Have you ever been to the Sunshine Coast, Queensland? Have you ever been to my friend Lorelle’s house at Buddina? If your answer to those questions is “No” and “No”, then you should and could – it’s beautiful here and Lorelle does Airbnb so you can book online… just not for the next two weeks because I’m here house-sitting with Stefan, another of Lorelle’s friends, while she is away. A lovely German girl called Katrin is with us for a few days and we’re all doing our own thing.

My “thing” is waking early and going for a long walk or cycle ride along the path that runs parallel, but higher than, the beach; of course it gets hot so I come back for a swim in our pool; then after lunch, what could be nicer than an hour or so spent at Kawana Shopping Centre? Shopping? Well, yes, that too, but the main reason most people go to the shopping centre is for a cool down in wonderfully air conditioned surroundings (one step through the door and we all go “Ah”). You get hot again as soon as you step out and go to the car park so the pool is most welcoming after “shopping”. Then it’s time for another walk along the beach before dinner, and I delight in seeing the happy faces of the people coming off the beach – the swimmers, surfers, kite-flyers and sun bathers – or the families on bikes, or the singletons keeping fit. An added pleasure comes from taking Chris with me on my walks – on the phone!

Tomorrow morning you’ll be able to find me on the calmer estuary side of Point Cartwright – fishing! I guess it sounds like a holiday. What about work? Painting? Writing? Yes, yes, yes, I know. All the gear is out on the verandah waiting… just for a few days while I enjoy feeling like being on holiday.