FIRES DISRUPT OUR ANNUAL FAMILY GET TOGETHER

We always try to have a family get together at Christmas but Sonya and family couldn't come to Brisbane this year because it was their turn to host the Curry family at their home in Melbourne. They had lots of guests for Christmas dinner.

They are a crazy, funny family

Meanwhile we had a quiet Christmas with Carol and David

So, some months ago we planned a family get together in early January. We hired an Airbnb at Culburra Beach on the South Coast of NSW. Sonya and family would drive up from Melbourne and we would fly to Sydney and be picked up by Carol and David and driven down to the South Coast to meet Sonya and family at Culburra Beach. Little did we know that catastrophic fires would put an end to our plans.

We kept looking at the fire maps and warnings as it got closer to Jan 4 when we were to leave for the holiday house. We discussed whether we should cancel. The host of the house assured us all is good at Culburra Beach. We checked the map:

We could see that both Sonya's family from Melbourne and us from Sydney could still get to the beach. However, each day the fires were getting worse and spreading. The prediction wasn't good.

The news wasn't good. People were having to escape the fires by huddling under wet towels on the beaches to avoid being burnt by embers and ash. The weather conditions were bad, windy and hot.

So we decided to cancel our 7 day booking which had been fully paid for ($6320.00). However, the host would only refund 50% less $774 service fee. She claimed the roads were still open, which was true. So we decided to go direct to Airbnb and dispute the refund as their web page says a full refund in the event of a natural disaster. Lucky for us but sad for others, on 2 Jan everyone was ordered to leave the area and so our claim was honoured and we received a full refund.

In the meantime, Carol suggested we change our flights from going to Sydney to go to Melbourne instead. She booked a house on the Mornington Peninsula, where there were no fires. Carol and David flew from Sydney and we met them at Melbourne airport, where they hired a car and drove us to Rye. Bernie and Sonya met us there. They often spend holidays at Rye and they know the area well.

We were happy with the house. It was plenty big enough for all of us and the new dog.

 We met the grandkids and the grand dog and then settled into holiday mode. The boys had received a Nintendo for Christmas. It kept them quiet while we prepared to have another Christmas dinner and present giving.

"Chief" is a spoilt Border Terrier but very cute.

 Let's get the party started. It is a week after Christmas but who cares when you are with the ones you love.

 Prawns, ham and salads with lots of wine.

We received lovely gifts. The next day Bernie had organised us a trip to a winery for lunch and viewing of a sculpture park. ( next post where the weather surprised us) 

TRIP TO SWITZERLAND 1979

My Story continued:

When Sonya started Pre-school I applied to do SupplyTeaching after being a stay at home mum for seven years. I managed to get enough work to help save money for a trip to Switzerland to let Sonya and Carol (5 and 7 years old) meet their other grandparents and for Bill’s parents to get to know their only grand children. This was going to be difficult because the girls only spoke English and Bill’s parents didn’t. I had tried to get Bill to talk to them in Swiss from when they were babies but he preferred not to saying that he was still trying to learn English. We tried to explain to the children that they would not understand Grossmutti and Grossvati but it was still a surprise for them when we got there.

We flew from Brisbane to Singapore, Bahrain, Frankfurt and  Zurich where we caught a train for two hours to Thun. When we saw Bill’s mum and dad waiting on the station, we pointed them out to the girls. They ran up to them and gave their Swiss grandparents a hug and a kiss. Bill’s parents were so happy. We stayed with Bill’s parents at Durenast. You could see the Alps from their apartment. While there the girls had their first experience of snow.

Grandparents and grandchildren
meet each other for the first time.

 The first time the girls had seen snow.

Bill's parents live near the Lake of Thun

We went on a ferry trip around the lake.

 We sailed past many castles and villages of chalets. It was beautiful scenery.

We got off the ferry and walked along the Seeweg
to a park where the girls played
in the autumn leaves.
 Another new experience for them.

Another day we took them tobogganing.

We went into the city of Bern 

We went to see the Bern Bears in the bear pit.
The emblem of the Canton of Berne.
(it was sad to see them kept like this.)

