BEAUTY ON THE DOORSTEP

 Since I have had a sore hip, I sometimes walk around the village instead of the longer walk in the forest. I realised there is a lot of interesting things to see close to home. 

ZEN

During lockdown it was good to be able to walk or sit in our village Zen Garden. It was a place where the troubles of the world disappeared and I could relax and enjoy the beauty around me. Our restrictions are relaxing every two weeks. We have very few cases of Covid 19 in the country now and no new cases for a few days. However, after the 'Black Lives Matter' protest marches, we have to wait to see if the cases escalate before there is more freedom.      This is the gate to the Zen garden.  

WINGED VISITORS

Now that it is Spring and all the flowering trees are in blossom in our village, many birds are visiting. Its fun trying to capture them sitting still. They are so busy drinking the nectar.

He doesn't suck nectar but eats insects and small animals.

VILLAGE DINNER INDIAN STYLE

Every month managing director, Chiou See and her staff organise a special dinner for the residents of our retirement village. In August the dinner was an Indian Theme. Chiou See organised a guest speaker, Manju Jehu, who is an Indian migrant, and a Radio personality.

 She told us her life story and showed us how to wear a sari. She dressed Chiou See and Dana, one of the office staff. She also dressed one of the residents, Noni, and donated the dress to her.

Chiou See likes to arrange who we sit with so that we get to know all the people in the village but you can also ask to be sat with friends if you want to. This night my friend, Dot, asked for us to be at her table as she had invited her brother, who was staying with her from north Queensland.

Dot and I have known each other a long time. We were in beds next to each other when we were recovering from giving birth to our eldest daughters. We have kept in touch over the years and it is great that she lives in the same village as us.

 We have the choice between mild and moderately hot meals of chicken or pork. I chose the pork with vegetable dahl, rice and papadums.

Our residents' chairman, Ian, is thanking the visiting chefs and the high school catering students and teachers for making the night a success.

We had a good time.

ST PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATIONS

Some residents and staff got together to organise a St Patrick's Day Dinner and entertainment in the community hall sometimes called Club Elements. Our village is called Elements Retirement Living. It was lots of fun.

 The hall was full of oldies dressed in all sorts of green outfits.

 Some of the Elements' Musos entertained us with a sing along of Irish songs.

 The Elements' singers gave support.

A couple of live wires put on a skit "Cheap Fares"

 Then an Irish Dance School came to entertain us.

They were very good and very fast.

 I found a couple of Leprechauns at the party.

We had fun.

 There were many green raffle prizes and a lucky door prize and a lucky chair prize.

I was the lucky winner of the door prize. A beautiful hand painted silk scarf and two bottles of my favourite red wine. It was a good night. Tomorrow we are off to Singapore with our CEO, some staff and 57 residents. I think we'll have some fun.

CHINESE NEW YEAR

The CEO of our village is a Singaporean Chinese and a lovely lady. She loves cooking and cooks lunch for her staff everyday. Chiou See also enjoys cooking for the residents on special occasions especially Chinese New Year. Last Friday we had a fabulous feast and celebration. Relatives and especially grand children were invited. Some of us residents helped out in the preparations and cleaning up. There were 200 guests. Can you imagine cooking for 200?

 Chiou See cooking for 200

 She has some helpers

 Residents and relatives arrive 

 Getting closer to dinner time.

 Everybody is ready

 But first the entertaining Lion Dancers arrive.

 We feed them envelopes of money.

Dinner time!!!

Our table of friends

Happy souls