Brisbane, QLD


Tuesday, March 26, 2013

RETIREMENT IS HARD WORK

I have been so busy with retirement jobs that I haven't been keeping up with my blogging. Besides that we had a bad storm which interrupted our internet for a few days. So I have some catching up to do. Feedly tells me that I have missed reading 640 posts. Ooops.

Some of the jobs that have kept me busy are; planning holidays to Cape York, Tamworth and the Hunter Valley, visiting the travel agent, planning lessons for University of the Third Age, presenting lessons to U3A, going to lunch with friends, playing tennis, going bush walking, going to the gym, going to committee meetings, having friends stay over and skyping with grand children. This retirement business is hard work having fun.

Another "hard day's work" was our recent day trip to the Workshops Rail Museum for a shoot with our camera club.

 These workshops have been operating since 1865. Thousands of people have worked here which was Queensland's centre of rail construction, maintenance and technology. Over 200 steam locomotives plus 11,000 wagons were constructed here. Today the site is still active looking after the states heritage railway fleet and housing Australia's biggest rail museum.
 This interesting old building used to be the offices, where the 3000 workers would clock on and off for work.
 When you forget your tripod anything will do.

 A tilt train which is used today in Queensland on long distance runs.

 After exploring the museum we were taken on a tour of the workshops. We started by a ride on the transverser. A very wide type of bogey that could line up with rails between the buildings to take on loads.


These are the oldest buildings, built by an English company to an English design with steep roofs for the snow to slide off. That makes sense in a place where it never snows.

A few workers are still here maintaining heritage locomotives.



It was a hard day's work taking photos in this interesting museum.

35 comments:

  1. You are one of the busiest retired people I know and that is indeed what keeps you young! What a fun place to go take pictures!

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  2. Your life is just a whirlwind of pleasure. You took some interesting shots of the engines. My favourite is the close up of the wheels.

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  3. I always say --- if we have to go out, let us do it having lots of fun. You go girl! I love these pictures and the machinery that one of them showed is fascinating. Amazing that everything worked as well as it did.

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  4. some very cool shots! i admire you so much. you and djan are the busiest, most active 'retirees' in blogland!

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  5. It's wonderful that you remain so active and full of life, instead of sitting at home doing nothing. I hope I am like you when that time comes.

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  6. a place i would love to visit and the buildings are just wonderful...

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  7. Good pictures - I'm not a 'railway gal' but can see how this would have been a good day out.

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  8. Hi Diane, love your photos! As long as you make time to relax and enjoy yourself, keeping busy is really the best thing! Here in Quebec the government is encouraging employers to hire people 55 and over, as they have found that active people are happier and healthier. Thanks for continuing to share your photos and life, I really enjoy your blog.

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  9. You are the ultimate example of what retirement is all about. Staying BUSY is the key --but busy doing the things we want to do... YEAH!!!!

    I'm happy for you---and don't blame you at all for not blogging much these days. Life is too short --and we need to do what we want to do as long as possible. Congrats....

    Great photos.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  10. The admin office building is great. I hope it has fire sprinklers. So who won the staring down contest in the last photo?

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  11. You made me laugh, those oldies are busier as ever. The pictures are beautiful. Keep going and enjoying.

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  12. Well, you know, as long as you aren't lazing around eating chocolates! Sounds like you've been having a great time and have some great plans...

    Do you like Feedly (when it doesn't have a million missed posts?). I've been using Google REader, which is going away, so I have to find something new as a sub.

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  13. I believe keeping busy keeps you young. I love planning trips and doing research on places to see and things to do. I can not imagine being without the internet. I think most people understand your life is more important than blogging, but I was happy to see this post. Great shots, looks like a fun time with the photography club. Have a great week!

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  14. I really really want to visit this museum I love trains and old trains are awesome...........loved the photos you have shared here thank you

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  15. You are indeed busy, but honestly you seem to have more fun than just about anyone I know!

    And GOOD FOR YOU!!

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  16. You are indeed busy, but honestly you seem to have more fun than just about anyone I know!

    And GOOD FOR YOU!!

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  17. Must take in that museum sometime we visit Brissie. Doing retirement your way is not only busy it must cost a fortune!

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  18. Before I retired people would ask me what I was going to do with all my free time. Like you, I've found retirement to be hard work. I may need to get a job so I can have a break!

    This museum looks like a fascinating place to visit.

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  19. " Your zest for work and hobbies etc just leave me flabbergasted" from Maureen

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  20. Yours is the sort of retirement I'm longing for! It all seems so far away though. I'll just have to enjoy yours instead, even if it's vicariously! Great photos!

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  21. You sure do pack a lot into your days Diane. Ha! I've used that 'leaning on a rail' trick so many times myself..a good substitute for a tripod.

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  22. It always makes me happy to hear when people enjoy their retirement instead of staying home and thinking of all kind of diseases they may catch !
    What an interesting excursion !

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  23. HaHaHa, I love the title of this post. I just can't relate to those retired people who are bored and say they have nothing to do. We joke that we need to go back to work in order to get a rest! Your kind of busy sounds pretty fun!!

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  24. Lovely post, some great photos here. I love the old buildings, so different to what we see here. I thought I was going to have more time when Nigel retired and joined me here in France but it seems I was wrong. Retirement just gets busier and busier!! Have a good Easter, Diane

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  25. Ah!! It is indeed a busy life sometimes, also enjoyable :)
    Lovely photos.

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  26. What a nice hard day!

    Happy Easter Diane, Evelyn

    ps dont work too hard :)

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  27. WOW I would love to see this your shots are amazing. I am loving retirement through your eyes. Your retirement no mine:( farmer you know:)

    I do not even own a tripod but use anything just as you. I love the old architecture. Keep blogging it takes me away:)B

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  28. I am also putting my camera on stable surfaces to avoid movement and yes, anything will do.

    Greetings,
    Filip

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  29. I like the way you are busy in retirement! The trains are so neat to see...yep anything to prop up on when you dont have a tripod, works

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  30. Wonderful day at the works! Thanks for taking us along. I had to laugh about the sloped roofs - those English are a funny bunch.
    The yellow train seems to be smiling - looks like one for a kids show like Thomas the Train.
    Your camera student seems to be having a good time.
    Being out and about is better than blogging in my opinion but I am glad you're back.

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  31. Love that old railway building! A great series of captures Diane - thanks for sharing (and for dropping by my blog in the midst of all your busyness!) Happy Easter.

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  32. Such great shots! How do you manage "suffering through retirement"? I am so jealous, but not far behind. Visiting today from Filip and Kristels Travel and Ballroom, and I am your newest follower.

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  33. Lovely shapes and colours - you have a real eye for a pleasing image.

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  34. wow you are busy and you surely belong in a camera club Great shots

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  35. I totally agree about the retired thing. I am oh-so-busy too. It seems I have more to do now, rather when I was working. ha,ha Love it though. Very nice and interesting photos of the locomotives. I am first time visitor and enjoyed my visit very much. I shall be back.

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