Queensland (with LOTS of pics!)
Yes, yes, I've been quiet lately. A lot has been happening. One of the things is a recent trip to Queensland, so here's a bit about it and a few .. ermm.. ok... LOTS of pics...:)
I was thinking, as I was working on the pics, that I have a good life really. I live in a marvellous country and have wonderful people in my life. Not bad really at all...:)
So let's begin with some pics and let them tell the story.
On the recommendation of a friend in Brisbane we went to Mount Glorious
Had morning tea at a lovely tearooms near the top
They had beautiful surroundings
But the altitude was so high and being the middle of winter even I had to admit it was FREEZING outside, so we huddled by their lovely toasty wood heater and had our coffees.
There was a lovely lookout
Going on the view, no wonder it's called Mount GLORIOUS!
And what a natural setting for my glorious daughter!
Isn't she beautiful? And yes, that is natural red hair, although she has a few blond streaks in it at the moment.
Then we followed the road along heading to Mount Nebo and stopped at what is called West Ridge Lookout, which had a neat wooden walkway.
And this is the view
Some of the local vegetation - aka aussie bush
The boardwalk went around a huge rock formation. Am I the only one that can see a dragon there?
The place had magnificent energies - really positive and restful. I loved it and was sad to leave.
But then it was on to Jolley's Lookout
They had lovely lawned picnic areas and of course, a wonderful view out across the plains to the islands in the bay off in the distance.
As we drove around I noticed one of my favourite flowers growing wild in the scrub - lantana!
It's considered a noxious weed because it is an introduced plant and florishes in some parts of the aussie bush, but I love it for it's tiny clusters of orange, pink and yellow flowers.
That night I went out to dinner with some friends I'd met online. One was L, a subbie boy who has been very cheeky to me online in recent months and whom I keep threatening I'd track him down one day. The other, S, I've chatted to online for over eight years and never met. He and his wife are lovely people whom I plan on keeping in touch with when next I visit Brisbane. As luck had it, they knew L, and had lured him out to dinner so I could surprise him with my visit. We all had a wonderful evening at the Breakfast Creek Hotel (called the Brekky Creek Pub by the locals), where I got to enjoy their legendary steak dinner for the first time.
Then on Saturday my brother came to visit and we all headed off to the Light Horse Museum (pics of which I will save for another entry). Our grandfather was in the 11th Lighthorse and fought at Gallipoli. It was good to see my brother again. We were a pair of ratbags as kids and are still no different.
The man and his bike - a Honda Super Blackbird
A couple of pics of him and I as kids - first one in 1963
And then about 1968
(sorry about the quality, but they are webcam shots of photos)
And now today
Not much has changed, still a pair of ratbags - just gotten older..and yes, my hair was purple and blue and pink!...lol.. although it's now a nice copper red.
On the sunday we headed up the coast a little to the Yandina Ginger Factory and stopped off to see the Glasshouse Mountains on the way
They are a series of extinct volcanos which have had the craters eroded away in time, leaving the core exposed. Apparently when Captain Cook was exploring the east coast in 1770 the morning sun hit them and made them shine like glasshouses, hence their name. There are about seven in a small area but the one above and this one, Mount Tibrogargan are my favourites
They use an old fire lookout tower for the scenic lookout and have put a lot of effort into developing a nice picnic area, and information signage as well as these pretty mosaics of the individual mounts in the path
We were up really quite high. I love this pic of Grubblet, hubby and daughter - it's like they are sitting on the edge of the world
Then it was on to the Ginger Factory, where I bought gifts to bring home for my lot as well as sampled some of their products in their nice eatery area
I had a hot waffle with pineapple crush icecream and a scoop of passionfruit and ginger icecream, topped with chocolate and ginger topping and cream..yum!
Then we explored the little gift shops
They had beautiful gardens throughout the property
And look who I found on the bridge that crossed the lagoon!
We also spent time just relaxing at home - notice Percy Pugwash, the new kitten, on the back of the sofa
Can we say, utterly adorable?
And he doesn't half know he's loved, does he?
On my last day we went back to Redcliffe, enjoying the drive along the esplanade
Before we went swimming at Settlement Cove
Isn't it just idylic?
It's right next to the ocean, so the setting is just beautiful. They have shallow areas for teeny weenies to enjoy, but in the middle it's quite deep, easily up to my shoulders. The kids were all shivery pretty quickly as it was rather brisk, but I loved it. We all laid out in the sun to dry off and warm up after, and Grubblet bought fish and hot chips for lunch.. again.. yum!
The weather was so beautiful while I was there. I often used to take my morning coffee out to sit on their back patio and just sit in the sun, enjoying the warmth.
