ADVENTURE BEFORE DEMENTIA

Let Us Out, Its Christmas!

dianebohlen@gmail.com (diane) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:22:00 +0000

I have been very lazy this Christmas and haven't bothered with decorations because we aren't having Christmas dinner here this year. The girls won't be home either but the other day when I walked past the linen cupboard where I keep the decorations I could hear a rumpus. Lots of little voices calling,
"Let us out, its Christmas!"
I opened the cupboard and saw the box containing my Christmas toys jumping about.
"Let us out, its Christmas!"
Oh dear even my toys are telling me I'm lazy this year. So I opened the lid.........

"About time!" they shouted. "Now get us out and put us under the tree."

So I did.

WORK AND PLAY

dianebohlen@gmail.com (diane) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 02:08:00 +0000

In Brisbane we don't have many deciduous trees, so we don't have a Fall in Autumn like in cooler climates. However, we have evergreen trees, which are continuously losing leaves and regrowing them. I have found that they lose more leaves in dry seasons. Anyway, it means I have to often rake leaves off the pathways in our garden. I need to do this at 6:30 in the morning before it gets too hot. Well its done now and time to play.
We have friends called, Bill and Ruve. We met them on one of our wine tours years ago. They are an amazing couple. They are both well into their seventies and they have just returned from a trekking holiday to the base camp of Mt Everest. They came back very skinny. Bill is the president of the U3A (University of the Third Age) camera club and he asked BB if he would give a talk at one of their meetings. I was keen to go and find out more about the club. We enjoyed the visit and became members. We go to meetings or outings once a month. But last week it was Christmas party time again. We had lunch at the Alexandra Hills Hotel. It was a good deal too. Buy one meal get one free. We had beautiful grilled fish and vegetables. Others had roast of the day for $6. Bill, Ruve and BB are right up the back.

Birthday Bear's Christmas Party

dianebohlen@gmail.com (diane) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:22:00 +0000

Birthday Bear insisted on a Christmas get together with her wrinkly friends. After all it is Jesus' Birthday that we are celebrating.

This year she came dressed as a Christmas Tree with bauble earrings and a star on top.

Ann is the one who helped Birthday Bear get dressed for the party.

We had a buffet dinner at the Greenbank RSL Club. From the left Kathy, Paul, Bill, moi, Birthday Bear, Ann, George, Helen, and Mary.
Ann took this shot and named it, "The Three Wide Men". (I have added it later as she was disappointed it didn't make the blog. See her comment below.I hope it doesn't offend them)

Ann also made up a poem about Birthday Bear and included all the characters that Bear has portrayed:

THE BIRTHDAY BEAR

I am the no-sexual Birthday Bear;
And my personalities I would like to share;
I have been a fisherman – twice in fact;
And once I wore a fisherman’s hat;
I have also traveled by coach outback;
Was a film producer not long after that;
Became an author of no-renown;
As a grey nomad hit the road to travel ‘round’;
On a boat trip I was a teacher;
As a dancing diva a glamorous boa did feature;

A blogging bear created some talk;
Another time I was decked out for a walk;
Once I was depicted sipping wine;
Whilst enjoying a boat cruise down the Rhine,
A Scotsman who in his cupboard, had a skeleton or two;
A theatre audience member – I’ve been that too;
Why, even as Christmas came my way;
With sled and Rudolph, Santa Clause I did play;
I have been a cowboy riding a “cobweb broom horse”;
Cruised on the Brisbane River as the other fisherman, of course;

Flew to Townsville in the tropical north;
Taking my bikini, sunshade and money purse;
A volunteer in a library – I was that also;
Even a gardener watching the lemons grow;
An elegant chorister in a CWA choir;
A lawn bowler decked out in white bowls attire;
My breath was taken away and almost my speech;
As a whale watcher – witnessing their amazing breech;
My varied personas have been filled with glee;
But what’s this – now I’m a green CHRISTMAS TREE!

