Actually, it wasn’t me who called out – it was Lorelle, one of my dearest and oldest friends (in terms of length of friendship rather than age – we’ve known each other since I was eleven and she was twelve); we were enjoying a “Sunset Cruise” on a boat – the Whale One – at Mooloolaba when she called out.

“Marina!” Lorelle hollered out into the darkness as our boat passed a private jetty. “She won’t hear,” she added.

We could see the lights on inside the house and a young child sat at a table.

“That’s little Jacob,” my friend informed, ” What a shame I couldn’t get Marina on her mobile – she could have come out and waved to us. Hey, want to call in for a quick visit and see her for a few minutes on the way home?”

“What fun!” Chris and I agreed. We thought my sister Mary would be thrilled to know that we had been to the house where she had house-sat only a matter of weeks ago when she was on holiday back in our Australian homeland.

Perhaps half an hour later we were greeted by Marina at her front door.

“I heard you call my name,” the beautiful blonde Russian laughed, “but I couldn’t see you and I wondered if it was meant for someone else who shares my name (she speaks excellent English after only two years in Australia!)”.

“And this is Jacob, Sally,” Lorelle introduced me to the gorgeous six-year-old.

“How are you Jacob?” I asked, shaking his little hand.

“I’m not Jacob – I’m Nick,” he said softly and we both laughed. “Want to see me do some exercises on those rings hanging from the ceiling?” he asked now that we were friends. (He, too, spoke excellent English!)

Lorelle, Chris and I had a wonderful time yesterday evening; first the perfect cruise (with live music, canapes and wine) on the canal as the sun went down, and then the unexpected visit… And now Chris and I are back at Roland’s house in beautiful Belivah and we’re about to go out for dinner at the Windaroo Tavern. Oh? Haven’t you been there? Well, you should go – they have a fantastic salad bar…