the journey continues

On our first night on the boat we moored at Sunnyside. Early the next morning I got up and went for a walk.

This photo was taken from the bank looking back down the river. In these reeds were many tiny bright blue headed wrens and their mates - it never seems fair that the males get all the good looks. I struggled to get a photo but there are wrens in those reeds.

Birds were a feature right along the Murray River, the captain told us there are over 90 species- we saw many during the trip.

And of course there were Pelicans!

Amazingly there were Sulphur Crested Cockatoos nesting in holes in the cliffs. Not just a few but many many cockatoos.

The river passes along huge sandstone cliffs that somehow manage to change from one side of the river to the other. The other bank is often lined with Weeping Willows that were planted in the 1920's ( not sure of my facts here) to define the levy banks as the river was often wide mud flats.

The ecology of the river has altered drastically with the introduction of European Carp. These fish have no natural preditors. The carp are sucking fish so suck up the river reeds pulling them out of the mud, this decreases the oxygen in the water and removes feed and shelter for other fish. Our native fish apparently are biters and chew off the reeds but leave the roots intact in the soil.

This carp was about 2ft6 inches long - no idea what that might be in metres but a bit under one I think. When carp are caught they can't be returned to the river even if they are killed and this one survived over night in the crate with no water. The cook put it on the bbq in case we wanted to taste it - but it smelt awful and looked pulpy and I'll usually try anything different. When it was cut open they discovered about1,4000 eggs so the crew was very happy to dispose of it. Several passengers tried their hand at fishing but these fish are hard to catch, again because they suck, and it's hard to get them to take a hook.

Floating Down the Murray River.

My Mum decided that what I would like most for my birthday is a trip down the Murray River. I'm not completely sure that would have been my first choice, though it was hers, as all the people going were 85 years plus and many were her friends. But it was a holiday and it certainly was very pleasant. The River was lovely, it was quiet at this time of the year, there was always something to see, and the trip had many side excursions that added interest and variety. The crew were wonderful - there were six of them to 24 passengers. They worked from early morning when we would start cruising and be served a full breakfast to very late at night.


The chefs did a great job, the highlights were probably the bbq which was a luxourious spread, and the five course Captains Dinner. I loved the black rice sushi served with cocktails before dinner.

Mum had the most delicious Lychee and Lime cocktail and Tash gave me the receipe. and I know I have it in a safe place!

This is at the bbq - the Captain, Dave, Mum and Gwen and Jo from behind. That's the bbq pit behind them where billy tea, which was Yuk! Damper - delicious with apricots and lemon peal, and the crew also cooked a European Carp one of the passengers caught so we could taste it - but it smelt disgusting, and I'll usually try anything.

I'll do the food stuff first! Before we went to Beight Bridge.... we were taken to the Revolving Restaurant in Glenelg and treated to a lovely high tea as we slowly moved round the views of the Adelaide Hills and the ocean. http://www.topoftheworld.net.au/ OK Julie maybe you can tell me how to do the linking thing?

This is Gwen - Mum's friend and neighbour about to enjoy the High Tea - behind the smoked salmon sandwiches were spinach and cheese triangles and samoosas.

Our night in Adelaide before we flew home was spent at the Adelaide Hilton and we had dinner in Simon Gallagher's ( of The Cook and the Chef) restaurant. I had a great chicken dish served with a red rice rissotto. So now I'm seeking red and black rice. I've discovered Black rice is often called the Forbidden Rice as it was only allowed to be eaten by Emperors in China.

There was also an Australian night with smoked Emu and a Kangaroo entre, buffet lunches with prawns and oysters, turkey and ham, one day even fish and chips served in newspaper. The food was sourced locally whenever possible, the wines came from the Mannum Ridge winery. I discovered an excellent Rose.