Ann Dec 2009

The Trees are Alive with Summer Blooms

dianebohlen@gmail.com (diane) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 06:27:00 +0000

Come for a blogalk with me to buy the newspaper and take in some flowering trees on the way. Sometimes we walk in the forest and then drive to buy the paper other times I walk to the shop, usually when BB has Atrial Fibrillation and finds it hard to walk. Today I grabbed my little Sony Cyber Shot and walked a circuit to the shop and back. It is about 3.5 km. I wind through the back streets and community parks to get there and then come back via the main road. It is before breakfast about 6.30am, the sky is full of heavy grey clouds covering us like a big blanket keeping in all yesterdays heat, it is about 27C, but it won't rain it just oozes humidity and it is like walking in a sauna. Aren't you lucky to be able to see the beautiful trees without the humidity?

We walk to the end of my street and enter a park. I love the contrast in colour of these two trees one almost black the other almost orange.

It is not long before we come out in a street, where we pass an interesting.........

....... rubbish bin

Then we go in between some houses, where an unusually coloured Bougainvillea hangs over a back fence. See how brown the grass is through lack of decent rain.

It is pink and orange.

We cross the road and enter another little park.

Then between the houses and onto another street.

A pink and orange Frangipani

Down a few streets and into another park.
Then out to another street.
The poincianas are starting to bloom, they are one of my favourites.
Poinciana (Delonix regia)
Hoping the residents of the house don't come out to see what I'm doing in their front yard.
This street has a coloured tree in every garden. Coral Tree (Erythrina corallodedron)
A pink Frangipani. (Plumeria rubra)
A red Hibiscus

Thevetia neriifolia
So now I have the paper in one hand and the camera in the other and we head for home. The main street was a bit boring.
This Bauhinia galpinii is suffering from lack of water but manages a few flowers. Normally you can't see the branches for thick green leaves and masses of flowers.

At last off the road and back into the park for the uphill climb.

Up the steepest bit to my street. Shirt wet and looking forward to a cold shower, drink of water and breakfast.
Ah ha, home sweet home.BB has breakfast ready on the deck.

(Thanks to blogger Xavi for the botanical names of the plants)

The Car Park Tree

dianebohlen@gmail.com (diane) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 05:54:00 +0000

Some time ago I did a post about a funny seed pod that I had seen on a small tree in the shopping centre car park. I asked if any one new what it was called. One blogger, Titania, asked what the leaves looked like, but at that time there were no leaves. BB always parks next to the tree when we stop by to pick up a newspaper, after a walk in the forest. So I have been watching for the leaves and flowers to appear. It is a pretty little tree and I have named it The Car Park Tree. I have asked Santa to bring me an Australian Plant identification book, but I'm not sure if this tree is an Australian native. HELP!

Ooooooh! I see a bug.

Lets have a closer look. See the furry texture of the pod.

THE BEST OF BRITISH

dianebohlen@gmail.com (diane) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:32:00 +0000

My family migrated to Australia back in 1949 (see my sidebar for the story). I was very young and now I feel more Australian than I do British. However, since then thousands and thousands of British people have migrated here. Many of them have settled on the Bayside (suburbs along the edge of Moreton Bay). Recently some British shops and restaurants have opened in that area. Our friends (SIL parents) Alma and Bill are also British migrants and they sometimes hanker after British products, so we took them to Birkdale on the southern side of the bay where these specialist shops have opened.

We often have fish and chips with Alma and Bill at Sandgate on the northern side of the bay so for a change we tried out this place.

We had cod fish in batter and chips wrapped in paper with mushy peas, salt and vinegar (like in England). It was a very hot day but luckily there was a strong bay, breeze blowing which cooled it down to about 31 C/88F. We rated the food as good, our friends agreed it tasted just like home. However, we were not wrapped in the ambiance of the place. It was next to the car park of a shopping centre and we had a bunch of screaming kids at the next table. It certainly isn't as nice as sitting on the beach at Sandgate.

After lunch we browsed through a neighbouring shop selling everything British. It was a very colourful and interesting shop. The prices were also interesting(high).

