Western Queensland 2022 Adventure - Brisbane to Thrushton NP

 It’s the Easter school holidays so that means only one thing - its time to travel!

Last year we had planned to go on a big adventure to Western Queensland with Michael and Karen, but sadly that didn’t eventuate - not because of COVID19 as you might expect, but because of floods!

This year it was looking a little like the trip might again not go ahead - and again because of rain. Given the recent Brisbane floods, and then the continuation of rain into NSW and out in Western Queensland, many roads have flooded, and still have not re-opened. Fortunately though enough are open that we are able to make our trip.

We left Brisbane at 7am on the first day of the holidays and set off for Warwick, where we would meet Michael and Karen. We originally had planned to go through Dalby but the floodwaters through there put paid to that. We met in Warwick at the Coffee Club at 9am and had a second breakfast! I was quite shocked at how cold it was in Warwick and thinking about what I’ve packed, and where we were going, I realised I would need another pair of jeans! So I rushed into Rose City to Big W and bought a cheap pair of jeans to wear around the campfire. 

We then went on the Newell Highway towards Inglewood and then Goondiwindi, fuelling up at every available opportunity, and then on the Barwon highway from one end to the other. It was such a long day driving, especially as Gertie doesn’t have cruise control, and because I had not slept at all the night before (like, NOT. AT. ALL) it was very tiring. I had to have Russell take over later in the afternoon (but then he later made me swop back, so it was very difficult!). We stopped off at the Nindigully pub en route - that was such a cute place! The town itself is tiny, a basic, blink and you’ll miss it type place, on the bank of a tiny creek - which was flooded by the way. There’s a memorial there to the Paperback Hero movie, as apparently this movie was filmed there. The pub is so iconic - loads of Australiana on the walls, namely Akubra hats - and really very atmospheric. I enjoyed it very much.

We continued on towards Thrushton National Park, to the homestead camping group, and got there not long before dusk. Mike and Cath had already arrived and set up camp. Their set up is awesome - they have a ‘box’ on the back of their Ute tray that basically is custom-made, and houses their entire set up; kitchen, drawers for clothes; waeco; food - anything they need. Their tent is a rooftop tent that goes above it. The tray can be raised up and they can drive their Ute out from underneath, leaving their tent site set up. It really is amazing.

We cooked up our dinner and Mike got a fire going. It was really a very pleasant evening after a tiring day.

The One Where Kylie Gets Covid Part 3

Day 5 of COVID…

Symptoms are still pretty ordinary. I started the day off feeling relatively good - just the voice is still gone (it’s like an octave and a half lower than it usually is). Put it this way, I make a pretty fine Bass at this point.

I thought it would be smart to teach online today - I mean, I know I have the sick leave, but I might need that at some point, right? So I started to teach online and within 10 minutes the little voice I had was completely gone - but not only that, the act of using my voice brings on fits of coughing. I just can’t seem to shake it.

It particularly didn’t help that the Yr 6s seem to have been forgotten today, and no teacher turned up. There I was trying to ‘teach’ 25 Yr 6s who were running around the Piazza and unable to hear me from the one girl’s computer that seemed to have no volume at all. Later on I got a phone call from the Deputy Head saying they were now supervising the girls, and then chiding me for ‘teaching’ online because I was clearly unwell. Yeah no shit Sherlock! I just don’t want to give over my sick leave. Suffice to say that I am not teaching online at all tomorrow.

Another fun thing is I will one minute be feeling chipper and almost normal, and the next I can barely get out of bed or walk down the stairs, I’m so weak. This is nuts.

At least I don’t have the aches and chills I had in the beginning. Although it seems that later in the day, every day, I feel like an elephant is sitting on my chest. This is no fun at all.

I have discovered one little covid remedy though. A candle-lit bubble bath with Star Wars on the iPad always makes things better…

So to all who say covid is nothing - come spend a day in my shoes. This is not nothing. I have been quite unwell with this and I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy. Although an anti-vaxxer? - maybe…

The One Where Kylie Gets COVID Part 2

 Those people who say COVID is not a big deal, go away now.

