A Surprise Visit

While at Capalaba we had a visit from Caroline and grandaughter Alesha almost 17 now. We had a nice couple of hours with them, was great to catch up with them, they were down on holiday with Caroline's partner and they were staying on the Gold Coast. We had not seen them in ages so was  really nice they made the time to come say hi. Alesha is final year at high school this year, has her leraner's licence, tattoos, a ring in her nose - (won't say what what grandad thought and wanted to say - thankfully he didn't) and goodness knows what else she has that we couldnt see. Her mum is covered in tattoos so oh well. Was just wonderful to see them, tatts, rings and whatever.

 

 

Arrival Sippy Downs

Friday Jan 15th:

Arrived Sippy Downs on Wednesday around 1.30pm, made real good time up from Capalaba,think we got away from there around 1205. Said our goodbyes to the tired folks and little Molly and we were on our way. The house at Sippy was fine just a bit of dust and leaves around outside and a very dead decomposing rat in the pool - no swimming for us for a couple of days. Brian soon got into the pool area and added a heap of chlorine and some PH stuff, and removed dead rat which was thrown over the fence toward the lake area what a bloody stink. Brian took a water sample to the pool shop to get it tested and they advised add more chlorine as that will kill anything nasty in the water - apparently they said the water was pretty good. I head to Christchurch today on a rather sad note with the news that my brother Graeme has had a nasty accident and is in hospital sedated with a small bleed to the brain and some nasty cracks to his vertebrae and a crack down his spine, Angela said he will be in a full neck body brace for a considerable time until I know more I cann't tell you anymore than that - just wondering if he will be sent to the Burwood Spinal Unit!!!!! time will tell. Really looking forward to seeing the families and catching up. Brian started his BCG treatments again today at Selangor he has 3 this time. We have a surgeon appt early Feb so will find out what's instore next for the year. He had to pay $500 being excess for the medical insurance thank god we only pay it once a year, he text me to say he was fine and sitting up in bed watching the golf oh sky - while I am doing the cleaning. Other than that there is no more to add so see you all in CHCH.xx

Below photo is little Miss  Molly the morning we left  - she was so  cute.

A couple of Plumed Ducks wandered up from the lake this morning.

 

Time to head north

Today is our last day here at Capalaba and we have been packing and cleaning so that it is nice
for when the owners arrive home tomorrow around midday. We have just given Molly a bath so
that she is nice and white for the owners, she was real dirty because today has been so hot and
we let her out in the yard to roam and roam she did with bits of trees,plants and goodness knows
what in her fur. She now smells like Strawberry and looks lovely. During the day she likes to spend
alot of time snoozing on our bed especially if the bedding has just been changed - tart.
When we came here the owners said if you dont want her in the bedroom at nightime put the baby
gate up and that keeps her out. June likes Molly on the bed Jason does not and neither do we so we
used the gate. The first few nights she was great then she started whinning and barking hmmmmm so
nope she was not coming on the bed so we moved her bed into the bedroom it only took two nights
for her to start sleeping in her bed and she has been ever since - don't think the owners will keep this
up - no our problem.
So for now that's it from Capalaba and catch you from Sippy Downs.

 

 

 

Drive to Cleveland

Took a drive to Cleveland one Sunday, it was so bloody windy and the sea was real choppy
we took Molly with us for a drive so that she could have a run around. The place was crowded
even though the weather was not brilliant. The sand was blowing which was a pity, with parking
at a premium we managed to find a park away from the hordes and went for a walk along the
small beach and then across to the other side of the road which was a bit more sheltered. Molly
loved the car she was very good, and loved poking her nose out the window and letting the wind
blow her ears.

 

 

Miss Molly

She is so cute, no bother and very attached to us she follows us around no matter where
we go. She doesn't mind a bath  - being white she gets pretty dirty racing up and down the
fence line harassed people and dogs on the other side of the fence if they are walking up
the walk way beside the property.

Christmas Day

The above photo was taken at Mt Gravatt Holland Park

Saw us head off to the Capalaba Sports club for lunch, no cooking,dishes or driving for us that day. It was pretty was however we only had a less than 4min walk to the Sports Club for our lunch. There was everything you could think of so made sure we had good tucker that we would not have at home like Oysters, perfectly grilled Baramundi done in foil - just amazing cooked perfectly. Not a huge crowd, not too many kids, not crammed in and nicely decorated for Christmas. Each table was decorated which was a nice touch, we had a lovely table for 2 overlooking the bowling green and out onto the grounds. The staff were amazing and we chatted happily to a lady who was from the Cook Islands so we had a bit in common with having 4 holidays there while Chris worked at Air NZ, she happily took our photo for us which was nice also. After lunch it was home to relax, watch some tv, snooze and swim in the pool. We skyped with Yasmine, Adam and Rory in the morning which was great.

Redland Museum 3 :

Harmony Quilt Display: (Chris loved this)

 

he Harmony Quilt is a beautiful patchwork quilt created by 21 Redland quilters representing the diversity of people and cultures living in the Redlands. Each block represents a different Country and is signed by the quilter the quilter’s names are also embroidered on the back of the quilt the blocks were quilted by Tony and Jennine Farrugia. The quilters were mentored by Isobel Castles. The quilt is large measuring 2.36m x1.77 m and consists of 35 different coloured blocks placed around a central block depicting Australia, the block for each Country is meticulously appliqued or hand embroidered with a special symbol eg Australia – a koala, Ireland – an Irish dancer, Japan – cherry blossoms, Egypt – a sphinx, Redlands – the Lighthouse. New Zealand is represented by the Map of NZ and sheep along the top row, and bottom left with the Silver Fern/Kiw. Harmony Day is a national day that provides Australia with an opportunity to celebrate its successes as a culturally diverse society, to commit to harmony is to say “no” to racism.
On completion the quilt was entered in the 2007 Quilts Across Queensland competition in the Brisbane Ekka and won first prize.

And who remember's this model, CJ tells me she actually has a photo of herself as a baby sitting in a model just like this one.

 

Redland Museum 2 :

 

Redland Museum 1 :

Redland Museum has been in existence for over fourty years and is entirely the result of volunteer work and community support, the Rotary Club of Cleveland and Redland Shire Council being major contributors. Over the years the Museum has grown from a small building costing less than $5000 to erect, to a large professionally run museum with an indoor floor space of 2700 square meters. A dedicated band of volunteers continually push the Museum onto greater heights. It would be one of the most interesting small museums that we have ever seen and believe me on our travels and trips we have seen many. Redland Museum is considered to be one of the finest local museums in the state of Queensland. We spent the morning here and as it was airconed it was just lovely as the day outside was so bloody hot.

 

Original Museum 1971. Blacksmith Shop in foreground

Museum 2014. See Blacksmith Shop extreme left