DAISY HILL CONSERVTION PARK (OR MY FOREST)

 Our retirement village borders onto Daisy Hill Forest its fancy name is Conservation Park. I call it my forest because I have been walking in this forest for 55 years. We have lived in three different homes but all close to the forest. However, I had back surgery one year ago and had complications afterwards which left me in a lot of pain. I couldn't walk far. At last my GP has tweeked my pain medication and I can walk again in the forest. We have had loads of rain this year, more than usual and the forest is very green but some of the walking trails have been damaged. However, I decided it's time to tackle a forest walk again. 

This track has been made suitable for disabled people. It is the one that starts from the street in front of our village.

This is another easy track to walk.

It continues onto a boardwalk over the creeks.

The creeks are orange coloured due to a bacteria growing in the water.

I came across interesting fungi and .......

and moss covered logs. The rangers don't move fallen trees unless they are across a track. Their reasoning is it is natural for trees to fall and rot in a forest to keep the nutrients in the soil.

After a while I turned back towards home. The grassy undergrowth has enjoyed all our recent rain.

There is the village behind the road entry.

I bypass the road entry and walk along the track that runs parallel to our village boundary.

We have our own private entry/exit to the forest.

I walk up the hill to our street which is off to left in this photo.

This is our street, Tranquil Ave. We live down past the pedestrian crossing on the left. I'm so happy to be able to walk in my forest again.

WALK AROUND THE VILLAGE

I am so happy that the pain killers are working well. I don't feel the nerve pain caused by the nerves being squashed by arthritis and a vertebrae slip. I can now walk with my buddies of a morning. In the afternoon Bill and I walk around the village. I took photos of some of the flowers and lizards on the way.

                                                              Pretend Mushrooms

Orchid

Water Dragon

Bird of paradise

Banksia leaves shooting

Orchid

Grevillea

Gum blossom

UNDERWOOD PARK LAGOON

 So the weather has cooled down and the rain has stopped. Just perfect for a walk around the lagoon.

The ducks are resting on the tree.

Bill managed without a stick or wheelie walker.

Lots of water dragons on the path around the lagoon.

Duck nap time and one cormorant.

Then home for dinner. Vienna sausages with sauerkraut, potatoes, carrots and beans. (We only cook easy meals these days)

Washing down lunch with Chianti.

Evening visitor in our street.

BELATED BILL'S BIRTHDAY

We have been busy with doctors blah blah but we're all okay now and I see how far behind in posts I am. So here are some past photos of Bill's Birthday in February. Our wonderful daughters organised a birthday lunch at a lovely Italian Restaurant on the riverside in Brisbane. It was called "Ciao Papi" so a fitting place for papi's Birthday celebration.

Views of the Brisbane River from our table.

The family minus son in law David, who was at home in Melbourne.

A Birthday candle in Bill's favourite, Tiramisu.

Happy 82nd Birthday

ST PATRICKS DINNER

 On St Patricks Day we had a special dinner at the village Community Centre. Everyone wore green. We had a new team of Year 12 High School students doing the serving and helping in the kitchen. They did a good job and the chef even complimented them. We enjoyed the meal and companionship and the Irish jokes.

The Village Singers sung Irish Songs.

Bill had recovered from his operation so he could join us.

 Students did a good job at serving.

Green dessert.

Orange dessert

Line dancing to Irish music.

Ann the Dinner coordinator thanks the students and their teachers (the first two from this end) Our two chefs are in the background.

We all had a good time.

WE ARE SAFE

We had a worrying time but its all over and we are safe and our unit did not get any damage. The worst was the waiting for Tropical Cyclone Alfred to cross the coast. It was a category 2 but moving very slowly. so we were living in apprehension for three days or more. We saw it tearing the Gold Coast to shreds and it was scary thinking that would happen to us. Finally, Alfred crept slowly towards us and started losing power as it hit the coastal islands. We had howling winds and pouring rain but luckily we stayed safe. Our unit didn't leak and nothing was damaged outside. The worst part was that we were without power all of the next day. So many trees had blown down electricity wires. There was 350 thousand homes without power. Some are still waiting to be reconnected. 

We had cold turkey sandwiches and sparkling water for tea/dinner. We played board games in candlelight to pass the time. The next day it just poured rain non stop all day and night. The cyclone had turned into a low pressure and it was stationary over Brisbane. Many creeks and rivers flooded. Silly people drove through flood waters and had to be rescued. Only one life was lost but many houses ruined by flood water. People were madly filling sand bags to stop the water entering homes and businesses.

I drove to the doctor today (check up after cataract surgery 3 weeks ago.) On the way I saw many huge trees on the ground. Some houses were flattened by fallen trees. We were so lucky to have missed the bullet.

When the rain eased a little I walked down the hill from our unit to the front of the village and took a few photos my shoes and jeans got soaking wet even with a big umbrella.

CYCLONE ALFRED

 Cyclone (Hurricane) Alfred is heading right towards us. We have brought in all the outside furniture and pot plants. We have stocked up with water and food, torches and candles. Luckily we are not in a flood zone although there is a creek which passes under our access road to shops. It was supposed to hit tonight but its speed has slowed but not its intensity. So it is now expected to cross the coast tomorrow. The Gold Coast is already experiencing high winds and huge waves.