SWITZERLAND'S NATIONAL DAY IS ON AUGUST 1

Switzerland is 735 years old (Traditional Founding – 1291): Switzerland traces its origins back to the beginning of August 1291, when the three cantons of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden signed the Federal Charter (Bundesbrief) to pledge mutual defence. This alliance forms the basis for Swiss National Day (celebrated annually on August 1st).

Our daughter, Sonya, invited us to celebrate Swiss National Day at her home. So we dressed in Swiss jackets and shirts and with a bottle of Kirsch we set off for the northern suburbs of Brisbane.

 Our SIL, Bernie cooked us a traditional Swiss Cheese Fondu, where you dip a piece of bread on a long fork into melted cheese and then pop it in your mouth.

Bernie likes to add other foods to dip, like roasted potato and blanched broccoli. He also provided chunks of apple and pear,

Grandson Fox joined us but Banjo had been invited to a friends house. He was a little disappointed to be missing out on Fondu.

BLOOMING WATTLE

During our morning walks we have noticed that the Wattle is blooming everywhere. In gardens, in the forest and in the streets the bright yellow balls of Wattle are bursting out and decorating the Acacia trees. There are many different varieties but all are green and gold. Some people suffer from asthma when the yellow balls appear with loads of pollen. The Wattle is Australia's national emblem and the green and gold are our national sporting colours.

This tree is just outside my study window. I took the photo early this morning when I returned from our walk. 

The flower on this tree has a long flower but still has tiny balls too.

This one is in our village garden.

THE BEST WEEKEND

The family from Melbourne came to visit and family in Brisbane came too except for son in law Bernie who is filming in Malaya at the moment in a show called 'Survivor'. Carol and David came to visit David's parents and siblings and us too.

We had a great weekend. We had a special lunch on Sunday. A Swiss Raclette where you grill cheese on potatoes on a table grill. We added all sorts of food on top of the grill. It was fun and delicious.

After lunch we all went for a walk in the forest which is right next to our village. Silly blogger put all the photos in reverse order.

The oldies

Sonya ,David ,Bill and me.

Helping Bill navigate the special entrance to the forest.

The raclette grill

Enjoying a Raclette lunch.

Preparing lunch. 

Banjo and Fox are getting tall. Banjo is 14 and fox is 16 and learning to drive. He has a job in a restaurant after school and on weekends. 

PROUD MEMORIES FROM 1990

 Our girls went to high school at John Paul College a local school. It was a private Christian college. In 1990 Carol had finished school and was at University but Sonya was in Year 11 at JPC. Both girls had followed in their father's footsteps and played the trumpet. They had both been in the school concert band and marching band. Marching Bands were not popular in Australian schools but the music teacher at JPC decided to form a marching band at JPC. The school invited Canadian Marching Bands to visit JPC and coach the teachers and children in marching band techniques. 

In 1990 JPC Marching Band was invited to the Calgary Stampede and the International Marching Band competition in Calgary. The children organised all kinds of fund raising activities to raise $500,000 the cost of getting 200 children to Canada and Disneyland in LA.

Sonya is on the right.

After months of practice and fund raising they were on their way.

Carol farewelling her sister at the airport.

The students almost filled the 747. (Sonya second row on the right) They had 15 hours to travel to LA and then more to Calgary. The students were billeted by Canadian families. They had to quickly adjust to the time difference and be ready for an 8km march through Calgary. The flag girls came first and the band came second.

Sonya left.

They performed in a concert and later in the International Marching Band Competition.

We couldn't believe the news that John Paul College had won the competition against Canadian and American teams. (Blue and red uniforms)

On the ay home they were invited to March at Disneyland and the Spruce Goose.

There was a huge welcome home crowd at the airport with banners and balloons. The captains of the band held their trophies high as they emerged from customs.

Carol congratulated her sister.

Bill, Grandma and I were all very proud.

GOODBYE OLIVIA

 Every Friday evening is Happy Hour at the Community Centre in our village. Residents take a plate of nibblies and buy drinks from the bar and spend the evening socialising. Last Friday was a special evening because we were saying goodbye to one of our staff members. Olivia was our accountant and she is also the daughter of Chiou See who built the village but sold it a few years ago. It was an emotional evening for Olivia.  In her speech she mentioned how she had lived in a caravan on the village site when she was a child with her mother and two siblings. So the village was like a second home for her. Now she is ready to move on in her life to new adventures.

Over a hundred residents came to Happy Hour to say goodbye to Olivia.

One of our residents, Adrian, is a poet and he wrote the lyrics to a farewell song sung by the village singers.

Olivia's mother, Chiou See came to the farewell party.

It was an emotional time for Olivia and her mother, Chiou See.

As usual at Happy Hour there is a raffle to raise money for the Workshop. Lucky me won one of the prizes.

A SCOOT IN THE FOREST

 Sonya came to visit us on Sunday. She loves to take the dog for a walk in the forest. She talked her dad into taking the scooter into the forest. It was a bit tricky getting through the special gate for prams and scooters but not for motor bikes. But after the gravel path there were lots of concrete pathways for the scooter. So Sonya, the dog, Chief, the old man and the old woman entered the forest. The picnic park was full of visitors and the smell of barbecued sausages and steak made my mouth water. 

This is the path from the village into the forest.

It is a gravel path but suitable for scooters. It was instigated by one of our residents, Rex, who was confined to a scooter. He badgered the local MP to make a mobility scooter access to the forest. Unfortunately, Rex is no longer with us but we remember him when on his path.

The path goes into the picnic area, which gets busy on weekends.

Bill and daughter, Sonya with Chief the dog.

I saw this scrub turkey walking along a fence this morning on my walk.

MORNING WALK

The rain has stopped so we can get back to morning walks. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday I walk with my long time walking buddies Helen, Maureen and Joan. Maureen and Joan felt like they needed a break on Tuesday and Thursday. However, Helen and I wanted to do every morning Mon-Fri. We have met two other girls, Lee and Dianne, who walk everyday so we asked if Helen and I could join them on Tuesday and Thursday.  Lee and Dianne walk in the forest. So yesterday we walked in the forest. It is still dark when I get up at 6:00am but it is light when we start to walk.

6:30 Daisy Hill Forest

Helen sets a good pace and knocks down the spider webs for us. She is the tallest one of us.

The sun is struggling to wake up.

On the way back its much lighter.

It is depressing though because even with all this walking I'm putting on weight 

probably because I eat too much.

I cooked sausages and mash, Bill's favourite meal.

Another favourite is spaghetti and meatballs.