Collingwood Week!

In response to the request set out to everyone by Joe, we thought that we would put pics of our own collingwood party! Lucas made the gingerbread men the day before the great win... can you guess who is who from the team?

Good Old Collingwood Forever

Speaking of neglect, as the last post did. I find it hard to believe that what should have been one of the biggest days for the Wolff family in the last 20 years has gone unrecorded on Wolff'n'Stuff! I guess what was a big day for some may not have been quite as big for others. The following video may help illustrate this...

HI EVERYONE

Kawehi and Ollie 2004 (just because)



Our blog has been very neglected in 2010. If it wasn't for Reef and his crazy antics, we would have nothing at all. The interesting thing is, when I look at the sitemeter I am always amazed to see that we still have visitors each and every day. I am also surprised when I click on location and see people who have visited from all over the world; Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Hungary, and India and the list goes on and on. Although I find all of the different visitors interesting, this blog was never meant for strangers from around the globe. It was meant to provide a way for us to record the more significant things that happen within our family, to help us all feel more connected to each other despite the distance apart. I am hoping we can get this back on track.

Reef the Skater Boy!

Reef would like to thank Train for the music and Caleb for the great camera work!

Your Friendly Neighbourhood Spidereef!

Got some footage of Reef crawling on the grass at Dalmeny and just had to do something with it!

The latest instalment of Reef

Almost 11 months old and lovin' his California Rolls!

ROBBIE'S NAVY GRADUATION

Earlier this month Robbie graduated from the Navy. Many family members were able to attend (including Mum, Dad, Grandpa, Josh, Debora, Caroline, Lizzie, Steven, Auntie Pat, Uncle Rob, Auntie Rae and Robbie's friend Bethany.) The ceremony was spectacular and patriotic feelings were in abundance.

WELL DONE ROBBIE!!

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about life, family, and happiness. I used to sit on the beach in Hawaii and watch the families having fun in the waves and on the beach. I remember thinking that I too would love to raise my kids in the salty sea air and water. So different from how I was raised in land-locked, bitter-cold Idaho. We have enjoyed our time on the Gold Coast and here in Cairns but we know it is time to move on. Although I will always prefer tropical weather; I have come to realize that being close to family is more important than the beach. Perhaps that is the definition of heaven- living in a beautiful (warm) place with family and good friends. Tim and I have decided that we are moving early next year; we are not quite sure where yet. Wherever it is we do know this-that it will be cold but close to family. We can't wait!

Pictures found here - http://adamapalmer.com/

Daffodils at Gordon

I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud
by William Wordsworth

I wandered lonely as a cloud,

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the milky way. . . . .

This is our daffodil patch at Gordon. We have 150 planted – one day there will be a crowd just as Wordsworth saw.

Love, Dad.

Enlistment Ceremony

Forgot to add the photos of Robbies enlistment ceremony and the bus ride to the airport!

Recruit Robert Wolff

This is a video that I made for Robbie who has left for HMAS Cerberus yesterday to eventually become a Clearance Diver! We have had very upset little children in our house who really miss their best friend, 'Uncle Robbie'. So this is a video to show some of things that Clearance Divers do and the things that Robbie will be doing.

To all of the mums:

I Love Footy

Just wanted to say that I love being an AFL fan, in particular a Collingwood Fan! Such a great game!

The Machine, by Michael Roberts, tells the inside story of the great Collingwood side of 1927-30.
A freak piece of play

Some critics pointed to the St Kilda match at the Junction Oval as the game in which Collingwood might be tested. The conditions were bleak and the ground was caked with mud. Almost 30,000 people turned out to watch a “gloriously sustained struggle on a horrible day”.

St Kilda led by five points at half-time, the Magpies by one point at the last change. Late in the match it appeared as if the home side would become the first to knock the Magpies off their perch in 1929. Then, just when all looked lost for the Pies, a freak piece of play made it seem as if fate was playing its part in the Collingwood streak.

