Jill and Gerard's Seachange

More sightings

Yesterday the Echidna was crossing up at the end of our street. So rapt to see it, just hope it does not get run over.....

Well Chris and Jim left here this morning about 8am. While standing outside by their car I noticed a movement in the water in the distance and it was some dolphins just lolling about in the water. They were so relaxed without a care in the world. It is such an amazing sight to be so close to them. They were more on our side of the water rather than The Island opposite which was a bonus. It made Chris's day and the end of her stay here with us.

After they left I wanted to go out in the water cause it was rather still and a good paddling time. By the time we got ready the current had started moving. We only took one of the boats out as Gerard did not want to paddle really. I di not want to go out by myself for the first time, so Gerard walked around to the seat to make sure I was o.k.

Well it was a good idea, thanks so much Machele for the boat. BUT it is not such a practical approach to go paddling seriously in it...

I did not want to row backwards in case I hit a branch that could puncture the boat, so I was trying to row in the opposite direction. Boy was it hard and it was amazing how hard the current made it. I felt exhausted and as if I was not in control of the boat. I was glad to see Gerard approaching the seat area. The water at the edge of the banks was all grean and slimy and yuk, but I could not paddle back as it was too hard to row. Gerard ended up losing his thongs in the mud under the water and had to wade out to help me get the boat beside the bank. I had to get out of the boat and walk to the bank. The mud stank something shocking!!!!! Don't know how those swans can fossick in that stuff... Further out about 2 metres from the bank is a lot cleaner and the water is so clear there.

Gerard had to pull me up from the water onto the bank and then he had to walk home with no shoes on!!! While walking back, my back started to play up. In the kayaks when I have been out my back has been great, but there is not the solid support in the blow up as there is in the solid kayak, even though it felt comfy in the blow up as it moulds around your body. So the blow ups are great for just having a paddle around in a small area like out the front of the car park. It is so disappointing as Machele and Tamyka and I were so excited when I opened up the present and found it was a boat!!!!!!

It will not be wasted though as it will be fun just paddling around in the shallows here, honestly Machele it will get used a lot.

Another thing that happened today was that I signed up to a thing on the internet to get access to the births deaths and marriages in the U.K. and the 1861 Census. I have found out Mum's parents dates of birth, marriage and deaths. Her dad was only 66 and her Mum was 70 when they died. 66 it seems so young...

We were in Malaya when her Mum died in 1963 and I remember Mum felt helpless and was upset cause she was so far away from her in England. If I remember correctly she had a clot on or near the brain. As for her dad no one knows as mum had no idea where he was as he left the home and family a long time before that...

posted by Jill @ 1:15 am