GO TIGERS!

It was the AFL Final last night. AFL(Australian Football League) is one of the football codes played in Australia. It started in Victoria and it is extremely popular in that state but all the other states play now. However, the final is always held in Melbourne, but due to the second wave of Covid, which hit Melbourne badly, the final was played in our state Queensland for the first time ever so it was an historic match. So due to restrictions in Melbourne, our daughter's family couldn't have friends or family visit to watch the match together on TV and have a traditional Footy Finals Party. It was sad for them.

So when we were invited to a AFL Footy Final Party in the village we decided to go and support Sonya and Bernie's team, The Richmond Tigers. We were encouraged to dress in our teams colours. The Tigers played The Geelong Cats. We watched it on the big screen in our community centre and our CEO, Chiou See and her partner, Brendon provided us with meat pies and chips which is the traditional food at a football match.

It was an exciting and very close game but The Tigers won in the end. After the match Bill won a prize for being the best dressed Tiger supporter. Last year Sonya had sent him a Tiger T-shirt and I made him a Tiger cap.

Chiou See (CEO) and Brendan hosts of the party.

We watched the match on the big screen in the hall.

Geelong Cats scored the first goal.

Bill won a prize for being the best dressed Richmond Tigers supporter.

Richmond scored a goal

Some shots from the sports news

Richmond Tigers are the winners!

COTTON TREE BIRTHDAY

 Cotton Tree is a suburb of Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast 107k from home. My friend, Lyn, was having a 70th birthday there. They were in the caravan park for a week's holiday to be close to family and friends. So we booked an apartment for a few days just opposite the caravan park and we spent a lovely few days with our friends, Ben and Lyn. Ben migrated from Switzerland with Bill back in 1967 when they were in their early 20's. Now they are in their 70's. The weather was perfect and the company great.

We were pleased to see that we had a stunning view of the Maroochy River entering the Pacific Ocean.

You can just see the ocean on the horizon at the right and the caravan park opposite.

I tried a panorama of the river.

I took a walk down to the beach.

Looking south

Looking north

The mouth of the river. The river is tidal.

River on the left, ocean on the right.

Fun in the river . I walked a little further and entered the caravan park and found my friends.

Later in the day we had a celebration lunch with Lyn and her family and friends. It was a Thai Restaurant. I had crispy fish.

Happy Birthday Lyn.

I think it is important to keep in touch with old friends. We have been friends since the 60's.

SWISS DINNER

 It's that time of the month again already for our monthly village dinner. This month the theme was Switzerland. The food and decor were hints of Switzerland but the guest speaker spoke about his travels through the Western Front War Cemeteries.

The residents' committee chairman welcomes the residents and speakers.

One of our local councillors was invited to say a few words.

The menu was alternate drop Chicken Thigh with Fondue Cheese Sauce, Potato Rosti and Vegetables 

OR

Pork Loin with Yoghurt Cheese, Pickled Beetroot and Daikon, Potao Rosti and Vegetables. 

I took a bite before I remembered a photo of the Pork. It was delicious and melted in your mouth.

Bill had the chicken

Making new friends at dinner

more friends

The students from Rochedale High catering course serve and clear the dishes.

 

Our CEO introduces the Guest Speaker.

Col Sutcliffe, our guest speaker.

The dessert was to die for. Swiss Roll with Toblerone Chocolate Mouse and Orange Sauce.

It was the last time these students will wait on us as the school year comes to an end and these lovely young people have to sit their final exams soon. They have had a tough year with Covid Lockdown for three months.

The CEO thanks the teachers for giving up their time to bring the students and allow them to have real hands on experience.

YOU SEE MORE WHEN YOU WALK.

 When Bill and I retired we found that we didn't really need two cars because we did most things together. So when BMW wanted $5000.00 for a service and repairs we decided to trade both cars in on one new one. One car has been fine for the last eight years or so until today when I accidentally made an appointment on the same day as Bill's "Coffee with the Boys Day." Luckily the podiatrist is only about a thirty minute walk from home. So on this beautiful spring day, I walked instead of driving. It's amazing how many extra things you see when walking. We travel this road every time we leave the village.

Come with me :

When I reached the top of the hill the view over our suburb, Springwood, and across to the ranges was uplifting.

On the way down the hill I spotted a monkey in a tree.

In another yard I saw a big grass tree.(Xanthorrhoea)

A splash of colour

Bottle brush (Callistemon) and a parrot but it's too well hidden.

More soft toys to cheer you up during Covid 19. We have good news on the Covid infections in Australia. All States have brought down the number of daily infections to single digit numbers. WA, SA, NT, ACT, TAS and QLD have no community transmitted cases. They have some in quarantine from overseas. NSW and now Victoria have very few cases. Victoria, where my daughter and family lives have had a very strict lockdown after they got a severe second wave of infection, but it worked! They brought the numbers down from hundreds a day to 4 yesterday. It was hard on everyone and the economy. Well done Victorians! Anyway their premier is easing restrictions. The curfew is over and our boys can go back to school on 12 October after months of home schooling.

Our girls went to this Primary School in the early eighties and the podiatrist is just opposite. Luckily I didn't have to walk home back up that hill, Bill picked me up on his way home from coffee.