GOODBYE OLIVIA

 Every Friday evening is Happy Hour at the Community Centre in our village. Residents take a plate of nibblies and buy drinks from the bar and spend the evening socialising. Last Friday was a special evening because we were saying goodbye to one of our staff members. Olivia was our accountant and she is also the daughter of Chiou See who built the village but sold it a few years ago. It was an emotional evening for Olivia.  In her speech she mentioned how she had lived in a caravan on the village site when she was a child with her mother and two siblings. So the village was like a second home for her. Now she is ready to move on in her life to new adventures.

Over a hundred residents came to Happy Hour to say goodbye to Olivia.

One of our residents, Adrian, is a poet and he wrote the lyrics to a farewell song sung by the village singers.

Olivia's mother, Chiou See came to the farewell party.

It was an emotional timeFoe Olivia and her mother, Chiou See.

As usual at Happy Hour there is a raffle to raise money for the Workshop. Lucky me won one of the prizes.

A SCOOT IN THE FOREST

 Sonya came to visit us on Sunday. She loves to take the dog for a walk in the forest. She talked her dad into taking the scooter into the forest. It was a bit tricky getting through the special gate for prams and scooters but not for motor bikes. But after the gravel path there were lots of concrete pathways for the scooter. So Sonya, the dog, Chief, the old man and the old woman entered the forest. The picnic park was full of visitors and the smell of barbecued sausages and steak made my mouth water. 

This is the path from the village into the forest.

It is a gravel path but suitable for scooters. It was instigated by one of our residents, Rex, who was confined to a scooter. He badgered the local MP to make a mobility scooter access to the forest. Unfortunately, Rex is no longer with us but we remember him when on his path.

The path goes into the picnic area, which gets busy on weekends.

Bill and daughter, Sonya with Chief the dog.

I saw this scrub turkey walking along a fence this morning on my walk.

MORNING WALK

The rain has stopped so we can get back to morning walks. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday I walk with my long time walking buddies Helen, Maureen and Joan. Maureen and Joan felt like they needed a break on Tuesday and Thursday. However, Helen and I wanted to do every morning Mon-Fri. We have met two other girls, Lee and Dianne, who walk everyday so we asked if Helen and I could join them on Tuesday and Thursday.  Lee and Dianne walk in the forest. So yesterday we walked in the forest. It is still dark when I get up at 6:00am but it is light when we start to walk.

6:30 Daisy Hill Forest

Helen sets a good pace and knocks down the spider webs for us. She is the tallest one of us.

The sun is struggling to wake up.

On the way back its much lighter.

It is depressing though because even with all this walking I'm putting on weight 

probably because I eat too much.

I cooked sausages and mash, Bill's favourite meal.

Another favourite is spaghetti and meatballs.