We had arranged to go a day early to the Brisbane Sunshine Wanderers Christmas in July gathering at Samford Showground so we visited Wyllie Park to dump the black water and travelled the thirty odd kilometres (20 odd miles) to Samford. There were several motorhomes already there and we set up on a site overlooking the dam with water lilies and ducks.
Happy hour was a very cosy affair with only a handful of people there.
We had planned to pick up our Tai Chi training by joining a new beginner's course which had started a few weeks ago. We were lucky because we were able to slot into the new course with no overlap and no gap in our training.
By time we got back to the showground many more motorhomes had arrived including several of our fellow Highway Wanderers. Happy hour was a very noisy affair with so many people there but we enjoyed the conversation nonetheless.
One of the ladies helping with the Tai Chi classes had told us she was planning to visit the Chapter Meeting with her husband to get some ideas about what kind of motorhome they would like to get when they retire in a couple of years time.
They turned up at morning tea time and we encouraged them to have lunch and dinner with us and spend the whole day talking to various motorhomers and inspecting their different motorhomes.
They seemed to have a pretty good time and I think they went away with a real understanding of the nature of our social life in the CMCA.
About a hundred and twenty people sat down to Xmas dinner which was provided by the ladies of the Chapter. The food was excellent and a little wine and some cognac added to the good feeling of the occasion. Everyone was most impressed.
After dinner I was led into a long private conversation about all things CMCA which went on until a late hour.
When I gat back to the Motley the late film was just starting so I was really late to bed.
We were up late and had a restful day.
Most people left during the day and we arranged to stay on for the week. One other couple will also be staying on so we'll have company.
This showground, while being more isolated than Lawnton, is much prettier with a nice little dam over the fence just behind us. It is also a lot cheaper than Lawnton. Most of what we need in the way of supplies can be bought at Samford Village just a few kilometres down the road so we should be cosy. It's good to have an alternative to Lawnton but unfortunately both places have their shows on the same weekend so we'll have to leave town for a bit.
I went into Samford Village to do the shopping and we spent some time chatting with some new friends while the last of the chapter gathering packed up and left.
We had a phone call from Patricks Road asking us to baby sit for an hour in the afternoon. I took the opportunity to do some work on the internet and we returned to the Motley after dark.
We slept in and then did minor chores in the morning.
In the afternoon I managed to install the 24V horn equipment. All that remains is the difficult task of running the new horn button wiring under the chassis. I plan to do this job at the same time as installing the new trailer lamp monitor and its wiring. I will need to develop some extra enthusiasm for these tasks somehow.
Jean had an appointment at the hearing aid shop so we went to Mitchelton, had the fitting, and a cup of coffee at Cafe Zanetti before returning to Samford.
The afternoon weather was very cool so we veged out in the Motley and watched the Shrek video.
We had been asked to look after the kids while Max went to the gym so we spent the morning at Patricks Road.
Jean had a hair appointment in the afternoon and an appointment with the podiatrist later, both in Mitchelton, so we went to Cafe Zanetti for lunch.
I went to Woolloongabba to buy some equipment for a modification I have planned for the fresh water system of the Motley while Jean spent an hour shopping at Brookside.
We didn't get back to Samford until after dark again.
The others motorhomers who had stayed at Samford Showground pulled out toady. We plan to go tomorrow.
We went to Tai Chi, had lunch at Great Western and spent the afternoon veging out in the Motley.