Anyway we bought some pork pies. eccles cakes and a small plum pudding.

There was merchandise for all the main British Football Teams. This was the Arsenal display and we wanted a cap in memory of my brother, who died early this year but they didn't have one. This was the team my brother supported. (The caps in the photo are for Liverpool team.) Luckily we were full from lunch so it was easy to resist all the expensive, delicious goodies. We had a good day out yesterday.

PARTY AGAIN

dianebohlen@gmail.com (diane) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:42:00 +0000

The party animal is out again. This time it was a Tennis Ladies Christmas Lunch. When I retired I was asked to join a Tuesday morning tennis group, I really enjoyed it, much better than going to work. However, when I took a term's contract at school, I couldn't go to tennis any more. Unfortunately many players had to pull out due to illness or injury and so there were not enough players to continue. The lovely thing is that the ladies decided to continue with their annual Christmas lunch even though we don't play on Tuesdays. Some still play with other groups on a Wednesday and Friday.

Sore knees, sore backs, sore shoulders don't stop us having lunch together, sadly others were not able to attend due to illness or other engagements. Sandy was a wonderful host and although it was a very hot day we were nice and cool on her shady veranda. We all bought a plate of salad foods and pavlova, fruit salad and ice cream. It was a delicious lunch with silly party hats. It was great to catch up with these friends. From right to left is Helen, Robyn, Sandy, her daughter Katrina, Glen, Kay and cheesy moi. I balanced my little point and shoot camera on top of a water bottle like the one in the photo, and hoped for the best.

In the shady tree next to the veranda we had a visitor.

It is a young, sulphur crested, white cockatoo.

Sandy (in the far background) had the most remarkable collection of wind chimes. She had them hanging all the way around the veranda. I couldn't get them all in the photo.

I am lucky to have so many nice friends.

The Garden Gets a Drink

dianebohlen@gmail.com (diane) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

My northern hemisphere friends are excited because it has started to snow well I am happy because it has started to rain. It has been so dry for months with only a little rain now and then. Last Sunday it really rained. We had a tropical down pour.

It rains so heavily that the gutters can't cope but the garden doesn't mind.

I could just run out in it and sing but I had to get ready for a party.

Yep, its raining at the back too. I wonder where the birds go?

Look at all that precious water washing down the drains. However, we manage to catch some here.......

The tank is full after five minutes and overflowing, which shouldn't happen if the installer had done a good job. One of the outlets is blocked. Must get it fixed one day. In 30 mins it was all over and the sun came out and the steam came up, but we didn't get wet at the party.

One More Party

dianebohlen@gmail.com (diane) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 07:58:00 +0000

Like most work places we have a staff Christmas party, it is also an end of the school year party. (Schools in Australia start the new school year in th last week of January) In the past we have had parties in private homes, in restaurants, and hotels but this year was going to be different. We were going to have it in the new school hall with caterers. Unfortunately, the hall wasn't finished by the completion date (typical of a govt. organisation). So with short notice the social committee had to come up with another venue. The members decided to have it in the school playground...??? that's something different. Anyway it turned out quite a lot of fun. We could socialise better than in a restaurant as you could move about more easily to meet others.

It was a balmy summer night, so sitting outside was pleasant. School tables and chairs were spread out in the gazebo area near the tuck shop. The school principal is giving me a wave.

The social club organised hilarious games for those who wanted to join in the fun. We had to tear a Christmas tree from paper behind our backs. We had to draw a Christmas picture with our eyes closed. We were told what and where to draw the items. These masterpieces were so funny to look at later.

The funniest game of all was where a team of 4 had to blow up 8 balloons push them into the legs of pantyhose.................

........Then put it on someone's head.......

....and they had to be the first to stand on a chair and sing "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer".....

...... Graham's team won and Nell's came second.....

Everyone had lots of fun.

In another game teams were in a relay. They had to wear oven mitts and undo a chocolate wrapper and feed it to the next team member and pass the mitts to them........

