Surfers Paradise, Queensland

Kid Friendly Fun
This year I thought the kid's area of the water park was a lot better that last year's adventure.

I guess Nickelodeon has the funds to throw into it.

Cupboard Makeover
I thought I would leave the holiday snaps for the moment, and post about a cupboard I have just given a makeover.
I love Dept. of Education furniture, and this was a very old cupboard that I rescued last year. A work colleague had actually pushed it down a flight of stairs (!!) and it was on its way to the tip. I used a paint and varnish stripper to begin the process.And then it was time for the electric sander.
I found some interesting things in the process - an old pen nib that was wedged into a back corner of a shelf that would have been used in the time of ink wells; and some very old graffiti, dating back to 1916!! I then gave the outside a couple of coats of clear varnish.

The wood is just lovely.

The cupboard doors were a bit of a mess, so I used some double sided tape and some fabric to make a feature of them.

I added wheels to the base from IKEA, and an old replica key I had picked up somewhere as a handle.

When I get the inside sorted out I will post some pictures - there is an amazing array of shelves.

We saw every one's favourite yellow sponge
... and my fave pink starfish!

Are ya ready kids?
Aye, Aye captain!
I can't heeeaaar
yooouuu!
AYE, AYE CAPTAIN!
oooooooooooo.........
Who lives in a
pineapple under the sea?
Sponge Bob Square Pants!
Absorbent and yellow and porous is he.
Sponge Bob Square Pants!
If nautical nonsense be somethin' ya wish.
Sponge Bob Square Pants!
Then drop on the deck and flop like a fish.
Sponge Bob Square Pants!

Ready?
Sponge Bob Square Pants,
Sponge Bob Square Pants,
Sponge Bob Square Pants, Sponge Booob Square Paaants!
Ah Ha Ha, Ha Ha
Ha, Ha,
hArgh wh..arire..Ha arrrigh.

Of all the shows that my kids like to watch, I do like Spongebob. Although, I do try to limit myself to two episodes at a time... then my interest begins to wander.

And one of the joys of pay TV at the hotel, meant that it was watched and watched. (It was virtually aired 24 hrs a day!)

Coffs Harbour
On the way to and from Queensland we stayed with some friends.

It was great to catch up with them and their 'sea change'.

***

Here we are eating breakfast at the Beachstone Cafe.

It was apparently a very difficult task to catch us ready for a photograph... in unison.

Thanks for your friendship and hospitality Kate and Sergio.

Some Native Fauna
...for the non-Australian readers.
In fact, it was my husband who suggested these.
As we wandered through the encloses at the theme park, he was heard to say, "Well, you'd better get some shots for those American bloggers you are in touch with."
Surprising really, as he does not seem to take much notice of the whole blogging thing.
However, I do suspect he regularly looks to see if I have posted anything about him.

Red kangaroo.

Hairy-nose wombat.

Crocodiles.

Koala, cute and cuddly.

Moi with a grey kangaroo.

I have just carefully looked at all the photos that were taken over the past week. Will probably not show the one of me (rather rattled), after stepping off this.

Off to bed now to recover from a very long car journey home, with two sick travelling companions, and two loud and funny (well they thought so) girls.