Brisbane Australia

Chiang Mai To Brisbane (June 2017)

We all love Thai food but here food from all over the world. Plenty of airport lounges and bars to help you on your merry way 😂🍾.🥂 and forget all the queues. And yes we are usually a little mellow by the time to board. But then wait a minute, more food and drink on the plane as well. Not too much as it’s a night flight and we want to get some sleep. Boring, what about a movie and another glass of whatever 😎. Sleep wins

House Sit for Sherri in Manly – Brisbane Australia

Sherri’s house had amazing views over the Manly Marina. Views that changed every day, you just didn’t get sick of it. We would sit for hours every morning, after Boof’s walk of course, and breakfast, read the paper and just drink in the peace and serenity generated from scenic beauty.

We had just joined up with Trusted House Sitters but really had not done many. Our friend Sherri worked in PNG on a fly-in fly-out basis so we House Sitted and looked after Boof, Midnight and Tinkerbell while she was away. We looked after the house and pets for a couple of months and really enjoyed our time with Boof and cats. Since this house sit we have experienced lots more in Thailand the UK. Ireland, France, Spain and Portugal. It’s a great way to see the world, live like a local and look after our beautiful four-legged mates. 🐶 ✈️

Looking After Boof & Co

Looking after Boof and Co was a privilege. Boof needs a lot of TLC as the old fella was feeling the effects of his years. He was fifteen years old and in human years that’s over 100yrs old, whoa!! The two cats, were a lot less work, but Tinks was also pretty old and on medication. She still loved her dinner though and would yowl her thanks, eat and go back to sleep. Midnight well, let’s say he had strong opinions about which food he would like to eat that day. We would consult him before opening the tin, just to make sure it was the right one. He also loved a good nap in the sun. Boof was a bit of a character with a mind of his own, you could just say stubborn. but he was so adorable it felt more like ‘set in his ways’. First thing in the morning was walkies time so let’s go, mate, bark bark. Lead on and he would be standing at the door looking around at ya, what’s a keeping you mate, bark, bark, I’m ready. He would start off with a bit of a trot but that would only last till the end of the street. Across the road, he would start to slow down. Then a sniff, then a pee and then a poop. Up past his coffee shop (we sometimes even got to sit and have one!), take a drink at his favourite stopping point,, then a bit more walkies then he would just turn around and start to take you back home. Old Boof would just decide it was time to go back and that was that. No amount of cajoling would change his mind. 🐕

The only real evidence of old age on Boof, besides his ‘routines’ was his difficulty making it up and down the stairs (and into and out of the car), The living areas are on the top floor and old Boof struggled to get up after his walk. We did build him a little ramp at the back of the house but it was a little to steep for him. Anyway, he had his method of charging up to the landing, pausing and then charging up the next bit to the living room. Midnight had great fun with Boof when he returned from his walk and started to climb the stairs. Midnight would sit almost at the top and when boof got to him he would start to wave his paws. That would stop Boof in this tracks. The dilemma plain on his face. He would give Midnight the look, you know the one, ‘get out of my way, coz I’m bigger than you and too old for your games’ and then he would avert his face till we moved Midnight on. Then he would have to gather momentum to make it up the last few steps. Funny to watch their antics 😂.

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Trusted Sitters Review

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Meandering in Manly

https://manlyharbourvillage.com/

Manly has some beautiful scenic walks along the esplanade. Boof territory. Following are some of the pictures of this very beautiful suburb of Brisbane. Saturday farmers’ markets are a must to visit. And they also have Sunday craft and food markets too.

The Local hideouts

This was usually around 7-8 am depending on who’s turn it was, mornings were mainly me. Wifie likes to sleep in. Well, we all like coffee, right. Boof didn’t mind as he was used to going back past my favourite coffee shop, the Cambridge. Old Boof would get a drink there too, coffee for me and big bowl freshwater for boof.

The cafe people loved Boof and always had a fresh bowl of water for him. When Boof was then ready to go he would get up and that was that, coffee over, time to head for home, gentle pull. 🐕 OK, then Boof lets go home.

Only a Train Ride Away

From Southbank, you can follow the river back up to the Story Bridge Hotel. Another favourite watering hole of the local Kangaroo Point population and one of our favourites while living in Brisbane. So after we have another little rest and taste some of Australia’s famous beers we are ready to move on, hic 🥴 hic 🥴, oh yes you can also eat here, the food is great.

Not far to go now, out of the hotel and up to the bridge. The Story bridge also has the Story bridge Adventure climb. A bit like the Sydney one but not as high 😬. The views walking over the bridge are amazing. When you get to the other side, just follow the steps back down onto the floating boardwalk and this will take you back to Eagle Street Pier. This is a must-do while in Brisbane.

Brisbane Qld

This housesit was a bit like returning home. We lived in Brisbane for twelve years (2000-2012) after returning from Fiji (yes, another story). We were returning to not only look after Boof (an Australian Kelpie), cats, Midnight and Tinkerbell for our good friend Sherri, but also to catch up with family and friends. Sherri lived at that time in Manly, a suburb of Brisbane. The following pictures are courtesy of our good friend Ann and Phill and we house sat for them too.

https://www.visitbrisbane.com.au/home

Another must-do while in Brisbane is to ride the City Cat along the Brisbane River. City Cats run from the north of the city to the south and you can jump on and off whenever you want to (depending on which type of ticket you buy). Great way to see Brisbane from the river and call into city sites you’re interested in. Best to buy a day pass at $15 per adult if you plan to see as much as you can.

Some of our Favourite Books

Every now and again we believe you have to stop and rethink what’s important in our lives. Where are our thoughts. Are we thinking about security? money? property? approval? acceptance? Ironicallyt, they cause more fear in us even though we want them to bring us peace. For us? What’s important in our lives now is simply peace and joy, and about seeing this world through and a new set of glasses. I know lots of us don’t like the EGO word, for various reasons but mostly because it makes us a little uncomfortable? “I Don’t have an ego right” Well I’m afraid we all do whether we like it or not. But we can choose to give it a bit less time and influence. We have another mindset as well, don’t we? Hands up who can name it? This one is called your True Self 😇. We start using our True Self (right-mindedness) when we stop looking outside ourselves for our happiness which is where the GO thinking thinks it is right? Right-minded thinking starts with LOVE and FORGIVENESS, right? Start reading.

Sunshine Coast

https://www.visitsunshinecoast.com/

Gold Coast

https://www.destinationgoldcoast.com/