Gordon Coventry, well held for most of the day, gathered a loose ball just before the final bell. Almost simultaneously he copped a bump from St Kilda’s full-back Ernie Loveless, and tried to kick the ball in the direction of goal. The bump “shook Coventry to his foundations”, while the ball miraculously made contact with the side of his left boot and trickled through for a goal, to give the Magpies the game by four points. Ever the gentleman, the self-effacing Coventry all but apologised to his opponent, saying, “It was one of the flukes of the game.”

In keeping with [club president Harry] Curtis’s pre-season pledge to aim for records, Gordon Coventry booted an individual record of 16 goals in a game against a hapless Hawthorn before a deliriously happy Victoria Park crowd. He bagged four goals in the first five minutes and an astounding eight in the first quarter, to set him up to break the decade-old record of 14 kicked by South Melbourne’s Harold Robertson. ‘Nuts’ broke the old mark in the last quarter and was then congratulated off the ground by friends and foes alike. Even the umpire shook Coventry’s hand. Another to shake his hand in the rooms was John Wren, the club’s occasional benefactor, who slipped a 50-pound note into Coventry’s enormous palm. That was a huge sum of money in those dark times.

The only fear for those within the club was that the team could “go stale” late in the season, as they had in the previous year.

There were, however, no signs of staleness when the club ended the regular season with an emphatic 56-point win over Melbourne in front of 41,316 fans. It was the first and only time a team has gone through a home-and-away season undefeated, and seemingly the perfect entrée into the finals.


Sorry Saints! Better Luck next time!

Mr. Romance

Tim and I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary on August 1st. It was a very memorable night. We got dressed up and went out sans kids which is always a treat. Tim had been shopping earlier in the day and carried a parcel on our way out. He wanted to wait to give it to me when the timing was just right. I am skilled in the art of sussing out what contents a package holds and ascertained that it was most definitely a book. But what book? I imagined a book of famous love poems or a book filled with the world's most romantic locations (I love travel books with beautiful pictures).

We pulled up to our favourite restaurant and Tim turned to me and said, "I think its time." He handed me my gift, I was giddy with excitement. I carefully opened the parcel and looked down to discover that yes it was a book...but not exactly the book I was expecting:

I was surprised to say the least. At this point many wives may have: a]exploded in a volcanic rage or b] fallen into a sullen stupor speaking only in grunts and sighs for the rest of the evening.

I did neither. Yes I was surprised, maybe even a little disappointed, but I know Tim well enough after 12 years to know that his heart was well-intentioned. That he truly thought this book would be something I would love.

I did have to laugh (and tried not to take it personal) when I read the subtitle: "Anyone Can Learn to Cook in 24 Hours" and also when I flipped through the book to find it peppered with real-life stories of no-hopers in the kitchen who had used this book and turned their lives around.

It turns out the book is fantastic! Filled with delicious and easy recipes. We have already tried 6 recipes from its pages this past week. . .actually 5 (one was so good we made it twice). Tim and I have both been cooking up a storm and it has been so much fun.

Throughout the week we have purchased new kitchen utensils and filled our pantry with new ingredients. We have even been inspired to start a herb garden (it gets expensive buying fresh herbs all the time). We have enjoyed spending time together curled up on the couch flipping through the pages deciding what we will try next.

If anyone is looking for romantic gift ideas talk to Tim he will definitely steer you in the right direction.

yearbookyourself.com

found this absolutely funny website called yearbookyourself.com where you kinda photoshop yourself in these pre-made photo outlines. We all had a turn but Lucas just seemed to have the right face shape for this. So we just wanted to share the photos... especially the one that looks like TIM! we will let you be the judge of which one.. haha!

Brady

After Spencer was born, Tim and I decided that our family was complete. A family with three children made sense. No need to upgrade our car or our house. We were devastated when I discovered that I was expecting baby #4. I know this may sound crazy but we felt sorry for our fertile selves. Brady Malia arrived on July 25th 2007. Its as if she knew she would have to win our hearts and she set about doing so with loving determination. It worked! We all adore her and can't imagine our family without this little cherub.

