Caro Comes to Cairns!

If there's one thing we've realised living overseas it's that good friends are precious indeed.

I've always enjoyed reading the book of Sirach or Ecclesiasticus. It's a book that gives lots of great advice around ethics in public and private life. Loaded with advice and direction on how to live a good life, humility, responsible use of wealth, self control, the joy of a good wife (Ryan can tell you all about that! - yes for once I'm giving this blogging thing a go. Ryan has dominated lately so I thought I'd better put my two cents in) and friendship ...

Chapter 6 vs 14-17

Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter: whoever finds one has found a treasure.

Faithful friends are beyond price; no amount can balance their worth.

Faithful friends are life-saving medicine; and those who fear the Lord will find them

those who fear the Lord direct their friendship aright, for as they are, so are their neighbours also.

This weekend we had Caroline come and stay. She is a faithful friend and in her we have found a treasure. We had a short time with her but it was absolutely wonderful and we were reminded once again how blessed we are to have the support and friendship of so many back in NZ.

Caro arrived on Friday morning from PNG. We must take a moment to thank her sponsors NZAID who paid for her flights via Cairns on her way back to NZ. Ryan had managed to get the day off so he picked her up while Abbey and I danced, jived and climbed at Gymbaroo - kiddie classes. From there we did a run of Rusty's Market - the vege market open fri-sun in the city and from there it was home for a relaxing afternoon followed by a BBQ that evening with Mikaela, John and lil John over aswell.

Saturday we went exploring, this weekend first stop was the Babinda Boulders. They're found 58km south of Cairns funnily enough in the little town of Babinda. It's a gorgeous spot surrounded by rainforest. The water is apparently quite cool all year round as it flows down from Mt Bartle Frere, Queensland's tallest mountain.

The area holds great significance for local Aboriginal people.

"According to legend a beautiful girl named Oolana, from the Yidinji people, married a respected elder from her tribe named Waroonoo. Shortly after their union another tribe moved into the area and a handsome young man came into her life. His name was Dyga and the pair soon fell in love. Realising the adulterous crime they were committing, the young lovers escaped their tribes and fled into the valleys. The elders captured them, but Oolana broke free from her captors and threw herself into the still waters of what is now known as Babinda Boulders, calling for Dyga to follow her. As Dyga hit the waters, her anguished cries for her lost lover turned the still waters into a rushing torrent and the land shook with sorrow. Huge boulders were scattered around the creek and the crying Oolana disappeared among them."

Aboriginal legend says her spirit still guards the boulders and that her calls for her lost lover can still be heard. The day we visited she was obviously taking a break but you could certainly see how dangerous it must and hence the name Devils Pool.

As you can see Caro brings out the best in Ryan and convinced him to take this photo! Actually he didn't take much convincing! A sense of humour certainly keeps us sane and enjoying life. Go on..have a chuckle...you know you want to!

Ryan found a great swimming hole after our walk and braved the cool but refreshing waters with Caro. I opted to watch over Abbey as she enjoyed a splash and a kick in the clear waters.

From there we went on to show her Josephine falls and the Golden Hole a new discovery for us which looked like an amazing swimming hole which we'll have to go back to.

All in all it was a wonderful weekend with wonderful company. We hope to see a few more visitors and are now counting down till my parents arrive next week to meet there new Grandson and to see Abbey again. No doubt there will be a blog all about it!