SPRINGTIME SOCIAL

We have some talented people living in our village, who get together a few times a year to organise a social dance. Ian is a professional drummer and June's son, Randal also is a musician. These two with two more friends form a band especially for this event. The Social Committee and Workshop Committee work together  to organise a sausage sizzle for the guests. Many residents are keen dancers and they enjoy the evening immensely. Also friends who follow Ian's other band also join in with the dancing. Everyone had a good evening.

Ian is one of our residents and the Resident's Committee Chairperson.

June and her son, Randal, who plays in our band.

June at 93 enjoys dancing.

The Social Committee Louis, Diane G, Leslie and Margaret wasn't present.

The boys do the cooking.

Friends of the band join us for dancing.

They join the residents in line dancing.

Residents Dot and Len give us a performance of "Hit the Road Jack"

Our Managing Director, Chiou See joins in the fun with us.

OUR VILLAGE GARDENS

 

VISITORS FROM SWITZERLAND 1983

My Story continued:

When we were in Switzerland over the last Christmas Holidays, Bill was interviewed on the radio about living in Australia. After the program, Bill was contacted by Peter, who wanted to migrate to Oz and asked us many questions. When Peter and his family arrived in Brisbane we offered to help them get adjusted. They rented an apartment on the Gold Coast and their son Jan started school at Southport. He quickly learnt English. Peter and Yolande spoke English already.

We took them to Lone Pine. Carol, Jan and Sonya.

We took them to the rainforest at Mount Tamborine.

Bush walking in Lamington National Park.

Peter and Jan loved it here in Australia but Yolande found it hard to adjust to the different way of life, the different food and customs. In fact she was very homesick. Eventually, they packed up and went back to Switzerland for the benefit of Yolande's health. We remained in touch for many years afterwards.

Jan and his family came to Sonya's ninth birthday party.

Carol, Sonya, Joanne and Adam.

Blindfold game of trying to hit each other with a sock.

Sonya and best friend, Joanne.

THE VIDEO VERSION OF MY LAST POST-FAULTY TOWERS DINNER

Made by Bill.

A FAULTY TOWERS DINNER

 It is our village's eleventh birthday so the admin and dinner committee put on a special celebratory dinner this month. We assembled outside the community centre at 5:30 and we were shown to our seats by the Fawlty Towers Characters, Basil, Sybil, and Manuel. "Fawlty Towers" was a famous English sitcom in the late 1970's. Basil and his wife Sybil ran a guest house in Torquey in England. It was hilarious and not politically correct for these days. John Cleese, Prunella Scales and Andrew Sachs were the actors for the main characters and they were so funny you had tears running down your face.

Now days there are theatre groups which have impersonators entertaining you at dinners. Many of the original skits took place in the dinning room where Manuel from Barcelona is learning English and how to be a waiter. Basil and Sybil are continuously bickering at one another while Basil is often making gaffs.

So last night at our special monthly dinner in the village we were entertained by these actors trying to serve us nuts, bread rolls and butter in the most unconventional ways like tossing them at us or emptying the crate of rolls onto the table. They kept us laughing in between courses. Basil continuing to try to train Manuel to be a waiter. Manuel keeps misunderstanding Basil's English instructions. Sybil keeps telling off Basil.

Eddie, Caren our village friends and us.

150 of us getting seated.

Manuel shows guests to their seats.  That is if he can find their table, (we are allocated table numbers)

Our managing director and owner of the village also greets the residents.

Basil and Sybil have a joke with Bill.

Manuel serves the rolls.

The Pumpkin and Leek soup was served by the High School catering students with Manuel's help.

Students and teachers of Rochdale High School help out.

Sybil is screaming I've lost my false teeth. A guest complains about the soup. Basil checks and finds her false teeth in the soup.

Sybil orders Manuel to wait on the tables. He jumps on the table and starts singing Spanish songs. Basel yells at him, "What are yo doing?" Manuel says , "She told me to wait here on table."

There is a skit about Manuel having a pet hamster, which is actually a rat. Basil explodes and says, "You can't have a rat in the kitchen!" Manuel argues, "It not rat it hamster!"

Main course was Chicken Kiev with beetroot medley, pureed peas and roast potatoes.

Dessert was Tiramisu

Our residents' chairperson, thanks the students and chefs.

I LOVE MY TREE

 Just outside our front entrance we have a Callistemon Tree. They are commonly called bottlebrush trees because of their cylindrical brush like flowers. They are endemic to Australia and are found mainly in the temperate regions along the east coast. The birds and the bees love them. There are about 50 different species.

In the morning.

In the afternoon.

Buds blooming or blooming buds.

I love coming home from my walk to be greeted by this scene.