..and they had to run to the table and undo the next chocolate wrapper with the mitts on while eating the chocolate they were fed. The principal on the left joined in too. So we had lots of fun without a proper venue. We were lucky there were no summer storms that night.

Another Party

dianebohlen@gmail.com (diane) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 06:38:00 +0000

The school year is drawing to a close. We break for summer holidays next week. One of our most treasured Teacher's Aide, Judi, is leaving the school after being there for 10 years. Judi is so adaptable and can put her hand to any task we asked. Now she is leaving the area and moving back to a country town, where they were before coming here.
Another Aide, Paula, organised a farewell party at her home with the help of another Aide, Gaylene. Now Judi is renowned for her cooking talents and was always bringing goodies to school for our morning tea and other functions. So, Paula decided to make the theme of the party "Judi's Food Fest" and we all had to cook one of Judi's recipes to bring along to the party.
We had three courses: dips and cheese balls; savouries of all kinds and then cakes and slices all from Judi's recipe book. We had some fun games and then to every one's surprise a male stripper turned up.
On closer inspection we realised it was Paula's husband dressed up. He had dollar bills hanging out of his trousers. Judi didn't know where to look. Then she asked him what was drawn on his tummy. He said, "That's my six pack of course." He served us all champagne and we all had a good laugh. (He didn't strip in case you were wondering)
He sure made Judi's party a happy one. How brave was he to do this in front of a bunch of women. What a good sport. I have really enjoyed working with Judi and being her friend. Thank goodness for the Internet we will be able to keep in touch easily. Thanks to Paula, David and Gaylene for such a good party.

The Christmas Parties Have Started

dianebohlen@gmail.com (diane) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:56:00 +0000

On Saturday we had an end of year lunch with our ASOPA friends. We are a special group because we are some of the past students from the Australian School of Pacific Administration. (ASOPA). We were studying there to become teachers for the Territory of Papua/New Guinea and the Northern Territory of Australia in the early sixties. We came from all over Australia to ASOPA situated in Sydney. By the time Papua/New Guinea became independent in 1975 most of us had returned to Australia but to all different states. In 2002 exactly 40 years since we were in our first year at ASOPA we had our first reunion. People came from all over the country to Pt Macquarie in NSW for a 3 day reunion. It was great fun trying to recognise one another and catching up with forty years of life. In 2005 we had another reunion in Sydney and visited the old buildings of ASOPA. In 2007 we had another reunion in Brisbane but this time we included all students from the 40's to the 70's (when the school closed). Since then those of us who live in Brisbane continue to meet regularly for lunch.

ASOPA was a collection of ex Army unimpressive buildings but located in a fabulous position on Middle Head jutting into Sydney Harbour.

The buildings are still there but are unoccupied and falling into a bad state of disrepair.

I took this photo in 1962

I took this photo in 2005 when we all returned for a nostalgic visit and we were sad to see the buildings were in a worse state than we were 40 years on.

The sign has changed too. It is good to see that the Harbour Trust are going to restore some of the buildings.

This was the magic view of the harbour in 1962. We used to sit on the lawns in break times and soak up the vista.

In 2005 the view was nearly as good except the trees had grown in the way.

Dennis and Ros were at the lunch.

At ASOPA, Dennis was one of the youngest but one of the few to own a car.

Richard and Josephine were at the lunch.

Richard was posted to a very remote village in the Territory of Papua/New Guinea. (TPNG.)

This was the transport in and out of the village. Josephine was the only white woman for miles. Don't you love the sunnies?

Bill now lives near Melbourne but he flew to Brisbane and joined us for lunch.

Bill enjoys athletics and won gold in the Pacific Games. He recently participated in the Masters' Games in 800 metres hurdles. I think he might be the fittest one of us oldies.

Joseph and Kathryn came to lunch in their green campervan called Kermit. They have just returned from a 7 month trip around Australia.

Joseph grew up in TPNG and returned to teach there as a very young man.

Colin came to lunch. He is single so he borrowed Katherine for this photo.

