Back home in Broome - June 2014

David took the overland route from Melbourne to Broome to ensure the Troopy arrived in tip-top condition. His temporary co-drivers Cathy (Melb-Adelaide) and John Erlich (Alice to Broome) had a great time too. All congregated in Broome on Sunday. Annie and Simon arrived on Sunday morning with Cathy, but their luggage didnt arrive until 6pm! Tom was on his first trip to Broome too, so we took a camel ride along Cable Beach to introduce them to the sight of the Indian Ocean.




Cathy was back into work in no time and enjoyed treating kids with various conditions as well as teaching eager students. She got home most days to hear how Annie and Simon were going with preparations for their Gibb River Road expedition and see whether David and Tom had got to the beach yet. Dinners at Matsos, Azuki and around home at The Pearle were fun nights. By the weekend, Annie and Simon were well on their way and Tom had headed back to Melbourne - ready for his departure to Germany to visit Alicia.
David and Cathy headed down to Town Beach for the "Staircase to the Moon" on Saturday night after a day of markets, galleries and relaxing by the pool reading.
After Cathy had lunch with Mel, we headed off to the Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park for an advetnure. We were just in time for feeding time but Mr Grumpy had to remind Cathy that didnt mean you could eat the baby crocs!.

RACP Congress Auckland

Cathy was the Lead Fellow for the Paediatric program at the RACP congress in Auckland this year. It involved lots of teleconferences and chasing up speakers but she was delighted with the final program. A bonus was seeing some of the young trainees she'd mentored through 6 years of paediatrics actually graduate at the College Ceremony.

Before the meeting began, Cathy enjoyed catching up with Anna Murphy, a paediatrician who has moved back to NZ after a few years of training in Australia.

Afterwards, it was time to relax with a long weekend in Waiheke. David booked us into a tent! Well a yurt is basically a tent but I think you'll agree it was pretty luxurious. Mr and Mrs B made our stay very special.

Touches like this platter and the sumptuous breakfasts made us want to stay much longer.

Waiheke itself was a cute little island but not quite as deserted as we'd expected. We explored local wineries, looked out over beautiful bays (or were they "coves" or "inlets"?) and did some walking with only a little bit of shopping.