The Garden Gets a Drink

I am happy because it has started to rain. It has been so dry for months with only a little rain now and then. Last Sunday it really rained. We had a tropical down pour.

It rains so heavily that the gutters can't cope but the garden doesn't mind.I could just run out in it and sing but I had to get ready for a party.

Yep, it's raining at the back too. I wonder where the birds go? 

The tank is full after five minutes and overflowing, which shouldn't happen if the installer had done a good job. One of the outlets is blocked. Must get it fixed one day. In 30 mins it was all over and the sun came out and the steam came up, but we didn't get wet at the party.

One More Party

Like most work places we have a staff Christmas party, it is also an end of the school year party. In the past we have had parties in private homes, in restaurants, and hotels but this year was going to be different. We were going to have it in the new school hall with caterers. Unfortunately, the hall wasn't finished by the completion date (typical of a govt. organisation). So with short notice the social committee had to come up with another venue. The members decided to have it in the school playground...??? that's something different. Anyway it turned out quite a lot of fun. We could socialise better than in a restaurant as you could move about more easily to meet others.

It was a balmy summer night, so sitting outside was pleasant. School tables and chairs were spread out in the gazebo area near the tuck shop. The school principal is giving me a wave. The social club organised hilarious games for those who wanted to join in the fun. We had to tear a Christmas tree from paper behind our backs. We had to draw a Christmas picture with our eyes closed. We were told what and where to draw the items. These masterpieces were so funny to look at later.

The funniest game of all was where a team of 4 had to blow up 8 balloons push them into the legs of pantyhose.................

........Then put it on someone's head.......

....and they had to be the first to stand on a chair and sing "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer".....

...... Graham's team won and Nell's came second.....

Everyone had lots of fun.

In another game teams were in a relay. They had to wear oven mitts and undo a chocolate wrapper and feed it to the next team member and pass the mitts to them........

..and they had to run to the table and undo the next chocolate wrapper with the mitts on while eating the chocolate they were fed. The principal on the left joined in too. So we had lots of fun without a proper venue. We were lucky there were no summer storms that night.

Another Party

The school year is drawing to a close. We break for summer holidays next week. One of our most treasured Teacher's Aide, Judi, is leaving the school after being there for 10 years. Judi is so adaptable and can put her hand to any task we asked. Now she is leaving the area and moving back to a country town, where they were before coming here.
Another Aide, Paula, organised a farewell party at her home with the help of another Aide, Gaylene. Now Judi is renowned for her cooking talents and was always bringing goodies to school for our morning tea and other functions. So, Paula decided to make the theme of the party "Judi's Food Fest" and we all had to cook one of Judi's recipes to bring along to the party.
We had three courses: dips and cheese balls; savouries of all kinds and then cakes and slices all from Judi's recipe book. We had some fun games and then to every one's surprise a male stripper turned up.
On closer inspection we realised it was Paula's husband dressed up. He had dollar bills hanging out of his trousers. Judi didn't know where to look. Then she asked him what was drawn on his tummy. He said, "That's my six pack of course." He served us all champagne and we all had a good laugh. (He didn't strip in case you were wondering)
He sure made Judi's party a happy one. How brave was he to do this in front of a bunch of women. What a good sport. I have really enjoyed working with Judi and being her friend. Thank goodness for the Internet we will be able to keep in touch easily. Thanks to Paula, David and Gaylene for such a good party.

The Christmas Parties Have Started

On Saturday we had an end of year lunch with our ASOPA friends. We are a special group because we are some of the past students from the Australian School of Pacific Administration. (ASOPA). We were studying there to become teachers for the Territory of Papua/New Guinea and the Northern Territory of Australia in the early sixties. We came from all over Australia to ASOPA situated in Sydney. By the time Papua/New Guinea became independent in 1975 most of us had returned to Australia but to all different states. In 2002 exactly 40 years since we were in our first year at ASOPA we had our first reunion. People came from all over the country to Pt Macquarie in NSW for a 3 day reunion. It was great fun trying to recognise one another and catching up with forty years of life. In 2005 we had another reunion in Sydney and visited the old buildings of ASOPA. In 2007 we had another reunion in Brisbane but this time we included all students from the 40's to the 70's (when the school closed). Since then those of us who live in Brisbane continue to meet regularly for lunch.

ASOPA was a collection of ex Army unimpressive buildings but located in a fabulous position on Middle Head jutting into Sydney Harbour.

The buildings are still there but are unoccupied and falling into a bad state of disrepair.

I took this photo in 1962

I took this photo in 2005 when we all returned for a nostalgic visit and we were sad to see the buildings were in a worse state than we were 40 years on.

The sign has changed too. It is good to see that the Harbour Trust are going to restore some of the buildings.

This was the magic view of the harbour in 1962. We used to sit on the lawns in break times and soak up the vista.

In 2005 the view was nearly as good except the trees had grown in the way.

Dennis and Ros were at the lunch.

At ASOPA, Dennis was one of the youngest but one of the few to own a car.

Richard and Josephine were at the lunch.

Richard was posted to a very remote village in the Territory of Papua/New Guinea. (TPNG.)

This was the transport in and out of the village. Josephine was the only white woman for miles. Don't you love the sunnies?

Bill now lives near Melbourne but he flew to Brisbane and joined us for lunch.

Bill enjoys athletics and won gold in the Pacific Games. He recently participated in the Masters' Games in 800 metres hurdles. I think he might be the fittest one of us oldies.

Joseph and Kathryn came to lunch in their green campervan called Kermit. They have just returned from a 7 month trip around Australia.

Joseph grew up in TPNG and returned to teach there as a very young man.

Colin came to lunch. He is single so he borrowed Katherine for this photo.

Here Colin is enjoying one of the many parties we had while at ASOPA. (Dont know why he is still single, we all loved him)

Of course Bill and I never miss a lunch at the Swiss Restaurant. I had a seafood crepe.

My first week teaching in TPNG. I stayed for 7 years and they were some of the best years of my life.

Its Warming Up

This morning I set off for my morning walk at 7:00am. I could already feel the humidity and burning sun. After 20 mins in the heat I entered the cooler shade of the forest but I could feel the perspiration oozing as I climbed the hills, but I still had time to admire the native plants.

The little cones of a Sheoak tree.

I saw these cute little berries but I don't know the plant. 

I love the patterns that lichen makes as it grows over the rocks. Such a tiny plant.

Another native flower , called a Rice Flower. The hot morning sun shines through a eucalyptus leaf just before it falls.  When I got home I jumped into a cold shower and checked the temperature it was already 30°C at 8:30am. It is a sure reminder that summer starts in 2 days.

A Walk in Springwood Conservation Park

Springwood is the next suburb to Daisy Hill. It takes about 20 mins to walk there, then we enter the park and walk another 20 mins home. Its a circuit walk. It has been left in its natural state except for the pathways and steps.

We walked up hill to get here so now it is mostly down hill from now on....easy peasy.

Over the little bridge.

There is not a drop of water under the bridge, we haven't had rain for months.

Climb a little rise and wow........

...we can see all over Logan City (adjoins Brisbane City) all the way south to Tamborine Mountains and even further to Lamington Mountains.

Now it is a tumble down hill, its fun and pretty

Look back at the scrubby bushland or dry Eucalyptus forest before....

...crossing over the road and entering......

....suburbia again.