Magnificent Maggie

Two days of relaxation. We needed that. Yesterday Jennie and I got up early to attend the morning radio show. 4TO Mornong Star Steve Price (a man you'd think were on speed because of all his energy) almost choked when Jennie replied "your wonderful smoothies". The question? "What do you like most about Australia".

Kari, on the other hand, later made a slam dunk when she, David and Helena were on the ABC radio a bit later that morning. "Thank you Queensland for giving us such a wonderful time", she ended the show. Now, that's how you make friends with people!

Then shopping was on the agenda, and big spenders David and Kari was having a blast!

Today we visited magnificent Maggie - that is Magnetic Island, for those of you who don't speek the lingo of Townsville (a town which you in the dry season just as well might call Brownsville - the grass won't stay green for long). "Maggie" was absolutely beatuiful, and I think we at last got something of a tan from walking in the sun up and down the mountains. The picnic on the beach wasn't bad either.

Later this evening is BBQ-time. It's a tough life, but someone's gotta lead it!

A croc, a snake and a koala

Once there was a swagman who sat by a Billabong.

The first line in the famous Australian song 'Walzing Matilda'. This morning we went to the Billabong santuary. Pictures of me and the rest of the team giving a hug to a koala (who actually bit Jenny!), grabbing a snake out of a bag (I admit I was a bit nervous at first) and holding a crocodile can be seen here.

More pictures from our two weeks in this country can be found here. Just click on the links above the team picture.

Viking interruption

Well...

Her name was Heidi. She was about 6"2, wearing a white dress and two golden viking horns. And she couldn't sing.

But I'll get to that later.

This morning I had a great encounter with the editor of the Townsville Bulletin, Michael Carroll. We exhanged ideas and experiences for about two hours. What really caught my interest was his recent "invention": TXT the editor. The readers can text a short message to the editor on their mobile phone and see it in print the next day. Very popular amongst the readers, and a great way to attract new people to express their views.

Later at night it was time for a combined Rotary meeting, and of course the team was to make the usual presentation of Sweden. We always begin by telling our names and professions, and whatever else might be interesting. The routine had been seen by some rotarians at last weekends conference in Ayr. David mentioned (as he always does) that he is getting married just after he gets back to Stockholm.

Enters Heidi. I cracked myself up. This gigantic "woman" runs up to David a gives him a nice hug and kiss. I tell you, he was at loss for words. So were the rest of us. We were laughing our heads of.

From that on it was easy making a nice, relaxed and fairly humourus presentation. Despite horrible pictures of snowy Sweden I think almost everyone in the room would consider a visit in the future.

Jennie - on the other hand - said she wouldn't mind staying in Australia, after having a great time at her vocational visit. But that's a completely different story - one she'll have to tell herself.

The sweet air of Ayr

After a couple of wonderful days in Ayr we've now arrived in Townsville. That means there are no sugar canes outside the window anymore. Actually, there weren't any before either, but what I'll remember from the Burdekin landscape are the vast fields of sugar cane.

We held the presentation at the Rotary District conference on Satarday. I think we did all right, and gave the audience a pretty good picture of what Sweden is like, with the changing of the seasons - as compared with this part of the world where people talk of "dry season" and "wet season".

The people of Ayr (and nthe nearby town of Home Hill) has been very friendly. Proud of their shire as they are, they have shown and explained everything there is to know about their way of life. For a city kid like myself, I've certainly learnt a lot about modern farming.

Tomorrow: Great Barrier Reef. I can hardly wait!