Only a couple of hours after finalising my lessons for day 1 teaching with covid, I began to develop fever, chills, and aches. Tried to sleep because I felt incredibly fatigued, but sleep alluded me. So I woke on day 2 with the prospect of a day’s teaching ahead, feeling like death warmed up.

I got through the day but as I did, my symptoms fluctuated and worsened. No longer chills or fever, then chills and fever. No longer aches, then aches. It’s madness.

I made the decision therefore that today (technically day 3) I wouldn’t teach from home, but just rest. So far I have raging sinus pain, stuffy nose, cough, and muscle aches. My voice is about 2 octaves lower than normal. This is ridiculous. I feel completely crap.

This better pick up tomorrow or I will be very annoyed…

The One Where Kylie Gets COVID Part 1

 

Well, they said it was inevitable. And to be honest, I’m quite surprised I managed to last this long, what with the mask mandate having been lifted a couple of weeks ago.  But here it is - I now have COVID.

Let me give you a little background, which is kind of necessary given I haven’t posted in a year!

Only if you’ve been living under a rock would you have missed the COVID19 pandemic that has gripped the globe since early 2020.  We’ve been through it all: lockdowns; isolation; 1.5 metres ‘social distancing’; toilet paper shortage; hand sanitizer shortage; limits on grocery items (mince, pasta - clearly we’re all making spaghetti bolognese in iso).. wearing masks; not wearing masks; wearing masks in confined spaces but not when outside; vaccinations; check in with the covid app; showing your big green tick so you can get into cafes; you can’t make this crap up. 

So just before Christmas the Premier opened up Queensland borders to vaccinated domestic travellers. That’s when covid finally arrived in full form in Queensland. We had a major spike in January, so much so that she delayed the start of school by a week for Yrs 11&12 (and online only), and 2 weeks for everyone else. Of course that didn’t mean much for the Catholic schools who just put everyone back online. Face to face teaching resumed from February 4 with all teachers and students required to wear a mask.

The masks came off on March 4, and it has taken me only 16 days then to get COVID. I’m pretty sure I will have gotten it from my Junior Chorale. We haven’t had rehearsals for a couple of weeks because I was unwell, then we had the day of our colours selections for the new build, and then there was also the week the Premier cancelled school because of the floods - so our first rehearsal back was Thursday 17 March.  Additionally, some bright spark decided that we need to convert our rehearsal space, which was St Ann’s Chapel, into a classroom, so when I arrived to rehearsal this week the wooden collapsible doors had been pulled closed and I couldn’t open them much - only enough for girls to get into the room. This, coupled with mask-less singing and no air refresh device, created in my mind a perfect storm for COVID transmission.

I started to get a bit of a sore throat on Saturday evening, on my way to the AFL Lions v Port Adelaide. I didn’t think too much of it as I often have sore throats from air con, but by the end of the evening it was pretty fiery, aided by the idiot who was vaping in front of us. I had trouble getting to sleep as I was quite wired, so when I woke the next morning with the throat raging, I didn’t really think that much of it, but decided to do a RAT (nasal swab) anyway. Negative. Ok, all good - off to Shelden’s new church to spend time with him and Lou.

Got home Sunday afternoon and felt really whacked, so I decided reluctantly to have a lie down - its Gabby’s birthday dinner party tonight so I wanted to rest up. But by 4pm my throat was even worse, and I felt very tired - so I did another RAT - this one an oral one - and yup. COVID…

So I’ve let school know, and I’ve set up all my lessons to teach online tomorrow as I don’t feel too bad at the moment. Seems that quite a few teachers are out with COVID as the Deputy immediately emailed me back with updated protocols. We could be in for an interesting time…

Vic Alps Adventure - Feathertop and Bogong

Lately I’ve been becoming more and more concerned about my inability to remember some of my travels, my life experiences, my stories.  So I decided to make a more concerted effort to journal them, in an attempt to keep them alive.  Even if no one else reads them on this blog, I don’t mind.  This is for me. So to that end, here is our Vic Alps Adventure.