Here Colin is enjoying one of the many parties we had while at ASOPA. (Dont know why he is still single, we all loved him)

Of course Bill and I never miss a lunch at the Swiss Restaurant. I had a seafood crepe.

My first week teaching in TPNG. I was to stay for 7 years and they were some of the best years of my life.

I must apologise to Henry, who also joined us for lunch but I didn't get a photo of him. Hopefully someone will send me one and I can include him here.

Its Warming Up

dianebohlen@gmail.com (diane) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 01:09:00 +0000

This morning I set off for my morning walk at 7:00am. I could already feel the humidity and burning sun. After 20 mins in the heat I entered the cooler shade of the forest but I could feel the perpiration oozing as I climbed the hills, but I still had time to admire the native plants.

The little cones of a Sheoak tree.

I saw these cute little berries but I don't know the plant. Maybe bloggers, Titania or Alice could help here.

I love the patterns that lichen makes as it grows over the rocks. Such a tiny plant.

Another native flower ,which I don't know the name. Methinks I should do some research.

The hot morning sun shines through a eucalyptus leaf just before it falls. We don't have Autumn leaves here in Brisbane but the leaves fall and renew all the year round and all the leaves don't fall at the same time. I guess its a bit like a dog moulting. When I got home I jumped into a cold shower and checked the temperature it was already 30C/86F at 8:30am. It is a sure reminder that summer starts in 2 days.

A Blogalk in Springwood Conservation Park

dianebohlen@gmail.com (diane) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 06:58:00 +0000

Come for another walk with me. Springwood is the next suburb to Daisy Hill. It takes about 20 mins to walk there, then we enter the park and walk another 20 mins home. Its a circuit walk. It has been left in its natural state except for the pathways and steps.

Let's go!

We walked up hill to get here so now it is mostly down hill from now on....easy peasy.

Over the little bridge.

There is not a drop of water under the bridge, we haven't had rain for months.

Climb a little rise and wow........

...we can see all over Logan City (adjoins Brisbane City) all the way south to Tamborine Mountains and even further to Lamington Mountains.

Now it is a tumble down hill, its fun and pretty

Look back at the typical Australian scrubby bushland or dry Eucalyptus forest before....

...crossing over the road and entering......

....suburbia again. Hope you enjoyed this blogalk. Next post we will have a closer look at the flora in the park.

A CLOSER LOOK

dianebohlen@gmail.com (diane) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:39:00 +0000

Can you guess what it is?

A closer look at the bark of a tree.....

...in Daisy Hill Forest.

On my walk through the forest, I enjoy getting a closer look at nature.

Above are new eucalyptus leaves shooting.

The grey silvery leaves of an Acacia (Wattle) Tree.

These little red flowers look like bunny rabbits.

Joey is getting a closer look at me.

SEAGULLS AT SANDGATE

dianebohlen@gmail.com (diane) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:13:00 +0000

Now and then we get together with friends, Alma and Bill, for fish and chips by the bay.

Alma and Bill are our son in law's parents and they live near Sandgate on Moreton Bay just north of Brisbane. They give us a call, pack a picnic and we just turn up. We found a table in the shade and sat in the cool bay breeze to devour fish and chips and salad washed down with a glass of bubbly wine. We toasted the imminent return of our children from London. We also toasted our other daughter who is expecting our first grandchild.

After lunch a flock of seagulls begged us for scraps.

I'm sure they shouldn't eat chips but it made some interesting shots.

BLUE IN THE FACE

dianebohlen@gmail.com (diane) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:03:00 +0000

Spring is here, although it is more like summer now with the temperature at 35C or 95F. With Spring comes lots of new baby birds, how sweet they are UNTIL they start squawking to be fed at 4:30am. Then they are not sweet any more in my mind, as I'm trying to sleep.

They have a monotonous TWEET, TWEET, TWEET, TWEET call. It is an annoying sound. like a tap dripping. I go outside and call to them to be quiet until I am "blue in the face" but they ignore me and keep on tweeting. However, they are quite cute in an ugly way and I really love birds so I took the camera out to observe them.

