BANJO aka Brat

Poke family visit April 2024

 

Once again we were lucky to be visited by Jodi, Van and Kai - all the way from Darwin.  It was a double treat for the boys to get a break from the Darwin Wet Season - high humidity to a cooler dry climate in Gympie.

A quiet drink in the afternoon. Vance with Pops and Nana Jean (Kai was still sleeping in bed!)

Another quiet drink while waiting for evening meal (Kai trying to stay awake!)

Pops cooking lamb chops.

Anyway we had a loaded program to keep the boys entertained and having fun??  Also some stuff we wanted to do and used them as an excuse, some worked out …

The boys had go-karted before but Vance especially requested it again.  Think it may have had some connection to him getting his drivers Licence????

Go-Karting Fun

At the track on the Sunny Coast.  In the marshalling area, fitting for helmets and rules info.

Mum was the "gamest"

Van getting ahead

Think Mum was in the throes of overtaking both of them

At half-time, fuelling up and resting up …. Pops advising

According to Kai's calculations he won?????

Helping with jobs around the yard ...

We had a few tasks lined up for them to do,  being younger and fitter

He's a big lad

Vance did a great job with the hedger and trimmed back a runaway vine.  He also found the spade and chopped back the Choysa grass which involved 'good old muscle and sweat'.  Kai eventually got round to cleaning out the fishpond of all the growth (with nana's help) Don't know what happened to the photos though.

Locally we went to the duckpond and fed the fish (illegally)

Down at the local golf club we enjoyed a lovely lunch on the balcony.  The cart in the background was supposed to be the feature (to show Craig) but it doesn't' show all the paraphernalia that is draped all over it.  A pretty flash wagon really.  It has chromed, mag wheels and a pirate theme to signage. 

Mum and son.

Me and my handsome 13 year-old grandson!

Up on Tamborine Mountain …

We spent a couple of days on the Gold Coast hinterland at Thunderbird Park, a nature theme park.  Kids and Mum got to do a lot of tree top activities.  They finished absolutely tuckered out.  Pops and Nana relaxed in one of the Cedar Creek Lodges, a lovely retreat beside the creek.

Some rainforest canopy on the Skywalk

Some of the many waterfalls

Jodes and Mum

Maleny Botanic Gardens and Bird World 

Positioned high up on the Sunshine Coast escarpment,  overlooking a backdrop of the iconic Glass House Mountains is an amazing experience for bird lovers and gardeners.  there are beautiful landscaped gardens, lush property featuring walkways past exotic plants and waterfall plus bird and animal enclosures.

Kai and Van with the Glasshouse Mountain on the horizon.  Both tall lads!

There are five walk-through varies and are home to over 600 native and exotic birds from around the world.

Getting up close and personal with the birds

The birds were fascinated with buttons and some people lost them.  They were intrigued with jewellery also if they weren't removed or taped.  However it was a great interactive experience.

We picnicked in the gardens, and the boys loved Pops smoked chicken wings. 

 Another long but thoroughly enjoyable day.

2023 Xmas, Mt Tamborine

A special Xmas break - without family, the two of us, Dave and Jean.  We booked a lovely little cottage retreat, located in beautifully kept parkland-type gardens and we even had our own Avocado tree at the front door.  Very peaceful and private surroundings. 

We decided to stay for 5 days over the Xmas period as it is an area we hadn't visited since we'd been in Queensland.  It was a good choice as the Summer heat of SE Queensland was unusually unbearable at that time of the year.  We could cook our own or eat out - shops were about a km away.  Dave would cook up a big breakfast (his own ham) and then we would go out and explore for the day.

For those that don't know the area ...

Tamborine Mountain is nestled in the hinterland of the Gold Coast.  The mountain climate, because of its altitude, has a much cooler and less humid climate than that of Gold coast and Brisbane.  Situated high on the mountain plateau and part of the Scenic Rim there are an abundance of green rainforests and beautiful waterfall. 

I took a good pair of walking shoes with intentions of having a leisurely look around the National Parks.  The weather complied and I managed to get to see all the waterfalls and spend some quiet time enjoying all the natural sights and country.

