We were being picked up at 8am for the trip so we were outside the hostel at 5mins to and it was late by half an hour so we could have stayed in bed a bit longer ! The boat we were going on was called the Mantaray and we set off around 9am. On our way out we saw Daydream Island in the distance, TJ had wanted to go on a boat trip that stopped at Daydream but we wouldn’t let her before the wedding. We spotted a couple of whales a mother and calf playing in the water and the boat stopped for a few minutes for photos. We journeyed on to Whitsunday Island where we were ferried in a dinghy to the island to walk up through the forest about 800 metres to a viewing platform to see the Whitehaven Beach, the most photographed beach in the world and wow was it spectacular. Then we had about half an hour or so on the beach, the sand was 98% silica and like very fine talcum powder. I stripped off and plunged into the water which was cold but not too bad then I just lay on the sand taking in the view – wow – it certainly was a beautiful bay. Back on the boat for lunch, chicken and salad but we were really ready for it. Then we moved onto Hook Island for the snorkeling, passing another hump back whale on the way. We stopped at Maureen Cove and put on wet suits and Adam and TJ went for a dive and Bob and I collected snorkels and masks and braved the water – it was freezing cold and the water was very deep where we were anchored, about 100 metres off the beach, so we couldn’t see anything then all of a sudden the coral appeared it was breathtaking and we stayed in the water for 20 mins or so, with Bob holding my hand so I didn’t lose him. Adam and TJ, who was on her first dive, had half hour dives and Adam with his underwater camera took some great photos. Back on the boat with hot chocolate to warm us up. We got chatting to a French man Jean Lui who was very interesting to talk to on the boat so when we got off we walked with him back to the town and invited him to join us for dinner as he was on his own. On the way we found Toby who had just arrived in town and we arranged to all meet up later for dinner which we did. Jean brought along Chris who he had met the previous day on another trip and all 7 of us spent a very entertaining evening in a Chinese restaurant. Although Toby was booked into the same Hostel, he was in a dormitory for 8 so Adam and TJ let him sleep on a spare single bed in their room.
Day 37 Wednesday 6th August (arrive Daydream)
Between us we had a huge pile of washing so Bob and I agreed to get up early and go to the launderette. While Bob sat in the sunshine just outside waiting for it to finish I did a couple of last minute bits of shopping. Then Bob went to the opticians to get another new nose piece for his glasses put on. Once finished we returned to our room and finished packing up the bags and jumped on the bus down to Shute Harbour to catch the 10. 50 am ferry across to Daydream Island. On arrival (only 15 mins later) we were met by a member of staff, given garlands of shells and a glass of bucks fizz and given a run down of the island. Our bags were transferred automatically to our rooms so we picked up our room keys and went with Adam and TJ to see their “Daydream Suite”. It overlooked the ocean, with a bedroom and separate living room, 30 ft + wide glass doors across a balcony, a spa bath and 2nd bathroom and walk in wardrobe. Complementary Champagne was on the table. Wish we had looked at our room first ! It was lovely, the bed was super king size and the view from the balcony was of the gardens but I wish we had booked a suite !!! Lucy and Adi were arriving around 3pm so we unpacked and walked down to meet them off the ferry, checking out where everything was on the way. We were very excited to see them and expected them to be on their knees after travelling for 23 hrs but they said they were ok. We all met up for dinner in one of the restaurants on the other end of the island, where the boys both fell asleep before they could eat, after such an exciting trip for them. Adi and Adam walked back to the rooms pushing the pushchair and the rest of us got on a golf cart which took us back to the hotel for a drink in the hotel bar before bed.
Day 38 Thursday 7th August
This was a chill out day before the wedding, after breakfast we settled round the pool with the boys and Adam, TJ and Adi went off for a dive and Aaron (a friend of theirs) decided to join them but in the pool lesson he struggled to keep up with the others as they had all done it before so he gave up and left them to it. We missed lunch but as we had a had a wonderful buffet breakfast most of us didn’t mind. We were all very relaxed and enjoying the lovely island and weather and looking forward to the next day. The whole family met up at the Mermaid Restaurant in the evening for dinner to talk over any last minute plans. Then after a night cap in the bar Adam went to Toby’s room for the night and Lucy went to TJ’s room leaving Adi with the 2 boys so we volunteered to have Charlie in our room for the night – bless him he slept like a log, unlike Daniel who was up several times in the night .
