Dunedin

Thursday 3 February 2011

We berthed at Port Chalmers in Otago Bay. We slept in after difficult night. Too late for dining room breakfast, so went to buffet on level 12, which was good. We got a shuttle bus which had a disabled entry, to Dunedin. We walked up and down a few streets, had lunch at a cafe then went to the Art Gallery which had some wonderful paintings. When we left there it was raining lightly. We passed a young bagpipe player busking near the tourist buses. We lined up for a bus back, as the rain increased. We had to wait for three buses before one came with disabled access. Pleasant drive back, quite enjoyed the day. Had dinner, just the two of us, in an area partitioned off from main dining room, had a lovely bottle of red wine, very pleasant evening.

Fiordland

Wednesday 2 February 2011

We were up very early. The ship's fog horn had been sounding most of the night and started again when we got up. Got dressed but we heard message from Captain that with the 40 knot winds, very thick fog and the rain it would be too dangerous to go into Milford Sound – very disappointing. We moved on to Thompson Sound and the sun was out. We went to top deck, 14, to see the scenery. It was very crowded and difficult for me to get photos at times. It was beautiful. Had lunch then quiet afternoon – very tired.

New Zealand Cruise - Leaving Brisbane

Saturday 29 January 2011

Up early to get ready. Maxi taxi picked us up just before 10.00 am. Driver a helpful friendly Fijian Indian. I was in my wheel-chair, strapped in for the ride. Arrived at Brisbane Portside about 10.40 am and there was already a large crowd of passengers waiting to board the Pacific Dawn. Terry got rid of our bags and then we were corralled into the “Priority Checking” area where staff were very helpful but appeared run off their feet. We were given a number and waited to be escorted to our cabin, but we waited and we waited. Finally they gave up after most of the non-priority passengers boarded, and allowed those with an able bodied partner to go on board, unescorted. Our cabin D101 on level 8 is quite spacious compared with when we were on Pacific Sky in 2005. We then went to level 12 for buffet lunch, quite hungry by then. Ship due to leave 2.00 pm but eventually left about 5.30 pm. We tried unsuccessfully to book for dinner. We went to the main dining room only to be told we couldn't get in till 8.15 pm AND you have to book ahead every day for the next night's dinner. There were a lot of very unhappy chappies when we were told that. One fellow really lost his cool “I've been on x number of cruises and I've never seen this before” etc etc. It was quite an unusual system. So we didn't eat till late. The disabled bathroom is okay but doesn't have a vertical bar next to toilet, so hard to get up again. Didn't sleep well that night, boat swaying.

Next day went for walk up to top deck, level 14. Lovely sunny day and ocean looked fairly calm, but the pools were closed as water swishing badly back and forth. Sat in the Dome for a while reading. Two more days at sea. Saw shore excursions man, who said we can't go on excursions because we can't get on a bus – disappointing. Ship had a bomb exercise. We didn't have a “bomb” in our cabin. I set off alarm in toilet again. It's in the wrong place. Terry went to gym and I went to Dome, sat reading and talked to 84 year old lady who migrated to Australia 49 years ago. Clocks forward another hour today, last time (so three hours altogether). We went to Dome for a drink and watched older couples ballroom dancing – very nice. Had dinner at 7.00 pm. Lot of controversy about having to book every day for dinner the following night. We'd like to permanently book for 7.00 pm. Apparently people in the past had complained about getting stuck with the same people all the time, but this system has its faults too. Anyway we enjoyed our dinner with David and Ann from the Gold Coast. David has spinal cord damage, cancer had spread there from prostrate cancer. We discussed disabled issues. Went to bed early in anticipation of early morning tomorrow.

Brisbane Flood - 2011

This has been an incredible week in Brisbane and surrounding regions. Cities and towns north and west of us have been suffering with floods for weeks. Now it's Brisbane's turn and people are feeling shell-shocked and amazed that this has happened here, particularly in the way it's happened. I think Brisbane people never thought this would happen to us because "we've got Wivenhoe Dam to protect us." But realistically there would always have been circumstances which Wivenhoe would not be able to cope with. However, it would have been a whole lot worse without Wivenhoe. Many people's homes have been inundated and as the waters recede an horrific cleanup begins. At our house, we have been very fortunate being high enough not to be directly affected. We lost power for 24 hours and that was a minor inconvenience. All day we hear the sounds of sirens and helicopters. There are houses in our suburb and nearby suburbs which have been directly affected and it will be a long time before normality returns. Some shops are closed, if open there are many empty shelves, particularly the bread shelves. These photos were taken at Wacol Station Road, about a kilometre from our place. I wish all those affected well and hope you can put all this behind you soon. An awful start to 2011.

Thomas Macleod

Yesterday my local historical society commemorated the unveiling of a plaque to mark the 100th anniversary of Thomas Macleod's pioneering biplane glider flights. Macleod was one of Australia's pioneering aviators. He flew the first heavier-than-air biplane glider constructed in Queensland from the slopes near where this monument now stands. He then went on to have an illustrious career involving aviation and other pursuits. The project to honour Macleod was driven by our society president and another member of the society. It took many years to get to this point, involving extensive research into Macleod's life and raising the funds to get the plaque which was unveiled by our Lord Mayor. We are pleased to finally give Macleod the recognition he deserves.

Sporting Wheelies Gym

For the last couple of months I've been going to the Sporting Wheelies Gym. One of the staff did an assessment of my situation and wrote a program to suit me. I've enjoyed going there and doing the weight training. I need to improve my upper body strength and I do feel I'm getting stronger. I'm also doing exercises with my legs to try and improve those muscles. The staff and students at this gym are so helpful and friendly. The gym has a really good atmosphere. I like that I am doing something positive to help myself be as strong and "able" as I can be and that will improve as I get stronger each week. The cause of my spinal cord damage is unknown leaving me an "incomplete paraplegic", which means that some messages are getting through (I can wiggle my right big toe). I can stand with help and "walk" holding on to a wheelie-walker, swinging one leg after the other. I can't lift my knees. Spinal Awareness Week begins tomorrow and summer is the most dangerous time for getting a spinal cord injury as people are dumped into the sand at the beach. Please recognise that this danger exists and don't take unnecessary risks with your body. For many who will get a spinal cord injury this summer, their life will change forever.

U3A Oral History Presentation

I was very pleased to be invited to give a presentation on oral history to a local U3A group last week. There were about 17 older people who came along and I received some very positive and encouraging feedback. We had some initial technical problems, which always seem to happen, but it didn't spoil the morning. I was able to tell the group about oral history and how most oral historians now use digital recording equipment. This has been the major development in oral history in recent years as it has made it so much more accessible. The stories can be accessed on the internet. For example, the slave narratives, held in the Library of Congress can be listened to. I played a few of the excerpts from interviews that are on my Oral History Blog and the group enjoyed them. I then did a couple of "mini-interviews" with two elderly gentlemen, aged 91 and 93, to demonstrate a little of the procedure.