A MESSAGE FROM DAD

Last Sunday was Allegra's blessing. Mum, Maggie and I, Steven, Laura, Chloe and Emily, Heidi, Paul and Lola all drove up on Saturday and stayed overnight with Josh, Debora and family. Everyone fit so well into the house that it didn’t seem crowded at all. Sunday morning Joe, Ali, Reef and Lizzie drove over from Albury to Finley Chapel for the blessing. The day was sunny, calm and cool; it hardly seemed like winter at all. Josh blessed Allegra with the help of Joe, me, Richard Butler and some of the local priesthood while Debora was asked to bear her testimony which she did very sincerely and well. Allegra was very calm and didn't say anything at all. As you can see from the photos she is short, round and squishy. *

After church everyone including just about the whole Finley Branch came back to the “Wolff’s Den” for a spit roast barbecue. There was plenty of food and it was a just a great Finley feed and get together. Finley branch has always been noted for it’s hospitality and friendliness. The last person left as the sunset. Finley branch has 70+ active members and they include lawyers, wheat and sheep farmers, dairy farmers, clerks, retired people, people who fled the big city, one lady is a shire councilor. There is even an itinerant writer, who has a beard, a masters in lit. ,few possessions, rides around on a push bike with handle bars and lives alone; a bit like Henry Thoreau on Walden Pond.

Most of the family left on Sunday afternoon. Steven was feeling sick and left early; next morning the doctor told him he has swine flu.

Mum, Maggie and I stayed on Sunday night because now that I am retired I don’t have such a strict schedule. Yes! I finally applied to the superannuation fund for my life savings and we are going to move to Gordon to live in a caravan and shed (not yet built) while our dream country farmhouse is built.

Note: my life savings will last 12 months if we are careful. For the past 3 months since I stopped work I have been busy painting and fixing the house in Seaford to make it pleasant and comfortable to live in. You might appreciate that next week the roof will be insulated.

I have planted a veggie garden and built a chook house that now is home to six brown hens. I spent a lot of time standing at the chook pen studying chook family psychology – perhaps I will write a book about them in my retirement. All this is a preparation for our move to Gordon. We are looking at planting a berry orchard because the climate and soil seems to be suitable.

I must add a few words in support of the prophets’ exhortations over the years, for us to put away 12 months supply of food and other daily consumables. In the last two years Mum has been actively buying wheat, rice, spelt, all sorts of other dried foods, cans of tomatoes and fruit, beans, dates, nuts, toothpaste, toilet rolls, toothpaste, soaps, cleaning chemicals and I have been grinding flour and making bread etc. Since I was made redundant we have been drawing heavily on these supplies and yet there seems hardly any reduction in our stores. We have consequently been able to live very cheaply and we have no concerns about shortage of food – we could last for many months more on the basic foods in our store.

To prepare for retirement I have been able to get a casual teaching position, for one day a week, with the Box Hill Institute. I am going to night school to study a Cert IV subject “Training and Assessment” which is the minimum qualification required. Next Wednesday is my first teaching day and I have to tell you I am scared – but I have to try it.

Love,
Dad

*More pictures are on their way-check back later

MY FIRST SNOW TRIP

Mummy, Daddy and Aunty Lizzie took me up to the snow for the first time ever in my whole entire life. It was a whole lot of fun. We got to ride in a snow cat (that's a kind of a big van on tracks instead of wheels) up to our Lodge. We stayed at the Nelse Lodge and it was really nice. Everyone was so friendly and you can ski right from the front door, down to the chair lift that takes you up to the top of the mountain. That's where all the big people went everyday. I had to stay in the lodge most of the time because I still had a little bit of a cold from the week before but everyday I went for a walk with either Mummy or Daddy down to Falls Express to get lunch. My Daddy was snowboarding and he's getting really good. He can almost make it down to the bottom without falling over and Mummy and Aunty Lizzie must be good at skiing by now because the man who runs the park gave them free private lessons...and free beanies but they felt bad and went back and paid for those.

Mummy hurt her knee skiing so I got to spend the next whole day with her. She's ok now but it meant she couldn't ski the rest of the trip. She felt a bit sad but says that we live so close we'll just go back another day. The Lodge also had a heated pool and a hot spa and Mummy and Aunty Lizzie made the most of that on our last night. The food at the lodge was excellent...of course I wouldn't really know because I still only drink milk but that's what the big people kept saying.

