CHRISTMAS IN JULY

 July and August are our coldest months in Australia. In Brisbane we have a fairly mild winter although the mornings can be cold. Bill and I go out to lunch about once a week. I try to find a different restaurant close by each week. Last week we went to St Coco Cafe in Daisy Hill, the next suburb to us in Springwood. It was a modern place with young patrons, we were the only geriactics there. 

Bill had bratwurst, red cabbage, eggs and rösti.

I had Barramundi fish and vegetables and a delicious sauce.

After lunch we went for a walk near Lake Dennis.

The next morning was glowing.

That evening, the village dinner committee organised a 'Christmas in July' themed dinner. No doubt this will sound strange to many northern hemisphere readers. Because Australia was colonised by the British, early settlers and migrants from the northern hemisphere found it hard to feel like Christmas in December, in the middle of our summer. So for nostalgic reasons and just to have an excuse for a hot Christmas Dinner many Australians celebrate another Christmas in July.

Residents arrive and get a drink from the bar and find friends to chat with, like Bill and Steph.

The singers entertained us while we waited for dinner to be served.

Anne at 86 is the dinner coordinator. She hires the chefs and organises the catering course teachers and students from Rochdale High School to come and help in the kitchen and serve our meals. Here we are thanking them all for their contribution in helping us have a good night.

ANOTHER YEAR OLDER.

Last week I had another birthday, 83 now. Some days I feel it but other days I don't feel that old. My birthday fell on Tuesday and we went to lunch with friends. On the weekend Sonya and family came and Bernie cooked lunch for us, he is an amazing cook. The Melbourne family were coming for the weekend but they succumbed to the winter colds that are going around, especially in cold Melbourne, so they stayed home so as not to spread the germs.

I woke to a foggy morning but the balloon fairies had tied balloons to our front gate.(A village tradition)

Bernie cooked my favourite Salmon, Broccoli and Pasta.

We went for a walk around the lagoon in Underwood Park.

Bill is doing well walking without a stick or walker. He has fallen in love with his Swiss Jacket this winter. We bought it in Zermatt some years ago but he hardly ever wore it until this winter.

My neighbour's Poinsettia is looking nice. It is often regarded as a Christmas plant but it is a winter plant and that is June, July and August for us.

My neighbour, Louise gave me flowers.

A birthday hug and selfie.