I don’t have lots to report for the last few weeks as I have been trying to rest and heal my ribs.
I was attempting to not take too many painkillers as I didn’t want to get too reliant and they can upset your tummy, this meant that I was still in a fair amount of pain. However after some stern words from a medic friend I gave in and started taking them regularly and properly 🙂. This resulted in a lot less pain and a speedier recovery!
They are not completely healed but are definitely feeling much better. 👍
Unfortunately I haven’t been back to the swimming pool, and am missing my swims. I think I’m going to try and go back next week, take it slow and get back into it.
I can also use the spa which will be great.
I really am enjoying seeing the seasons change here in Australia. I’ve only ever been here in the Australian winter before so spring and summer have been a revelation! So pretty.
I might have mentioned this before but Australia smells amazing!! 😍😍 I think it’s the peppermint and eucalyptus trees. 🌳💚💙
Rebecca and I had a little jaunt down to Busselton & Dunsborough last weekend. We wanted to go to a lovely craft market in Busselton , called Origins Market. It isn’t huge but the various crafts and goods were fabulous. There is an art stall with beautiful work, Rebecca had bought a couple of prints from there before for Georgia, which I loved. When we arrived on Saturday the Artist was actually there, Dylan, was such a nice guy and his work is great, we had a nice chat and I took his picture, I did also buy a couple of prints! I’ll pop a link into here for his website if you want to check out his stuff!
There were also some delicious smelling soap stalls which lured us in! All local, all handmade and such fabulous smells, very herbal and Australian.
Rebecca then dragged me around a shop called Red Spot which I guess is a bit like B & M or Home Bargains, but not quite as good 😀
After that we drove down to Dunsborough. The town centre isn’t big and it’s really nicely laid out. To be fair we didn’t go into all the shops (thank god, as shopping isn’t my favourite pastime!) We did find a few beautiful artisan shops, which all smelt fabulous! We managed to get a couple of items. Then stopped for a delicious Italian lunch of Bruschetta & pasta which we shared with a cheeky little cocktail! 🍸
We then had a little drive around admiring all the gorgeous ocean front properties and wishing we could win the lottery and buy one!!
Rebecca had bought a piece of German pottery online which we needed to collect from somewhere near Dunsborough, but inland.
It wasn’t very far but felt like we were right in the bush! The area we went to was again full of the most amazing properties with lots of land right in the bush. We then managed to see a kangaroo family right by the road! The male was very large and the female had a joey in her pouch, they were also very close to the car! 😀 It was fantastic. They stared at us for a bit then hopped off. It made my day! 😍❤️ We were also lucky enough to see a big lizard and some pelicans! All in all a great day!
I said I my last blog that I’d applied for my Sri Lankan visa. I did this online and it was a much simpler process than I had imagined. I received a confirmation email, saying that I’d hear back in 24 hours. I didn’t! I waited a few days, nothing, I checked and re checked my emails, my junk folder, still nothing. I went on to the site and found a link to check the status of your application, I did that and it popped up saying there was a problem and to check with the agent! The only information I was putting in was my passport number & nationality, both of which are correct, I checked numerous times 😳 I don’t have an agent, so after about 4 days of continuous checking, I found the number for the Sri Lankan embassy in Canberra and gave them a ring.
It took a while to explain my problem, initially I was told to apply again, but I explained that I’d already paid, and if I applied again and there was already an application in place it might be a problem! The person I spoke to tried checking the status her end and also got the same message, I was getting a little agitated (Bloody Visas, I knew there was a reason I don’t like doing them!) We went back and forth, then they said they would try something else and magically I was informed that my visa had been approved!!
The problem was that on the drop down menu for your nationality, there are no less than 6 options for the UK! (WTF! 😳) I had chosen “UK – British Citizen (Great Britain) GBR” when apparently I should have chosen “UK – British Subject (GBS)” I find this very confusing! I don’t know if it’s because that’s what I chose on my application, or if that’s what I am now, a Subject not a Citizen? Either way I’m in, hopefully 🙏
After all the drama of the Visa, I thought I’d do something nice and look to book and plan a few more things in Sri Lanka. Whilst doing this I was checking when I’d need to be back in Colombo for my flight to India, which was booked for 14.02.25. It was then I realised that I had slightly miscalculated my dates/days. My Sri Lankan Visa is for 30 days, I arrive on 14th January but if I leave on 14th February, as booked, that’s not 30 days, it’s actually 32 days! 😩🤦♀️ I’m not sure how easy it is extending a visa, or what the consequences of overstaying are but I’m not sure I want to find out! This meant more farting about changing my flight to bring it forward by 2 days, online faffing, then more phone calls. Eventually I did it, it cost me a few quid, but it was worth it for peace of mind!
I have now booked more onward travels from India, I will be going to Thailand for some R & R! I’m going back to Hua Hin, it’s lovely and peaceful, and cheaper than Phuket. I would have loved to go to Chiang Mai again, as it’s my favourite place, but unfortunately March is Burning Season and the air quality is shocking. 😳 🔥
I have been enjoying some quintessential Aussie activities, drinking beer at the beach, cooking on the BBQ and last weekend we had a great meet up with friends Lorraine, Jason and their girls, Tia & Holly.
Lorraine is the daughter of my old childhood neighbours, Chris & Norman King. Lorraine and Jason moved to Bunbury a little while before Rebecca & Chris. I happened to bump into Norman in Stevenage town centre and as we chatted I said that Rebecca & Chris were emigrating to Australia, possibly to Busselton (1 hour from Bunbury) and he said Lorraine and her partner were in Bunbury! Norman gave me their contact details, Rebecca & Chris contacted them prior to moving out here and they have been friends ever since!! ❤️ Such a small world. 🌎
Anyway! We met up with them for breakfast down at Koombana Bay, this meant bringing all the food and cooking it on the free, clean, well maintained public BBQs right by the ocean and the park! It was such a lovely morning. 🥓🍳🏖️
The only little inconvenience is the flies! Apparently the beginning of summer always brings with it lots of flies.
Anita, Chris’s mum arrived on Saturday 7th December! Which is lovely, I haven’t seen her properly since our trip last year to Thailand.
It appears that she has bought the sunshine with her and the weather is beautiful. We have had a fabulous few days, chilling by the pool and I have actually been in the pool for the first time 😍 It was a little chilly but so refreshing absolutely wonderful. I think with Anita here now it feels a bit more holiday like! ❤️ 🏖️
We had a trip down into town on Sunday for a Christmas parade and fair with lots of food trucks. It certainly is odd celebrating Christmas with bright sunshine and everyone in summer clothes!
We’ve now started to spend most evenings outside, there is often a lovely breeze, last night we also had a 3 hour power outage! Interesting but at least the night sky looks amazing!
On Friday 13th we are all off on a week’s holiday down south to a place called Esperance. It looks absolutely stunning, white sands, turquoise waters! I think it will be fantastic. 🩵🤍💙
That’s all for now.
Have a great week everyone.
Books read
The One in a Million Boy. Monica Wood. A lovely book. Really enjoyed it.
1st Case. James Patterson. Ok, a quick read.
Hereandthereclaire.com 