So that was my first trip to the snow. I had a great time and can't wait 'til I get a bit bigger and can be one of those Milo kids skiin' around up on the mountain. I wish everyone could've been there. It was really great fun. Hopefully one day we can all go up there together and have even more fun!

Schnappi Reef

First Friday Interview: Josh

What is your favourite colour?

Although unoriginal, blue is and has always been my favourite colour.

What is your favourite city?

Being the least travelled member of the family, (MTC in Hamilton, NZ doesn't count) my world view is very limited. However, without hesitation, my favourite city in Australia is Fremantle, WA. There is something about the contrast of the bright blue Indian Ocean with the earthy sandstone buildings, shady parks, and ocean breeze every afternoon that soothe and relax me. Because of the glitz and lights of the Gold Coast (and of course the great beaches and perfect climate) I remain proudly fond of my former home city despite its undeserved reputation.

What is your favourite thing to cook?

I don't cook nor do I enjoy cooking; why should I, Debora is a great cook and she loves to cook. I admit to being a fan of Masterchef and while my cooking skills have not increased, I am great at critiquing the contestants' dishes.

What beauty product can you not live without?

Minoxidil (hair loss treatment) I choose to believe it works.

What is your favourite restaurant?

The breakfast buffet at Sheraton Mirage on the Gold Coast.

What is one thing you can't help but splurge on?

I don't have any discretionary money to splurge. I do, however, splurge on Debora's desserts and puddings.

What is your favourite word?

At the moment, Allegra.

What is your favourite thing to do on the weekend?

Kick the footy with Isaak and Sariah in the backyard, chop wood for the fireplace, watch Collingwood on T.V. and then maybe a DVD with Debora at night curled up in front of the fire. That pretty much describes my typical weekend.

What TV show makes you the happiest?

Seinfeld still makes me laugh.

What is your favourite sport to participate in?

Beach Cricket.

What is one trend that totally victimized you?

The whole decade of 2000, with the move to tight fitted jeans and shirts does not agree with my body shape. I still dress the same as I did in the 90's, thankfully I wear suits 6 out of 7 days of the week.

If you could trade lives with anyone for a day, who would you choose?

Robbie. He lives such a carefree and stress-free life; go to the gym, go to the beach, spur of the moment decision to go to Japan, and not responsible for or answerable to anyone.

What is your favourite comfort food?

Pudding.

What celebrity do you most resemble?

It has been a natural digression over the last decade or so. Before the mission, some people would tell me that I looked a bit like Brad Pitt. Later I was told I looked a bit like Shane Warne. The latest: Ethan Suplee. You know him as the overweight dimwitted brother on My Name is Earl. Thanks to Tim and Jill for that one!

What three things are your most treasured (material) possessions?

Lord of the Rings DVDs 1, 2, & 3 extended versions with additional bonus material.

What three things are your most treasured (non-material) possessions?

Of course, Isaak, Sariah, and Allegra.

What do you usually have for breakfast?

Grapefruit juice and toast. Often on saturday Debora whips up a cooked breakfast.

What is your favourite childhood memory?

Freedom at Dalmeny, the challenge of walking to Potato Point, scrounging $2 to buy chips with chicken salt from the chicken shop across the road at Dalmeny.

Thanks Josh!!

Post-script: We do not believe that Josh bears any resemblance to "Randy Hickey" this comment was taken completely out of context. On the scale of Brad Pitt being 10 and Earl's brother being 1 he is definitely a 9.

'One of the Ninety and Nine'

We all know the parable about the ninety and nine and the one lost sheep. What if your not that lost sheep?... What if your just "one of the ninety and nine"? You attend church every week, fulfill your callings and responsibilities. Of course your not perfect but your doing fine! This is a great song by Michael McLean. Didn't know how to download it from the internet so I just pasted the link for you to go to the video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEy6jgfCSgI

THE MEGA POOP!

