Ouch - winter came with a vengeance yesterday afternoon, temp dropping by 15 degrees with strong winds, had to rush and put on thick sweaters, bit of a shock from the 29 degrees we had over the Easter weekend, think that will be the end of swimming for this year.  However, the reality hit home as we are off to NZ this afternoon and certainly made up our minds what to pack and wear even from here.

Had a great morning, took Jake to kennels and then across to Broadbeach to pick up Nate (one of the grandies) and take him to the park for a couple of hours while mum had an appointment, certainly beat hanging around home whileing the time away - and we went to Macca's for lunch - good stuff. Misty enjoyed the outing too.

My 90 yr. old mother went with two of her friends on easter monday to see Titanic in 3D.  Had to phone and ask her if she ducked when she saw the iceberg looking up, she said no to that but it was the water lapping across the deck had her picking up her feet momentarily and then needing to go to the 'loo' when she came out of the cinema.  Other than that she loved it even the sensation on putting on the glasses - good on yer mum.

Well Easter has come and gone quickly but with such stunning weather for everyone, the warmest easter for years - it usually rains at some point, but I fear that we are in for a reality check, at least on The Tweed when we have it cooler it means putting on a long sleeved top to go about our business, not the chilling, rainy, snowy weather that is in southern NSW and Victoria - ouch.  However, tomorrow hubby and I are off to NZ for a holiday and whereas our low temp. is 15-17 degrees, that is the high where we are going to - but looking forward to it as the trees will be in  their beautiful autumn colours and we haven't seen our friends for 5 years.

The doggies are all preened and cleaned as they go to their various holiday homes, Jake to a wonderful kennel and misty to our neighbours who dote on her and spoil her rotten.  The last time we came back off holiday Misty had a special DVD of her 'holiday' which was given to us.

The grandies and their parents came down on easter sunday for lunch and it was wonderful, we cooked a roast lamb on the barbie and the 4 little ones played so well together that you really wouldn't have known they were around.  They were also not allowed mountains of chocolate so there were no 'chocolate spikes' just some good old fashion walking and running - so many kids forget how to do these today.

Wow, Easter nearly here, so much to do, had one set of grandies down for a sleepover last evening, Nate 4 1/2  and Chace 2 1/2 (first time for her, very proud of herself), weather still 'bonza' so were able to go swimming in the big pool on the complex, then down to the river with fish and chips for tea, stunning, except for the hordes of seagulls, we did manage to hang onto the f & c's without losing them to the birds.

This morning another beaut day so around the lakeside walk with the dogs and then straight  to the river to a park with mighty swings and slides and lots of kids things.  The tide was going out so the little inlet provided a wonderful assortment of things to do with loads of fish to try and catch, a bit of scootering along the paths, rolling small logs washed up in the recent high tides down the small incline into the water, marvellous what keeps them happy, this all took 2 hrs so home for lunch and then down to the small pool in the complex for a swim before mum arrived to take them home.  Must say the water temp of the small pool was a tad warmer than the big pool.  Another day in the life of O'50 complex living.  Buggered.  Still tomorrow is another day and a busy one for me.  I have a presentation to do to a ladies group - Oh yeah.

Our trip to Port Douglas with the family was interesting, was the end of the summer wet, had a lot of tropical rain showers, for 4 days off and on, the grandies loved swimming in the rain and have to say it was pretty 'cool', was hot and humid, wouldn't want to live up there couldn't cope with the continual wet for so many months in the summer and the high humidity and then when it is fine and dry it is burning hot.  However, the resort had 3 wonderful pools with lots of caves and different areas to keep everyone happy and a huge bbq area with a pool next to it which was lit at night, as they all were with different colours.. Because of the continual wet and sun everything grows so fast so maintenance is a continual pain.  Found PD to be a cross between Byron Bay and Nimbin, 1 main street and shops.  The tropics don't hold too much thrill for us now.  Maybe different in the dry season but certainly wouldn't hurry back again.

The place is very expensive and always has been, people we have spoken to have commented on that and even the locals admit the town needs money spent on it to stop it from becoming too run down and being turned into a retirement town.  There are 10,000 beds in PD and I would bet even in the height of the season they would not all be filled these days.  As we were in the shoulder season you would expect prices to have come down rather but no.

Did have a wonderful trip out on our last day there, which dawned fine and sunny and very hot, to the low isles on one of the sailing catamarans, a 30m luxurious cat. named Wavedancer, was fabulous and a superb crew..  This was only a 1/3 full so the kiddies had plenty of room to move around the cat.  It was an hour of sailing out of PD and the cat anchored in the lagoon just shy of the isles.  There we went snorkelling, even 4yr old Nate, 2yr old Chace just enjoyed playing on the beach.  Everyone had to have on 'stinger' suits (full-length all in one black Lycra suits complete  with hoods and gloves) as it was still jelly fish season.  When snorkelling we were treated to a wonderful array of coral and fish and then a trip back to the cat. for  a super topical lunch.  After lunch hubby and i joined a guided walk around the island.  It still has a working lighthouse, not manned these days, works on solar, however there are caretakers who look after the island and the coral and habitat.

Hubby and I also went out on the Lady Douglas tug for a dusk trip up the Dickson inlet croc. spotting.  We did see two crocs. one basking amongst the mangroves and then another which followed our tug for a few metres in our wake.  Both were young females about 2 1/2 m long.  Everyone was warned to keep arms in and not lean over the sides as crocs. do jump high.

It was also touch and go whether we were going to get out of PD for our flight out of Cairns as on the Mon evening there had been a slip on the Cairns-PD highway and the road was closed.  However, the only other way out was over the Tablelands which was also flooded.  With no more significant rain the road was being repaired and traffic was let through from 7-8am and 2-3pm each day, and as we had a mid-morning  flight out on the Friday am. we decided to catch an early shuttle to get through and we were at the airport by 8.30am.  i have to admit that I was glad to land at Coolangatta and realised what a wonderful area we live in - The Tweed.

Autumn in NSW northern rivers,  wow what a fab day, clocks have gone back so we are up with the sun (6am), temps are still in the high 20's (29 today) and the humidity has disappeared, it is cooler at night so easier to sleep, perfect.  Also our beautiful golden beaches were stunning with the aqua water and white heads on the waves today - perfection, why be anywere else.

Today had the dogs out by 7.15am, bike ride at 8.30am coffee after on the deck of our complex, exercise routine at 10.15 for  1/2 hr. Out to the shops for two hours, got home at 2pm took the dogs down the beach for 40mins where they had a good chase after their balls then home and hubby and I had 40 mins on the tennis court, and as the water in the swimming pool looked so inviting and I needed to cool down it was time tto plunge in for a 20 min swim.  All this done and dusted by 4.30pm.

This is life on an 0'50's complex.  There are so many things to do that no 2 days are the same.