Once in a while you are lucky enough to take advantage from misfortune. Five weeks ago I fell whilst on a morning run and broke a bone in my wrist and tore some ligaments from some other bones. Now as a massage therapist this is a pretty dire event and it has cost me my practice... well for the time being anyway.
Rather than sit back and complain about it I decided that I could take advantage of the time off by doing all the things that I don't ever have time for.
I am pressing through a series of eBooks for therapists' in my industry (but enough about that for the moment) but I decided to use this time wisely and visit my cousins' who live in Mudgee, not alone but with my Dad.
Dad is a lover of traveling, passionate about cars and simply adores our "Great Wide Land" so really a perfect blend for the holiday of a lifetime. Dad is a month off 87 years, and has been quite ill having recently gone through another bout of radiation therapy for that sinister demon of the 20th Century. We are only on this planet for a short time and I invited him to join me on this trip between his treatments.
Dad has driven around Australia twice in this powerful and sturdy Mercedes and many smaller trips to places in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland so a trip to the rellies in Mudgee was an easy jaunt. We set off with a full tank of petrol, enough lollies to terrify the Australian Diabetes Association and the bar fridge filled with the odd "traveller" and some outstanding white wines from his cellar.
RULES - 1. we have to stop every 2 hours and rotate the driving, no matter where we were.
2. You can drive at whatever speed you feel like, providing you are competent with the conditions, respect the safety of the passengers
and 3. you are prepared to cop the fine.
Well we made it to just outside Warrick and pulled in to a rest stop to enjoy a sip of tea and nibble on the scotch finger biccies he had packed. We chatted about old times when Dad and Mum would drive my eldest sister out to the country, or things we did in Eidsvold as children. Basically we simply enjoyed sitting together in the sun with the noise of semi-trailer trucks has they hurtled past us.
Once the morning smoko was finished we headed back onto the road (with me still behind the wheel) and took off to our next destination - Tenterfield made famous by Peter Allen and the song of his Grandfather Tom the Saddler. Apparently Tenterfield is not only renown for old Tom but also their famous pies which we decided was going to be lunch, grabbing the pastries we headed out to a park and sat in the cool nibbling on what we decided were not-so-famous delights.
With our tummies full we have made the 5 hour journey and stopped into Armidale. If you are ever on the look out for a good place to stay may I recommend "Armidale Pines Hotel" very spacious rooms comfy beds and pillows and a walk away from the White Bull Pub and its hearty portions of succulent steaks and cold beers.
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