Anyone that has kids will know the one I’m talking about. It’s the one that no matter how much you’ve prepared yourself it leaves you gasping for clean air. Your nostrils automatically close off and you are left wondering, out aloud, how something like that could come out of such a cute little kid? It’s the one that no matter how many baby wipes you had ready to go, it wasn’t enough and you find yourself reaching for more. It’s the one that instead of wiping you find yourself scooping and thinking that using a cement trowel would be easier. It's the one that managed to work its way into every tiny little crack and crevasse, every little nook and cranny and just when you think you're done...THERE'S MORE! It’s the one that you think to yourself "I don't wanna touch this anymore than I have to" and instead of folding the edges over, like you should, you place it carefully inside the plastic nappy bag and tie it up. It's the one that no matter how careful you were, you still manage to get it on the outside of that nappy bag and now have to double-bag it. And the whole time your little boy just stares up at you, laughing, as if he knew what was coming and thinks it’s the funniest thing he’s seen all day!

SBLT Lucas Wolff

Although Lucas has been in the Navy for 6 months, today was the day that he looked the part! With his winter uniform (just one of a many uniforms) he was looking very smart! Airi and Grace thought that Dad looked very funny and couldn't stop giggling. The new rule that they made up was that every time dad is in uniform he will be addressed as "Sir". So it has been, "you look very nice, Sir... can I go and play, Sir"
Off to training exercise tomorrow it will be Lucas's first official outing as a Naval Officer. Hooray!

Dunk Is. - Beautiful one day, perfect the next

I once read an article written by a marketing guru, who criticised the Queensland Tourism Authority for discarding their slogan "Beautiful one day, perfect the next" and replacing it with "Where else but Queensland?" Last week, both slogans were appropriate, Queensland put on a show.

After finishing my Masters last year, I have felt a little flat. Two years with no break, and the stress of combining study with family,managing finances, church calling etc, culminated in a mid- week decision, "I need a time out, I need a holiday!"

As fast as a whippet, Jill had us booked. I had a week off and we were headed to Dunk Island.

Not the most exclusive island in the chain, but from what we read, the most family friendly. This turned out be fantastically true.

We left early Monday morning, after getting the house ready for any inspections for potential buyers while we were away. A logistical challenge, but we have done this so many times over the last 12 months, with the motivation of a 12 o'clock booking on the Mission Beach to Dunk Island Ferry, it went like clockwork.

A leisurely 2 hour drive on the Great Green Way, was a great way to start the holiday. 28 degrees and no hotter, a slight breeze and open road.

We arrived in good time,and found the ferry departure. With another 40 minutes to go, we cruised around Mission Beach and drove up to a resort we had stayed at once at South Mission Beach. A special surprise awaited, our first sightings of Cassowaries in the wild.

A Dad, and his 3 little chicks (that makes them sound small, they each stood about 4ft tall. ) Jill tells me she learnt that the Male Cassowary are the best dads in the world. The Mum takes off never to be seen again, after she lays the eggs, and Dad incubates the eggs and after they hatch, raises the chicks all by himself. His was a pretty calm, sort of a fellow, came right up to the car and banged it with his beak, just like what you see on African safari shows, except they are elephants. I was slightly concerned that at any minute he would tear our bowels out with his talons, as we have been warned many times, don't get too close. One of our favourite road signs, that you'll see up here, is a yellow triangle with a car and a cassowary head on, with the car banged up, and if taken to scale, you may expect to see a 2o foot cassowary. Jill shrieked with excitement, as if she had just arrived in Australia 2 days ago, and took a few pics. The drive back to the ferry, we crossed a small creek, with a recent crocodile sighting sign. We stopped and tried to see one but nothing there, that we could see,but that is the crocodiles' strategy, camouflage. A guy from Melbourne, I met while watching the soccer at the Island Bar, said he and his family were taking a swim on Mission Beach while waiting for the ferry, and a local said to them "I wouldn't swim in there if I was you mate, there's a 3.7m saltie that lives off the beach up near the estuary up there". He didn't swim for his whole trip, but apparently they don't go out to the island. I wasn't convinced.

