I've been visiting Townsville in Far North Queensland. Some photos and chit chat for you...

Hello there!

Thank you for the great response to my IWSG post re beta readers and critiquers last week. I've taken on board the advice to leave my ms in the drawer for awhile then take control of it myself. Meanwhile, I'm about ready to self-publish my first novella! Yay! I started this paranormal romance in 2010 and picked it up recently with the intention of publishing it for Halloween. I'm running out of time, but I intend to make it. Wish me well getting it on Amazon this week!

If you think I've been slack with blog visits, it's because I've been away travelling again, but this time I've remained in my home state, Queensland. It was school holidays, so I travelled to the Far North to visit my daughter in Townsville. If ever the north seceded from the south (and there is always talk of this), Townsville would be the capital city. 

This was an exciting time to visit Townsville. It was the Rugby League Grand Final, and this year it was between two Queensland teams, the Brisbane Broncos and the Townsville Cowboys. Whoa! And didn't Townsville get into the swing of it. As soon as I entered the airport, I was met with banners.

Jonothan Thurston on right, the best rugby player in the world. 

Townsville has many wonderful eateries. Maybe not as slick as Brisbane's, but in the last few years the eateries have gone gang busters. Enjoyed a fabulous breakfast at a new establishment, the Cat's Meow. Inside there was something different. The owner had sourced little Golden Books and turned them into menus. So cute.

The food was amazing too.

And the owner also sells antiques. I picked up this beautiful Italian pink art glass which will go so well in my new writing room when it's done.

Walking along The Strand is always refreshing. It was very windy so the stretch of water between Townsville and Magnetic Island was a little grey instead of the usual pristine blue, but as you see, the sky had nothing to apologise for.

And each time I visit my daughter, I read A House in Fez by Australian author, Suzanna Clarke.

Finally finished it this visit. No way would I restore a riad in the Fez medina in Morocco, but it made excellent reading. What satisfaction to go from this--

To this--

Made me homesick for Morocco. Here we are in Morocco in 2012.

Back home again. Walking around our street last night, I picked some spring blossoms which were everywhere! So pretty!

I know it's autumn in the northern hemisphere, but it's spring Down Under, but it feels like summer. Here is a whacky art sculpture at the beach on the Gold Coast, south of Brisbane.

I hope you enjoyed your brush with Queensland culture.

By the way, the Townsville Cowboys won the Grand Final for the first time ever! In the last half minute, Jonothan Thurston, dubbed the best rugby player in the world, kicked a field goal. The poor Broncos! They thought they  had it won!

• What have you been up to the last couple of weeks?
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Thanks for visiting!