Posted 3:05 AM by MelanieandSteve
AND THEN THERE WERE ONLY THREE MORE DAYS . . . (post written 19 June). "Heaps" done, "Heaps" to do.

IS PARTING REALLY SWEET SORROW?
We've been in Cairns (pronounced Canns) since we last wrote. It's a fun, friendly, peaceful, partiful, and beautiful base for business and adventure. And we try not to think about our impending goodbye.

THE WOOLSHED, WHERE EVERY CAIRNS NIGHT BEGINS:
With nightly free dinner vouchers at the popular backpackers' Woolshed restaurant and bar, and with great food, who could resist starting the evenings out there. After we fill up, we decide whether we want to brave the late evening mecca of dancing on tables, loud music, and TV sports. Cairns is a late night city - a lot like Spain where the partying goes on all night long.

SUN SALUTATIONS AT SUNRISE:
Melanie was in heaven at free early morning yoga classes by the lagoon and fun workouts at the gym. When better to do sun salutations than at sunrise by the sea?

HOME IMPROVEMENT AND FOR SALE SIGNS:
Steve worked on cleaning and improving Chester while Mel worked on advertising our "OZ-ome Van". Chester, like new now, is barely recognizeable - and all the more loveable and difficult to part with. Our consolation: we've accepted an offer and the couple buying Chester loves him as much as we do.

QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY - IN A ROYALTY-LESS COUNTRY?
14 June was "The Queen's Birthday", a national holiday. Funny thing is, QE2 is's not their queen, and it's not even her real birthday. As our friend Stuart put it (we hope he doesn't mind being quoted)"...I bet you guys think it strange that we have a public holiday for the English Queen, (who by default of history is the Queen of Australia) when it is not even her birthday. We don’t mind. A holiday is a holiday."

WHO NEEDS LABELS? (Melanie) LONG AS WE'RE ON THE ENGLISH TOPIC: What is England? Does anybody know?
Melanie often ask our English, Welsh, Irish, and Scottish friends, 'Is Brittain a Country?' - If Yes, then what is England? (Scotlant, Wales, N. Ireland?) - Uhm, a country,... sort of. Even they don't seem to know the answer. Do you?

SAVING ONE OF OUR FIRST GOALS FOR LAST:

THE GREAT BARRIER REEF. Boat trip, clear water, fun guides, turtle patting (and hugging), humongous clam viewing, coral admiring, purple ink of sea cucumbers, and neon fish and coral all over ... need we say more? Even though it's the tropics, it's nearly winter. One dive, wearing two wet suits, was enough for Melanie. She nearly lost her violently chattering teeth, and she did lose her voice. Steve enjoyed a second dive with glassy clarity and warmer more shallow water. The reef was one of our primary Aus- goals ... In the nick of time!

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS TO:
-Laura M
-Thomas P
-Ed W
-Lliam F

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TOMORROW to Clay and Dolly