The Ferry ride was all part of the fun, we had to catch it from the beach, not a jetty. So we waded through the waves up to the boat, they carried our luggage this way, Kawehi was carried as if she was luggage by the crew too. The boat started its engine, raised its bow and off it sped, the island in the foreground getting closer and closer, water crystal calm, on the gold coast a surfer would call it glassy, but it really sparkled.

The kids loved the ferry, it drove up the beach and got out just as we had embarked, through the waves, greeted by island staff in Aloha shirts "Welcome to Dunk Island" They gave us the welcome spiel, hotel, food, room, activities, I was reassured that there would be no "crocodiles", although he was new and had just come from working up on Lizard Island resort, where they unexpectedly spotted and caught two crocodiles, sunning themselves off the beach, but he said" but that's more North". The toads are travelling South, surely the crocs are too.

We were led through the new bar and dining area (rebuilt after cyclone Larry devastated the island in 2006) out to the view you see on all the brochures. I was pleasantly surprised that it looked exactly as the picture only better. The big pool with the Ulysses Blue Butterfly in tiles on the pool floor;the same pool that Spencer a few days later, dropped his billabong boardies arched his back and demonstrated a perfect arc as he peed into the lovely pool, in front of all the resort guests. I asked him later, what the people thought, he said"everyone was laughing at me" he loves to entertain. Jill was horrified.

Our apartment was a beachfront room, nice and modern, and literally 10 metres to the sand, another 10 metres to the water. We all wandered back along the sand to the cafe at the pool for lunch, Asian noodle 2 course menu, order away its all part of the package. We sat together by the sand and an umbrella and admired the view, blue green, clear calm waters, gentle waves lapping, blue skies, still, green Mount Kootaloo to the right, mission beach and ocean to to the left, island out in front 200m, and the rigid blue haze of the east coast of Australia, in the distant background, Yachts sailing, boats speeding, kayaks floating, people fishing and walking past with huge fish held hanging in hand, taking them to the chef, to cook for dinner later that evening.We couldn't believe that only a few hours before we were scrubbing windows, vacuuming floors. We literally have some of the best of Australia on our doorstep.

Jill took Brady for a nap, while Kawehi, Ollie, Spencer and I took the 500m hike to Muggy Muggy Beach, good for snorkeling, the reef is right off the beach. Deserted, calm, dark boulders either side, the kids felt like they were pirates, robinson crusoe, smith family robinson, they ran, jumped off rocks, swam in the water, threw rocks, found crabs and pools of water.

We decided to hike to the other side of the resort, visited the jetty cafe, and ordered drinks for all the kids, they loved the concept of ordering drinks and not handing over money. They could get used to this. We walked to the back beach after the kids jumped off the jetty, into the water if I didn't stop them,But onto the sand. I realised Spencer has no concept of height as he launched himself off two feet into the air and onto the sand below from 4 times his height. I jumped down, expecting him to be hurt or shocked, but neither"lets do it again" He's a crazy little fella.

The back beach is where we discovered one of the many joys of the week, 14 foot catamarans, white blue and green, with Dunk Island written on them, the kids loved it, and Jill too. I can't believe she trusted me out in the waters half way between Bedarra Island and Dunk.

The first trip we did, it seemed as soon as it was our turn, the wind died down. I thought it was just my hopeless skills, which I was pretty certain was the case after 20 mins and moving maybe 10 m, with the aid of the paddle. The kids were bored and wanted to get off. But after we finished we were told the wind had dropped to 5 knots and we were in a somewhat protected cove. But we were back the next few days. Ollie, Spencer and I finally got it out at 18 knots and did a bit of tacking, if thats what its called, anyway we caught the wind, and that little catamaran sped. A real treat, off to our right, we saw something blow up out of the water, it looked like a little whale at first, but as we caught his distinctive face, it was a Dugong, the chances of that, it was headed straight for us, we only saw it for about 10 secs, and then we lost it, but that was just fantastic.

