THE OLD MANOR HOUSE

Sanctuary Cove, Gold Coast, Australia

If marriages are made in heaven then perhaps exchanges are too - this was a superb one from beginning to end.  The weekend we arrived home from Noosa in late October, 2002, we rec'd an e-mail asking if we might be interested in Gold Coast, Australia in January or February.

After first checking the sanity of the exchangers (who WOULD want to swap Australia in February for UK?) we very readily agreed.  Should you be reading this as a potential first time exchanger something that helps confidence is great communication skills and Marilyn and Graham's (G&M) are outstanding.  We knew what was happening all the way through (except that bus, hehe) and we were cyber friends before we all physically met.

As it turned out G&M were blessed by the sunniest February for over a decade - so it is true, the sun does shine on the righteous (further proved as we managed, singlehandedly (or doublehandedly?) to end the 18 month Aussie drought.  If you need rain anywhere in the world just call on the Dowlings.

We loved Sanctuary Cove (Scove) right away and we are not even golfers.  

    Dawn vista from bedroom verandah  

It was our first exchange in a holiday resort type location and this is a unique place combining true residential communities within a vacation/leisure environment built around the waterfront.  Because of this we were very lazy and spent a lot of our time relaxing and dining in the 'Village'.  Also, no need to walk or drive - take the golf buggy.  We also spent a few days at their other property at Noosa Springs and this enabled us to see once more our Oct 2002 exchangers, Max & Marg (and so soon!).  We had an excellent dinner there and saw again Noel & Lorraine and Athol & Dawn.  Thanks M&M.

   Here is a picture of the Scove street with buggies parked up

We were made really welcome by the neighbours, too - so thanks to Peter and Margo, Keith and Jan, Doug and Yvonne.

<<<Lunch at Southport Yacht Club and and en route>>>

  Southport Yacht Club.  This was about an hour by boat

      Golfing obstacles, Aussie style!

  View from front balcony and back

  House viewed from own pontoon

            Village scenes

        Noosa Springs house

So the biggest 'Thank You' to Marilyn and Graham for doing this with us.  Also for their overwhelming thoughtfulness and kindness in the mementos they left with us.  But if there was one gesture I appreciated above all others it was the tenaciousness of Graham hunting and neutralising (pulverising actually!) Mr. Mole and ending his destructive regime.

  <<<The true Aussie Hero (Hogan and Irwin watch out!)

<<<G&M in Oxford and us at Heathrow at the Exchange end :(

We hope to do it again!