Michael had been talking for some time about going down to Vic to climb Feathertop and Bogong, as part of a bigger Victoria walking trip, with Karen and Pete. I think he’s done Feathertop before but I’m not sure about Bogong - and I know Karen hasn’t.  Anyway when he first mentioned it I jumped at the chance.  The only problem was, as it is with most of Michael’s trips, its during school term time.

So I was a bit naughty.  Knowing that the school wouldn’t give me the day off to go bushwalking, I requested a day’s leave without pay. Normally I would have chucked a sickie, but in these covid times, its just as likely damn Annastacia Palaszcuk could shut the borders because someone in Victoria coughed - and then where would I be?  Quarantined or self-isolated til a clear covid test.  How could I explain that to school?  So I did what any normal person would do - I lied and said I had a family wedding to attend, and asked for the day leave without pay. And was granted it.

But then there was a case of covid in Vic, and she did shut the borders, so we weren’t sure we could go.  About 10 days before we were due to leave, finally she opened them again, and we rushed to grab flights, accommodation and so on.  I remember it because we were in the car with Michael and Karen on the way to climb Mt Joyce when Michael said she’d opened them, and he had to pull over so Russell and I could frantically book everything!  Even then, the motel where M&K were staying was now fully booked, so we had to stay at the Casbak Alpine Units instead of the Harrietville Snowline Motel.  The plan was we would fly late Thursday night to Melbourne, hire a car, drive 3 1/2 hrs to Harrietville, check in, sleep, then meet Michael and the others at 9am the next day to go climb Feathertop. Busy.

So that’s what we did.  Sharon Cottam picked Russell up and then me from school, dropped us to the airport, and then we flew down with Virgin to Melbourne.  The Virgin lounge, which Russell is such a fan of, is still not properly open because of covid, so all we could get was a coffee or wine, and some pre-packaged sandwiches.  I went and got a seat and Russell the food, but he didn’t see me, so he got his own seat.  When he realised I was in another section waiting at a table, he came over, and the cleaner threw out his perfectly good sandwiches whilst clearing his table, so he had to go get new ones.

The flight down was uneventful.  Because of covid you must wear masks in the airport and on the plane, except when eating / drinking.  But also because of covid they only serve water and a small snack.  It was pretty crap.

We arrived in Melbourne and made our way to the Avis desk to get the car.  It was a zippy thing. We set off for Harrietville, stopping off at some services on the way for dinner by way of McDonalds. The woman in Maccas was pretty unhappy to be there and not very forth coming in taking our order.

We had told the motel about our late arrival and they had put the key in the door.  The unit was quite functional but odd.  Small kitchen, with a booth style table.  Microwave on top of a bar fridge and no real bench space.  Certainly nowhere to store any food.  The lounge consisted of a sofa, coffee table and a couple recliners I think. The bathroom was narrow, with a small basin and a 70s style shower. The bedroom was functional but shared a wall with the unit behind - and being only a brick wall, the sound travelled.  Which was most unhelpful as the unit behind was occupied by a young family, with crying baby and loudly snoring father.  Suffice to say I did not get much sleep.

We awoke at the appointed time and set off in search of breakfast.  No small feat in a town where everything practically is shut because of covid. In the end all we could manage was a coffee cart near the park that had pretty ordinary sausage rolls and even more ordinary coffee.

We headed up to the Snowline motel to meet Michael and the others, then drive to the start of the walk near Hotham.  Russell drove us as he was going birdwatching.  We started at Diamantina Hut. This is a lovely A frame hut meant to be used in emergencies in winter I suppose. It was quite cold as we started the walk, but as things went on obviously, it warmed up.  What stunning countryside there is here. The views are simply amazing.  Being above the tree line, the countryside is made up of those harsh little scrubs, with views for miles (on a clear day - which this relatively was).

We hiked along the Razorback hiking track until the intersection with Bungalow spur track, where we encountered some 70 or so other hikers.  Later on in the weekend we found out about a 3 peak or something challenge and they were all part of that.  It was another 1.5km to the top of Feathertop, the last part of which was quite steep, and for the first time in my life I found myself over taking Pete and Karen!! Had a spot of lunch at the summit but I wished I had a mosquito net or something - the insects (were they midges? Not sure) were ferocious!  Karen had a net that goes over your hat - I want one of those.

