BOX PARTY

Every year around this time we have two ladies in the village, who organise a Box Party. It is very similar to the Secret Santa game which is often played at Christmas time. Gwen and Sandra send an email invitation to everyone and tell them to bring a gift in a box not over the value of 15 dollars. We all turn up at 4:00pm and drop the box on a long table down the middle of the community centre. The ladies give us a ticket with a number. When everyone has arrived together with their plate of snacks and when they are seated at a table the game begins. Sandra calls out a number and the person with that number chooses a box. They open it for everyone to see the gift and then they take it to their seat. The next number is called and after they have opened the box and shown everyone they can decide to keep the gift or swap it with any one who has already got a gift. Some gifts are funny, some are useless and some are very nice. Bottles of wine were popular this year. Last year it was a stuffed toy that people kept swapping for. It is a really good social and fun night. Dot is the first to choose a box. She will have a chance to swap at the end of the game.

Sandra and Gwen ask Dot if she wants to keep it or swap it. She chose to keep it.

Bill was happy with his wine but.......

Lois swapped a door mat for his wine.

Rob got a pair of bed socks and a hat.

He swapped it with Noni for a knee rug.

Mandy liked her soft toy but Mary swapped with her.

Eric is swapping with Mary, she's not happy

But Eric is. He has the much wanted soft toy.

We enjoyed the evening with the residents being silly seniors. But these activities are supposed to be good for our well being.

TRIPLE CELEBRATION

I'm slow at keeping up to date on my blog. so you are reading old news. A week ago it was our 56th wedding anniversary on the 10 May, Mother's Day on 11 May and Fox's 15th birthday on 13 May. So we celebrated the special days with family on Mother's Day at home. 

Bernie had bought a gift for Sonya, who is into retro homewares.

Happy mother with an old fashioned Fondu Set.

Bernie cooked a delicious fondu.

Besides traditional bread pieces to dip into the cheese we also had vegetables and fruit pieces to dip.

Fox on the right turned 15 two days later.

The Swiss boy really enjoyed it.

Carol and David sent me flowers.

BANJO'S BIRTHDAY

 Our grandson Banjo, turned 13 and we had a little celebration at home. Aunty Carol was here from Melbourne, because she took me to the eye hospital to have my second cataract done. 

He was happy to become a teenager.

But best of all was the XBOX.

The next day went to see the progress of Sonya and Bernie's house renovations.

Then they took us to lunch for a delicious Italian meal.

Bill had his favourite Tiramisu. Two new cataract lenses so no glasses.

DAISY HILL CONSERVTION PARK (OR MY FOREST)

 Our retirement village borders onto Daisy Hill Forest its fancy name is Conservation Park. I call it my forest because I have been walking in this forest for 55 years. We have lived in three different homes but all close to the forest. However, I had back surgery one year ago and had complications afterwards which left me in a lot of pain. I couldn't walk far. At last my GP has tweeked my pain medication and I can walk again in the forest. We have had loads of rain this year, more than usual and the forest is very green but some of the walking trails have been damaged. However, I decided it's time to tackle a forest walk again. 

This track has been made suitable for disabled people. It is the one that starts from the street in front of our village.

This is another easy track to walk.

It continues onto a boardwalk over the creeks.

The creeks are orange coloured due to a bacteria growing in the water.

I came across interesting fungi and .......

and moss covered logs. The rangers don't move fallen trees unless they are across a track. Their reasoning is it is natural for trees to fall and rot in a forest to keep the nutrients in the soil.

After a while I turned back towards home. The grassy undergrowth has enjoyed all our recent rain.

There is the village behind the road entry.

I bypass the road entry and walk along the track that runs parallel to our village boundary.

We have our own private entry/exit to the forest.

I walk up the hill to our street which is off to left in this photo.

This is our street, Tranquil Ave. We live down past the pedestrian crossing on the left. I'm so happy to be able to walk in my forest again.

WALK AROUND THE VILLAGE

I am so happy that the pain killers are working well. I don't feel the nerve pain caused by the nerves being squashed by arthritis and a vertebrae slip. I can now walk with my buddies of a morning. In the afternoon Bill and I walk around the village. I took photos of some of the flowers and lizards on the way.

                                                              Pretend Mushrooms

Orchid

Water Dragon

Bird of paradise

Banksia leaves shooting

Orchid

Grevillea

Gum blossom

UNDERWOOD PARK LAGOON

 So the weather has cooled down and the rain has stopped. Just perfect for a walk around the lagoon.

The ducks are resting on the tree.

Bill managed without a stick or wheelie walker.

Lots of water dragons on the path around the lagoon.

Duck nap time and one cormorant.

Then home for dinner. Vienna sausages with sauerkraut, potatoes, carrots and beans. (We only cook easy meals these days)

Washing down lunch with Chianti.

Evening visitor in our street.