Sunday 9th October

Brilliant sleep - Pete had taken the bed covers off and put on a lighter blanket plus we left the air con on in the living area to keep the temperature cool.   Managed to sleep until we heard the birds about 4.30am but did go back to sleep, waking at 6.15am - an improvement.

The coverage of Bathurst started at 6am so Pete had the TV on right away!   We are an hour behind the other eastern states and the coverage started with Classics racing in the fog up the mountain.

After breakfast I carried on writing this Blog while Pete kicked back.  Then suddenly Pete realized the mobile phone was ringing in my handbag, in the safe cupboard.  Bob and Janet from Taupo.  Last time we were in Noosa they were the first to call….. They rang with exciting news - Bob had proposed to Janet on Saturday via a big sign on the shed!  Romantic old boy.  (They live on a lifestyle block out of Taupo)    We are so excited for them.    We met them in 2006 on a Team Kiwi Racing trip to Adelaide and Melbourne for the racing.   They were dubbed ‘The Boss & his secretary’ on the trip, but that is another story….   And Bob was stoked Greg Murphy was on pole.

Today is devoted to sitting in front of the TV all day!!!  It’s an annual ritual.   And as in previous years there is a lot of strategy and planning around Safety Car events and after 5 odd hours the last few laps are exciting.    This year a record finish, with 0.29 seconds between first and second!  And Greg Murphy came third, which we were pleased about.

A pity in some ways as it was such a nice day outside.  We had all the windows and ranch sliders open with the screens across to keep out any bugs.  It was most pleasant.  

Actually one benefit of the apartment is that it is east facing so we get the morning sun and sheltered from the hot afternoon heat.   In the full heat of summer the outside BBQ area would be most pleasant particularly if there is a gentle breeze.   I am sure we will have a nightly pre-dinner drink out there when Julie and Dave arrive even though it is not summer really!!

The third quarter final of the Rugby World Cup between Australia and South Africa was half way through when we switched over from ‘The Great Race’.   

We decided to find a local pub to watch the fourth quarter final between New Zealand and Wales.   We found the pub - Villa Noosa eventually - it was next to Dan Murphy’s a liquor store (we thought it was the pub by the name!).  As Pete had had a couple of beers during the motor racing we walked and wheeled down the road.   Sunday afternoon 5pm and the roads seemed deserted, which was just as well and not all the local streets have footpaths, so I had to use the roadway.  Quite strange there are areas where there are footpaths and then areas with no footpaths… couldn’t work that out at all.  

Villa Noosa was very accessible, ramp outside and inside.    We had an early dinner while the game started in the restaurant - the prices were very reasonable and the food was nice.   I had an eye fillet steak which was superb and Pete the beef pie with mashed potato and mushy peas.   We then went into the public bar to watch the remainder.  The place was deserted???   Still we enjoyed watching the game.

Once back at the apartment we watched TV - found a “Grand Designs -Revisited” on one of the channels.  For a change something actually worth watching.   So many channels had very old movies and repeats it is dreadful.  I think we are a bit spoilt in New Zealand, expect for Prime, which is owned by Sky TV and very commercial.

Once again we were dead on our feet (so to speak) by 9pm.