After the summit we headed back down to Harrietville.  This was a long descent but again through very pretty countryside - my favourite being the snow gums.  So beautiful.  The descent seemed to take forever though and we were getting pretty tired - after all we were walking 22kms all up.  Michael was particularly suffering so when we had phone reception we called Russell to come meet us, and save us the last km or so.

Arrived back to the motel to freshen up for dinner.  Michael had made a booking at the restaurant at their motel.  Russell and I walked there from our motel and had a really pleasant chat about the future, enjoying the walk.

It was a lovely meal but afterwards I had a terrible night’s sleep and woke feeling decidedly unwell - the worst I had in a long time! So I was not in a very good state to try and climb Bogong.

We checked out of the motel and met up with the others.  Boy I was feeling grim.  Russell drove the hire car and Michael had his car and we headed off for the start of the Bogong track.

Not going to lie, it was slow going.  Me because of the night before.  Michael and Pete because of their heavy thru packs. Russell and Karen though were in fine form.  The climb basically is straight up.  The first part is pretty flat, as we crossed a couple creeks - for the most part we found the bridge to cross.  But once we got to the staircase trailhead, it was all uphill from there!

Michael had said that if we were to have any chance of getting out before nightfall we would need to be heading back down from the summit around 1.30-2.00pm.  That wasn’t looking likely!  It was so tough. I have never struggled so much in my life and I was kicking myself for it. Karen, Russell and I kept a slow pace but we soon lost sight of Michael and Pete, who were seriously struggling.  When we made it to Bivouac Hut, Karen said we should go on - and it turned out just as well we did, because Michael and Pete were (even at that stage) an hour behind us. In fact, Karen later said she regretted not coming with us because when Michael and Pete eventually turned up, Michael decided he wasn’t going any further and just set up camp.  They’ve already climbed Bogong before so it doesn’t matter to them, but Karen hasn’t, and now she might have missed her chance.

Russell and I set off for the summit and the weather was starting to come in - quite cold and definitely very foggy.  It was hard to see very far in front.  But we kept going.  We met about 80 hikers on their way back down - some 3 peak challenge or something - but they encouraged us to keep going. Eventually, about 2pm, we made it to the summit.  It was freezing and so windy - and all covered in fog - so no view.  But I was glad we had done it.

We set off back down and caught up with the others at Bivouac hut.  I have never seen Michael look so knackered.  I felt for Karen but she had chosen to wait.  We said goodbye and headed off back to the car.  On the way we met a bloke from the 80 hikers who was hauling ass back up to Bivouac - seemed one of the clients thought they left their phone there. We later found out the idiot eventually rang his number and found it in his backpack - but didn’t bother to radio the poor mug who was going off to look for it - so he was not impressed.

It was getting dark by the time we got back to the car and it just started to rain as we got there.  I was shattered.

We headed off to Bright where we had booked our accommodation for the night at the Alpine Motel.  This turned out to be a nice room - but it was part of the pub, and being a Saturday night - very noisy!  We thought we were in luck when it started raining, as then they might shut the doors to the outdoor area - but no.  And it was noisy.  We had dinner in one of the other pubs and the food was ok, but it was very noisy there too.  I was so glad when I finally got to sleep!

On Sunday we had a leisurely breakfast at the cafe across the road.  I was stunned that they didn’t have anyone checking we’d signed in for covid.  In fact I couldn’t even find the book.  When I did, I couldn’t believe that in a cafe so packed, only about 4 people had signed in.  No wonder Victoria had all that covid outbreak it had last year - the second wave - they aren’t taking it seriously.

On our way back to the airport we did a wine tasting at Brown brothers, which was really good.  

The flight back was pretty uneventful - this time on Qantas so the food was a little bit better.  It had been a lovely weekend...

Finally - Our Wedding Celebration

Well after months and months of waiting, we finally were able to have our wedding celebration! But not without some causes for concern, as covid restrictions keep changing!

