A house sit on Stradbroke Island

Right now we are house sitting in Cleveland, and as I write this, one of the dear little dogs we are minding, little Miss T, is sound asleep and snoring her little head off beside me. So cute and it's very funny to hear her, she sounds like a buzz saw. We decided to go on an adventure yesterday, and after our lovely day there, we've been thinking that a house sit on Stradbroke Island sounds like fun.

To get over to Stradbroke Island, you need to go by water, unless you have access to a helicopter that is. We decided to take the option to walk on the vehicle ferry, and make our way across to Stradbroke Island. We were so glad we did. So just in case, if you happen to be reading this and have a helicopter and would like to take us for a spin - it's our shout for ice coffees at Loaves and Fishes at The Point!!

Most of the tourists huddled onto the fast cat to take them across, we decided to enjoy the slow trip to make our way over. We had a lovely boat ride, and there is a cafe onboard - which was great as we'd left late and hoped on at lunchtime.

Gosh tugs amaze me with the loads they can move.

It's the middle of summer here at present and so hot. Not on the boat though, it was refreshing to sit in the shade and enjoy the sea breeze.

The silos near the wharf are for sand mining - which will be stopped in 2019?

We started to wander around Dunwich, and the park was a welcome reprieve from the heat.

The expansive trees provide shade and cool for local kids playing underneath,
not to mention we tourists.

It didn't take long walking in the heat, to realise that we wouldn't be walking far on foot that day.

We'd noticed a bus stop at the wharf, and decided to use the bus to explore the island.

The cute map of Straddie

The bus is an easy way to move around the island. And boy was our driver talented with his ability to manage tight turns at some of the stop offs. Glad I wasn't driving that bus. There were quite a few loud 'oooos and ahhhs' to be heard from overseas tourists, glimpsing the beautiful beaches we passed by.

Exploring The Point.

What a scene to discover, it reminded me of a postcard from an exotic location.

We are so lucky to have all this natural beauty in Australia to explore.

Given that this beach had a life saver on jetski out at the wave break moving back and forth along the wave...

and a rescue helicopter flying over head, we weren't sure if it was this beach they were talking about, or another further along.

What can I say... it was simply stunning. And to think I forgot to take my cosi.

Loved the bus we saw at the ticket office on our return journey.

I wonder what it's like to have a bus like this and travel around? It looks like so much fun.

With a while to wait for the boat, we started practicing our photography. I'd been reading Sat Nav and Cider blog. The blogger (she doesn't mention her name) talked about some exercises. Line, shape, form, texture. We'd done a similar course with a photographer friend of ours, and it reminded me to keep practicing.

Practicing line.

I kept hoping someone in yellow would come and mimic the little man on the ground - close but no cigar.

All loaded up and almost ready to go... great day, thank you Straddie - we love you. And Miss T is still snoring in her little bed.

Miss T and Tulip... our doggie diary.

Hi family... we hope you are having a great time away. We are too, we've been going for walks, and having lovely treats, lots of cuddles and chats. (Miss T loves to have a talk) We thought you'd like to see some of our adventures over the last few days...

Here we are showing Kareen & Kevin the bay

We all stopped to enjoy the view and the cool breeze - so welcome after the heat we've been having here the last few days.

Then we had a nice drink

Keeping an eye out for the fish that were jumping

Something smelled so delicious, Kareen suggested not rolling in it could be a good idea though.

Heading out yesterday down to the point... via the courthouse

The lovely garden at the courthouse

Miss T wanted to chase the birds (don't tell her I told you).

The lighthouse looked beautiful in the evening light -
Well that's all for our doggie diary for today... lots of love from Miss T and Tulip we hope you are having a great time away.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year... may it be full of fun and adventures.

Loved the sign we saw recently... what else would you add to it? New Year's Day 2017 and we headed off for our morning coffee, to our favourite new spot in Cleveland.

New Years Day at Lighthouse Cafe Cleveland

The cafe was closed, but would have been fun to have been sitting there with the water running over our tootsies.

Minding Miss T and Tulip

We were delighted to be asked to look after two wonderful little dogs called Miss T and Tulip.

This is Tulip, Kevin is holding Miss T in the background there, with the historic Lighthouse at Cleveland Point.

We all had a lovely wander at the point just in time for sunset and a lovely view out over the bay.

Tulip

Miss T

Miss T thought the sea gulls looked like great fun to chase, and kept a close eye out for them...

Resting after their walk...

We picked a beautiful time to walk with a cool breeze floating in over the water. The little corner restaurant looked inviting with it's tables perched on the edge of The Bay.

We all wandered over and were delighted to find a warm welcome there for puppies with a water bowl, and an evening wine for us. I think that corner table will be one to visit for dinner sometime soon.

Merry Christmas from Australia

Wishing you and yours have a wonderful Christmas and New Year... Hope it's merry and bright.

Katakolon - House sit Greek Islands

A favourite spot at Katakolon in the Greek Islands, and one we will revisit next year.

The light and heat was so intense that day, that my camera had trouble capturing the scene.

This was an absolutely beautiful spot to visit, and next time we will take a boat out to the little island you see in the middle of the water there. If you like icons, you will love visiting the little church.

Find out about Katakolon visit Katakalon.org

If you would like us to house sit for you on the Greek Islands, please contact us

Collect moments not things...

Well maybe collect the occasional thing, as if The Louvre hadn't collected their amazing amount of treasures where would we all be? We were discussing the problem of antiquities being taken out of their native country as we wandered through The Louvre. Do you think in the light of present day threats, that maybe - and this is only a maybe - that it may be of benefit that some treasures are scattered around the globe?

One of my favourite places in The Louvre were Louis X1V's apartments.

"When we wander through the Louvre — now one of the largest museums in the world — it’s hard to imagine that it was first a fortress, then a royal residence for several hundred years."

"Some of its royal residents stayed for a short time only, preferring the calm of the Loire valley or the splendors of Versailles. Although the palace furniture and decorative objects have long since gone, the walls and ceilings still bear traces of this distant past. So follow the royal trail, from the vestiges of the medieval Louvre to the dazzling interiors of the reign of Sun King Louis XIV, and as you walk the rooms, staircases, and stables of the former palace, imagine what it was like to live in luxury in the Louvre!"

Have an online tour The Louvre - click here

If you would like us to care for your Louvre please contact us - click here.