Yard: Pond and Pots

A new addition to the backyard in the form of a pond.  It's made out of concrete and the intended use is probably a stock drinking trough but we've adapted it for the garden - high enough to keep it free of  cane toads and the dog.  It's a good size and large enough to have a few fish and plants to add some interest to the yard.  So far we have a few goldfish and a solar pump to circulate the water.

the view from the sliding door of the house.

You can see the few water plants, we've built up a bit of a rockery in the front with some bromeliads and ground cover .  This is looking out from the deck.

The fish feeder, pump installer and general roustabout.

View of the Brommies from the deck

My new colour co-ordinated pots

The garden under the stairs is still in progress,as is the area under the deck which will house more of the shade-loving type plants - ferns, orchids ..........

The Dowd's are travelling ....

Some friends from Darwin but currently living in Melbourne, are on the Winter trek north to warmer climates.  Pam, an 'old' netballer mate and husband Greg along with 'Buddie' the beagle are on the road in search of sights, adventure, and catching up with old friends.

  We had the pleasure of their company for a couple or four days on their wending their way up the east coast.  They stayed in their van in the backyard where Buddie was able to wander around and keep Lizzi company.

The Caravan
 A very stylish and comfortable self contained van 

The Truck
 Another great BT 50 

The travellers enjoying the odd beverage!

Greg, Pam and Dave out on the deck

We recalled and recounted all the glory days of an earlier time - sigh sigh!  It was great to have them and hopefully no one caught 'the cold' that was in the household.  Happy travels guys!

Motorscooter lesson

Training with a QRide Instructor - another milestone in my bike riding.

After many kilometres of riding around the yard and housing estate roads, Dave figured I needed to have some expert tuition so I had an hours training the other night at the roadcraft centre in Gympie.

  In a controlled safe environment, I went on a circuit doing slalom work and trying to ride slow manoeuvres without toppling over.  After a while I got a bit of a feel for 'leaning the bike round corners' but had considerable difficulty doing the tight turns at a slow speed.  Much more practise to be spent on that aspect before I venture around roundabouts and carparks etc.

Another skill I sort of learnt was to do an emergency stop at speed.  I daringly accelerated to around 60kph and on Mark's signal applied the brakes.  It was both a scary and exhilirating experience.

The next step is practise and more practise before I hit (no pun intended) the public roads

I'm becoming attached to my machine and have duly named her "Evie" (my Mt Everest).

Angel Peters - nearly 4 years

Grand daughter no. 1

 Angel looking pretty ...

Angel looking cute ...

Nana and Pops received a batch of current photos from Darryn and Tuyen so they've been posted for all to see.  Photos have been taken in the house yard Darryn has spent many hours paving, and improving.  They also painted and polished floorboards etc. of the house interior, so most of what is there is the product of their hard work.

Jean's motorscooter - Honda Forza 300

A second childhood or senior senility??????  Anyway my flash new motor scooter has been delivered.

zooming around the backyard!

It's moving and I'm still aboard ...

Dave was busy clicking away with the camera, I am concentrating on everything and I literally mean everything.  I'm looking at a 12 month project to get myself out on the road - a challenge and hopefully lots of enjoyment.

Darwin visit - March 2014

Recently I had occasion to visit the Poke family (Jodi, Vince, Vance and Kai) living in Darwin.  It was a great opportunity to see their new unit in Coconut Grove, to meet the kids' teachers and friends, to see them at school and to get to know some of Jodi's mates.

It was the usual humid and sticky conditions of Darwin at this time of year - pretty yuk throughout the day but more pleasant in the evening especially on the foreshore.

Jodi and Vince on the Nightcliff foreshore

Sitting on the rocks while the kids play on the beach and in the rock pools is a enjoyable way to watch the sun go down - it's much cooler, kids are having fun and everyone is relaxed.

Nightcliff beach

Kai and Vance

A rare display of brotherly love.

Mum and her two boys

 

Nana Jean and two lads with closed eyes!

Dad and the two boys

 

Keith and Anna

We all visited the McRaes down at Coolalinga.  Everyone had a fun afternoon - racing in the Bush buggy, cooling off in the pool, playing in the rain and Keith had made a batch of delicious fried bread to conclude an enjoyable day out..

 

From the wharf -a Darwin sunset with a storm coming in.

 

 

Travels to NSW - Nelsons Bay,Hunter Valley --- March 2014

Recently we travelled to Nelsons Bay around Newcastle, NSW for a (Wallabies from Malaysia) reunion - a gathering of old Wallabie football club members who all were in the RAAF and posted to Butterworth sometime from the 1970's to early 2000ish.

We meet at an Australian venue every three years to relive the glory rugby days and fun we all had whilst posted to RAAF Butterworth.

2014 reunion was held in Nelsons Bay and hosted by Ken and Chris Honeyset.  There was a large gathering of about 140 members and spouses, some travelling from Darwin, Townsville, Perth, Tasmania, South Australia, NZ but the bulk of the crowd were from the East coast of Australia.

Our Saturday night function was held at the Nelsons Bay Golf Club.  Throughout the evening a compilation power-point presentation flashed over a big screen of days gone by, also video productions of funs and games had in Malaysia.



Pictures of Wallabies at the Saturday night function

Wallabies cake - our colours



Jean, Margaret, Lorrie and Di

We were in Malaysia at the same time, late 70's - we played basketball and football together and were part of the invaluable "Chook cookers" (money raisers).  A lot of fun had together!

Jean, Deb and KG

The Cameron kids - Karen and partner, Sonia and husband and Daniel

Margaret and David S and Di W

Rodney and John (Stretch) Murray

Billy G and Noaksie

Betty and Lilly

Dave

Flo (standing), JC, Moorie and Jill W

 

It was wonderful to reunite with friends and relive all those fabulous times we had in our younger days.  In 2017, the next reunion is being held in Georgetown, Penang Island, Malaysia.

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The Hunter Valley Wine Trail

 

Back in the early 1980's, on our posting to Williamtown, NSW, some of our times were spent around the vineyards quaffing cask wine.  On this occasion we were able to sample some of the finer Hunter Valley wines in a bit more style.  We stayed a couple of days in the Valley,  hired a mini bus to chauffeur us around a few of the vineyards and cellar doors.

We visited Sobel Wines, Ivanhoe, Pooles Rock and Tyrells vineyards, Smelly Cheese, Vodka Distillery and we lunched in an old brewery, we got around....

 



Ivanhoe Vineyard

Red rose bush

Poole Rock vineyard - rose bushes are planted at the end of the rows to depict either a red wine or a white wine

Tyrell's Winery - this one in particular was an old haunt in days gone by.



Wolfie and Janis Heims

 

Kev Smith

At Nelsons vineyard, a boutique vineyard - it belonged to a friend of a friend

An unforgettable sunset


The view is what TC is pointing to ...

A sundowner at Nelsons Vineyard - Dave, TC, Waldie, Jean, Smithie and Betty

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We stopped at Tamworth to see my long lost cousin.  It had been over 30 years since we had seen one and other.  Judy and Gordon are managing a motel in the town.  We enjoyed some of the Tong's wonderful hospitality, reminisced and walked down memory lane.  It was great catching up!

Cousin Judy and Jean

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We had come across this place before and stumbled upon it again on this occasion.  We were driving from Tamworth to the coast, going through the Guy Fawkes National Park and just before Grafton, the Nymbodia Inn.

 

 

Beautiful river views from the beer garden