Recovering in Rocky

 

One of the items on my to-do list is to keep this blog updated. It acts as a travel record for us, and a way to keep our family and friends up to date with our movements. This is important to us because we value your prayers. To be honest, I have struggled this time, to put my thoughts into type. But I’d like to thank you for pausing your day to read this entry. 

You may have noticed that I changed the title of the blog. If you kept a shortcut for quick access, it would need to be refreshed, as the old address (link) will no longer work. 

Update on AJ

Thirteen weeks on from AJ’s back injury, we are relieved that he is mostly pain free, thanks to God. Thank you for praying for him. He is walking up to 2 km a day and has begun to do things around the house and garden. 

Fixing the lawnmower.

Light work only. The physio team at the university has been wonderful! They recommend no heavy work until January. Heavy, as in climbing ladders, cleaning gutters, digging, continuous raking, edging, sweeping, etc. He still has therapy once a week, until we leave. He faithfully completes his daily strengthening exercises, twice a day! He has braved extreme pain and has been particularly patient. Today, the physiotherapists were surprised at how quickly he has improved. This must be with God’s help, after all the prayers that have gone up for healing.

Daily routines

We haven’t done much sightseeing, as we are 15 minutes out of town and thirty minutes away from most attractions. Petrol isn’t cheap, and the car guzzles it. AJ was not able to walk more than 20 to 50 metres most of the time. He could not stand for long, and often needed to lie down, as sitting too was painful. One Sunday we took a drive up to Mount Archer's lookout point, which offers a great view over Rockhampton (Rocky). 

We have 2 weeks left, perhaps we’ll still get to an attraction or two.

The neighbours have been very kind. One man did the mowing for us on two occasions, and we were invited to a BBQ at another couple’s home two doors away. The properties here are all an acre in size, and most folk take great pride in their gardens. There seems to be a bit of competitiveness between them. But not this home – no velvety lawns and blooming flowerbeds to look after, thank goodness. Mostly shrubs that needed water once a week, and a (virtually empty) veggie patch that needed water every other day for the parsley and basil's sake and for the pawpaw trees around it. Were we blessed with a supply of pawpaws and oranges?! Gosh, from day one there has been a constant supply. As the Word says, "every good and perfect gift comes from the Father above". We are so thankful for this delicious bounty.  

We encountered an Eastern Brown snake, one of the ten most venomous in the world, as it slithered past us, 2 metres from where we were sat on the patio.😨 We watched from a distance, to check that it wouldn’t change course and head for the house. We have had a wide variety of birds coming for water and wild bird seed. 

Personally, we don’t agree with feeding the birds, but as homesitters we are obliged to follow instructions. We’ve had many laughs, watching their antics. A pair of magpies live on the property – they are fed a bit of meat once a day. Apparently, the male has lived here for 18 years and is with his 4^th ‘wife’ of 4 years. 

Too cute, they sing beautifully, and are insistent when food is around. They invite themselves and will confidently join in if not checked. Today we had a mum and bub Kangaroo call in the garden, simply chilling and lazing in the shade. That kept us away from our chores, because we didn’t want to disturb them. 😆 Check our Instagram account for the reel I made of their visit.

The morning walks in nature has been the highlight of this visit for me. I had the chance to observe local wildlife. Wild emu. Kangaroo mobs. 

A falcon, soaring overhead, silently hunting, riding the airwaves with its majestic wings. A hare, darting through the grass. Plovers, divebombing, to protect their young. And I wish I could send the sound of the Bush-Stone Curlew (a rather large, nocturnal bird) through the net – eerily thrilling. It’s been wonderful. I also got to see a fogbow for the first time in my life, a rainbow with no colour.

For ever since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through His workmanship [all His creation, the wonderful things that He has made], so that they [who fail to believe and trust in Him] are without excuse and without defense. Rom 1 v 20

Return to Gympie

We are eager to return to Gympie and move into the van again. Smaller, compact, minimal living. Bliss! Our final week here will be filled with cleaning the house, tidying the garden, and packing. The challenge is loading the car so that we don’t resemble haphazard gypsies, shoving things onto the roof, into every given space, or up to the roof inside the car. 😅

We have chosen to sleep over at a motel 2 hours from Rocky when we leave here after midday, and then to do the remaining 4 hours the following day. We have decided not to take the Bruce Highway home… I think we only join it much later and closer to Gympie. We are taking the westerly, inland route, a new road for us, with new sights and towns to see.

We have a home sitting coming up, mid-December to mid-January, looking after our friends’ property and the four Frenchies again. Yay! 

Please feel free to drop a comment below, and let us know how we can pray for you. We appreciate you.  

Blessings, until next time.🌼