A CELEBRATION AT THE GLASSHOUSE MOUNTAINS

The Glasshouse Mountains are an hour and half drive north of Brisbane. They were named by Captain James Cook back in 1770 when he discovered the east coast of Australia. As he sailed north he saw the mountains reflecting sun on the water falling down the mountainsides looking like glass so he named them the Glasshouse Mountains. They are actually volcanic cores left behind as the volcanoes weathered away over millions of years. 

The Glasshouse Mountains

There is a village nearby which is also called Glasshouse Mountains and that is where my friend's, Ben and Lyn daughter Yolande lives. Yolande organised a party for her parents' Golden Anniversary (50 years). So we drove there last weekend and attended their party. (And ate too much food). There were many relatives and friends there. 

Bill and his friend, Ben migrated from Switzerland together back in 1967. They came here to learn English, stay here for the required two years and then return home to Switzerland. Somehow that didn't happen. They fell in love with Australia and Australians. They both married and stayed forever. We have stayed friends since then. 

Friends since the seventies.

50 years married. Cutting the Black Forest Cake a favourite of the Europeans.

Ben and Lyn had three children, Natalie, (in green top), Yolande (in pink top) and Jason (behind Lyn with no cap) The rest are grandchildren and great grandchild. Lyn is holding a book of their lives together and a voucher for a holiday given to them from their children. It was fun meeting all the other friends and relatives. After eating too much party food we made our way home. I slept well that night.

A BIG MORNING TEA TO RAISE MONEY FOR CANCER RESEARCH

Residents and friends gathered together to raise money for cancer research and enjoy a big morning tea.

The food was prepared and served by volunteer residents.

There were many raffle tickets sold for these lovely prizes. I won a prize for having a lucky dot under my placemat.

Terry and Kathleen organised the morning tea with volunteer helpers.

Just one of the many tables.

We had a professor give a short speech about cancer. We also had trivia games and raffles.

Bill enjoying his scooter.

He passes our only Autumn tree in the street.

OVERSEAS VISITORS

A few weeks ago I received a text message from my niece in UK. She said her partner and she were visiting Australia, the first time in many years.  Liz, my late brother's daughter and her partner, David. David had never been to Australia before. They flew into Melbourne where they hired a car and started an amazing journey. They visited relatives in Melbourne and drove to South Australia and visited relatives in Adelaide then back to Melbourne and north to the border of NSW where her brother lives in Wodonga. Then they tackled the long long trip from Melbourne to Brisbane to visit us. David was sure getting a good look at Australia. Finally they arrived at our place where they stayed for a few days before continuing north to the Sunshine Coast. Then they return to Brisbane to fly back home next week. It was so nice to see them. I hadn't seen Liz  for many decades. 

They were only here for a few days. We managed to show them the Gold Coast and Mt Tamborine.

We had lunch at Miami Beach.

After lunch we drove into the hinterland and up to Mt Tamborine.

Then it was time to say goodbye.

THEN THE SUN CAME OUT

We have had rain for a week and I was not able to go for my morning walks with my friends. However, today the sun came out so at 6:30 in the morning chill we set off for our walk through Priest Gully. There was evidence of all the rain that we have had.

Back in the village the flowers were drenched in raindrops.

Later we went for coffee at "Coffee in the Woods". It is a timber showroom with a coffee shop inside. It was something different.

LAST WEEK

A friend told me about a cheese shop in Mt Cotton. Since Bill loves cheese, we went for a drive to explore the cheese shop. We weren't disappointed and came home with a bag full of cheese.

Bill enjoys going for scoot around the village and stopping to chat with neighbours.

John with Bonnie the dog.

On the weekend we were invited to Sonya's house for lunch. The house is still being renovated but its getting close to finishing. Bernie is doing most of the work himself. He buys a lot of items from FB Marketplace. Fox has a broken finger from playing football.

Every month I go to lunch with a group of ladies who we met through U3A classes. This day we went to a dumpling restaurant. I shared this dish with a friend.

Sonya, Bernie and Banjo came to visit on Sunday. Banjo enjoyed trying out Grandad's scooter.

We went to a local Thai restaurant for lunch. Fox stayed home because he didn't feel 100%. Its so good having them live in Brisbane now.

 

MOTHER'S DAY, WEDDING ANNIVERSARY AND FOX'S BIRTHDAY

 In Australia Mother's Day is on the second Sunday in May. So today is Mother's Day. We have been invited to our daughter's place for lunch. This year Mother's Day has fallen on the 10th May, which is also our 57th wedding anniversary and next Wednesday it is Fox's 16th birthday so we have a lot to celebrate today.

This is when Bill proposed to me at the Mandarin Restaurant in Port Moresby in January1969. We were married on 10 May 1969.

57 years later 2026

A new Mum.

An old Mum

Fox born 2010

Fox 2026

 
 

BILL GETS WHEELS

 After Bill had a fall back in 2023 he has found walking quite an effort even though I insist he has a 15 min walk every afternoon. This meant I had to drive him to the community centre in the village when we attended functions there. So we invested in a mobility scooter for him. He has a new lease on life whizzing around the village and stopping to chat to people. I will still take him for a walk every afternoon.

The scooter arrives. It is bright green.

Taking it for a trial run.

Everyone who saw him told me he had a big smile on his face as he rode by.

He stops to chat to neighbours.

 We had a street party last week. It is usually held outside on fold up tables and chairs but the weather was wet so Rosa offered her home for us to party in. Bill had a chat to Rosa's gingerbread man.

It was our grandson, Banjo's fourteenth birthday last week and we celebrated at a nice Italian Restaurant but silly me didn't take a photo of the birthday boy. However I took one of his mum and dad.