Salutations, welcome to my August update. Sit back and read away.

I will start off with the weather report but I don't have a big map behind me or a gizmo in my hand so sorry about that. The month started with low to mid-teens overnight and stayed that way all month with mid to high 20's during the day all month. Sunny everyday with varying wind from none to moderate and only light drizzle overnight, one night, about a week ago so lets agree on no rain. I can feel the humidity creeping in though. Over all, another nice month in the tropics. Rain is needed though. That all said, I am thinking of you all down south.

That out the way, I started the month off by catching up with a couple of GN friends, Kath and Dave, they were staying at their daughters place for a while and made contact with me. As with a lot of catch ups with GN's the time slipped away before we could say Grey Nomads and we parted company to go back to our respective vans. Thanks Kath and Dave, see ya next time I am looking at ya.

The next day I paid a visit to The Strand here in down town Townsville to take a stroll along said strand checking out all the sculptures etc at the Townsville 2019 Ephemer Festival. Interesting and varied sculptures and art the full length of The Strand, approximately 3km.

I also managed to meet Col, another GN, I had missed last year as he moved through Townsville because I didn't make it in 2018 due to the big house sit near my old stomping ground of Wonthaggi. G'day Michael and Barb. A lovely pub lunch at The Strand until time to go our own ways. Thanks Col. I'm sure we will meet again in our travels.

The middle of the month arrived quicker than quick and I finally got to meet GN's Warren and Pat who live here in Tropical Townsville. We had tried a couple of times during my stay but things just didn't work in parallel and we missed out so it was good to finally meet them over a lovely lunch at one of their favourite eateries. Thanks Warren and Pat.

The month continued to move in a forward direction which is always a good way to go and not go backwards or worse still, become stagnant. Unfortunately, something went wrong with my health yet again, not a good year health wise I spose but could be worse. I started getting some pain behind the right knee area and right upper arm that worsened as the days progressed and then into the upper left arm as well, so bad I nearly called an Ambulance one night as the pain was so bad and had little movement in the leg. The Ambos didn't get called but a GP appointment made on-line that night instead.  After some blood tests he decided he wasn't sure what the problem was so onto some anti-inflammatories I was put. After 3 days on those and the maximum time allowed due to other meds I am on, luckily the pain had improved greatly so thank goodness for that as I am over pain for this year. Time will now tell how it all goes. I am still no wiser as to what caused the problem BUT, I think my mattress might be contributing to the arm pain and possibly even the leg pain, I'm no GP but worth a thought.

I have been thinking of changing the front of the aluminium tent around for some time now from single beds to a King Single going East West (across van) and not length ways. I have investigated, thought about, measured, priced and ordered a new mattress that will just sit on current bed bases with a support in middle of the now opening between beds. I will see how that works out for a while then if all good might look at and start the major Reno. I am fully aware of weights etc in the aluminium tent, so have to be very careful of the weight of the new mattress, reason for a King Single and not bigger. The aluminium tent is currently 65kgs under the ATM so have a little to play with if need be and know once I get rid of some bits and pieces etc throughout the van and up front I will be OK with the ATM. Might even end up a little bit more than the 65kg under the ATM. I don't want it to affect the tow ball weight though so some adjustments and re-distribution of things might need to take place, still a few months down the track for that though. One thing is for sure though, I am very confident that between a good quality mattress and the changes being done things will work out fine and I tell you that for free. Gee! Pity the mattress wasn't for free, those things are not cheap.

I managed to fit in a final visit to the Wrestling with the Grandies and Daughter, that was eventful! Although,

1, it turned out to be a bloodbath due to a long dispute between two of the wrestlers, and in true wrestling form one was a goodie and the other a baddie. Of course, I was cheering on the goodie and he won. Must have been my cheering I reckon.

2, a wedding took place in the ring. The Commissioner of Queensland Wrestling Alliance (QWA) and the QWA Reporter tied the knot. When the Celebrant, wrestler, Australian Wolf from the Ministry of Wolf asked if anyone objected, a bad wrestler came forward and jumped in the ring. Yes me!. Now again in true form a fight broke out and the bride, yes, the bride, moved back while the baddie was flat on is back flew up in the air coming down on top of him and gave him a knee drop, knocking him out. The crowd went wild! After the removal of said baddie the wedding continued.  I wouldn't mind betting that another wedding took place in a different location at some stage though. Mmmm, QWA are talking about introducing female wrestlers at some stage in the future. Maybe that was a taste of things to come?

For some reason this year has been really bad with accidents here in QLD, vehicles, motorbikes and people with quite a few fatal. Back in February this year and during the big Townsville floods two little boys lost their lives in the Ross River here in Townsville and mid this month a 9-year-old girl also lost her life not far from the boys in the same river. Kids wondering off from their farm houses and being found drowned in farm dams. Car and truck accidents with fatalities and word of car and caravan accidents with a couple of fatalities also. IMO, as far as vehicle accidents go, I reckon speed and not paying attention to conditions around contribute to some of these accidents, some might be a mechanical problem or even contents not loaded correctly or maybe even rigs being overweight. Who knows? Sad times for families and friends though and I know that for sure.

Another stroll along the Strand took place armed with camera just because I could and enjoyed that as usual.

Another visit during this last week from good friends Brian and Cheryl again as they were heading very slowly south from their visit further north and as usual great to see them again. A slight change in plans had to be made due to the pain I was in at that time but all worked out in the end, as it does.  

The next time you hear from me if I continue with these updates, I will be south of Townsville as I am leaving mid-September. Who knows where Ill be then? I don't, so until then, Keep Safe on the roads and out there everyone, I'll try too.

DOUG