I didn't see the grass hat and was confused.....
Also didn't realize he was home before you.
I thought maybe folks would pick up on it, but I guess not.
For reasons, Lew's Australia visa was not granted in time for our trip. We were able to find a way to get him to NZ and on the ship. We kept contacting as many sources as possible, hoping that they would finish the review process before the ship left NZ and headed to Australia, but it didn't happen. He had to leave the ship at the last New Zealand port, Dunedin. From there, he flew back to Wellington to try to get something happening through the American and Australian embassies there, but it didn't happen and he few home last week.

However, he didn't STAY home. We were looking at Facebook memories of his trip to Daytona with our youngest son last February, and son made the off-hand remark that they should do it again. Long story short, Lew got home one night and left the following afternoon for Daytona Beach, After the race, they went up to Delaware to son's home & Lew spent about 4 days with grandkids. Tough life. He got home two days before I did.
I stayed on the ship thru Hobart, Melbourne & Sydney. At Sydney I went ahead and did the outback extension. Texas sis & her husband went on that as well, and Washington sis headed up the East Coast of AU in a rental car, spending 10 days there on their own. Plus, a group of about 5 couples that Lew & I had met at the precruise 4 day extension in Auckland prior to boarding were also going on the Outback Extension. They took great care of me after Lew had to leave, and I had a good (if not great) time. However, there was no way I was going to do the second cruise (Sydney to Bali) by myself with just Texas sis & her husband (we have VERY different lifestyles and entertainment sources) because I knew how lonely it would be for me. So...we cancelled the second cruise and I flew home after the Outback Extension.