The first waterfall we visited was the Cedar Creek Falls.  It was great for an easy stroll.  Passing through open forest and dry rainforest, we could see the cascading waterfall over the rocks into the swimming pool.  Water was very clear and apparently quite cold.  Very pretty spot.

Cedar Creek Falls

🏌🏌 HACKING another glorious HOLE-IN-ONE

 News too good to keep to myself - at 11:00 am on Wednesday 16 August 2023 on the 17th hole on the Gympie Golf Course, I nailed a beauty for an official hole-in-one.  It created a bit more of a stir as it was our annual ladies Open Day of which we had 96 entrants from around our zone. 

Standing on the 17th tee, with the green in the background (yellow flag can be seen in the photo above my cap).  Obviously we have no fairway irrigation by the signs of brown grass and dirt - lots of 'run' on the fairways!

Our group kicked up that much noise, it attracted the attention of the Course Marshall.  He forgave us for about 5 minutes and then told us to hurry up!  The coincidence of the situation was that a lass in the group had been playing SOCIALLY with another person and I about 2 years ago when I luckily hit a HIO then. She was re-telling the girls in the current group of my feat then, and lo and behold I repeated it.  Unbelievable really cause I'd been playing like an old chook for most of the game.

Collecting the ball out of the hole

Obviously Lady Luck was smiling upon me and all the planets were aligned for such an amazing shot.  Never mind that I had to buy my own bottle of bubbly.

Officially (in competition golf) I now have 3 HIO, all on the Gympie Golf Course.

1st was in 2016, 2nd in 2018, 3rd in 2023, and the social one was in 2020.  Anyway all 3 are mounted with the balls, sitting on the stand, gathering dust and beautiful memories.

Wedding Anniversary and Dragonboat Regatta at Bundaberg June 2023

 

53 years of togetherness!  David has many medals for this achievement but I wouldn't let him wear them on the night.     😇😇😇

David surprised me, thus organised the special event.  We went to a place called Amore-on-Buderim, a gorgeous self contained villa set amongst a rainforest.  It was very private and cosy, complete with a wood fire and spa.  Restaurants weren't many as it was a Monday night but he found a great little Sushi joint not far from the accommodation.  It suited me fine as I adore Japanese-type foods, not so much Dave but he sacrificed his tastes for mine on the occasion.  I felt very spoiled and special on this lovely evening.  He can and is very sweet.

In the photo below, I think I look a lot like Bev but Dave reckons Val (poor sisters)

Dave and Jean 5 June 2023

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Also during the month, our Dragonboat Club participated in one of our Wide Bay Regattas at Bundaberg which is a couple of hours North of Gympie.  We drove up on the Friday night, paddled Saturday and returned home on the Sunday.  A nice break from home routine.

Our Motel view of the Burnett River up and downstream

              

An evening view of the river

Roomies - Laura, Linda and Elaine.  We tried to avoid a selfie but anyway, here we are,  in all our glory!

Elaine and Linda are long term mates and we travelled around China together as well.  Laura is a newbie 

and she was a virgin paddler on this trip.  She is also a really keen rower and does that at another venue 

about twice a week in addition to twice a week paddling with us.  She still has a husband too!

Being SILLY - Laura and I slept in the King Size and the other two were in an another bedroom.  Laura and I were snorers.

We had raced, only over 200 metres and came in second!

Like Brown's  Cows lining up to board the boat, it's social racing so no strict marshalling.

Toni, my paddling buddy.  The protocol is we number off when we first are seated and she is the one I must save if the boat overturns.


Anyway a fun weekend was had, but no medals.  Lots of enjoyment in the way of exercise, the camaraderie with other clubs and plenty of eating and drinking with mates.  

The Wide Bay Regatta series is between 4 clubs at their home venues in the last half of the year.  From January through to March we paddle at lake Kawana with different Brisbane clubs.  It's quite a full calendar and there are also novelty events.  Recently we had a long paddle with a sister club because they were training for the marathon Ord River event in WA.  Other times we go for a long leisurely paddle with a safety boat accompanying us and the destination maybe a picnic on the bank somewhere before we go home.  It's a great hobby and easy way to exercise plus it's very social too.