In fact it was quite touch and go for a while there, all because of a couple of silly girls from Logan who went to Melbourne on a shopping trip (aka stealing trip) and then lied about it on their border re-entry. The stupid idiots got covid didn’t they, and that sparked a tightening of covid restrictions including the number of people you could have in your house, which was limited to 10.  Ten!  But I have 3 bridesmaids, 4 junior bridesmaids, 1 bride and a mother and father to get ready.  Not to mention the photographer (Anne Taylor from school),  make up artist (my good friend Fi) and two hairdressers (lovely Andy and Jessie).  How was that going to work? I hadn’t even decided the venue for getting ready - it was either to be Mel or Beck’s - but each of those have their own limitations also.  At Mel’s, we run the risk of trying to get the (secret) Cadillac up the driveway - a nightmare if its been raining, as the driveway would all be mud; and at Beck’s, well, its just a lot smaller.  So I even investigated getting dressed at the church - but the only space available that met the 2sqm rule was a ‘hangar’ with no windows.  Not ideal.

The other restrictions, all imposed because of these 2 girls from Logan, included; no dancing at the wedding; no walking around at the reception (everyone must stay seated at their own table); the number of people allowed at the reception; the list went on.  Perhaps the most ridiculous was the fact that we couldn’t have a bridal table - because, even though we could sit with practically strangers at the same table at a restaurant (as long as we were all part of the same ‘group’), the restrictions do not allow for different households to sit together.  So that meant that we couldn’t sit with our bridal party members, because they are all different households.  Doesn’t matter that they’re all family.  How absurd.

It was a veritable minefield, and poor Russell had to do most of the navigating himself, because I had loads of schoolwork.  The biggest challenge was the reception venue, because they just wouldn’t respond to emails or phone calls (we had picked the Kookaburra Queen because it was so iconic, but with covid they had been shut since March and weren’t due to reopen until 2 days before the wedding).  Eventually he was able to come up with a seating plan that met the covid requirements, although we had to have lots of small tables with just 2 people on them and so on.  Fortunately the day before the wedding Armageddon Anna and Jihad Jeanette (as we fondly call the Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Chief Medical Officer Dr Jeannette Young) decreed that the bridal couple and their parents can dance one dance at the wedding, and that people can walk around the venue if they have a drink in their hands.  Madness.

Finally the day came.  We had our rehearsal on the Friday night before, complete with our friends Lucas and Andrew who were doing our sound, lighting etc.  I was getting a bit stressed just because I was trying to work out the timing for the bridal entry and it wasn’t working, but then Mel gave me half a diazepam and the night went very smoothly.  Actually she gave me a full one but I only took half - this becomes important later though.  Dad couldn’t grasp the concept of step, together, stop, step, together, stop - so I basically had to talk him through it the whole way down the aisle!  You’d think, having walked 2 other daughters down, he would know - but I guess it has been 20 years between gigs.

Anyway, I spent the night at Beck’s house, which was lovely.  I woke up in the morning to the vision of my dress hanging from the wardrobe door (we had to suspend it on a curtain rail because of the train) - just lovely.  Then Beck and the girls came in for a morning cuddle and it was just one of those surreal moments, lying there all of us together in the bed and thinking “I’m getting married today” (which is weird because, well, we’re already married).

Bang on 6.30 and the door bell went, and it was Andy and Jessie, right on time - all systems go.  Lou and Karyn turned up not long after, then Ava and Calise, then Mel and Bethany - then Fi -  and we were off!  What a jam packed morning. Karyn and the younger girls hair was done first, and Jessie did such a good job.  Karyn had to be completely finished by around 9.30 to get back to Russell’s for photos with the boys. I felt myself getting a bit nervous when Russell rang to say the florist was running late to decorate the church and drop off the bouquets - so I took that other half a diazepam to calm myself and boy, the rest of the day was practically a doddle!

