pass the XXXX Sheila!

Singapore was a funny place - anyone who's been from France into Monaco will know what I mean. It isn't really Asia at all (except for the humidity of 90%) -it's clean - everything works - people are genuinely helpful without wanting to sell you something: in short, a little unreal. We lost a day by sleeping for 18 hours and then thought we were sleepwalking on the streets in the central district (Glenn's back was bad and not helped by the 13 hour flight) when we could hardly see a soul but then cottoned on to the N.American idea that everyone was trogging it underground because of the heat and humidity, not the snow! Underground (or above ground in some really amazing skyscrapers) everyone was making money or spending money, but staying cool, and being quite vertically challenged. We did the tourist bit. If you think where they started, from the surrender in 1942 to the japs, from independence in the 60's, what they have done in a small place without any natural resouces is simply amazing. They should give lessons to the rest of Asia (just not in mild fascism). China town was disappointing, but the Botanical gardens were fantastic - particularly the orchid gardens, but it was surreal to see dozens of decorated christmas trees in the steamy heat with humming birds and parakeets instead of robins!

Like Ronnie Corbett, I digress. Perhaps I should start at the beginning. The plan was really to go to NZ and now I have to explain why we are in Oz for a month. Well, there is this amazing site called homexchange.com and we hoped we could travel by exchanging houses, although this would have to be non-simultaneous since few would want to come to France in the European winter. So, we looked for people with second homes to exchange and whilst we were looking, we were approached by an Australian couple who were proposing their FABULOUS second home overlooking the Whitsunday Islands in Queensland in exchange for time in one of our properties. It was too stunning to miss and if you are interested in their website to see how the other half live, ask us for the link. It must be a first since we are in heaven without dying. Obviously above you have the shot of Raffles Hotel in Singapore but the other 2 are shot from the deck here, a single of Shute Harbour below and a 3-shot stitched together to give the panorama over the Whitsundays.

We flew into Brisbane and the owners (who live there) were incredibly kind and met us at the airport at 7am and looked after us until our onward flight at 5pm to the Whitsundays. They're coming to us in France next September. We also met with another Brisbane couple who, at the last minute, are taking one of houses in March (the clock is ticking, we have to be back there to greet them on their arrival 8th March after our return flight back into London on 27 Feb) and in exchange have proposed their beautiful second home at Noosa should we ever come back to Queensland (yes, please). Glenn is going to eat humble pie later after hoping to use this trip to reinforce his prejudices about Australia - he blames his daughters for making him watch Neighbours.

From here after sitting looking at each other on Christmas Day (it'll be a first for both of us not to be able to share Christmas with our families but, hey, maybe our families are glad about that!) we fly back to Brisbane on Boxing Day to stay with an old friend from Wimborne who has now relocated back to her native Oz. Then after New Year we fly to Sydney to stay with Sue's cousin and THEN we get to go to NZ.....

More about that later. Did I tell you yet how FABBY it is here?

Apparently the XXXX brewery is near here - for all those who are interested - but seriously, cold beverages of any description are welcome and I can now see why Australians and Americans have such huge fridges.

The plane was delayed a couple of hours and we arrived, too late to see the stunning views, due to cyclonic conditions in Darwin!!! So opening the electrically operated curtains from bed to reveal this panorama in all its glory was quite something. Who needs pictures when you have a view like this! The house is on a high promontory, along with several others all equally well hidden in the bush, and overlooks the Whitsunday Passage with the islands (most uninhabited) overlaid in varying shades of green and blue beyond. Tiny Shute harbour is below us where you can watch the activity of the yachties in miniature. I don't think we are going to venture far away from here for the next 12 days, although we do plan to visit the Great Barrier Reef for Glenn to dive and me to snorkel one day and visit one or two must-see places.

We finally got into action late yesterday afternoon to venture out in the car our hosts have so kindly left for us. We had been existing on beans on toast just because it was too gorgeous here and we were too lazy, but did manage to find a shop still open after 6 on a Sunday to get a few provisions in order to change the menu. Today we'll venture further and do a proper shop.

So far the only wildlife we have seen are cokatoos which make an almighty racket, but are pretty to watch, no roos or wallabies - but we are told there is a 'saltie' (salt water croc) in a creek near here and there was a rather large crab-like spider on the terrace table yesterday morning.....Also, fish in the harbour which bite off your toes (I kid you not) if you go wading. Did I tell you how FABBY it is here?

that last from Glenn - I think it's all too much for him. I leave him to it while I go for my regular 50 lengths in the pool and see what he does??

Overcast and showers forecast with temperatures from 29-31C lower humidity than Singapore, but still hard to get used to. Going to take one of the ceiling fans into a local repair shop this afternoon whilst shopping (Glenn just can'r resist being Mr. Fixit). Considered getting a christmas tree, but will stand firm against all things seasonal as planned. Doesn't stop us getting in some smoked salmon and champagne though...!