The first night we were off to dinner, 3 course menu, the kids again able to order whatever they liked, and when asked later about their favourite part of the trip, "the restaurant." I read an article by a travel writer who had visited Dunk, and was surprised at the comments he got when he got back from his 3 week trip, instead of "you look tanned, great, rested, fresh" it was "mate are you okay, you've put on a few kilos" We felt the same way, so much food, the buffet breakfast each morning was great, one night we had a seafood buffet for dinner, but it was the apex of the food curve, the point we realised we couldn't sustain this kind of eating, that night I had half a plate full and a few desserts, what a waste, there was so much great food, I just couldn't do it any longer. We came down after that and figured out a way to balance it out. But we kept active to assist with digestion. Jill was hiking Mt Kootaloo every morning getting up at 6 am, taking a good 90 minutes to the top and back, with great views as an additional reward. The third day, Kawehi, Ollie and I did the same hike, but we added the circle island hike, an 8km hike all up, Kawehi and Ollie did it all amazingly well, and we even ran for almost half of it. We learnt that, an eccentric Englishman, was working at the newspaper in Townsville, was told by his doctor that he had 6 months to live, he was so stressed and overworked. So, he quit his job and moved with his wife to Dunk Island, settled, built a shack and lived for the next 26 years. He wrote a book while he was on the Island, called "Confessions of a Beachcomber" which is apparently a classic in the world of wanna-be island castaways and nature lovers. Everything on Dunk Island and Mission beach is called Banfield something, drive, parade, shopping centre, all named after him. Also the top of Mount Kootaloo held a communications tower during the war, which we saw the rusted ruins of on our hike. It sent via morse code, positional sightings of Japanese submarines and other fleet, along the coast of Northern Australia. The soldiers hiked up to the top and camped, on a 24 hr watch, where they would switch and be relieved by their mates who would be at base camp, swimming and fishing. If you had to go to war, this is surely where you would want to be posted.

We swam everyday, the beaches so nice that it seemed a shame to even want to swim in the pool. At low tide we could walk out a good 100 m, with all the kids including Spencer, and they were jumping, flopping backwards, diving, out in the middle of the bay, soft sand under their feet.

We played racquetball most nights, that was so great, we thought, "that's what we need in our home, a squash/racquetball court". We gave each kid a racquet and a ball, including Brady, shut the door, and they would have gone on for a good 4 hours if we hadn't stopped them, balls and racquets flying everywhere. Ollie had figured out that you just drop the ball and then whack it. Spencer, he would throw the ball, then chase it down like a heat seeking missile, throw racquet and body at the ball on the ground, in an attempt to send that ball as far and as hard as he could.

Dinner we booked in each night at 6pm, so we had perfect sunset views across the water, purples and oranges and fading blues. It was more than perfect.

One night Jill and I, went to the Bingo at the bar, it was very family oriented, the kids were baby sat, we thought surely we would win something but no. The last game was, you kept standing if none of your numbers are called out. We thought, well surely this is our game based on the the previous rounds. Jill was in the final two still standing, the prize a free cocktail from the bar. Not much use to us, we'd go virgin, but she was still determined to win something, even if we had to give it away. She lost.

But other than that, for the whole trip, we felt lucky, really grateful for such beautiful surroundings, there's so much to do, if you get out and do it in Cairns and surrounds.

The day we were to leave, it was over cast and raining, as if the island that the kids fell in love with was sad to see them go. We finished with hot chocolate and soft drinks at the jetty cafe as we waited for the water-taxi, this time it was rougher and the ferry jumped and rocked side to side, the waves crashing us onto the beach, the boat backing in reverse. Car keys delivered at the beach, luggage, delivered into the car, and we were driving away almost 60 secs after getting off the boat. Simple service, done well. What a great trip that was.

We took the long way home, and arrived home with 5 mins to spare before we were called saying there was a showing for our home scheduled in 5 mins. We hoofed it, packed the car again with everything we had just taken out, opened the windows, curtains, turned on the fans, cleaned the floors and waved hello to the new owner (we hoped) of our house as we drove out through the gate. We just made it. We accepted his offer the next morning. Celebrations for a house sold, a fantastic trip and memories for our family from the "Isle of Peace and Plenty" Dunk Island, which was beautiful the first day, and perfect every one after that. Where else but Queensland? Come on up for a holiday, we'll see you soon!

*photos all found online-our photos may be coming soon.