1st July - Saturday.

I went to Brisbane on Friday afternoon with Alicia Ritchie - Marcia's sister - as Marcia and Steve were getting married at 7.30am Saturday!! They had asked me to be their celebrant back in April - which I could not refuse as they are so dear to me -slight problem in the fact my flight was at 11am - however all solved by a VERY early wedding.

Traffic was pretty bad - a few accidents on Bruce which meant a slow trip - would have been panicking coming down Saturday morning.

It is wonderful that Julie and Bill are house sitting - so could just lock up and go.

The wedding went beautifully - Marcia looked amazing - and I was at airport by 9am. The process through customs is much easier now NI is "part" of Australia. (Don't tell the NI group who just don't want to be deemed as Australian!!)

Flight only takes 2 hours - kids met me - I have my own Suzuki Splash (Aqua) - very cute - so can come and go as I please. The rest of the day was lazy and easy.

2nd July Sunday

Slow start to the day - popped over to say hello to Fiona's dad who hasn't been well

- then some shopping in the "city centre" I then went for a drive around some of the favourite places from previous trips - the island is looking very green and beautiful.

3rd July Monday

Starting my early morning regime - up at 6 to go for a walk along the shore line then golf course - this will ease the tension of the past few weeks - it is so incredibly beautiful and I can absorb all this and feel ok. Coffee with Fiona, Jannica and Harry at Olives cafe - best coffee and cakes. Read in afternoon - and Janni's new fella was coming to meet the family over the evening meal - apparently he is quite shy - and as a collective we can be loud and raucous - he seemed to manage ok! Janni made Toblerone mousse for dessert - King fish ( given by said young man as he is a fisherman) was main - very delicious.

4th July Tuesday

Early morning walk - doing wonders for me - tension evaporating- today took the steps up Flagstaff Hill - bit puffed so more goodness.

Bit of a lazy day after the exercise - can't work too hard. Reading in sun was the extent of the activities.

5th July Wednesday

Long walk - less puffing up steps of Flagstaff. Met Bec Christian for coffee - she is owner of travel company - chatted about proposed tours for meditation/yoga group and a golf group. Seeing if she can put together ideas for these for future consideration.

Then visited Government House - circa 1850 - and extensively renovated around 1990 - and on going. This is the fourth Government House on Norfolk - they actually had the first in Australia around 1789 - before the Sydney settlement had built theirs. I think it is quite beautiful - the new administrator lives there on his own as his family is still in Hobart. He apparently is much nicer than the previous one - who is partly the reason so many Norfolkians are up in arms re Australia running their island - he put so many offside.

Had lunch at Hillis - a favourite cafe - then home to work up the energy for - hmmmm- maybe just read.

6th July Thursday

Woke to very windy day - and had decided not to walk - but set off to golf club when it opened at 8.30. It was a little later than that when I left "The Barn" ( David and Fiona's home) I then stopped off at my favourite cafe for a coffee - staff are so nice - owner a golf nut so we chat golf. Then on to golf club where I played 9 holes only. Tad challenging with hire clubs and bag/buggy - and course which has long grass along fairways. Still - was beautifully warm, great exercise, and did my soul the world of good. Back to "The Barn" for late lunch. Spent afternoon reading - feel very rejuvenated and know I can cope with the next phase of my life.