Mellow in Mudgie

Wednesday 14th February 2007

Sid and I had intended to go to Brisbane today. As everyone was at work and school we thought we’d get into Robina – the next town about 5 kms away and then get the train to Brisbane. It’s the quickest and easiest way, with no parking problems apparently.

But. There’s always a but. We got up to beautiful sunshine and decided to chill out here again. Sid took Sam to school (Jake was still at camp) and jogged back. I did a bit of washing and put out the washing that got soaked in yesterday’s rain, and then we decided to lounge in the garden, taking some sun. Sid cleaned the pool. I read my book. And it was lovely. Quite aside form having such good ‘family time’, I’m so glad we’ve got this space in our busy schedule because it is really nice to not be in a hotel and not eating restaurant food, for a change. Not that I’m not looking forward to the next leg when it comes, just that this is good breathing space in such a long trip.

I got lots of emails from those of you I’d emailed about the blog today, and one of you asked if we’ve had enough yet, if we’re ready to come home, or if we could keep travelling forever. The only answer I can give is that it feels really good at the moment – thoroughly enjoying it and time is flying by very quickly. The highlights of China, and Vietnam feel a long time ago now, and there are many other highlights to come. Sorry folks, but don’t feel like we’re really missing anything because we feel so in touch through all the emails we get.

So, I thought I’d tell you a bit about Mudgeeraba (pronounced like budgerigar – also Aboriginal) today. There is a website which says the name is Aboriginal and means ‘Place where Lies are Told’. However, Dan’s book gives a much nicer interpretation of the Aboriginal – Place of Sticky Soil – which really means red clay. The town dates back to the 1860s and again, as the book says, ‘lies at the foot of the the Gold Coast Hinterland only 15 minutes from beautiful beaches’. And ‘this quaint village-like town has a long standing history with primary industries, including timber and cattle farming spanning over the past century. ‘

It is very lush and open, and although the area population (including other towns, villages, suburbs) is around 40,000 it’s very spread out – obviously land is no problem in a country this size. In fact, the area around here, and the houses themselves remind me very much of Florida. Most of the houses are single storey and span large plots. Mudgeeraba has a
number of colonial-style wooden building as its town (village really) centre, and many of them date back to the turn of the century. I think some of them have been moved from other areas to here, but it really makes for a very attractive little centre, with the usual malls and supermarkets on the outskirts. There’s even a recently-created village green.


And the bird life is incredible. Rainbow lorikeets (like small parrots), kookaburras, cockatoos, peewees, magpies and huge crows! And they all come onto the deck each morning. The kookaburra makes a real racket at about five o’clock each morning and for the first few days was in danger of being strangled by me, as it woke me up. I seem to have got used to it now and haven’t heard it for a while, so I can only guess I’m sleeping through it.


Carole and Dan’s garden, has banana plants,
and all kinds of tropical plants and trees, planted only two years ago, but really taking off because of the climate. They had this house built – first buying the plot, then watching it go up over a period of about a year - after renting similar houses (also in Mudgeeraba) for their first five years here. It’s a lovely large, four-bedroom, two bathroom, single storey house on stilts – because, as I think I’ve said before – it’s built into a hill, so at a later date they can add extra rooms underneath at the back, if they want to.


Back to your emails now. Thank you for your prompt responses (many of you are obviously more in work-mode than we are). All of you seem to favour this new site, so I’ll keep on with it. Off for dinner now. Maybe we’ll get off our backsides tomorrow.