued past many shops.

"It's hard when you have never heard of these shops," said Anne. " Oh, Armani!".......but she wrinkled up her nose.

Armani are not good enough for Anne.

We found ourselves passing Florsheim once again.

"Do you think I could go back in and just have a look at those shoes again?.......I'll say I just want to see them again to keep their colour in my mind."

It was just another bad day for that particular shoe shop assistant in The Valley of the Leeches.

To the market, the sea and a walk in the bush.