I think this is mother bird. She is on the look out for danger from other birds.

I think this is father bird. He is a Blue Faced Honey Eater. He's probably gone blue in the face telling the chicks to be quiet.

He is finding food for the little ones from the Banksia flower, it is full of nectar.

Both mother and father have just fed the chicks.

Mother is keeping guard over the chicks while father has gone for more food. Throughout this whole process the smallest baby continued with its boring Tweet, Tweet.

A few days later I spied the biggest baby trying to feed itself....hooray. It had trouble trying to keep balance.

Then the smallest baby arrived. The bigger baby fluttered to another cone, Father is in the background and the little one continues to squawk to be fed, while sitting right next to the flower providing the source of food. I'm thinking..."C'mon kid get stuck into it and stop whinging"

Mother turns up but they all start preening and scratching, while baby continues to squawk

It finally had a little nibble and then both babies had a nap. Peace for a few minutes. It is fun watching them but I hope they hurry up and grow up and leave the nest. In the meantime I put in ear plugs at 4:30 am. The rest of the day I put up with it. At this very moment the baby is sitting next to the flower and it tweets and then pecks at the flower for a bit then tweets and eats and tweets and eats. I'm thinking...."Just eat and never mind the tweets." I can see them from my study window over the top of my computer. I actually photographed them through the glass.

A Blogalk in Brisbane City

dianebohlen@gmail.com (diane) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:33:00 +0000

Last week caught the train to Central and walked along Ann St to collect a Photobook that I had printed of the photos I took on our Kimberly Top End Holiday. We were very pleased with the book. Then we walked to King George Square, we passed The Palace Hotel......

...with its ornate wrought iron lacework balconies.

Then I spied this lovely old building squashed between the high rise offices. It is the School of Arts. The postman is pushing his cart in front and the little green vehicle is a gum cleaning machine.

A bit further along this beautiful church is dwarfed by more high rise.

.....and another one

...and another one.

The old Treasury building is now a casino.

The Petrie Tableau sculpture in King George Square. Made by Stephen Walker in 1988 for the bicentenary in honour of the early Brisbane settlers. It depicts The Petrie family and aboriginal neighbours in 1842. They are saying good bye to Andrew Petrie who is departing on an expedition to the west. The boy, John, holding the horse became the Mayor of Brisbane.
I found a kangaroo to cuddle.
Bill found a pretty girl to cuddle. She was promoting a beer.

A Blogalk by the Lake

dianebohlen@gmail.com (diane) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:25:00 +0000

We walk through the suburban streets for 20 minutes, passing by a Jacaranda still in flower.

Then we take a path through a small park which leads us to the edge of Lake Dennis. It is...

a very small man made lake. It was made by a pioneer called Dennis, who made the dam to hold water for his cattle and crops back in the 1800's. The land has subsequently been sold and developed into housing estates and the Dam donated to the council for the people.

We walk along the dam wall to the other side.

Admire the gracefulness of a vine crawling over a stump.....

...and some ducks busily foraging instead of posing for the camera.

Now we are on the other side you can look back across the lake in the other direction.

Admire the lily pads and the artistic fall of a dead tree before climbing a steep hill back into suburbia for a different way home.

BLOGALKING in DAISY HILL

dianebohlen@gmail.com (diane) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:17:00 +0000

I have invented a new word: "blogalking". Now I have to think of a definition...mmmm... It means blog walking, like when you follow someone on a walk on their blog....mmmm... or....A virtual walk in blogland. Anyway I'm going to take you on a walk through Daisy Hill Conservation Park.

We walk along the ring road for a while then.....

....take one of the many walking tracks.

Stop to admire the plants (I think this might be an imported one that has become a weed.)

As we enter the picnic area we bump into some wallabies having breakfast.

This one has a Joey in her pouch.

Many people like getting married in the forest and they hire this bush chapel with its rows of log seats.

