Officialdom

Fearing some of my posts have been rather lengthy, I shall now attempt more frequent short items!

Wednesday (8 May) and Thursday were spent visiting sites of historic significance for my family. This included trips to Haden, Doctors Creek, Glencoe, Crows Nest and various churches and cemeteries courtesy of Jenny and mum’s cousin Ruth. 

Me with tour guides Ruth and Jenny

As well as finally getting my Medicare number, albeit only a temporary one on a piece of paper, and declining the chance to open a bank account for which I would have to pay at least $4 a month in charges, I had some light relief sampling the goods on offer at Wedgetail winery in Kingsthorpe.  It was wonderful to meet my great aunt, and her daughter Ruth who visits Lourdes Home daily.  Annie, my maternal grandmother's sister, is 97 and the last of her generation! 

Me with mum's Auntie Annie and daughter Ruth

These two days were exhausting for me so I dread to think what it must have been like for my guides.  In the evenings Jenny introduced me to some quintessential Australian cinematography with The Man from Snowy River, about 4 hours of spectacular scenery offering ideas of some beautiful places (the Blue Mountains for example) I may manage to visit.

Waterfall near Picnic Point

Friday was my last day with Jenny, who is soon jetting off to England where she will see my mum. I was sad to leave, but pleased to have the opportunity to give Jenny a few things I had already accumulated to take ‘home’ to England! I had hoped to spend some of the morning exploring Toowoomba on foot, but by the time I had opened a bank account (Heritage, who I am happy to name as they do not have charges; I also learnt, as one does, that my advisor was a month and eleven days older than me) and applied for a Tax File Number I had no spare time. We stopped briefly at Jenny’s daughter’s house for a cuppa on the way to mum’s cousin June (one of comparatively few relatives I have met on mum’s dad’s side of the family). We talked as June showed family photos she had looked out for me to view.  Too soon I needed to leave to meet Rachael's friend Bill who was hosting a cocktail party at his abode to celebrate the end of exams for medics. Not knowing anyone I was a little nervous but they were a friendly and easy going group, and I was even able to be helpful in making infamous B-52 cocktails (sadly not flaming). Needless to say, my last evening in Toowoomba (for now) ended later than my usual bedtime...