Kinka Beach

We've had 5 of our 7 nights at Kinka Beach so far-it's been great. We tried fishing out in the bay and only caught ourselves a handful of small fish. The handful of fish was enough to bait our crab pots and go mud crabbing on nearby Coorooman creek. All we got for our troubles was a big female (who has to be returned in QLD) and another nasty lot of sandfly bites. I was a bit luckier than Russ as I took the advice of our neighbours and wore long sleeved shirt, jeans, socks and shoes-not so many bites, but not very comfortable. I still have bites on my face, hands and exposed neck. Russ has bites all over. I hate sandflies!

We've been enjoying lower priced fruit and veg-local pines 50c (and not a bad size) avocados 70c, limes 20c each, sweet potato $1 per kg, beautiful hot red chillies 7.99kg.

Our neighbours here have been very nice-we are staying with Mick and Sue in Newcastle on our way through in a couple of months and will catch up with Marg and Trevor while they are in Portland over the Christmas holidays. Tonight the eight of us are having dinner together. Mick and Sue making the entree, Marg and Brian, Russell and I the mains and Marg and Trevor dessert.

The night before last, we went to a nice little Thai restaurant in Emu Park-they were very quiet, with only us, another couple and one lot of take away for the night. The owner (a NZer) and his Thai wife (the chef) ended up sitting eating their dinner chatting to us which was very interesting.

Yesterday we drove into Rocky to look at new boat motors. We've decided we need a larger one as ours just doesn't push the boat along fast enough so it takes forever to get anywhere (not a nice feeling if the weather blows up). Mariner looks the best so far for price and weight-some are up to 12 kilos heavier than the one we have now which would be unacceptable!

I'm allowed to tell everyone now that I am going to be a grandmother-Daniel and his girlfriend Verity are expecting a baby in April. I just saw the scan photos which makes it all seem more real! We'll be in Perth when the baby is born which is great.

On Sunday we are heading inland again to Biloela via Mt Morgan for a couple of nights. Then we'll head out to the coast and 1770. It depends on the fishing and the sandflies just how long we stay there, then it's on to Maryborough.