Yes. The hoIiday is over. We came down to earth with a thud as we touched down at Melbourne Airport and 18 degree weather after leaving 29 degree humidity at Palm Cove.

Our next to last day was not wasted. We hired a car and drove to Port Douglas and the Daintree - a round trip of about 200 km including side excursions. We used to love Port Douglas, and I guess we still do - but it has changed dramatically with sooooo much development. Once I saw a large Cotton On store in the main street I figured the quiet little port had simply become a major tourist town. We went to On the Islet, arguably our favourite eating establishment, and that remains the same, as does our beach-side cafe where we had mango smoothies, but the rest was a bit "yuck".

And Daintree was spoiled by torrential tropical rain, although at least the downpour eased when we checked out the ferry.

MORE TO COME...

Back in Palm Cove, we changed for dinner, and had our meal at the Rising Sun. Another delicious meal with Jules celebrating by having her third salt and pepper squid salad!!! I had twice cooked porky belly. And afterwards, Jules said she wanted a grand finale ice cream from the ice creamery just down the street.

I was not really in the mood for a 300 metre walk, so I offered to drive, as herself was a tad merry after several glasses of wine. Lucky I did, as the ice creamery was closed.......but Jules knew the ice cream came from an expensive and lavish restaurant called NuNu, which was another 250 metres away. I managed to find a park, and in we went.....,

A waiter greeted us (obviously French) "Welcome, Monsieur ..... You wish to eat?"

"Not really...we just want coffee and ice cream..."

"Certainly, Monsieur..... This way"

He took us to an outside table for two overlooking a grove of palm trees which separated NuNu from the Coral Sea. The atmosphere was wonderful.

Jules chose coconut ice cream and I chose my favourite.... coffee. Both serves duly arrived, with each serve being golf ball size and sitting in a pleasantly curved glass. The same serves of the same ice cream at the ice cream shop would have been about tennis ball sized....and cost half as much. But the ambience and the excellent coffee more than made up for the price.

The next morning we had an excellent breakfast at the Rising Sun (Jules had coconut pancakes with fried pineapple and a delicious sauce and I settled for scrambled eggs, mushrooms and mashed chats (?) and coffees).

Then we packed, returned our hire car and went to Cairns airport. A great break and a promise to try to do it again next year....but pay a little more for the two extra days at the Reef House.

Now I am sitting outside Cavallini Cafe in North Fitzroy...Jules is having her hair cut at a salon called Mein......and, sadly, Palm Cove seems but a distant memory.

Ian came for a drink late yesterday and we ended up drinking 3 bottles of wine and greedily devouring scrambled eggs on toast....as it was the only food we had in the house!

And today through until Monday we are staying with Mia and the two boys.

I am well in my mind, but the body is not what I had hoped. The slow but steady stiffness continues despite exercise and nothing appears to be preventing its advance.