Toowoomba, Wk 4 & 5, 2011

September 13^th, While at Table Tennis this morning, I got an SMS from NRMA Insurance to say the quote for our van repairs, by Trail-a-Van, was approved. I dropped Val off at the Shopping Centre and went to Trail-a-Van to get them moving. I found out that there was no accommodation available in Toowoomba, until Sep’t 26^th, when the Flower Festival was over.

September 14^th, We rang Jessica late afternoon, to find out how she went at the Combined School Regional Carnival, at Blacktown (Western Sydney). She was competeing in the 4 X 100 metre Relay and although they didn’t win she had a great day.

September 15^th, We walked around our Caravan Park, looking at their Garden Display which was entered in the “The Chronicle Garden Competition”, and were very impressed with their display of colourful plants and flowers. They had put a lot of effort into the gardens and were rewarded with a 1^st place in the Caravan Park Section. We found out later that it was the 8^th year in a row for them.

September 16^th, We did the rounds of the 4 Antique Shops in Toowoomba, Val has some old coins and a crockery set worth getting a price on and is interested in selling them. We went to St. Lukes Anglican Church to have a look at their “Water of Life” Floral Display and found it very impressive and a lovely old Church.

September 17^th, I left Table Tennis early to get ready to go into the City for the “Flower Festival Parade”, starting at noon. We walked to the starting point for the Parade, only about 4 blocks away. The Floats were amazing, colourful and the Parade was a huge success. It went for an hour and was watched by a huge crowd. I took lots of photos, too many to put up on the Blog. We had one piece of excitement during the Parade when somehow a piece of metallic foil streamer floated skywards and shorted out across the overhead electric wires and created a very loud “BANG”. The Police sprang into action and diverted the Parade to the other side of the road and the Parade continued on without any further ado. After the Parade finished, we walked on into the City and had lunch at St. Lukes Church and Val checked out the Craft Display while I had a coffee. On the walk back home we called in to the “Federal” for a drink and a flutter and went home with $60 in our pocket.

September 20^th, had a call from Trail-a-Van to let me know that they are on the job but having a few problems with what Concept can supply. Val has started on the Dukan Diet, 6 days now, and has lost 2.7 kg already. She has bought the book and is determined to follow it, to the letter. It has 5 stages and could take 6 – 12 months to reach the final stage.