Day 39 Friday 8th August- The Wedding
The wedding wasn’t until 3pm so during breakfast, 6 of the guys decided to take out 3 jetskis for some fun, they walked to the other end of the island for the safety talk then Aaron and Bob were on one jet ski, Adam and Adi on another and Paul and Toby on the 3rd. It was Aaron’s first time so Bob drove first and he enjoyed bouncing across the waves, Adam and Adi, revved up the engine and shot off, falling off 3 times ! After a short time we stopped on an island and swopped drivers and Aaron got the hang of it very quickly. On the way back to Daydream Island we saw a large turtle just swimming along. Back to the hotel for a quick swim before going our separate ways to prepare for the wedding. The plan was for everyone to meet in the foyer and walk to the chapel together but it didn’t work out like that so Bob ended up taking Charlie to the chapel and everyone else arrived later. Meanwhile TJ and Lucy and Jasmine the bridesmaids had been to the hairdressers and had hair, makeup and nails done, Lyn had been looking after Dan and Charlie all morning and when Lucy was all done she took over while Lyn got herself ready and then went to TJ’s room to make sure everything was going well. There always has to be a hitch, Jasmines bridesmaid dress was too big so her Mum had to pin it in, and the creases had not dropped from their dresses so we had to steam press them. The flowers arrived at 12 on the ferry and were sent to Tj’s room. Where Lyn egan to make the poses for the bridesmaids, (the flower shop had quoted a very extortionate price for making them). The wedding co-ordinator arrived, the photographer arrived and we realized it was 2.45 and TJ’s was still in her joggers – quickly, Inderjeet (her step mum) and Auntie Debbie helped her into her dress and jewellery but at 3.15 the photographer was still taking photos – finally we managed to get her out into the golf buggy for the drive to the chapel at the other end of the island. It was 3.30 (over half an hour late – a bit more than traditional) when she arrived looking stunning. The ceremony was very emotional and several tissues were passed round, Adam and TJ started everyone off by going glassy eyed and needing tissues. 2 friends, Sarah and Toby did a reading and Pete and Aaron were witnesses as Adam and TJ made their vows to each other in a beautiful chapel overlooking the ocean. Outside champagne was passed round, many photos taken, the rose petals thrown, then TJ’s family and Adams family exchanged garlands in an Indian tradition. Then we all went to the beach for some more photos. We all walked back to the Hotel foyer bar for drinks before we went to the Waterfall Terrace for the reception at 6pm . When Adam and TJ entered the room, they were directed to a sofa and table with a computer on it – Tom, a friend of TJ’s had been secretly filming family and friends who could not be on Daydream Island for the wedding and he played their messages of congratulations, best wishes and comments to them, they were very surprised and overwhelmed and it really made a difference to them to see and hear from so many of you. After a delicious meal, Tj’s dad, Paul made a short speech, followed by Inderjeet (TJs step mum), then Adam thanked everyone and finally Adi as best man made his speech, without embarrassing anyone too much. The first dance was of course, Lady in Red, but the music stopped suddenly and when it started again Adam and TJ changed to Salsa Dancing !! They had been practicing at a dance class for several months so that they could surprise everyone – well it worked and it was very good. With the speeches finished, the cake cut, and the music back to dance, Adam and TJ gave everyone lessons on salsa dancing which kept us going for some time – great fun. Finally we all disappeared off to bed, happy and relaxed.
Day 40 Saturday 9th August
A relaxing day round the pool, after the celebrations of yesterday we just wanted to chill, Bob had the start of a cold so he was happy to lie on his sunbed and do nothing. TJ, Lucy, me and Sarah went for a cocktail while the men looked after the boys in the pool. We all met up for dinner at one of the restaurants but found that it was close an there was only an Italian buffet evening in another restaurant available so we all went there instead, the meal was ok, not much to write about but there was plenty of everything, so much so that Bob over ate and then felt ill later – no sympathy from me though !
Day 41 Sunday 10th August
We had to be out of our rooms by 10am which everyone managed – except Adam and TJ ! When I went up to their room – it was chaos. They had all the wedding stuff to pack into a case for Lucy to take and they hadn’t started their own packing so they manage to get a 2hrs extension of the room for nothing which extended to 3 hrs for nothing but the Hotel did charge them for the 4th hour. Bob still wasn’t feeling too good but I also felt queasy too so Bob said it wasn’t him over eating it must have been something bad with the food! Bob went off for a walk to see if that helped – he bought a new shirt – that didn’t help either – so he sat round the pool with everyone until 4.30pm when we all got on the ferry back to Airlie Beach where we were met by a bus that took us to Prosperpine Railway Station and onto the overnight train to Brisbane (only to Frazer Island for Adam, TJ, Adi and some of their friends) . The boys had been very good up til now but when we got on the train they wanted to run around – it wasn’t until 9.30pm when the lights went down that they settled and they slept most of the way until 6am when we pulled into Marlborough West where the Frazer island gang got off. We arrived in Brisbane at 9.30 am.
Day 42 Monday 11th August - Brisbane
Having navigated our way through the station, encountering a poor man who had obviously had a heart attack in the station and was lying dead on the floor, we met the car hire man to take us to his office and fill out the paperwork – we hired an 8 seater Toyota Taurano which was packed to the gills with luggage ( we had Adi’s bag, and the wedding bag as well as our own stuff). On our way, with the help of Tom Tom we soon left the city behind and arrived some 20klm away on the coast at Cleveland. The apartment was lovely, very large, with a big balcony overlooking the gardens and a marina round the corner. We unpacked and went for a walk round the area to see what there was and then drove to a shopping centre to see if we could find a cot and highchair to hire but the shop was closed as it was a bank holiday so we would have to wait til tomorrow. We picked up some essential food and went home to get dinner and get the boys to bed early as they were very tired.
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