Queensland holiday part 2

Did you enjoy the last post? Well, hang on to your hats - here is the next installment ...

More Rides for the three of us. 

I believe the name Dreamworld is a touch misleading.

It isn't a gentle place. Nothing particularly 'dreamy' about a rollercoaster that shoots you from a launch pad at a speed capable of breaking the sound barrier, along a track that rises at a 90 degree angle, straight in the air. Your eyeballs are pushed into the rear of your skull and if your unfortunate enough to have a cold, your sinuses are cleaned out quite effectively, by the vast amounts of air being forced through them.

There is a moment where you hang, somewhere between the fourth and fifth dimension. It is still. Silent. 

Free fall back down along the track, your eye balls arrive back in the eye socket, and threaten to depart from your face altogether. If you are able to breathe at all, it is best to conserve strength. Don't bother to scream, we can't hear you over the thunder of the metal on metal track. The entire ride takes around 15 seconds, but the list of disclaimers and warnings to anyone who isn't a fit and healthy 23 year old ox takes an hour and a law degree to read. 

  One ride, called the Wipeout involves being strapped in so tightly you can't actually breathe properly ( at this point the smarter people have figured out that anything requiring this much strapping down is unlikely to end well). Then you are hurtled around, upside down , downside up, falling straightdown towards the painted blue floor, only to be scooped back up at the last second and be tossed into the air again, in a bizarre and bone jarring re-enactment of extreme surf boarding. Yupp... I went on it with Meg.

I got off thinking " okay not so bad... I can handle this" , and so Meg upped the anti and declared we would all ride the CLAW! Yes, who wouldn't want to be strapped to a giant disc, with legs hanging down, swinging on a pendulum that not takes you from side to side and upside down, but also spins the disc at the same time. It felt like the ride was never going to end. I honestly thought I was going to be violently ill, and as it turns out, so did Jason. With wobbly legs we alighted from the ride and made our position quite clear about any repeat performances. We both ignored the 3 and 4yr olds who strutted off the ride like seasoned veterans, and set forth the for quieter corners of the petting zoo and Bilby house.

Another exhausting day, with many many stairs, many many tourists and Meg, Jason and I grinning from ear to ear.

We ate our way through 4 days in QLD - anyone who knows me will agree that for me - It's ALL about the food!! When I remenisce about past adventures, I can give a detailed account of what we ate, drooling as I think of the fabulous Italian I had on my honeymoon (It was nearly 16 years ago, but it was really, really good). There is something special about fresh fish and chips at the beach, with seagulls aplenty.

And so, on Friday evening we weary travellers returned home, to a happy house - BIG thanks to Mum and Dad for taking care of our other three kiddos. Sarah was very excited to see us, although I think a little of her enthusiasm may have been McDonalds Coke induced.

On Saturday morning we uncrated our laser machine, brought it inside - no small feat when it weighs 200kgs-and plugged it in.

Power on.... nothing happened.

I will admit to a small wave of terror, then I rang my new Best friend Gary the technician, who told me which little bit to jiggle.

(Actually he said, "yep the ram has probably just come out in transit, just open the side door, pull out the ram component and put it back in." I stood looking into the side door at the 80 or so little computery bits and whined..."okay what does a ram look like?" He was such a bloke- "the ram, the ram, you know like in your computer hard drive?"

"Ummm no Gary, I don't know. I make buttons. I can discuss the pros and cons of six stranded embroidery floss, and regale you with raucous stories about my last quilting retreat. I can even demonstrate how to make a fabric yo-yo. I can also change nappies, cook a casserole, correct homework and install a pool (see my blog in January if you don't believe me). But I don't know what a ram looks like." Hubby stepped in at this point and wiggled a big green thingy and told me to try it now)

Turn machine back on and ...oh lovely lights on the control panel. Oh happy little laser arm racing around the cutting table.

And away we went !!!!!! Cutting, painting, packing, cutting, painting, packing, cutting...... you get the idea.

So there you go, you are up to date.Next post I have lovely NEW BUTTONS to show you, plus a sneak peek at my latest stitching .

Don't forget I want suggestions for a name for my machine - Janet says everything (and she really means everything) in her house has a name and that I need to name my machine. I have some emails and messages already, send me your ideas and the winner gets a $100 shopping spree at Button Bliss.

Be Happy!!!

Lisa

-x-

Comments

[Julz]

I have always liked the name "Little Miss" . It was used as a term of endearment by Robin Williams in the movie Bicentennial Man. It also shares the same initials as Laser Machine. But on the other hand maybe a more masculine name is needed for such a large piece of machinery, in which case i don't think you can go past Roger!! LOL.

[Joy]

Sounds like you had a great time at Dreamworld. I went on the Tower of Terror too when we went there, but that was a long time ago LOL.
Hmmm, now a name for your laser machine ..... when I was first pregnant with DD2 my DH had lovingly named her (even though we didn't know whether she was 'he' or 'she' then) Thermergatroid - it's a mouthful I know LOL - just a thought :o)!!!
Hugs,
Joy :o)

[Kris Meares (Tag Along Teddies)]

Hey Lisa! Oh, see, I loooooooove rough rides - the scarier the better!! On the other hand, put me on something that just swings back and forth and I start to feel a little queasy!! Good that your hubbie was on hand to translate your technician's "Geek Speak"!! I'm married to a "Geek", so hear a lot of it - I've perfected a blank look to deal with such terms, at which point GB (Geek Boy!) either puts translates it into 'English' or says, "Never mind!"! Tee! Hee! Hee! Enjoy playing with your baby again! Bear Hugs! KRIS

[Simone]

Looking forward to your new buttons!

[Nicole Jones]

Hey Lisa,
Sounds like u had fun on ur holiday!! As one of the biggest fans of your buttons, I have nominated you for the 'Uber Amazing Award' on my BLOG. Hope you get a chance to check it out!!
Congrats and thanks for your friendship!!
Nic