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2023 - New Car, Singing Group and Shrub

 Recent Posts  have been "on hold" due to forgetting password and all damn hassle involved in getting back into the account!

Anyway not a lot happening in our little world except the usual routine stuff but it is our little world we like.

Dave 'shouted' himself a new car … downsizing being the main reason and maybe also being defiant about Electric Cars.  The VW Tiguan is the last diesel car made in 2023 so it was his choice.  It has all the luxuries of the old Volvo but a tad smaller and reckons it has the same grunt.  He has spent time finding out all the abilities of the car and he proudly shows them when I'm in the car.  He's still working on the Park Assist, reckons he has to trust the car first before he allows it to takeover.  Vehicle has nice clean lines to the body without being overstated (he says). 

Anyway he waited ages with all the 'supply distribution excuses' so he's happy to finally get it.

Dave on Anzac Day displaying his Dad's and own medals after returning from the Dawn 
Service.

U3A Retro Jukebox Singing Group

One of my new activities for the year …. tee hee I can hear you all thinking as David often tells everyone I'm the only Maori that can't sing.

For those who don't know, U3A is a self-help, adult education.  There's a range of educational, physically, and socially stimulating activities aimed at over 50s.  Most members are empty nesters, semi-retired or retired - emphasis is on enjoyment, interest and fun.

Anyway I chose to join the most fun and the (most difficult)  Retro Jukebox, they rock out hits from the fifties and sixties.  We practise weekly and also perform for various community groups from time to time.  Some of us even wear our best rock and roll outfits.

Now the truth about it all, we have computerized music with loud volume blasting-out and we sing to it.  No one can really hear the flat and out-of-tune voices as the music disguises us.  We have all the lyrics in front of us so we look and sound quite authentic.  In the picture below, Chrissy, the lady with the red necktie is the sole person who has a wonderful voice.  She carries most of us all of the time.  Believe it or not, our singing that everyone does for about 90 minutes a day, really does have an overwhelming quality of making one feel 'good'.  They reckon it's all about getting lots of oxygen into lungs and breathing which  gives out the good vibes.  Anyway it works for me.

Members performing at Grevillea Gardens in April

I'm hiding in the back row, 3rd from the right.  This particular occasion we were at an Old Persons' Home and we had a live audience.  Most of the women singalong but a lot of the old fellas usually have to be wakened with a cup of tea and biscuit.  They give the impression to 'sort of ' enjoy it.  

I often have a giggle and think this is the scenario in reverse in about (hopefully) 20 years time.

On this occasion we were at the Lions Club Senior Citizens Meeting.  The audience were ones of our own vintage and  we were received very well, polite applause but no encores!  Maybe next time …

Believe it or not it is Fun.

These couple of shots are mainly for Jodi's benefit.  She gave as a 50th anniversary present back in covid times this Crepe Myrtle or a Pride of India plant.  It was a mature shrub at the time and during Spring and Summer it has a mass of White bunches of flowers.  Ad the seasons cool the leaves change colour.

First shades of changing colour

It's turned quite reddish now and losing it's leaves for Winter

It's very colourful all year round … quite lovely.

BEER 2022

BREW BOYS CELEBRATION of OKTOBERFEST

Gympie's Home Brewers'  - group of guys sitting in Dave's shed drinking German beer, listening to German music and eating German food, obviously in October.  

Jean marked the occasion by taking photos AND trying some Apple editing of shots to extend my skills and also to try and make the photos a bit more interesting.

Admittedly the editing is a bit basic but with practise down the track ….

In case you can't read the red print "happy lads, talking recipes, style of beers, which hops are best … They are Joel, Mike, Graham, Dave the host, Rob, Doug and Stuart'.

Doug and Stuart wearing some fun T-shirts (about beer)

There was a lot of talk about when they were in Berlin, place to buy squealers etc. etc   but it was all friendly memories and chatter.

Mike, the voice of experience in the group, relating how you make sauerkraut and German pretzels.  He also baked some nice sausage rolls.

They drank and (praised) each others beer and ate Dave's Kransky sausages all afternoon.  In the early evening,  their lovely womenfolk collected them and drove them home safely.