Although I missed everyone at home, and was only there six days, it was a really lovely time. It was fantastic to see Grubblet and her family again and marvel at how much the littles have grown, even since I saw them last at christmas. I really have to seriously look at moving closer!
I was thinking, as I was working on the pics, that I have a good life really. I live in a marvellous country and have wonderful people in my life. Not bad really at all...:)
So let's begin with some pics and let them tell the story.
On the recommendation of a friend in Brisbane we went to Mount Glorious
Had morning tea at a lovely tearooms near the top
They had beautiful surroundings
But the altitude was so high and being the middle of winter even I had to admit it was FREEZING outside, so we huddled by their lovely toasty wood heater and had our coffees.
There was a lovely lookout
Going on the view, no wonder it's called Mount GLORIOUS!
And what a natural setting for my glorious daughter!
Isn't she beautiful? And yes, that is natural red hair, although she has a few blond streaks in it at the moment.
Then we followed the road along heading to Mount Nebo and stopped at what is called West Ridge Lookout, which had a neat wooden walkway.
And this is the view
Some of the local vegetation - aka aussie bush
The boardwalk went around a huge rock formation. Am I the only one that can see a dragon there?
The place had magnificent energies - really positive and restful. I loved it and was sad to leave.
But then it was on to Jolley's Lookout
They had lovely lawned picnic areas and of course, a wonderful view out across the plains to the islands in the bay off in the distance.
As we drove around I noticed one of my favourite flowers growing wild in the scrub - lantana!
It's considered a noxious weed because it is an introduced plant and florishes in some parts of the aussie bush, but I love it for it's tiny clusters of orange, pink and yellow flowers.
That night I went out to dinner with some friends I'd met online. One was L, a subbie boy who has been very cheeky to me online in recent months and whom I keep threatening I'd track him down one day. The other, S, I've chatted to online for over eight years and never met. He and his wife are lovely people whom I plan on keeping in touch with when next I visit Brisbane. As luck had it, they knew L, and had lured him out to dinner so I could surprise him with my visit. We all had a wonderful evening at the Breakfast Creek Hotel (called the Brekky Creek Pub by the locals), where I got to enjoy their legendary steak dinner for the first time.
Then on Saturday my brother came to visit and we all headed off to the Light Horse Museum (pics of which I will save for another entry). Our grandfather was in the 11th Lighthorse and fought at Gallipoli. It was good to see my brother again. We were a pair of ratbags as kids and are still no different.
The man and his bike - a Honda Super Blackbird
A couple of pics of him and I as kids - first one in 1963
And then about 1968
(sorry about the quality, but they are webcam shots of photos)
And now today
Not much has changed, still a pair of ratbags - just gotten older..and yes, my hair was purple and blue and pink!...lol.. although it's now a nice copper red.
On the sunday we headed up the coast a little to the Yandina Ginger Factory and stopped off to see the Glasshouse Mountains on the way
They are a series of extinct volcanos which have had the craters eroded away in time, leaving the core exposed. Apparently when Captain Cook was exploring the east coast in 1770 the morning sun hit them and made them shine like glasshouses, hence their name. There are about seven in a small area but the one above and this one, Mount Tibrogargan are my favourites
They use an old fire lookout tower for the scenic lookout and have put a lot of effort into developing a nice picnic area, and information signage as well as these pretty mosaics of the individual mounts in the path
We were up really quite high. I love this pic of Grubblet, hubby and daughter - it's like they are sitting on the edge of the world
Then it was on to the Ginger Factory, where I bought gifts to bring home for my lot as well as sampled some of their products in their nice eatery area
I had a hot waffle with pineapple crush icecream and a scoop of passionfruit and ginger icecream, topped with chocolate and ginger topping and cream..yum!
Then we explored the little gift shops
They had beautiful gardens throughout the property
And look who I found on the bridge that crossed the lagoon!
We also spent time just relaxing at home - notice Percy Pugwash, the new kitten, on the back of the sofa
Can we say, utterly adorable?
And he doesn't half know he's loved, does he?
On my last day we went back to Redcliffe, enjoying the drive along the esplanade
Before we went swimming at Settlement Cove
Isn't it just idylic?
It's right next to the ocean, so the setting is just beautiful. They have shallow areas for teeny weenies to enjoy, but in the middle it's quite deep, easily up to my shoulders. The kids were all shivery pretty quickly as it was rather brisk, but I loved it. We all laid out in the sun to dry off and warm up after, and Grubblet bought fish and hot chips for lunch.. again.. yum!
The weather was so beautiful while I was there. I often used to take my morning coffee out to sit on their back patio and just sit in the sun, enjoying the warmth.
Although I missed everyone at home, and was only there six days, it was a really lovely time. It was fantastic to see Grubblet and her family again and marvel at how much the littles have grown, even since I saw them last at christmas. I really have to seriously look at moving closer!