So many photos!

I really must blog more often. This past week has been huge and so when I looked through all the pictures to complement the past week, it was really difficult. So for all of you that love the photos, this one is for you!

On Monday, I headed off to Thursday Island for a medical appointment, as you do here, to see specialists. It probably could have waited until I cam home but the opportunity to see TI was very enticing as well as the chance to see Sam and Glenis off in TI. Travel here is quite tricky and as there were no flights on Monday on the usual service, I was advised to book on Strait up. This service is designed for Queensland Health staff to travel within the district for work purposes. So my flight left 10 mins after Sam and Glenis, but there was only me on the plane! When I got on, our visiting midwife got off the plane for a couple of days on Darnley. It had been a stormy morning and she advised I didn't seat where she had sat as the plane leaked and she had got quite wet! As it was just the pilot and I, I had the choice of seats, I felt a bit like the queens, and sure enough, once we were airborne and into the storms, the roof sank in slightly and the dripping recommenced! Still, I felt like the Queen in my private plane, and settled back to enjoy the flight.

I had a good few hours in Thursday Island, visited all the little shops, (6 of them!) saw the specialist and then joined Sam and Glenis on the ferry back to Horn Island where we were to get our flights, theirs south to Cairns and mine north, back to Darnley. It was so good having Sam and Glenis visit. The two weeks with them flew past and happy hour was very happy with lots of laughs, some sunset watching and a couple of drinks. As we were sitting at the airport. Glenis asked me if I wished I was going with them, home. And as I replied, "No", I realised that I really am not quite ready yet. As much as I am looking forward to going home, my time in the Torres is not done yet.
 We said our farewells, I boarded my little plane, my private plane again(!!) and sat glued to the window for the 60 minute trip back to Darnley. The view was just so amazing after the storms had cleared away. the air was clear and the ocean such beautiful shades of blues and greens, and assortments of island popping up every now and then, all shapes and sizes.....

Clinically this week, we were steady but not busy. We had the visiting midwife and a GP for a few days. Rob and I continue to do the detective work with a strain of Pertussis (whooping cough) that has been a problem for the past couple of months. Families have such close contact here and with the incubation period of 3 weeks, we just think we are on top of it, and then discover another case of two. Its very interesting working out who will be at risk and then immunising and treating those who are infected or contacts. The ambulance finally died this week, we had to do a push start from a patients house, it was good they lived on a hill and we were facing the right direction!!! We do have another car which will be good for emergencies. On Yorke Island, when the car breaks down, they have resorted to collecting patients in a wheelbarrow! Fortunately, its flat there!!
On Friday, Bens friend Laughlan arrived from Toowoomba for a weeks stay. An hour after he landed, he and Ben were taken out cray diving, and came back with some success and huge smiles!

Yesterday, we were taken over to Stephen and Nepean Islands by uncle Pau. Stephen Island has a population of about 50 and is a very pretty island. Its about 60 minutes from here by speed boat ( dingy, as all boats are called here) It was a great trip across and at times we could see huge coral bombies under the boat as we sped along. We had about an hour to look around Stephen Island. it has the cutest church I have ever seen!

We went to one of the locals homes which was right on the water, literally. I am sure the high tide came up around the stumps of the home! He had a pet turtle, as many do here. They keep them for a while and then release them back into the ocean. They are such beautiful animals, the colours on their shells are so vivid!

 Another thing that Stephen Island is well known for are the Helmet shells. They live in pairs on the reef / sand, and the locals eat the meat. They can grow to an amazing size and are just another example of the incredible diversity of life here. Ben and Laughlan found these couple on the beach lodged in a tree but we believed they were put there by someone so we replaced them.

Our next stop off was Nepean Island. I am not sure of its size but we circled it in the dingy before hopping off on the beach, and it took about 5 mins to do so. No one lives on Nepean but it is a popular fishing and camping spot for the local islanders. The white sand was pristine with turtle tracks running everywhere. We snorkled for a while and saw a couple of big bull rays. Ben and I collected a few shells on the beach and I found a HUGE sand dollar shell. Ben and Laughlan had the traditional sand fight, as you do, and all up, it was very relaxing to get away for a few hours

Today, we decided to have a sun free day. Realising we are only 2 weeks away from Christmas, we decided to make our own tree. Its amazing how a few different minds, some cardboard, glue and Christmas carols playing in the background, can result in a Christmas tree. It was a lot of fun and now we all feel like its actually Christmas. I guess when you don't have the constant media and shops bombarding the Christmas message, you can loose track of time. Its nice though, Christmas this year will be what we make it, just the four of us. Perhaps we will have more time this year to reflect on why we celebrate, and also the importance of family.... Yawo for now!!