OUR GRANDSONS ARE GROWING UP WITHOUT US

Our grandsons Fox and Banjo live in Melbourne, Victoria. We haven't seen them for a long time. During the worst of the Covid pandemic our state borders were closed and travel restricted. So we kept in touch with video chats. Their mum, Sonya, sends us lots of photos of the boys so we can see them growing up.

They spent a lot of time in lockdown and homeschooling but now they are free to spend time at their family's beach house and going boating and fishing. Their parents have bought a new house and they have been busy renovating it and that happened over the end of year school holidays so they were too busy to visit us then. Now they have started a new school and have just finished their first term there. It was their first term at school full time since the 2020/21 lockdowns. 

The good news they are coming to visit us in June for my 80th birthday. Carol and David are coming too and we hope to spend a week on the Gold Coast together.

Banjo caught a shark

Sonya and Bernie

First day at a new school. Banjo is 9 and Fox is 11.

Banjo loves art lessons. He drew this flying fox. 

Fox like his father enjoys acting. He has already appeared in a few movies. Here he is filming a new series. (the one on the left))

Sonya loves her dog "Chief". He is good at helping her destress after work and when the boys have been difficult. Both boys have ADHD and Fox also has high functioning autism. Parenting is very hard.

Chief is good for keeping Fox calm.

Banjo loves him too.

Fox finds it very hard to go to sleep so Chief helps him but Chief also needs his ball with him.

During lockdown in their old house, Chief joined in with home schooling.

A BOX PARTY

We had fun at the annual Box Party in the community centre organised by Sandra and Gwen. Participants brought a box. They were placed on a table. When your name was pulled out of a bag, you chose a box. You opened it front of everyone. If you didn’t want to keep your present you could swap it with someone without their consent. We had lots of laughs.

The boxes are ready.



The people are ready. This event was held at Happy Hour, where we bring our own nibblies. We can bring our own drinks or buy them at the bar.


Eva got a pair of warm bed socks, they became one of the most sought after gifts. They were stolen many times.



Gay stole them from Eva, Tony stole them from Gay.

Terry got two little pigs.


He swapped them for socks from Herbie.

Julie couldn't believe she got a little green frog again, the same as last year. She said, "Not another stupid green frog." She had us in hysterics. Sandra and Gwen are the organisers.


Green frogs were a popular gift. Caren thought it was funny but she had it stolen by cheeky Bob, who gave her a calender of half naked volunteer Firemen. We thought that was hilarious since she is over 80.

NEW ZEN GARDEN FENCE

 We have some people in our village who are always on the go and looking for things to do besides participating in the regular activities available. Two guys, John and Allen, decided that the bamboo fence surrounding our special Japanese Zen Garden was starting to look a bit tatty. It had been erected over ten years ago and the bamboo was rotting. So they asked the powers to be if they could put up a new fence if the administration paid for the materials they would do the work. It was agreed.

So John, Allen and quite a few others pulled down the old fence and put up a new steel fence but they will install a new bamboo fence in the front of the garden to keep the authentic Japanese appearance. 

I thought residents came here to retire and relax and play not work like crazy. But I think these two enjoy it very much.

Allen fixes the gate

John makes a new entry to the Nursery next to the Workshop.

They built a handrail to the nursery and renewed the fence between the nursery and the back of the Zen Garden.

Other residents helped remove the old fence.

Allen prepares the posts for the new panels.

The finished fence on the western side of the Zen Garden

Looking into the Zen garden, you can see the original bamboo fence in the front of the garden.

Looking over the waterfall into the Zen Garden from the Workshop garden. The boys only put up a wire safety fence here as it looked good with the two gardens blending together.

The new fence on the Eastern side.

These two guys are doing an amazing job. Would you believe they are both having Knee replacements next week.

ST PATRICK'S DINNER

 Our wonderful Dinner Committee organised a great St Patrick's Dinner in the Community Centre. We were asked to wear something green and everyone did. We had songs and jokes. Every table had words to an Irish Song but only two tables had the same song. When we heard the music playing for our song everyone at the two tables had to stand up and sing. We all enjoyed it.

Our hall was full. Our Managing Director, Chiou See, invited residents from her other village too.

Bill enjoying a Guinness with his friend.

Jan and Ian organised the singing game.

Two tables at a time had to stand and sing the song that was put on their table.

Nannette was busy making cocktails. The bar staff are resident volunteers.

Emerald Eyes Cocktail

The menu was Pea and Mint Colcannon Chowder & Lamb Ragout or Mustard Colcannon Chowder & Corned beef w Soda Bread, Dessert was Dark Chocolate Guinness Cake w Baileys Cream Cheese Icing. (Forgot to snap the main course.)

We didn't have any Irish Dancers this year but our very own line dancers danced to Irish music.

We had fun! 

Our MC Ian giving thanks to the Chefs and Rochdale High School Catering Students, who serve us and help in the kitchen. 

THE RAIN STOPPED, LET'S PARTY!

The sun came out for a few days at the same time as the residents and staff organised a farewell party for Gary, our maintenance man. He wants to pursue a career in horticulture. So we combined Happy Hour with a Farewell Party for Gary. The Covid restrictions were lifted in Queensland on the same night so we didn't have to wear masks. (Hopefully we all stay well as there are still many cases a day reported.)

We had a good time catching up with village friends. Chiou See, our managing director gave a thank you speech and presented some gifts from the residents and the staff. He got two hot air balloon trips and a ticket to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Gary is a lovely person and did a great job at fixing all our maintenance problems, quickly and efficiently. I hope we get a good replacement.

Our lovely next door neighbours.

Chiou See thanking Gary and giving him some gifts.

Bill videoing Gary's thank you speech

Residents showing their appreciation.

MORE RAIN

After three days of sunshine, it has started to rain again with a loud thunder storm this morning. I feel sorry for the poor people who had started to clean up their houses and businesses. There was a lot of furniture and belongings piled up on the footpaths but the new storm just washed all the rubbish into the river.

Flooding the bus station

Water receding.

Clean up starts

          Rains again.  

 Photos taken from news articles.