Then back out onto the ring road to the exit, but before that, admire........

...the morning sun shining through the wattle seed pods. Then walk home for breakfast.

Keeping in Touch with Teaching

dianebohlen@gmail.com (diane) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:30:00 +0000

Although I retired from teaching after 33 years, I still get offered short contracts at my old school. I rather enjoy these short times back in the workforce to keep me on my toes and the old grey matter ticking over, not to mention the extra money to go towards our travel fund. A few weeks ago I was asked to replace the teacher helping kids with difficulties, while she was away. It was interesting to see the changes since my last visit in April.

The hit up wall has gone from this concrete pad as it might fall down and squash someone, but the netball, basketball and tennis court is still there. The grounds are still looking nice.

This playground is still here.

Wow, and new play equipment and artificial grass has been installed between the buildings.

A brand new hall and offices are being constructed.

Many schools got new buildings this year as part of the government's plan to give the economy a boost and provide jobs. It seems to have worked as we are on the way out of the slump and we never fell into recession as deep as other countries, thank goodness.

On the last day at school I had finished all my jobs half an hour before the bell. I went into a Year 2 class to see if they needed any help. I helped them make a Chinese lantern. When the children had finished they could choose a free choice activity for the last few minutes of the day.

I was fascinated with this group of girls using the new interactive white boards. We never had them when I was teaching full time.
The teachers had to do an inservice course to learn how to operate them. The kids were having fun with an educational game.

This group opted to model with play dough or construct with Lego.

Some used the computers.

Sadly no one chose to read. However, many of them are still learning English.

BIRTHDAY BEAR GOES WHALE WATCHING

dianebohlen@gmail.com (diane) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:11:00 +0000

(If you are unfamiliar with our Birthday Bear tradition read about it HERE.)

Yesterday it was Ann's birthday and Helen and Paul's turn to dress Birthday Bear. Ann and George have been recently on a holiday on the Gold Coast. They were in a high rise apartment and could watch the whales from their balcony, migrating north to the warmer water for the breeding season.

So Birthday Bear came to the birthday lunch in her seaside gear and binoculars for whale watching. She had her mobile phone, camera and a curled up sun hat just like Ann's. The whales were frolicking in the sea too.
Ann was happy to see her bear. She said how much fun it is when you know its your turn for Birthday Bear and you are wondering how it will be dressed.
The birthday lunch was at the Gem Hotel at Jacob's Well. We all had a big roast lunch except Bill who had a delicious Barramundi grilled fish with lemon sauce.

On the way home we called into the Prawn Farm for some ultra fresh prawns.

They are grown nearby on the Logan River (This is a photo of a photo)

Birthday Bear checked out what was for sale in the little kiosk. Besides prawns there were..

..pumpkins and...

Kitch figurines made out of beer cans. The sales assistant asked us if we had a sense of humour and proceded to lift up the figurine's shirt to show us it was in fact a male (if you are easily offended please don't scroll any further and hopefully no children are looking over your shoulder.)

Birthday Bear! What are you looking at?

IT'S RAINING or is it?

dianebohlen@gmail.com (diane) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:51:00 +0000

I welcome the sight of rain clouds gathering overhead, hoping, hoping that they will drop plenty of well needed rain on our parched garden and brown grass. We have had a few showers over the last few days but not the amount needed to soak into the ground.

Hopefully this time it will last longer.

Yes! Here it is, I hope it stays and doesn't blow over.

The leaves and trees love it.

I love it!

My neighbour loves it!

Look! Real raindrops, as precious as diamonds.

Alas! I no sooner came inside and it stopped.

The clouds disappeared and back to our beautiful blue sky. (It is very unusual for us to see plane vapour trails in Brisbane as the air is usually too warm. Maybe because it had just rained is the reason this one occurred but if you look closely it has stopped and the plane is heading for the corner of the photo without its trail.)

The birds are all excited now that they can find water easily. They are singing and chirping like mad and in the case of the parrots, screeching noisily. It is great to hear they are all happy.