MUNICH FOR LUNCH

On Boxing Day we went out for lunch with friends from the village, Karen, Eddy and their son, Danny. Karen grew up in Germany so we took them to a German restaurant in Brisbane called
'Munich Brauhaus'. Sorry if the title of my post misled you. It would be nice to go to Munich for lunch but when we live on the other side of the world the 'Munich Brauhaus' will have to do.
The restaurant is in South Bank Parklands in the heart of Brisbane. We arrived early in case the parking was difficult but most people must have been in the stores for the Boxing Day sales because the carpark was half empty. Since we were early we took a stroll around the parklands.

There is a water park for children

The dishes fill with water and empty on the children

There is a man made beach for families with our State Government Building
towering in the background.

Then we found the street with our restaurant.

The Munich Brauhaus. We had a beautiful spot outside. The weather was not too hot.

When in Munich!

After German sausages and pork knuckle, we made our way back to our cars.

 (L to R) Danny, Bill, Karen, Eddy.

The park is colourful

I like the huge, colourful, flower pots

HELPING HAND

As most people know parts of Australia are experiencing a dreadful drought. The stock farmers and crop farmers are suffering badly. There is not enough water and feed for the animals, there is not enough water to plant crops, and country towns are running out of water.
Many city folk on the coastal areas are trying to help the people suffering from the drought. Some time ago our village raised money to buy bales of hay and send them to the cattle farmers in the country town of Quilpie.
This week a tour company, "Fun Over 50" invited villagers for a free trip to Stanthorpe in their newest Diamond Class coach. The idea is for us to go to Stanthorpe, a rural town on the Southern Downs of Queensland, to spend money in businesses there. Town businesses are suffering because the farmers don't have money to spend in the towns anymore. So city people are encouraged to go to the country shops to do Christmas shopping.
Besides taking groups of city people to Stanthorpe to spend up, "Fun Over 50" also paid for 10 tankers of water to be sent to the farmers in the area, especially to the vineyards to keep the vines alive.

 So we set off at 6:30am for the 220k/140m trip up the ranges to Stanthorpe. The main road was closed due to bushfires so we had to take a back road. The scorched, parched land was a sad site.

A dry brown land, no cattle, no crops and a thirsty town on the hill.

Some farmers are diversifying into solar farms.
These are banks of solar panels a poor phone photo from the bus.

We enjoyed the wine tasting and we bought lots of wine.

We were taken to 'Jamworks' where we tasted and bought jams.

We bought Christmas gifts 

Then we walked the main street and this message on a shop window says it all. We found an air conditioned hotel where we ordered a big lunch. The temperature was 40°C/104°F. We didn't have a lot of time left to spend in other shops unfortunately, because we had to get back to the coach for the long drive home. We hope our little bit helped the poor people of Stanthorpe. This is only one country town out of hundreds that are suffering.

Main street of Stanthorpe

CHRISTMAS TIME IS A BUSY TIME.

As the University of the Third Age (U3A) year came  to a close we had a lot of end of year lunches and then came the village Christmas Party. Last week I had four lunches in a row. Travel Group Lunch, Tutor's Lunch, Photography Class Lunch and Play group Lunch followed by our Christmas Party last night. I forgot to take photos of the first two lunches.

This is our group of playgroup ladies we have kept up our friendship for over 40 years from when our children were toddlers. Now we share stories and photos of our grandchildren. I'm right up the back.

 The next day we were in the same hotel, Chatswood Tavern, with our Photography group.  Bill and I are not continuing to tutor photography and videography for U3A anymore. After doing it for 10 years we have had enough of volunteering and preparing lessons every two weeks. Now we are going to be U3A students instead. Our group were sorry to see us finish up but they were very appreciative of what we have done for them in the past. It was very rewarding to hear all the thanks and compliments.

 Last night we had the best Christmas party ever. Santa came too.

 There were 120 residents present and we had a bunch of great people at our table. Some I have known for years. Diane in front right I have known since playgroup days and Dot second left was in the next bed to me after our first babies were born (47 years ago). Now we all live in the same street in Elements Retirement Village. What a coincidence!

We were lucky to pick out of the hat number 2  for our table. So we  were second to go to the buffet. There was Turkey, ham, baked vegetables and salads.

 It was delicious. The caterers did well to feed 120 of us.

One of the desserts was Pavlova.

 Then we had entertainment. This couple were so good. Singing and acting songs from the 60's. It included audience participation. They were lively and funny.

 After dinner they played dance music. 

I enjoyed a dance with Santa and too my surprise everyone else stopped dancing and clapped me on.
I will try to add a video next.