The morning just flew by.  It was such fun to be getting ready with all the girls, such a lovely time with laughter and merriment.  I was the last to get ready though and I was getting a bit nervous.  I was particularly concerned about my hair as we had had 3 trials and the first 2 were disastrous.  In the end Beck came with me to the 3rd one and Jessie came up with a solution that would work well.  But all was good - hair and make up went smoothly.  Anne, the photographer, was a little late turning up and I was a bit worried about that, but the diazepam helped and I didn’t let it bother me too much. So unlike me.

Once she arrived though it was literally, boom, go.  The girls were still in their dressing gowns because we wanted a photo, and I was still getting make up done, so Anne told them to hurry up and get changed.  Gabby had a minor wardrobe malfunction that I was vaguely aware of, as Mum had to hurriedly sew something, so with Mel and Beck involved in getting their girls and Ava ready, when it was time for me to get dressed, there was no one around.  So Andy and Jessie did it.  Later Beck would say to me that she regretted not being there to do it, but anyway.

Next thing I knew, Ray and the caddy had arrived, and we got a few family photos and bridesmaids etc, then suddenly, we were out to the car.  Beck’s neighbours had come out to see us and wave at us (she had warned them of the activity because there would be lots of cars parking in the area etc).

The ride to the church was quite surreal.  Ray was talking with Dad about the vehicle.  I don’t remember much else.

Finally we were there, but as we pulled in, the girls had gathered off to the left and stopped us from driving right up to the entrance.  They suggested we go around the back, so as to enter unobserved from the congregation, which we did.  Next minute Harry was escorting Mum to her seat - the cue that we were ready - and we were off.

I organised everyone in their processional places, and listening faintly to the strains of Nimrod, I was directing them when to enter.  The procession went smoothly, just as I dreamed it would, timed perfectly.  I guess my only regret is that because Dad had such problems with the ‘step, together’ thing, I had to coach him the whole way down - and I later found out that people could hear me. Makes me look like a control freak or something I guess.

The service was just beautiful.  Firstly because I got to have my all time favourite hymn, the founders song!  But mostly, because we had already gotten married, rather than do this as just a rehash with nice clothes, we took the opportunity to turn it into a blessing on our marriage.  So yes, we did the covenant, but then Shelden sang a beautiful song that Russell had composed, and then we had anointing with oil and a prayer circle.  It was lovely.

The piece de resistance though, was the bridal exit.  At the rehearsal we used the Mendelssohn bridal March, but for the real one - I had doctored up the Throne Room music!  So we had Star Wars at our wedding!!

As is usual, photos ensued afterwards. Anne took lots of beautiful pics of the family groups.  Then we all headed off to Shorncliffe pier for the main pics.  They are gorgeous.  We had a lovely time posing on the pier and enjoying some fun pics.

The Kookaburra Queen provided more excellent photo opportunities on the roof.  My favourite is that the Story bridge was lit green and purple!  

Our entrance music to the reception was “Accidentally in Love” because this is my ringtone for Russell. The food was wonderful, the atmosphere brilliant, and all had a good time.  A couple of stand out moments for me -  the cake that my friend Naomi made was stunning - Star Wars themed. Actually she made 2 cakes because with covid you can’t serve the same cake you cut because you know, you might breathe on it and give covid to everyone. So she made a huge cake for everyone to enjoy - although what I don’t understand is why the Kookaburra Queen people cut it so small.  Uncle David did a brilliant job as MC, with more Star Wars themes, and the speeches were good too.  Beck’s and Bob’s particularly!  The bridal waltz was another fave moment - especially because it was Dad playing Anne’s Theme, a piece that always has a special place for me, and also because darling Katie lost it and bawled on Russell’s shoulder. Also our ‘song’ to Russell - ‘Sisters’ in a quintet, with doctored lyrics by Dad.  So funny.

All too soon the cruise was over and we were back to the dock.  Funny moment here - Beck thought that the Kookaburra Queen would chuck away the flowers so she started giving them away to everyone, including the vases - but they belonged to Gemma from Borrowed and she was waiting there to take them back.  I don’t think she got them all unfortunately!

