Carl, Norbert and Sharon Wiezenbeek gave us a great welcome at their Sydney home

Not only have they got a great view, but a boat pen for Swanky on their own jetty here in Sailors Bay.

We met them in Fiji in 2003 after they had sailed Swanky down from Sweden where she was built, and hope to visit

them again at their home in Hamilton Island.  They sail up there each Winter to get enjoy Queensland’s kinder weather.

Feyona and Andre Vanstom also gave us a great welcome.  Feyona is the twin sister of very good friends we made

In Auckland, Consie and her husband Rolly Lennox-King.   Andre kindly took us to the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron

where we had lunch and met a couple of the officers there, who have offered us use of their visitors mooring

When we sail into Sydney harbour in October.

We drive back to Newcastle to get some medical maintenance done on David and work done on Kanaloa

two weeks later,

we finally get to stay with Phil and Cloreen Brown in Laurieton, North coast NSW, just below Port Macquarie.

Having spent some wonderful time with them in Fatu Hiva, the Marquesas and in Tahiti on their boat

Manukai II, we were so pleased to be able to spend some time with them on shore in their new house.

They gave us a great time touring the local national park in the area, which they had also done when they

drove up to Coffs harbour to see us whilst we were there in October.

Watching the rosella parrots, lorikeets and kookaburras from their window was a pleasure in itself.

Very long standing friends from Finchingfield in the UK, where we used to live in between 1979-1988 are

John and Maddy Dobson, below.  They were finally able to see us in Sydney at the end of May too

This was taken at Doyle’s Restaurant – 27^th May 2006

John has been ill almost since 2001 with only two small intervals of feeling well, and was only just recovering his appetite

again on this occasion.  Another moment to celebrate a good reunion!