Queensland - The Sunshine State

Well, who'd've thought a Chemical Conference could be fun?

I was flown up by glorious cheapo JetStar, to Broadbeach, on the Gold Coast which (for the non-Aussies) is in Southern Queensland, just near the border of New South Wales (think the middle bit of the east coast). To put you in the picture, The Gold Coast is a sub-tropical resort where Australians have deemed it quite the thing to put all their theme parks in one easy to avoid get to part of the country. Think Miami crossed with Pontins and you're nearly there. But it being Australia it's all quiet and low density and actually really really nice.

The best things about my trip in no particular order were . . .

1. Sitting alone on the plane, in my room and generally not being pestered by under 6's at any time

2. Going out for dinner, breakfast and lunch. In fact I just basically ate and drank for 48 hours. I didn't lift a finger for domestic duties, which was heavenly.

3. The lifeguards. Honestly, do forgive for a moment, I am now a woman of <ahem> middle-ish years but BLIMEY they really were incredibly hot. I was sitting at breakfast at Broadbeach Surf Life Saving Club, quietly eating my fruit salad and sipping my (vile) Liptons tea, when suddenly a host of Life Guards ran past doing their early morning workout then as it was a warm morning and they were all hot and sweaty they had to strip off TO THEIR BUDGIE SMUGGLERS and go for a brisk swim in the roaring ocean. By this point I'd gone a bit giddy and practically choked on a piece of pineapple.

It really was the most invigorating start to the day.

Otherwise my time was spent thinking about stonecare chemicals, chemical sales, chemical christmas promotions and all sorts of thrilling chemical-related things.

We spent a bit of time at a house in the hinterland behind the Gold Coast, which is an amazingly beautiful part of the world. Forrested mountains streatching as far as you can see, filled with the sounds of parrots, great big colourful buzzing insects and apparently Bush Turkeys and Possums and 'roos amongst other native animals. Also Banana trees, Frangipani, Paw Paw trees and probably all sorts of other exotic flora.

I really loved it up there, which suprised me, I expected it to be more built up and crowded than it was. If you ever get the opportunity to get there it's a really great place for a holiday with kids as the beaches are vast and the climate is (mostly) pleasant and if your children are the age when Movie World is their kind of thing, and you're not yet too embarrassing for them to holiday with, then it's pretty perfect.

Apparently this week is the start of 'Schoolies' where all the teenagers who have finished their exams go up there to get drunk and interfer with each other. So perhaps avoid the end of November - unless you're18 and that sounds just tip top of course.

Let's get this party started

Right. After years of boring my husband with my dreary ramblings, I've decided to bore strangers too, so here's my first blog post. Bear with me, things may improve as we get to know each other a little.

Last night I volunteered at my daughters school art show. No really, come back, it was great. A full on Art Exhibition, no tat by six year olds allowed. The place was heaving with artists, the press, and Joe Public who had come with pockets stuffed with cash. We sold loads of work, it was like some kind of art feeding frenzy. I saw heaps of things I loved, 2mtr high copper waterlilies, a teeny tiny gilt painting of a seagull,  a small clay head of Freida Khalo complete with skull 'hat'. All brilliant.

I spent the evening feeling glamerous and giddy with the thrill of chatting with artists and photographers about their work. Someone liked my frock. I scarfed down a couple of delicious glasses of Barristers Block Sauvignon Blanc. Felt like quite the sophisticate until I got home and realised my eye make up had some how gravitated to my nose. Why am I such a klutz?