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 

 

 

Capalaba

Monday 13th Dec:

Arrived Capalaba and soon settled in once the owners had left. We have a beautiful pool, home with 2 aircons and a white Bichon Frise pooch named Miss Molly to care for. We are here until Jan 13th when we head north to Sippy Downs to our friends home until at least April 1st, could be longer.

 

Off We Go

Monday 13th Dec:

Time to head off to our last house sit for the year, we left Holland Park West around 3.30pm avoiding the school traffic. I was rather sad leaving Miss Twinkle as she had become very attached to us. We went to get Thai for dinner last night and we took her with us for a ride in the car - she loved it. It was extremely hot so we had to leave packing the car until the final minute it was just too hot to have the food stuffs sitting in the car. Last minute goodbyes with Twinkle and we headed off to Capalaba. We arrived at Capalaba around 4.15pm, the home ran through the final bits and pieces with us before we sat to and head an early dinner of yummy lasange with them. Around 5.30pm they headed off to the airport for their trip back to the UK via Singapore.

Hey Miss Twinkle get outta my seat!!!!!!!

Farewell Miss Twinkle

Heading off tomorrow

Sunday 6th Dec 2015

HAPPY  BIRTHDAY  ROSIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We leave Holland Park West tomorrow and head to our Christmas/New Year house sit at Capalaba, 
We won't be heading off until late afternoon as we want to stay and feed the dog as she will be home alone as the homeowners will not be arriving home until the early AM on Tuesday morning. There are some lovely plants in the garden, Foxtail Palms, Lady Finger Banana Palms with fruit, Papaya or Paw Paw, Passionfruit, Chokos, Tomatoes, herbs and many more here are a few photos.

 

 

Papaya 

 

Fox Tail Palms

 

Mt Gravatt

Last week we did a quick drive up to the top of Mt Gravatt, on our way back from the supermarket.

Since 1893 Mt Gravatt has attracted climbers, after the colonial government of the time deemed the hill’s 132 acres a recreational reserve. Local residents, drawing on voluntary labour then went about constructing roads and a walking track up its slopes, with a resultant three hand built roads to the summit.In 1914 a large picnic shelter was built up the top and Mt Gravatt promptly became the local in-spot for picnics. It also became a hot spot for car rallies and by 1930, motorbike events. One local champ won the climb three times, in a four cylinder Indian bike with sidecar.
The current road which leads to the mountaintop was built during the Depression years by unemployed labourers and a small kiosk that had been established there burnt down in 1938.
Today the Echidna Magic Cafe, owned and run by Indigenous group First Contact, is an excellent spot to enjoy the view and has a little playground to the rear as well as an educational walk-though garden of native plants.
The lookout can be accessed by car or by hiking through the bush from the Griffith University Campus and Toohey Mountain Reserve.
Mount Gravatt is at an elevation/altitude/height above sea level of 187 m ...

 

The view overlooking Brisbane City from the lookout

  

 

Breakthrough

It's almost time to leave her and yep Miss Twinkle has come to realise we are not that bad after all. We had a bit of a break through last week and she will now allow us to pat her, brush her and take her for a walk which she loves. Fortunately we are just across the road from a walking track that runs behind the Holland Park State College and the bus way. She loves trotting along and is good on the lead. There are a couple of beautiful trees close by a Poinciana Tree and an Illawara Flame Tree the color of these trees is stunning the Poinciana the color is from the flowers and the Illawara Flame Tree the color is from the foliage. When we were at Yungaburra in 2013, they opened the Avenue of Honour for the fallen soldiers from the Afghanistan war and lining the Avenue there are 41 Illawara Flame Trees 1 for every AU soldier killed in the war, imagine the sight when all the 41 trees are in flower.

Photos below are the Poinciana Tree

 

 

Below photo is the Illawara Flame Tree