Australian Adventure

  Saturday, Josie was continuing her birthday celebrations with her friends. In the afternoon six girls were locked in an escape room with one hour to solve the puzzles to open the door. They completed the task with just 2 minutes to spare. Then it was on to the Botanic Gardens for doughnuts. When Richard and I arrived to help ferry the girls home they were playing 'weddings' but the 'bride' kept running away so the others had to catch her. They were obviously having a great time together. While the girls were enjoying their afternoon together Richard, Elliot and I had a trip to the cinema with Elliot's friend Arie.  Sunday was an early start for Josie for her 2nd 'practice' walk in preparation for her sponsored walk in June. All kitted out with her new walking shoes. Her team is called the 'Jelibens' ( J osie,  E leanor,  L ucas,  I vy and  Ben   - who is their maths teacher) Unfortunately Ivy was unable to join them for this practice walk. Josie wa...

This week has been relatively quiet as family life returned to normal. Weather has been perfect for me - 24-26C every day with cool nights so easy to sleep. Everyone else cold even in the daytime. Heater on in the evenings. Friday morning Elliot was playing his violin at school with the string orchestra . The school has a special 'under 8's' day once a year which is a fun day for years 1 and 2. The orchestra, which is mainly year 4 pupils, were playing for the younger ones at the start of the morning activities. It sounded very good considering they have only been learning just over a year. The teachers had arranged about 36 activities for the under 8's ranging from bubble blowing to stained glass windows. Looked like a fun day!          

This week has disappeared so quickly and now it is time to leave Straddie for Brisbane. The final day is spent with a visit to the dunes on Frenchman's beach. This time I make it to the bottom of the 290+ steps and after a final wander along the beach I make it back up to the top with relative ease (that doesn't mean to say I didn't have a couple of short stops to take yet more pictures). Richard and the children had gone on to the top of the big dune for a final run down to Cylinder beach. We met back at the house to pack the car.                                    Frenchman's beach.                  There was the final goodbye to the gentleman living opposite and his dog, Turbo. Turbo and Dusty had enjoyed playing together all week. A quick visit to Amity Point for Richard and the children to jump off the jetty for the final time. D...

  Y es, I am in the picture but you will need  magnifying glass to see me. At the very base of this enormous sand dune is a tiny figure with a black skirt and white top. That' s me!!

  As Stradbroke Island is a sand Island we are spoilt for choice as to which beach to visit each day. Deadman's Beach      Richard is sure this beach had lost about a metre of sand during the cyclone in February. It hit land at Stradbroke Island so it obviously took a big it. The lighter rocks lower down seem to be those exposed after the cyclone.   The children found a creek where they could float up and down as the tide was coming in.  Dusty thought it a huge game, running in and out to 'rescue' them.     Cylinder Beach. Our closest beach and  safe for 'jumping the waves'.   Home beach, the dog beach. Dusty loved being able to run free.

Overlooking Long beach Windy but warm walk along a 1.3km boardwalk this morning. So many beautiful views I seem to have taken thousands of pictures. Really will have to thin them out and just keep the best. Very windy but warm for me. Rest of the family were cold.   Finished the walk with an enormous ice cream.                The fascinating Pandanus (Screw Pine) Plant.      One exhausted dog!     

Meet the animals. Elliot with Milo, named after an Australian drink and Oreo, named after the popular biscuit.  Kerri with year old puppy, Dusty, a smooth haired border collie who never tires of fetching a ball. Thursday 8 May. Elliot's sponsored Colour Run at school. All children were taking part. The children were aaskes to wear white T-shirts. Each year group were given 10 minutes to run round the playing field where they would tackle obstacles. At each obstacle they were also sprayed with coloured corn starch. They were also sprayed with water to make the corn starch stick to their shirts. They were all really colourful by the time their 10 minutes finished. The children raised $30000 (about £15000) which will help fund the school's strong Music and Arts programme. Much to the children's delight some of their teachers were dowsed with 'slime'.    Saturday 10 May Josie's 12th birthday. Started with breakfast with friends Evie and Helena. Followed by shopping ...

               It was an absolutely beautiful sunrise as we flew into Brisbane airport at 7am on 5th May House sitting for Richard's boss at present so quiet mornings while the family prepare and leave for work and school each day.  Electricity boxes control the traffic lights at junctions and are repainted by local members of the public roughly every 8 years. People are invited to submit designs and then the best are chosen. This year Josie's design was one of those chosen and the final coat of UV varnish was put on the day I arrived. She had been helped by sev eral friends over the past 2 weekends to complete the painting.           Tuesday night Steel Band practice. Josie on a stool to reach the bass drums and Elliot in navy top with green trim on tenor drums. Sounded brilliant.                                       ...