G'day From Halse Lodge, Noosa

This is the place will hold such special memories. It gave me the peace to find the old Suzi, good friends to smile & laugh with. It is the backpackers hostel that gave me a job for a few weeks & where the cook Sue filled me with her fabulous meals & even more fantastic desserts.

Having been to Australia a few times in the past I made the decision to stay put in one place for my three weeks. Noosa has always held special memories so I returned, booked into Halse Lodge & soon got myself a job.

In exchange for cleaning the backpackers kitchen I got a free dorm bed, free breakfasts & free evening meals. Not sure police officer to cleaner is the career move most people would have made but I was as happy as a pig in muck (ha ha!) & believe me the kitchen was a pig sty at the end of a day! Backpackers can be dirty lazy buggers but there was no escape when I was on duty! Those of you that know me probably think I bullied them into washing their dishes but it was even easier than that...female charm & smiles will have them doing anything! Emptying the fridges on the other hand had me heaving, there were some interesting things growing in there!

All in all it was a fabulous job that gave me loads of time to do my own thing during the day. I was sad to leave. Drew, the owner, offered a proposal “Stay for longer & I'll find you a new boyfriend”. It was tempting (only kidding Bobby) but I was excited (& nervous) to get back to Fiji to return to life onboard Barraviegh.

I don't regret a minute of my time in Noosa. Skinny dipping in the sea at night, koalas chilling in the tree outside my bedroom, having breakfast surrounded by 15 parrakeet's (some of whom I discovered had a taste for jam (see photo gallery) whilst talking of childhood memories with Loveday, purchasing new bikinis & dresses (honestly there has to be an illness for this as I was unstoppable!), lying on the sofas on the balcony reading trashy books whilst the rain fell non stop (its the last time I'm going to let an Ozzie tell me they have better weather than us!), relaxing with Jo & Steve in their pool & spa drinking jugs of pimms, eating Sues homemade desserts (if anyone can offer a solution regarding sending them via the internet I'm all ears!), taking a daily run along the board walk to the river mouth as the sun dips below the horizon, wild turkeys runnnig around the town & even in my kitchen! The best memory of all ....... starting each day with a big smile.

Farewell Family & Friends

I've got just less than a month on my own in Australia. It is well needed & I hope, one of the best decisions I've made. I'm going to give myself the time & space to re-evaluate, remember, rediscover independence, confidence & smiles.

2007 was a hard year, a new relationship, a huge adventure & a whole new life on the water to adapt to. On top of that I was still reeling from family tragedy. But 2008 is going to be different I'm going to get back on track, live life to the full, with happinessness & positivity in each day.

Heading home in November to be reunited with the family was well overdue. However returning home to live with the parents when you moved out at the age of 19 was a bit of a shock for us all! They were good sports, lent their cars (was this just a ploy to get me out the house!), looked after me & gave me shoulders to lean on. I, in return cooked dinners & gave them computer lessons. With Mum & Dad entering the modern world of broadband & laptops we spent evenings at the dining table with three laptops learning the ins & outs of skype, downloading & altering photos, mum I hope you are still doing your homework! ; )

As February came round I was ready to leave & see what adventures 2008 held for me. The entire family checked & rechecked my flight details, no longer trusted to do this having missed 2 major flights by reading the departure time wrong, I can only offer the excuse of being a natural blonde! My efforts at leaving the country are never without turmoil & an accident closing the road into the north terminal caused a little extra stress but Dad (keen to see me go & not stay an extra day!) came to the rescue dropping me at the south terminal & getting the train across. They all waved me off & it broke my heart walking through security with them all waving. They stood there for next 15 minutes. Each time I thought it was a last wave & moved into another area I'd look behind to see they had found another tiny area of glass to look through, were standing on tip toes & still waving.

Family life is full of happy times & tough times. You only get one family & no matter what happens I know we are all there for each other. They are stuck with me as their daughter & sister, equally I'm stuck with them & I wouldn't have it any other way ; )

It was great to see family & friends while I was home & I loved spending time with you all but I'm ready to wave goodbye again & head for warmer climates! I'll be back again before you all know it. x

Proposed plans for 2008

07/02/08 Leave UK
09/02/08 Arrive Brisbane OZ. “Suzi only” chill time in Noosa (north of Brisbane)
01/03/08 Return to Barraveigh in FIJI

As always the next proposed section of plans are very much subject to change as so much depends on weather, boat repairs, captain/crew demands & wishes! ; )

April 2008 – leave the marina & spend a month exploring more glorious Fijian islands. From there we will spend the year making our way to Thailand, via Vanuatu, Papa New Guinea, Bali & of course many other fabulous far flung places but listing them all will only make you green with envy!
More from me & boat life in March until then I’m off to pack my bikinis, say my farewells to the grey & wet UK, & get myself ready for sun, sea, surfing & a PADI diving course!

Suzi Ziplining in Fiji

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