Together again, minus Tessie, Qld

We really are such a long way from home... the revelation dawned on me on Monday the 24th of September, travelling back to Townsville.
After leaving 11pm (Perth time) the night before... it was almost midday eastern time when we arrived in Townsville to our boys, who clung to us both, like we'd been missing people for months.

It was so nice to see them and be back together again but we were both a little distraught.
Not only had we not had much sleep but we realised as we were getting off the plane, that we had lost Tessie.
Everyone who knows Nina, knows that Tessie is her favourite (stuffed) friend in the whole wide world.
After a phone call to the Qantas Club lounge in Brisbane, all was sorted and Tessie would be in the post back to Nanna's in the next few days.
It was a stressful few seconds though when the lady in the Qantas Lounge said she had found the toy but it was "against Qantas policy," to post anything (typical, of course it is!!)
Anyway, she agreed to do it off her own back because she also is a Mum and her child had lost a toy once.
Thank God for a lovely person with some sense of human empathy. Katrina (which is her name) text me the next day to say she had popped it in the post to Nanna's (my Mum's).
I couldn't thank her enough!!

When we arrived back to the caravan, the boys were excited to show us that they had done all the washing and the caravan was clean (like only boys could clean it). They were cute and very proud of themselves.
It was also so nice to get back to some warm weather.
After unpacking our bags we walked over to some caravan neighbours, who Richard had befriended (shock horror) - to have a drink.
I was struggling to stay awake after missing a night of sleep, so I excused myself to make dinner and was in bed by 7:30.

Yesterday morning, the 25th of September... Richard had left to take the car for a service when I woke around 9. This kids had all gotten themselves brekky and I could have continued to sleep for the next week if they hadn't woken me.
We spent the day at a quiet pace, doing the washing and cleaning the van while Richard did some work and the kids did some schoolwork.
By afternoon, the kids went for a swim, it's 30 degrees here, which is a welcome change after the chilly weekend in Perth.
By afternoon, the boys took off to put the crab nets in... they are on a mission to catch some mud crabs.
When they arrived back we all went for a drink at our neighbour's van.

Pam & Bill and Jeff & Karen are all mates who have been travelling together for a while. They both have pet Wiro's which the kids have been befriending over the last few days. The Wiro's are finally warming to them enough to stand on their shoulders... they're very cute!

Jack with Mojo

Harry with Mojo

Nina with Wally

This morning, Wednesday the 26th of September, Richard and the boys were up early and off to pull the crab nets with Bill from next door. They arrived back around 8 with one big mud crab. They put the nets back in hoping to pull them later in the day.
Richard had been promising Harry a special day with him for months so today was to be the day.
Off they both went while I stayed with Jack and Nina and organised dinner for tonight. We are having our caravan neighbours over for dinner as a thank you, after they looked after the boys while Nina and I were in Perth.
Jack, Nina and I also rode our push bikes into the main road of Townsville called The Strand, where we had lunch, before returning back.
Tomorrow we are planning to take a day trip to Magnetic Island which lies just off Townsville.

Also, Aunty Lucy, on hearing of Tessie's loss, put pen to paper once more with another clever poem....

Tessie's Return

There was a little girl called "Nina May"

Who sat in a Qantas lounge one day

Her Mummy was with her and Tessie was too

Now guess what "Nina May" forgot to do?

She forgot to pick up Tessie from there

She left her in a Qantas lounge chair

When Tessie awoke she spoke loudly that day

She said to the lady "Please send me home to Nina May."

The lady from Qantas acted real fast

She booked the next ticket on business class

She sent her to Perth which is way out west

Nanna lives there she will care for her best.

On a cold wet spring day a package arrived

It was the very cute Tessie...she had survived

Nanna was excited as she has ever been

She welcomed back Tessie and gave her a clean

She gave her something yummy to eat

And a warm cup of milo for a special treat

She read her a story and put her to bed

"This is very good treatment" Tessie said

This kindness was something Tessie would always remember

She decided she would stay until late in December

Travelling was fun she knows this is true

Being spoilt by Nanna is so much fun too

There is a moral to this...when you get off a chair

Turn and check you have left nothing there

It may be Tessie or your scarf or your hat

If a lesson was learnt... it was certainly that.

For my beautiful Great Niece Nina May

From your Aunty Lucy xxx