charles' birthday

Another Anzac Day, another birthday which we celebrated in our usual way - Cup of tea in bed; cooked breakfast; presents; coffee; reading the weekend paper; lunch with good wine. The menu this year?
Lamb tagine with fennel and artichokes, baked eggplant and capsi with pinenuts; a lovely Bec salad, and a choice of rice or couscous. All followed by a flourless chocolate, apple and cranberry cake.
It was a long, lazy meal in the warmth of a perfect day.

brisbane on a sunny day

These are a few of the pics I took when out on walks with friends who have been staying over easter, all, except the last which is at the Power House in Newfarm, within walking distance of our house. Perfect weather, too much food and alcohol, lots of walking, lots of chatting, and LOTS of laughing have made thgis a great easter.


Great gardener next door


Neighbourhood house


Hot tin roof without the cat


Smooth as satin tree trunk on my daily walk


Flowering gum, often full of parrots in the late afternoon


Grass trees outside Southbak TAFE


Look carefully at the image - what does it say?

activities for a sick boy

Remi has fallen in a heap at the end of a very long first term at school ... ridiculously long in my book for little preppies who are starting school at the hottest time of the year. Consequently he came down with a very nasty virus and is staying home from school for the whole of the last week, after sleeping, sweating and vomiting through the worst of it. He has been here for quite a bit of the time, and after a slow start with lots of stories and DVD's has moved on to pasta making and cubby houses.

four days with jack and sarah

Last week we were treated to Jack and Sarah's visit, and it will come as no surprise that a lot of the time was spent looking at art and eating. We saturated ourselves at GoMA, ate our way through treats from West End, drank good coffee and the occasional glass of wine, and drove up to Mt Coot-tha to see the Brisbane vista and visit the Botanic Gardens. It was so lovely to catch up and spend time with our lovely old friends.

There they were this morning, all the little preppies the first to be lined up after doing their warm ups, and they were off. Once I wiped my eyes I could see Remi running his heart out, full of determination to do his best. And to his great delight he got third! I got a ribbon! He could scarcely believe it. It was so lovely to see the whole school cheering on the last kids as well as the first, and all those in between.

bits and bobs

The weather still can't make up its mind what season it is, or else I am confusing southern seasons with those of Brisbane. Bill and Judy were here for 3 days last week and it stayed comparatively cool - only reaching 28 during the day. Yesterday it was 35 in our kitchen and we are back top a sheet on the bed and fans on all night.
Some of the city cats are back in action so we were able to do a river trip, which enabled Bill to practice being a pirate. According to Remi he had to look fierce.

The cooler spell let Charles have a good go on the garden - he's put up my Anne Durkin sculpture which I have since planted around with indigenous grasses, and has the vegie garden back in order, with everything growing as fast as ever. Beans up in a few days still has us amazed.

mum's new home

Mum has moved in to her new home and after a few hiccups is settling down to life on the river, though the heat can be a challenge for her. Still, she has an A/C and fans, so if she stays inside it's OK. The river is just across the road, a beautiful spot to sit and commune with nature and whoever feels like a chat.

She still has things to sort through, but is taking her time - some things are better done in cool weather. She has been driving to Simon's only 6 minutes (she tells me) up the road, and driving home in the dark if she's there for dinner. We wnet down a couple of weeks ago and Charles and Same went down last week, and I ring her often.

And the other good news is that Gillian has sold her house and moves out this coming weekend, after having garage sales over the last 2, enough to pay for her move. She has divested herself of lots of stuff and the rest goes in to storage until she moves up here in easrly May. No more winters on the south coast for her. She hates them so and can't wait to get to warmer weather.

We had the most outrageous thunder and lightening storm in the middle of last night, and I woke up levitating off the bed. Sounded like a direct hit across the road. The humidity is pretty thick, 72% yesterday morning.

Remi is loving school. Wednesdays are particularly good as he has music with Mr Williams. Here he is wioth the latest creation, a space helmet.

first day of school

Well, the day finally arrived, after great anticipation and preparation during the previous week. Remi has not been out of his uniform since he got it last Tuesday. At first the top and hat, then off to buy shorts. Bec was waiting at the checkout with 3 pairs in hand, Remi beside her in said part uniform. She looked down and there he was , in his undies, waiting for her to paqy so he could put them on immediately!

This morning was a "keep Remi calm" plan, complete with stories. He dressed, had breakfast then decided his nails needed cleaning. Bec, Remi and Mitchy set off on their bikes at 8.20 and we followed 20 minutes later. Remi arrived to find his "best mate" Cisco there, so his first moment when confronted by the size and noise of a primary school playground was soon allayed. It did not take him long to settle in to the toy corner, whilst we looked on with teary eyes. I know...hopeless.

Despite Birdy's nail biting, the parents took it all in their stride and we went off for a celebratory coffee with the boys waving cheerfully goodbye, but not before a few final instructions.