Olé! Its Spanish Dinner Night

 This month's Village, Dinner Night had a Spanish theme. We don't have any Covid in the community in Queensland so we have very few restrictions. Therefore, we can enjoy our monthly dinners again like normal. Some of the residents have had the vaccination but not all of us yet. Our supply of vaccine has been slow in arriving in Australia and slow in distribution. Plus our vaccine is AstraZeneca, which has caused blood clots in a few people. Our Pfizer is still coming for those under 50. 

Anyway, enough of that, let's get on with having fun. Bill and I dressed a little Spanish and headed off to dinner in the community centre. 

The hall was full and ready to be served by the catering students from Rochdale High School.

We were sitting with Len and Ros as well as Irene. Each month we are allocated seats with different people so we get to know everyone in the village. However, you can request to sit with friends if you wish.

Dessert was delicious but the orange ice cream had started to melt because the guest speaker went a little over time.

The original guest speaker couldn't come at the last minute so Brendan Rook, our CEO, Chiou See Anderson's partner, stepped in to fill the void. He spoke about his career as a detective and International War Crimes investigator in Le Hague.

I forgot to get a shot of our table but here are some of my village friends. The lady on the right was in the next bed to me in hospital when we gave birth to our first daughters, forty nine years ago. It's amazing how many people bump into others they knew in their earlier life. Bill is way in the background sitting at our table.

BEACH WALK

 I love walking along a beach just where the waves ripple up the sand and leave a wet, hard surface with reflections. So while I was on a mini holiday at the beach with my little family from Melbourne, I did just that.

I saw Fox kicking the football with his dad.

Then I came across Banjo making a pen for the little crabs he had caught.

I set off towards the south this time. Coolangatta and Tweed Heads, the twin towns on the border of NSW and QLD are in the distance.

This colourful group were doing some type of training.

Splish-splosh-splash through the water. A bit too cold for me to go surfing but not for others.

Time to turn around and head back.

I searched for pieces of coral for Fox to add to his collection.

Then I was back to the surfing area opposite our accommodation. 

The next day it was time to say goodbye to Sonya, Bernie, Fox and Banjo as they were flying back to cold Melbourne that evening. They enjoyed our warm Autumn weather.

Just love these two guys.

HUG THE FAMILY AGAIN

 At last interstate travel is allowed again and our restrictions have been lifted. We have Covid under control with very few vaccinations due to a delay in vaccine delivery. So our Melbourne family flew into the Gold Coast for a five day break during the school holidays. We drove down to meet them. I had booked us two appartments at Burleigh Beach. It was so nice to hug them again after 15 months. We were lucky with the weather. It had been raining here for weeks but the sun came out and we had beautiful, warm, Autumn weather. 

View from our unit.

A parrot came to visit

We went to the beach but it was a bit windy on the first day, after all it is autumn.

However, people were still enjoying the surf.

While I enjoyed taking photos with my new iPhone.

After the beach, the boys went for a swim in the pool

Then they were allowed "Tech Time" until dinner.

Next morning it was beautiful to see the sun rise over the ocean but it was very bright.

Then us oldies ventured down to the beach.

The family were playing football.

OUT OF LOCKDOWN

 We were lucky that the Brisbane outbreak seems to be under control with a three day lockdown, super contact tracing and ramped up testing. Over 1000 contacts have to stay at home for 14 days and be tested again to make sure they are still negative. 

People were so happy to be able to go on Easter holidays, church and family get togethers. Restrictions still remain throughout Queensland; mask wearing inside buildings, no dancing, sit down in bars and restaurants and only 30 people in home gatherings. Carry a mask everywhere and use it when you can't social distance outside.

We enjoyed the outside by going to our local park and walked around the lagoon which was covered in lotus blooms and ducks.

These days it is hard to get down low for a good shot.

A Moorhen

The park has recently been upgraded with nice seating and picnic shelters as well as new observation decks over the Lagoon. There is a path and boardwalk all the way around the lagoon.

Paper bark trees (Melaleuca Trees)