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.

 

The Pokes Family Funtime - April 2022

 A family visit ...

We were lucky to have our Darwin family (Jodes, Van and Kai) visit for a short while recently.  They were wanting to have a break from Darwin’s awful humidity which occurs at the end of the monsoon season.  Anyway, good old Queensland weather didn’t disappoint - lovely cool temperatures in the evenings, overnight and early mornings followed by dazzling warm days.

It had been a long time since they’d been down so it was no wonder they had ‘shot up’.  I believe Van is over the 6 foot mark

The menfolk, Kai 11 years, Vance 14 years and Pops Peters.

Silly photographer had subjects looking into the sun.  It's positive evidence of clear blue skies in Qld tho'.

We had limited time but we managed to cram in a whole lot of activities ...

Our first outing was Kai's choice of adventure and that was the Tree Top Challenge down at Nambour, near the Big Pineapple.

Van, Kai and Mum waiting excitedly for the place to open. 

As the name, tree top challenge suggests, the activity takes place up in the tall timber of the park.  A series of ropes, cables, netting, pulleys, carabiner and wooden platforms etc. are set up in such a fashion to give the climbers a bit of fun and challenge.  It requires a lot of upper body strength, confidence and sense of adventure.  The climbs are rated for beginners through to advanced, starting with a 30 minute safety talk and then climbers are free to use the equipment at their own pace.

It's a great set-up even for observers as there are paths to wander and watch the climbers in the shade of the bush.

Which one first?

Mum strutting her stuff

Van making the climb

Kai negotiating the carbine

Kai with a bit of a wobble happening ...

From all accounts it was a lot of fun but also pretty tiring.  It was Kai's idea for the outing so he got a terrific amount of enjoyment out of it, Van went along with it cause it was something different and Jodes was the biggest kid of all! 

Pops and Nana got weary from just watching.  Kids slept heavily that night.

Some home time ...

Boys having a bit of fun, careering down the driveway in Pops gorilla cart - steering but no brakes.  Van being the stronger one pulled the cart up the hill … photos do lie, not to mention Nana's finger in the way!

On an off day, we stayed locally and we took the visitors to the bone museum.  It was a small exhibition but the kids got to see a horse skeleton and there were several skulls of different animals and many small creature skeletons like frogs, toads and parts of larger creatures as well.  It was one of those places where everyone 'oohed' a lot, but extremely interesting as well.

We also managed to get some time kayaking at Tin Can Bay.  Jodes and the boys kayaked around Snapper Creek, nosing around the Marina and different boats moored in the creek.  After I finished paddling training we had a snack and drink at the Yacht Club before heading home.  A nice relaxing time to find Pops had tea cooked when we arrived home, very nice.

Jodi being the crafty weaver couldn't resist making something out of the palm seeds.  Over a couple of hours she had weaved various useful containers for us and a decorative hanging.  She leaves a mark and impression wherever she goes that girl.

A big day, Wednesday we hit the Theme Park.   Down to Aussie World at Palmview which features a range of rides and attractions and suited to families.  The only disappointing comment is that I can't convert the videos of all the rides into a format the blog will accept.  So folks there is no evidence of any of the fun, screams of delight and terror had by anyone.  

Jodes and I were the only ones that 'rode' the SX360, a thriller of a ride.  It's a 360 - degree pendulum, reaches speeds of up to 80km/h while launching 32 metres into the air and completing 360 degree inversions with up to 5G's of force.  Amazing fun ???? I did only travel it once!

Another one of the scarier rides was the Redback, a Disk'O ride.  Van joined Jodes and I for that thrill, we got up to 70 km/h and to a height of 13 metres.  

However words can not do justice to these rides, if only the videos would work!  Anyway the day was filled with lots of fun and entertainment and proved to be excellent value (you could ride multiple times as there was an entry fee only).

 Boys did their own thing at times, had Mum with them in the Mayhem Maze in the Asylum, I was going to thrash everyone in the mini golf so we stopped playing that after a few holes, yummy ice cream and beautiful Qld weather to make everything even more enjoyable.

Go Karting was another thing on the 'to do ' list.  As it turned out it was the only event that was operating on Good Friday so it was a good idea.

Before the race

We're all Winners!

Anyway it was a week of go-go with many fun activities and pretty flat out for everyone.  

Upon saying farewells, Dave related the tale of his Step Grandfather, Pop Hougham, taking a white hanky from his pocket when the family were getting into the car and leaving after an hour of visiting, dabbing his eyes (pretend tears) and waving goodbye.  I guess he was able to relate to how Pop felt.

Lovely visit Jodes, Van and Kai.

SEVENTY YEARS young! March 2022.

My annual birthday present is a  ‘golf play and stay’(my choice) compliments of my beloved.  However this year regardless of being a 70th, birthday plans were thwarted by the "good old" weather god.  Not the original rain bomb that affected the south east coast of Queensland and New South Wales but another couple of days of rain and storms on top of ground that was already saturated.  

The plan was to travel up to Elliot Heads, about 2 hours drive north from Gympie and play golf at the Coral Cove club.  This course apart from lining the coast for stunning views from tees, also boasted a course consisting of two par 6 holes so a bit special, in my opinion.

 

 We booked a lovely bnb beside the ocean for 3 days.  A lovely Bali setting in the front yard and it was pet friendly so even Norman could enjoy the little holiday break.  Well, that was as far as all the activity went … it rained morning and night. There were short periods of fine weather but the golf courses were closed because of all the excess water lying around.  Trees had been uprooted, bunkers became ponds, fairways were too wet for any traffic and heavens only knows what would happen to your handicap if you tried to hit a ball in those conditions.  

Flowers compliments of KG and Deb

A lot of relaxing was done and a little bit of drinking.  We had friends over in Burnett Heads so spent time with them.  However an incident that nearly spoiled the occasion, Norman went missing.  Each time we went away from the bnb, the rule, was for the dog to accompany us.  On the last night we were there we went into Bundaberg to one of the Craft Brewery eateries for a meal.  We secured Norman beside the vehicle with water as was the practice every time we left him.  Lo and behold, he was not there when we returned.  Complete disbelief, there was no way he could have escaped and besides he always felt secure around the car cause he knew we'd always go back to the car and he wasn't going to be abandoned.

Anyway we patrolled the streets to see if he was loose in town, rang the police and eventually returned to our accommodation very teary-eyed.  In the morning, the day we were scheduled to go home our hosts suggested we call into the dog pound as it was in the area.  As soon as we pulled up, we heard Norman's bark.  Some meddling do-gooder was the cause of it all.  In retrospect, it was a time when things did not go to plan, but all’s well that ends well.  In future, Norman will be going into a kennel when we go away from home.  Maybe I’ll get to play at Coral Cove at a later date.

Our dragonboat club always celebrates significant birthdays.  Barbie and I qualified and decided  to have a combined party.  Barb is the baby by 3 days, she’s quiet and cute and usually one of the stroke paddlers.  I am part of the powerhouse, won the Whinger Award but we both love paddling.   We probably have about 20 years of paddling between us.

Birthday birds.

Some Dragon friends

Another paddler had her Mum, who turned 91 on the night of our gathering, so she joined in as well.  She was a lovely lady and we learnt she immigrated from the UK 15 years ago, an amazing adventurous person in her latter years.

Barb, Joan and Jean.

Some beautiful bouquets, birthday cake, restaurant dining vouchers and plenty of pizzas.  It was a lovely night.  Thanks paddlers.