Day One: Byron Bay

From Sarah

We arrived in Byron Bay with relative ease (only saw one combi - incredible!), and since we had about an hour to kill before checking in at the Great Northern Hotel, Paul directed us to the infamous lighthouse at Cape Byron. The resulting photos are us with only a camera, time and our imaginations, and are pretty much self-explanatory.

Mannie wasn't feeling particularly wonderful, the poor thing, but perked up considerably after seeing a whale and was on a constant lookout afterwards. Conversations went a bit like this:

Mannie: *gasp* Look, it's another whale!

Paul: That's a rock, Mannie.

Mannie: No, it's moving, see?

Paul: That's the tide.

Mannie: But I saw it come to the surface and breathe!

Paul: That's the ocean spray.

We discovered that Bridget really does have some crazy hair under all that product (all the straightening in the world can't match a strong easterly salty gale!), and she channelled her inner Medusa for the afternoon (I was so proud).

After much merriment was made (and Paul trying to be all arty with the camera) we checked into the Great Northern with a view to shower before getting dinner and having a wee leisurely drink before heading over to the Railway Hotel.




All our best-made plans went completely to pot after we discovered daylight savings was now in full swing! We weren't in Kansas anymore, Toto. Oh the rushing around. Mannie had to eat something before he passed out from exhaustion. Setting up was interesting. I nearly had to physically harm Mannie as he was being very naughty and lifting heavy gear and then wondering why he was nearly coughing up a lung. In the end my most effective tactics were simply sitting on speakers/other gear so he was just unable to move them.

The gig itself was just fantastic. Hello to Dylan, Les, Barrie, Alasdair, Sam, Mick, Ben, Eric, Darren & Rachel!

A special hello to mine & Paul's lovely housemate Denae & her partner Glen who happened to be staying in Byron on Saturday night.


What a great way to spend a weekend! I've decided I love Byron :)


I threw some massive tantrums at Mannie as we were packing up because he just couldn't help himself and kept lifting the heavy gear. He got angry back at us after Bridget gave him the Teacher Look and insisted he was on an adrenaline high and that we were treating him like a cripple. Uh huh I thought, as I sat on yet another speaker . . .

It was at this point that Mannie *crashed*. We all knew he wasn't well, but I've never seen someone physically tire out like Mannie did. He literally ping-ponged off the hotel corridors going back to our rooms. I didn't sleep very well either, I coughed the night away. Sorry Bridge!

I didn't want to get up the next morning. We had a 6am start. Gross.

And then it was off to the Queensland Multicultural Festival. Paul had to drive the van. We're a bit worried about the Mannoire, must admit :( More about our Sunday antics soon . . .