Arrived Bright

Hi all from Bright!

I hope this post finds you all well. My rule with my blog is usually to only write it for overseas trips. However, 2020 is the year of doing things differently. So I’ve decided seeing as it’s likely I won’t be able to go overseas any time soon that I would like to write a blog for our trip to Bright.

It’s been such a strange year so far. No going to the football, no travel, no basketball, not seeing my family for quite a while, remote teaching. But it’s sure made me appreciate things. Even though Rob and I were supposed to be going to Hamilton Island today, we were just so appreciative that we could go somewhere.

There have been some exciting parts to 2020 still, and some positives as well. Randomly, I got on the ‘730 Report’, the news and the front page of the Herald Sun. Though it was delayed at first, I was finally able to have my tonsils out on May 25^th so I am hoping that my immune system is now good enough to be school proof through the winter. Usually I spend terms two on three on endless courses of antibiotics and battling illness. Now we are in a pandemic, obviously still having them was causing me a fair bit of stress. I am glad to be rid of them and am nearly fully recovered. Yawning still hurts a little, but I am getting there!!

Whatever hand of cards you’ve been dealt in 2020, I hope you are healthy and you are doing OK. I also hope my blog provides you with some sort of normality/escapism…

This morning we left our place at about 7.30am. We loaded the car up, put the bikes on the roof racks and off we went. The drive was fairly easy going. We had a good laugh when some idiot sped past us at 150 km/h, and then we saw him pulled over by the cops further down the road!! After about four hours, we parked at our holiday unit, unpacked our car and then walked to the Bright Brewery.

Due to the pandemic, businesses here have only just recently reopened. We had to get in early and book all of our meals in advance. I am usually a pretty organised person, but even I found it strange having to plan out our meals in advance!! Nonetheless, booking at the Bright Brewery was well worth it. We enjoyed some fantastic tasting trays of different locally brewed beers, and some yummy food. My favourite beer was the kiwi fruit sour one. It reminded me a little of cider.

After lunch, we set off for a walk up to Huggins Lookout. Unfortunately it looks like it will rain most of the other days we are here, so we took advantage of the late afternoon sun and walked the half an hour from the town up the hill. The view was peaceful and beautiful up the top. We took it in for a while and then headed back down. Just before we did, we ran into Jon Ralph (Herald Sun and TV football reporter) who asked us how long the track was, before he and his son raced down the track while his wife and daughter drove the car. The track wasn’t very long – I reckon he and his son would have won!!

We returned back through town and enjoyed an ice cream from the lolly shop. While sitting eating our ice creams, a gigantic rainbow formed over the town. As quickly as it arrived, it then disappeared! We also enjoyed looking at the shops, clock tower and people watching those walking and cycling by. It’s not too busy here. We were worried it would be packed full of people. But thankfully, it’s not too busy, and those that are here are mostly distancing appropriately which is great.

Tonight we are just hanging out in our unit. I brought my wipes and wiped down the couches, dining table etc. I probably seem like a nutcase but I figure we have nothing to lose and it can’t hurt at the moment. We will probably have some takeaway for tea and watch ‘The Front Bar’ before having a fairly early night. Tomorrow we are hoping the rain allows us to go for a bike ride!

Love to all
Claire
Xoxox