We then said goodbye to everyone and headed off to the Stanthorpe.  Our friends Michael and Karen, Pete and Nicky had booked to stay there so Michael had checked our luggage in for us.  We wanted to meet them in the bar for a drink afterwards (it was only 10pm after all) but it was closed.  We tried to go to the nearby Port Hotel but some of us (myself included) didn’t have ID so they wouldn’t let us in - Qld’s infamous lock out laws - so we got takeaway and went back to Michael’s room and had a lovely debrief.

It truly was a fairytale wedding.  I know I have perhaps given more detail than the average person needs to read, but this is my blog, and my diary, and I want to be able to remember every detail from the most important day of my life for years to come...

Our COVID-19 Wedding

June 20, 2020 - has a lovely ring to it, right?  That's what we thought, as we set that as our wedding date, many months ago.  But then, someone in China somehow caught a virus from a bat or something in December, and then got on a plane, and now suddenly the whole world is in lockdown due to COVID-19.  As of the time of writing, there have been 1,518,719 coronavirus cases worldwide; 88,502 deaths; 435,128 cases in the US with 14,795 deaths; 148,220 cases in Spain (14,792 deaths); here in Australia, 6,052 cases, 50 deaths.  New Zealand has completely shut down for 4 weeks (they've got 1,239 cases and 1 death).  Australia is in partial lockdown - schools closed early for Easter (and hopefully stay closed); 'non-essential' services e.g. massage parlours, beauty salons, clothing stores - closed; work from home advised; WW workshops via Zoom; panic buying of toilet paper, flour, eggs, rice, UHT milk; social distancing measures enforced - must be 1.5m from another person; only 2 people allowed to visit a household; no one allowed to travel over Easter; only allowed to leave your house for groceries, medical appointments, to care for someone or exercise.  Outdoor events like sporting fixtures?  Closed.  No NRL. No AFL. Olympics have been postponed.  Ekka cancelled.  Melbourne Cup likely to be cancelled. Funerals?  Only 10 mourners allowed.  Which brings us to weddings...

Yup, weddings affected too - only allowed 5 people - the celebrant, the couple, and two witnesses.  And this is predicted to go on at least for another 6 months!  What to do then, when your wedding is only 73 days away?

Well the only thing you can do!  You elope, of course!

Which is exactly what we did.  With basically less than 24 hours notice!

So I wake up yesterday morning in a bit of a daze - is this really my wedding day?  Why do I feel so sad?  I realised I was grieving for the wedding celebration we had looked forward to for so long - my zillion bridesmaids (my sisters and best friend, plus the 4 nieces), my lovely dress, the flowers, the beautiful decorations of the church, the bridal entry, the Kookaburra Queen reception, our honeymoon in the Caribbean... and of course none of that was happening now.  None. Of course I was upset.

But my lovely sisters, who know me better than I know myself, were there to help. They organised (as much as I protested they shouldn't) a lovely little bridal bouquet, Beck did my hair and make up and we had fun facetiming Mum whilst I got ready.  Gabby ready with 'appropriate' music - TNT, Meghan Trainor's No... all the usual stuff, right?  Beck organised some grapetise and champagne glasses and we had a right proper girly giggle as I got ready.  Then I went to drive myself up to the church - no, they weren't having that!  So the 3 of us piled in my car and Beck drove us to the church for 3pm.  

Surprise, surprise, but this time the Bride was there before the Groom!  And even more surprisingly, my father was there before I was!! Russell appeared a few minutes later though with his daughter in tow as his witness.  

It was completely surreal. You just can not make this stuff up.  We walked into the main auditorium of the church and were confronted immediately with a wall of toilet paper.  Apparently the church had acquired a stash which they were giving out to people in need.  On top of that, they had just taken a delivery of a couple hundred Easter eggs... all laid out in the back of the church!

Toddy had set up a laptop with a Zoom link for family and friends to witness the ceremony.  It was a pretty quick ceremony too - a brief preamble, the vows and the signing, and that's it.  Mum, Mel, Beck and Kevan were watching in the foyer - you're allowed 5 people in the foyer due to social distancing laws regarding square metres of the room. I remember panicking over whether it was "I will" or "I do" that I was supposed to say.  Mel had said if Toddy says "Do you..." then it's "I do"... of course Toddy said "Do you...[and then] Will you..." so I went with "I will"!  Fortunately a couple of weeks ago we had been shopping for wedding rings - although unfortunately we hadn't got mine, but we did get Russell's, and although we weren't going to do the ring thing, we decided we would.  So now my engagement ring doubles as a wedding ring, until we have our big celebration - goodness only knows when that will be...!

