Boondall

• Monday - July 23, 2001: Morning tea at my aunt and uncle's house. Spent the day chatting and reminiscing about family memories. That evening we went to Chermside Mall to do a bit of shopping. Malls in Australia strike me as being very clean compared to their American counterparts. Restrooms are very clean with no graffiti.
• Tuesday - July 24, 2001: Continued shopping today at Chermside and Toombul Malls. Later, we go out to dinner with Lester & Michelle at an RSL club.
• Wednesday - July 25, 2001: We went into downtown Brisbane to the Queen Street Mall to do some shopping. We stop at Skinnies which specializes in sheepskin products. It is an Australian souvenir shop but it has many sheepskin products made either in Australia or new Zealand. Also, the hats are reasonably priced for a city shop.
• Thursday - July 26, 2001: We had afternoon tea at Mildred's house. She is my mother's cousin. She is a prolific reader and self educated. Her knowledge of foreign affairs and history is as insightful as anyone I have ever met.
• Friday - July 27, 2001: Australians love racing of any type. Eddie once told me if there were two cock roaches crawling up a wall, Australians would bet on which one would be first to the top. Kingston is a nice track and great fun. They have different levels of racing depending on your skill. Your laps are timed and averaged. If you met a certain time you can graduate to the next level of go-cart. There are different types of go-carts with more horsepower. Racing is a lot of fun.
• Saturday - July 28, 2001: Today, Kristin & Lindsey go with Michelle into Brisbane to shop and see South Beach. They ride the city cat on the Brisbane River. Lester and I head down to the Gold Coast where we are guests of Lester's business associates at Hope Island Golf Resort. Hope island is an exclusive golf resort and we have a great time playing golf. It is a long and challenging course. Lester's friends are very congenial and courteous.

...if there were two cock roaches crawling up a wall, Australians would bet on which one would be first to the top.