Celebrating the 70's - A chronicle of time and temperature

  New Year’s Eve As the afternoon stretches into evening, three things happen. Obviously, there are more than three things happening in the universe, but we noticed the crowds building in the Champs Elysee, the temperature dropping to 6c and our tiredness setting in.  So, we had a nap, then a drink, then tried in vain to walk in the Champs. Tens of thousands of people, queuing for food, standing around, pushing bloody strollers with kids into your ankles. All clad in Melbourne black. Black is the new black here for sure. And so to the people. There are a lot of French speaking Africans here, most looking fairly wealthy if you can judge by the clothes. Also, very many heavily armed police. I’m talking sub machine guns, gas grenades and the whole riot squad in armour and shields.  Flashy tried to ascertain the make of the weapons and the rank of the cops but got the hard stare as he got too close and didn’t want to end up being frisked like a number of others trying to en...

  Sunday 31 December Despite being awake at 2 am, we remain dozing in bed until 7.30 am, then do some blog posting and head off for our big walk around 9.30 am heading towards Opera and Galleries Lafayette because there is a breakfast café Lady P found on her research somewhere enroute.   You might be wondering how a couple of far north Queenslanders, who think 20 degrees is cold, are handling 9c to 10c in Paris? Well, there’s two stories. We are not in our number 1 Arctic gear. We only need a simple shirt, the wonderful puffer jackets, scarf and beanie. Flashy gets so hot he needs to open the jacket and take off the hat. This is due to unaccustomed exercise and those strategically acquired layers of body fat. Bit like a grizzly I reckon.   Lady P keeps getting a cold chin, despite her layers but is not uncomfortable.  The cold may affect her balance however, as she keeps drifting to the left on the footpaths.   The second story is about our glasses. So ...

  Friday 29 December – The adventure begins We awake early and do the last little jobs including sorting an e-sim for the new phones. It would appear, that despite being told that our phones were both unlocked (true) and e-sim capable (partly true) that the model made for the Australian market is actually not capable of using e-sims. Not the best discovery 10 hours before we are due to depart for the airport. After much discussion, including considering racing out and buying new phones, we decided to just wing it. Lady P will research this to death over the next few days, including her many blog and chat contacts with fellow travelers. In any case, we can survive on wifi and what’s app until it’s sorted. Our packing for the year away is two backpacks weighing 16 kg and two small carry on backpacks, under 7 kg. Not much for Flashy to forget or leave behind. The limo arrives on time at 7pm and Tas is there to farewell us. The trip from Hawthorn to the airport, check in and th...

  Wednesday 15 November to Friday 29 December We arrive in Melbourne, collect Christopher's work ute and follow him to Sorrento where we stay for four nights with Holly and Will before returning to Hawthorn where Lady P stays with Joanne and Flashy goes to stay with Tas while he has a minor eye operation. He recovers, stoically posturing for 45 mins out of every hour for five days. We travel back and forwards to Sorrento for 4-5 days at a time, returning to Melbourne for family and friends catch ups, including Holly's 5 th birthday pizza night, a pleasant boys lunch with Andrew at Donnovans in St Kilda and Thanksgiving long lunch at Katie and Andrews. Thanksgiving saw a setback when Lucy tested positive for Covid the night before. As a consequence, the number attending the Saturday lunch dropped from 20+ to 14, which considering, was not too bad a turnout. Turkey and sides were excellent and the usual restraint with the beverages was observed by most. We returned to Sorr...

  Celebrating the Seventies A chr onicle of time and temperature Pre Departure – Buderim and Brisbane Thurs 12 October to Tuesday 7 November Lady P finishes work today (Thursday 12/10) and the rounds of farewell dinners and lunches commence. We move to Sheila and Paul's to house sit and the final pack and clean of the apartment is undertaken, with all our remaining bits and pieces occupying 1.8 cubic meters in boxes in the top of a couple of wardrobes. Having obtained our long stay French Tourist visas in a record three day turnaround, we can plan a more flexible itinerary for Europe. On Melbourne Cup day, we head to Brisbane on a very full Virgin flight, hire a car and drive to Buderim where we spend five nights with Roger's mum. She will be 96 in January and despite some mobility issues, is still mentally sharp. Arriving in Buderim, we realise that the great adventure has started. Sunday 12 November to Tuesday 14 November Time in Brisbane with Gavin and Elaine for a...