Then it was time for the signing - wow, so many bits to sign - and we were suddenly announced as Mr and Mrs Woodford - and everyone unmuted their computers and clapped!  And just like that, we were married!

The church had organised a cake, and Russell brought some de-alcoholised champagne, so we had cake and champers - all socially distanced - a couple in the foyer, some outside.. I even got my Star Wars in, as I put on the music for the Throne room for the cutting of the cake!!

Next thing I knew, we had some photos out by the front garden of the church, and up rocks my nephew Harry in his hi-vis work attire.  So he had some cake too.

We then hopped into Gertie and drove off to see my 95 year old Grandmother, Russell's mum and my bestie Lou. They had all watched online on the zoom (although I now find out that poor Grandma had no sound whatsoever - but at least she got to witness it)! One of my favourite memories is of Russell's mother, standing and practically jumping for joy on her back verandah, clapping with delight when we came over to see her.  So lovely.

We had booked into a hotel in the CBD at Beck and Mel's suggestion - just to try to make the day sort of special - and I'm glad we did.  Of course, with all the corona stuff going on, we couldn't eat out at a local restaurant, or indeed even get room service.  So UberEats had to suffice - but not before a conference call to the rest of my family who had just randomly scheduled a facetime catch up that evening.  Kind of bizarre to be talking to them on my wedding night in my hotel room!  Also had a couple of chats with friends from overseas which was lovely.

Then to cap it all off, at 4.30am we were awoken by a fire alarm at the hotel!  Out we file, down the fire evac stairs, into the garbage bin loading dock - no wait, that can't be right - so back up to reception and finally out to the evacuation point in the car park (again all socially distanced) - barely 10 of us staying in the hotel.

The next morning (today) we had our boxed breakfast of cereal, a pastry and a biscuit, followed by take away coffee from the Death Star Canteen, before I dropped Russell back home (and back to work) and headed home myself to start to pack.  

And that, in all its surreal glory, was our COVID-19 wedding...

Doing the make up

Ready to go!

The wall of toilet paper at church

Mum and Beck socially distanced in the foyer, looking on

The ceremony

A traditional family pose

Welcome back to the blog!

Well it's been an eternity since I was blogging last.  Part of the problem was that I couldn't remember my log in details, and now that Google seems to have a hold on blogger, it kept trying to log me in as something else.

The other problem was that at some point, I lost ownership of my domain name (which was kmuki.com) and some blighter bought it.  When I tried to buy it back they wanted a small fortune, which of course I was reluctant to give.

I even contacted blogger.com to see how I could get ownership of my blog back (i.e. be able to log in) and never heard anything.  This was a real pity as I had wanted to use my blog whilst I was overseas on #kyliesepicadventure2016 and of course, I couldn't.

But here I am, on Australia Day (happy one to you all at that too!) and just sitting with my Dad and showing him how to buy a domain. And I thought to myself that I might buy one too, in the hopes of re-establishing my blog.  Which then led me back here, because apparently if I upgrade the domain I want to purchase, it links easier with blogger.   So I thought perhaps I best see if I can get the blog running again - and lo and behold, as if by magic!  Here I am.  To be honest this is a really a test post to see if it will publish.  If it does, I just might go and buy that domain - stay posted.

We'll see, eh?

2014 - The Year I Blog Again!

Ok, its 3.29am and I am wide awake because I am jet lagged.

I know its normal to make New Year's resolutions actually at the start of the New Year and clearly this is many days post New Year.

But I rediscovered my blog tonight when I was looking for a photo that I lost.  And then I re-read some of the stories and realised just how useful a tool it was as a travel diary.  So I got to thinking.  Which is why I'm back here.  Time to start recording everything again, even if only for me.

Stay tuned.  Kilimanjaro travel diary to come....