when do you arrive Ronnie and where are you staying?

Well Missy Mandy was the one washing for me. She had the machine in her unit.

Uumm I pack too much, but that is only cause I am local...I did travel to Brissie once and had my shoulder tote full of paper and alphas/rubons, and then just a small plastic container of embellies along with my tools and trimmer in my suitcase...but it wasn't for a full on retreat, so doesn't really count.


You were very lucky Mandy had a machine Julie

HAHAHAH!! I forgot i did that Julie!!! LOL!!! Talk about a short memory Mel !!

Hey Ronnie... yeah...where are you staying??... will you be around on the tues/wed/thurs as we are in Cairns for those days before moving onto Babinda ?:wink:

well I am a page packer too

Then my tools and all my bits in snaplock bags

I buy CS as I need fromt he shop

I have filled my case with scrap supplies including class supplies and it weighs 16 or so kilos....I have put my clothes in another bag and am using my DDs baggage allocation - even so - it is all coming to 27 kilos abut 5 kilos is class stuff

I will send most of the scrapping stuff back after the retreat (minus all the class stuff of course) via Aust Post and then I will only have a case

I am still wondering about my Ott Lite - I will bring it if I can fit it into my hand luggage.... I will buy a power cord and extension there I think

I am staying at the Hotel Cairns, opposite (I think) where the retreat is. I wont be there after the retreat Mandy. I am arriving this Monday the 23rd and leaving the Monday after the retreat. (This is actually one more night than I had planned. I found out today that Paul's cousin will be able to drive with him from Cairns further south but needs to leave Monday not Tuesday. I will book the extra night's accommodation tomorrow I hope).

I am hoping to borrow the car from the motel and make a trip to Babinda I would love to see the shop IRL.

Where is everyone else staying?

Hey Ronnie - we would love to see you down here - dont come on Tuesday as we are closed then however Wednesday would work well if that fits with your plans.

You can also do the next best thing - we will be open in the DFO cairns until Monday 5pm so you could sneak over there when you first arrive - that is a whole shop in itself too.

Oh DFO thats a good idea Lee-Anne.

I am usually a chuck it what I think and buy the rest kind of girl But this year I am trying to be more organised I bought some zip lock bags off ebay and I am going to at least do CS and some embellies to match photos. I will do some PP but I know what I am like and I will see all the lovely paper IRL and will just use it instead so I may as well save myself the trouble and space lol.

I have DH coming with me this year, he gets to carry the clothing and keep space for the return trip (shhhh he doesn't know he is coming to be my pack horse)

Oh nevermind .... will have to catch up another time!

won't be there this year but, page kits were great for me - I started on Friday, so had some time before all the classes began. Then, for me it was basic kit, stamps and inks, and I took the opportunity to buy thickers, alphabets and extra bits and pieces to finish the spreads - and take lots home of course.

Packed my suitcase from the scrapping gear up (Cairns is warm, not too much space required for clothes!) I figured the scrapping gear would be better checked in, just made sure the flat stuff would stay flat, and added some clothes to a carry on bag. Ta da, 17 kilos in the suitcase on the way home, no worries with the carry on. Even had room for chocolate.

Have fun all you lucky retreaters. (and I'll keep my brads at home, safely in their case this year )

I have not been able to get really enthused about packing up my scrapping stuff yet as only found out on Thursday that my sister has a melanoma in her eye . She is meant to be coming to the retreat as well but at this stage don't know if she will be able to make it . Lots of tests before she can be referred to a cancer specialist. I am hoping that she can still make it as it will be a great opportunity for her to regroup for the battle ahead. *Fingers crossed*

I am going to try to put together some packs and sort photos to suit. Just going to bring basic tools etc and buy what ever else.
Like others have said its warm in Cairns so won't have to bring many clothes

Oh no! Danni.....that's not good news at all.

Oh hear Danni, I'm really sorry to hear about your sister. I hope she can go to the retreat - and like you say- have a fabulous time just to relax and be in a great frame of mind before going home.

Fingers crossed and hugs bloss