Judgement Day

The husbands were waiting at Carters Ridge and had started celebrating the end of the trip without us. Quite cheerful, they were.

I can't remember the exact name of the first category they had to judge, but it was something like Mystery Household Object.  Here are the contenders.  Jo was judged the winner for the thing on the right.  We had to do some serious online research to discover that it holds ziplock bags upright while you fill them.

Category Two was Quirky Souvenir item.  I had only found my entry on the last day, but it was worth waiting for, and I had high hopes.  Sure enough, the Leaning Mug of Pisa was the winner.

The third category, Longest Book Title, was somewhat contentious.  Jo won for Mulga Bill's Dinkum Aussie Guide to The Bible (and the Church), which had an eleven-word moniker.  It was only later (after Jo had left, clutching her trophy) that I realised that my Just Hand Over the Chocolate and No One Will Get Hurt also had eleven words. We might have had to invent some sort of tie-breaker activity, as there were no extra trophies.  We will need to plan for this in the future, if we have a category involving numbers.

The fourth prize was for Op Shop Bingo, newly introduced this year, and Jo was the winner here as well. I had found another trophy at Be Uplifted at Strathpine, but it needed a little customising, so that was the one I brought home.  The photo I have added was taken on Formal Night, in Miriam Vale, on our very first road trip.

After the ceremonies were over (no photos as John misbehaved) we toasted to the success of Road Trip Number Nine, and Jo headed home. Michael and I and Jan and John spent the rest of the evening partying together.

Over the five days, we visited 41 shops, which was a great effort, since Jan was not on her best form.  I bought 14 books, a packet of 27 postcards, one trophy, five jigsaws, one hat, one small bottle, six soaps, one hairspray, two small shampoo/conditioners, one face washer, one Tupperware sugar bowl, one handbag, two mains men's undies, two polos, one pair pyjamas, one mug, three pairs jeans/three-quarter pants, one pair shorts, four dresses, one silver spoon, two mystery objects, one pair reading glasses, three necklaces, one pair scissors, one ornament, seven tops and one pair of earrings, for a grand total outlay of $207.59.

Planning is already under way for trip number ten in 2023, so stay tuned.

Noosa Part Two

The Salvos in Thomas Street Noosaville is a good op shop. I bought a little ceramic sheep there, as it was too cute to leave behind.  I'm not usually into ornaments.

 I also found the other of my two favourite buys for the trip (the first being the G&S book), a tiny silver spoon proudly covered with Australiana. It was in a glass case, and I asked about the price, somewhat nervously. "$5" was the answer. "Sold!" I shrieked.  I think they heard me all over the shop.  It now lives in the sugar bowl in the caravan.

Jan found a second contender for her mother-of-the-groom outfit.  I thought the pink was a little bright, and that my purple lace ensemble at Morayfield was more appropriate.

We found a nearby cafe/gifts/homewares shop called Gibson's and decided it was lunch time.  It was also get-out-of-the-rain time, and the place was packed.  We ended up sharing our table with a woman from north Brisbane who was looking for a cat-sitter. I told her I was the mother of one, and to look up the Pawshake website.

Lifeline was our last Noosaville oppy, and although my notes say I bought a book there, I can't remember it at all. Sometimes it all seems to pass in a blur. And I should write up my blog closer to the trip!

Tewantin was next and we started at Mingary. The thing that impressed me with this shop was the sizing system.  Every hanger was marked with a coloured dot, and on the wall was the key to the dots.  Size 10 was yellow; purple was size 12, etc.  Simple but effective.  It means they can sort clothing by colour, and the sizing is clear as well.

Katie Rose was over the road.  It is small but nice, and I finally found some gloves there for my friend Ruth.  

The fourth and last Tewantin shop was Lifeline and I am sorry to report that it is a bit smelly.  I wonder if it has flooded?  I didn't stay in there for long.

We were now on the last leg of our journey and Cooroy was to be our final stop.  Jan volunteers at the Lifeline there (which is not smelly) and we saved up our final photo session for this "homecoming" visit.  The theme for the day was Sport, and we had, as usual, risen to the challenge.  We posed ourselves in front of the Sporting section of the shop, and one of Jan's co-workers did the honours.  Sadly, I didn't find anything there to buy.

Westward over the hills we headed, to Jan's home at Carters Ridge, where the judging and prize-giving awaited us.