Kay time - Professional Writing Services

Image: on the road

A road trip to visit Hotel Meg & fabulous friends

Kay and I’s first stop on our little sojourn to Queensland was the Buffalo Farm, just out of Eungai, about an hour north of Port Macquarie. The map feature in Kay’s car didn’t know the new highway existed, so we had a lovely scenic drive along the old highway.

Two women seated at a table on an outdoor of a restaurant with a farm setting behind them — *Buffalo farm*

We were heading to the Buffalo Farm because Kay is a big fan of buffalo ice cream, but sadly for us there was no ice cream this time. Instead, we enjoyed buffalo sausages and buffalo mozzarella, had a nice view, said hi to some buffalo and it was a pretty day.

From there, we headed north to Goonellabah to stay with Kathie and Ron who had recently repositioned themselves from farmers to ‘townies’. Ron and I braved the weather and the pavement for our usual morning walk – it definitely wasn’t as pleasant as walking on the farm, but it was great to get Ron’s tour of his new neighbourhood. We had a delicious meal at Alstonville Pub on the deck in the sun – making the most of a break in the rain.

Two friends walking on a footpath through a hilly landscape in the rain with an umbrella — *Walking in the rain*

Four friends standing together on a street corner on a sunny day smiling at the camera — *Alstonville*

We crossed the border into the sunshine state mid-afternoon, arriving at Hotel Meg in time for sunset bubbles. Meg, Nick, Scarlett and their fluffball Louis had moved into their new home last year. I had promised Kay that I would take her for a visit and I’m always on the lookout for an excuse to visit my favourite people, so here we were on the Gold Coast.

A woman and her 10yo daughter carrying luggage through a door way — *The helpful butlers at Hotel Meg*

The hospitality at Hotel Meg is amazing and the view is incredible. We had a wonderful time catching up and living the high life – mostly vertically – for a few days.

A bed in a hotel room, with a balcony and a view of a city skyline — *My room at Hotel Meg*

Looking through tall glass windows across a balcony to the ocean as the sun rises — *View from my bed*

Standing in a kitchen, looking out through the floor to ceiling windows to the ocean — *I don’t think I’d get much cooking done with this view!*

A woman in the distance sitting on a balcony overlooking the ocean. A dog in the foreground sleeping in a bean bag — *Enjoy the morning sun*

From the ground, looking up at a tall apartment building, with two women waving from a balcony halfway up — *Kay & Meg waving from Floor 14*

We enjoyed delicious food and booze, and talked about work, school, adventures and the future. And as with all family get togethers, there was a bit of reminiscing and some singing from the singers.

Four family members enjoying a glass of wine around a table and smiling and laughing — *Love a bit of family time*

An older woman and her niece sitting at the dining table, singing together — *Loud & proud & in tune*

A young girl proudly presenting the strawberries dipped in chocolate she has just made — *Scarlett’s special strawberries*

A girl sitting on her mother's lap so her mother can do her hair — *Three generations of Oldham ladies*

I made the most of the location and swam every morning despite the ‘beach closed’ signs. I can confirm the signs were there for a reason!

Looking down a sandy path to the beach with palm trees on each side — *Path to the beach*

A view from high up of a woman swimming in rough surf conditions — *Me tackling the surf*

I managed to convince Louis to go for a walk with me one day and he also enjoyed some time in Kay’s walker.

A tiny poodle being walked on a lead on a beach — *Louis on Kurrawa Beach*

A tiny poodle in the front of an older lady's walker, walking through a beachside park — *Strolling*

We visited Kay’s childhood friend Robyn and her husband Richard at Mt Tambourine and had a yummy lunch at the coffee plantation. Kay and Robyn have been friends for over 80 years!!

5 friends sitting around a table in a cafe enjoying lunch — *Lunching at Mt Tambourine*

A girl standing in front of her seated mother, doing her hair — *Meg keeping Scarlett entertained*

After saying farewell to Meg, Kay and I headed south to Lennox Head where we visited Kay’s friend Bruce and his delightful wife Dorothy and daughter Sarah, then on to Ballina to visit Joyce and John. Kay, Bruce and Joyce had been part of the same crew at teachers college in 1958, often traveling together, dancing and singing and partying on as “you did in those days”. Bruce told me some lovely stories about being absolutely rapt by my 16yo father’s piano skills (which he still has at 80yo) and how Bruce played piano for my grandmother a few years before she died of cancer at 47yo. Bruce played a few ditties on the piano and the ladies sang along.

Three women seated in comfy couches, singing along to a man playing a grand piano in a lounge room — *Australiana songs by Bruce & the choir*

Three friends aged in their 80s, standing together by a piano in a sitting room smiling at the camera — *Dorothy, Kay & Bruce*

Three friends aged in their 80s, standing together in a hallway smiling at the camera — *Joyce, Kay & John*

Joyce and John were full of stories about how they are navigating old age and staying in their home for as long as possible. They have even managed to avoid getting a mobile phone to date. Incredible!

Cloud and drizzle kept us company for the rest of our journey south. Woopi was our final overnight stop on the road trip, where we had a great night with Sommer, Stefan, PK, Nat and the sprogs. I forgot to take a photo.

The next day Kay and I arrived safely back in Kew in time for me to log in to some meetings – boring. Wonderful Katja and Marty brought over a delicious hot dinner and were very patient in listening to all the new stories collected on our roadtrip. I also forgot to take a photo. We’ll have to do it again!

a kangaroo eating grass in a manicured garden — *Kangaroo with joey out the front of Kay’s place*

An elderly aunt posing with her two nieces — *Aunty Kay with a niece from each sibling*

Friends and family