The Magpies are warbling and squawking for food.

The Butcher Bird is singing for his supper and

I am wishing for more rain.

MORE GOOD NEWS

dianebohlen@gmail.com (diane) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:00:00 +0000

In 2001 Carol-Ann and David decided to go to London to get more experience in their professions, so it was with sadness but goodwill we said our goodbyes.

Carol soon got a good job as an interior designer and was even given a car by the company. Things were going well for her. After a few years they came home for a while but soon London was calling again. David had won a job with the BBC as resident composer.

So in 2005 we said goodbye again.

They had fallen in love with London. The parks and ......

...fine dining.

They both worked hard and enjoyed hopping over to the continent now and then for holidays.

Paris

Italy and many other countries.

Carol was sent by the company to do jobs in Switzerland, Holland, Italy, Ireland, USA, and Dubai. They came home last Christmas for a holiday but it wasn't long before we were saying goodbye again.

David was composing music for TV productions and Carol was senior interior designer and an Associate Director of the company now, so we understood why they wanted to return to London.

They loved England and.....

....Switzerland and...

...Italy.

The Good News is that they are homesick and due to the recession, now depression, in the UK their jobs are not as exciting as they were so they have resigned and they have bought one way tickets home. (I hope they can find work here and stay for ever and ever)

GOOD NEWS

dianebohlen@gmail.com (diane) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:17:00 +0000

Our daughters, Sonya 35 (left) and Carol-Ann 37 (right). Sonya lives in Sydney and Carol-Ann lives in London.
A few years ago Sonya went to work at the Edinburgh Festival and the girls spent a few days together in Scotland. Another time Sonya went to work at the Brighton Festival and Carol visited her there.
Some time later Sonya returned to work in Edinburgh but this time her partner Bernie went also.
After their job was done they had a holiday in Wales with Carol and David.

They meet with Bernie for the first time.Then Sonya and Bernie returned to work in Sydney.
They visit us in Brisbane occasionally.

The Good News is that Sonya and Bernie are going to have a baby next May. Yeah! We are going to be grandparents.

Feral Tomatoes

dianebohlen@gmail.com (diane) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:51:00 +0000

For those who don't know, I like gardening but I am hopeless at growing vegetables. However with BB's help I persevered but with very little success. We bought soil from the nursery and planted beans, silver beet, tomatoes and lettuce. We picked a few meals of beans, silver beet and lettuce but then everything suddenly died. We planted again and nothing came up. We bought a ph test kit and the readings were not far off normal. Anyway we hit the soil with Ammonia Nitrate, blood and bone and compost from kitchen scraps. I noticed that not even weeds would grow in the patch but one little tomato plant appeared as a volunteer from the kitchen scraps. In the meantime I added fertiliser. Suddenly the tomato bush exploded! We kept putting a new stake in every few days until we ran out of stakes but it kept growing into a monster, feral, bush with heaps of flowers. (But nothing else grew??) The bush has been producing Cherry Tomatoes for the last few weeks, lots of them.

The bush crawled over the path.

Now the leaves are dying but the fruit is still ripening.

This is the other side of the bush where it grew over the wallaby proof fence.

Today's crop.

The day before yesterday's crop......every second day a bowl full.

I have filled many containers and given them to neighbours and friends (BB doesn't like them). Some I turn into chutney, which is a wonder since I can't cook for peanuts.

Cut a cross on the bottom.

Drop them into boiling water for a minute. Let them cool.

Chop up an apple.

Peel the slippery little devils.

Chop them if you can be bothered.

Chop two cloves of garlic, wash the smell off your hands.

Chop an onion, have tissues handy.

Fry onion and garlic in oil.

Add tomatoes and apple.

Add quarter cup of brown sugar, and malt vinegar, teaspoon of mustard powder and curry powder.

Add a pinch of salt and pepper and let simmer for an hour or until it is thick and slushy like chutney. Taste it and hope for the best.

Then bottle it and fill all the shelves in the fridge with Feral Tomato Relish.