On the last day on board we had the pleasure Ash and Keith for lunch and also Linda came on board later that afternoon. Then that evening Ken and Sheilas daughter and son in law came on the ship for dinner. We had such a great evening it is so nice to meet some of their family. .

Finally the next morning we HAD to leave the Voyager and make our goodbyes for for most of the group it wont be long until we sail together again. We boarded a flight with Sheila and Ken to Noosa. Ken has been telling me about how good his scones are so finally he is going to actually MAKE me scones. So we planned to spend a few nights at their home and taste some home made scones and the wonderful Queensland fruits and fresh fish.

On arrival it was raining quite hard after a week of perfect weather we heard. Ken heated up some pre made scones as prelude the "real fresh cooked scones" planned for the next day. They were delicious not sure how the next days could be better. Then we took a drive around Noosa and looked at the sights. There were great places to walk but not possible with the rain.

We ended up at a great restauant RIGHT on the beach. White sand, rolling surf and people swimming in the rain. A wonderful place to enjoy a meal and WHAT a meal this was. Ken and I split fish and chips and a seafood pasta. Best fish and chips ever with light breading on a beautiful fish and great fries. However, the hit was the seafood pasta. Teeming with all kinds of fresh seafood, tomatoes and spinach this is the dish to beat all other pasta dishes I have ever eaten. Served right in the pan it was cooked it and placed on a wooden block as it was so hot it stayed warm until the very last morsel was consumed. Finished off with a lovely Peter Lehman Australian Shiraz.

David and Claudia who joined us in Africa last year came to dinner as well and we had SUCH a good time.

Instead of ordering dessert and coffee at the restaurant we went across the street to Ken and Sheilas favorite coffee shop/bakery. The boys bought two big desserts (one looked like solid chocolate) and somehow managed to eat all of that. The girls looked on in amazement and one more ounce of food could actually be consumed. We were sitting outside, it was raining but we had cover and it was a perfect temperature. It was fun sitting and talking and people watching at the same tiime. Ken noticed a new ice cream shop had just opened up with really unique flavors and the entire thing was "smoking" obviously with dry ice. Really an incredible sight for an ice cream shop. We "waddled" back to the car and headed home and all instantly hit the sack.

Ken and Sheilas house is wonderful. A sub tropical climate allows the most stunning house with a uniquely shaped pool as a focal point. The main part of the downstairs floor is travertine and this continues outside to the pool area it feels like the pool is part of the house. The house is situated on a nice sized canal so the water feature is everywhere. We sat with most of the house opened up to the outside but the overhanging roof protected the house from the rain. Absolutely stunningly beautiful. Could never have a house like this in Dallas.

This morning the rain became even harder and Nikkon Ken (my Ken is Cannon Ken) came down with the news that the weather was going to get worse and we were afraid we may not get out tomorrow. So to make a LONG story short after a ton of phone calls (while consuming some wonderful Queensland fruit, manadrin oranges, grapes and fantastic mangos)with American and Qantas and about $600 we are now leaving this afternoon. Much better than losing all our FF business class flights home. Last minute hotel reservations and printing out all the new documentation.

So once all that was settled Ken cooked me his scones and I watched the entire process. He is a MASTER at the art of scone cooking down to the right temperature for all the ingredients. One thing for sure is that is as the commercials say "dont try this at home" there is no danger of me taking this much care and attention to cook scones no matter how much I like them. All I can say was FABULOUS BEST I EVER HAD and I have eaten a ton of scones in my life.

So we have time for LUNCH and we are having Queensland giant prawns, with a salad with pumpkin and mango by CHEF NIKKON KEN. As my tee shirt says LIFE IS GOOD!!!!

Only worry now is how this bad weather will affect everyone on the Voyager who are heading towards Brisbane now and they will hit this front. Anxious to know that the seas dont get too rough it appears now to be mostly rain not heavy wind so hopefully all will be well.

Chris we loved the SCONE picture you sent us gave us all a good laugh and definitely a prelude to the scones we had today at exactly 10.30 am and of course in honor of your email they came out of the oven at 10.15 am.