Hello all having a busy time in Auckland Gave the presentation this morning at 08.30 local time so a small but select group in the audience seemed to go ok Conference dinner tonight and then off to Bay of Islands later tomorrow weather has been good - warm and dry but forcast for end of week is heavy rain in the north It's Labour weekend this weekend so don't know how that will affect us I've posted the last of the Great barrier reef photos here Regards to all derek and Joan [View Full Entry]

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Here are a few more [View Full Entry]

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Hello again We said goodbye to Australia yesterday and arrived here in Auckland after good flights from Whitsunday Islands via Brisbane We left in temperature of 30' and arrived in Auckland just after midnight - 3 hrs time difference forward - with only 9' outside Might not see much use for the shorts and t shirts for the next few days! We had a fantastic time in the Whitsunday Islands On wednesday we joined the Pacific Sunrise with 14 others for 3 days sailing around the islands A mix of english german and one australian. We all got on well and [View Full Entry]

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Hello all Arrived Hamilton Island yesterday to Reef View hotel about 09.45 and got room by 10.30 so quite lucky. Check in usually not until 2pm. Went on a golf buggy down to the Marina where all the shops and restaurants and cafes are. The hotel is great with a fantastic view from our balcony over Catseye Beach. Walked up steep roads to One Tree Hill late afternoon. An Aussie couple were getting married there. The groom was the brother in law of Gail who gave us the lift in the buggy in the morning. Great views but clouded over before [View Full Entry]

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Hello all Had a restful day on thursday around town and on the beach then went up to Mossman Gorge, Daintree River and Cape Tribulation yesterday Took the Kuku Yulangi Aborigine cultural walk yesterday. Really interesting telling us about how they use the trees and plants in the rainforrest. Some will feed you and others will cause nasty skin reactions, blind you or even kill you. Took Bruce Belcher's trip on the Daintree River and saw the head of the 4m male saltwater crocodile as he slid back into the water and one of the smaller ones in the sun on [View Full Entry]

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Hi everyone We've moved on to Port Douglas now and have had a chance to get into an internet cafe to put some photos on from Uluru, previously known as Ayres Rock Derek & Joan [View Full Entry]

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A very quick hello to all as we wait for our plane from Uluru to Cairns Have had a great time saw the sunset and sunrise over the Rock and walked the Valley of the winds today A great place to come but only once as it's expensive and apart from seeing Ayres Rock and the Olgas there's not much else to do Got seats at the window on the flight so hope we take off the right way for the view fotos to follow Best wishes Derek & Joan [View Full Entry]

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Hi all Just finished packing to leave early monday morning to fly to Ayres Rock now known as Uluru. Checked in on line but all window seats already gone so got 2 aisle seats Hope people at window let me look out! Had a great meal last night at The Waterfront overlooking Opera House and the Bridge Great food and fantastic location all as a present from Claire Rachel and Matthew for our wedding anniversary. Thanks again for a wonderful night and we would have had $A3.70 left over but the restaurant puts on a $A3 per person at weekend. I've [View Full Entry]

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G'day from Sydney We've had a busy 4 days since we arrived here and no time for the blog until now Had good flights from KL to Sydney via Singapore, only delayed because someone didn't make the flight to Sydney from Singapore but their luggage did!! so we had to wait whilst it was unloaded. Lots of security at the airports which is reasssuring and didn't cause any delays. Much quickewr operation than at UK airports from what we've seen so far. On arrival at Sydney all the luggage is scanned again once you've picked it up and lots of people [View Full Entry]

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Hello all Just in transit from Kl to Sydney via Singapore Had a great time in KL Met Teresa Chow who was one of my registrars in Liverpool during her training Had dinner with her and husband Chit then they took us to the night market in Chinatown Sunday took the hop on hop off bus and went up the Kl tower Visibility was quite good given the heat and humidity Visited the National Mosque and spent some time with the Muslim volunteers explaining some of their customs etc Today went to the Batu caves with lots of shrines at the [View Full Entry]

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