Current Home Sweet Home

This is where I'm currently residing, it's a duplex with a mirror image unit attached to the garage. My neighbour for the last six months has just moved out. I hope I get more good neighbours. Mitch was in his 50's, very tall, long grey hair, a beard, and rode a Harley Davidson. He is a generous man who willing helped when I needed a globe replaced and we had many pleasant passing conversations. Until recently Mitch worked in Mackay and would be away for 14 days then back for five. So mostly he just wasn't here! Then the company he works for moved to Ballina and changed to daily hours and he found the long bike rides each day were getting difficult so he's moved to Ballina.

The unit is tiny and one wall of my garage is still stacked with boxes - mainly books, but as I spend 12 hours a day at work with travel and then most of the weekends with Mum, it's ok for now.
front yard is basic but at least green, the unit is on a corner so I get Jim's Mowing to come once a month. The main disadvantage is the unit is on a main road with four lanes of traffic and a bus stop and the end of the drive - this means I pick up rubbish off the drive or lawn each day and find people sitting under the trees or leaning against the building while waiting for a bus, the most irritating bus passangers were a young couple who sat on the driveway and just wouldn't move when I tried to pull in. or Mum's who let their kids just run around. It was worse in summer when the only shade is up under my eaves.

So Home Sweet Home!

Sunday and celebrating small creativity

I'm again entered in an internet swap with SCQIS, so maybe that will get me motivated to create something again. This was my first block to add to Glenda's clowns.


this is my October contribution for Sabrina, she will add the Baltimore blocks to the heritage ones from a previous swap - I was in that one too. So far I'm keeping up and even ahead! And really enjoying the sewing.


These I thought I'd share - at WWILD we have had cooking classes each Thursday for the last 5 weeks with two lovely young nutrition students from QUT. Last week we made iced bisc - the women have so enjoyed the classes and their social skills have blossomed as they cook co-operatively and then we all sit down to a two course lunch. Getting them to help with the dishes is a whole other matter but there's time to develop some understanding that the fun bits are shared but so is the work. We will continue the classes on a fortnightly basis.

I continue to scan and create with my photos - both kids will have a scrap book - or two- covering their growing up and recording the stories that go with the photos. I'm currently doing August '84 so we are about to leave the Gold Coast and move up to Springbrook, Jess has just turned two, and Dan is 4 months old. I also bounce around just randomly scanning and creating depending on what I find - today I did photos of Chris - Pete's first wife and her new husband, Paul and their girls. These go back over 30 years!
Today I made banana muffins, yesterday when I was at Mum's her neighbour Gwen came over with some bananas, so today I made muffins for lunch and took some over for Gwen and her friend Jo..... and there goes another weekend.

Table 9 on the 09.09.09

Despite my best intentions another four months have past. I had a very special day today spent with Julie Whitby (Disteldorf) we hadn't seen each other for about 20 years. We met in PNG when our daughters - Jessie and Jessie - went to pre-school together. There was so much to catch up on and I'm sure it won't be so long before we spend time together again. There were tears and much sadness for her Jess and lots of bragging about our boys. Jessie O, Jessie D and Dan, this is how I remember Jess the most.
It seems this is a time for reunions.
Last weekend was Uncle Bruce's 80th Birthday and his four children were there, Gary, Sandy, Cheryl and Joanne and we worked out it would be closer to 40 years since we had been together! Again lots of talking and laughter and easy sharing.
The week before saw me catching up with Judy Dawson, that was a 45 year gap. Her parents and mine have been life long friends with Mum and Dad being best man and bridesmaid at her parents wedding, our parents have stayed in touch though Judy and I had no connection for so long - I would never have recognised Judy but I think she is someone I would choose for a friend these days. Again lots to catch up on in our lives.
I realise just how valuable these "lost" people are in my life and I'll make greater effort to maintain these links.

Job hunting again, not the easiest task when I'm told the reason I didn't get the position is not about my work, I've done a great job, but... seems their criteria is to employ young local workers where ever possible and darn, I'm old and travel for an hour to get to work each day. So I have to accept that there's something else out there for me.
Quilt wise I'm progressing with my girl gollies for Lin's quilt and over the weekend I made some flying geese for the borders.

My friend Cathy and her husband Geoff came up to Coolangatta to their time share at the Beach House, I was fortunate enough to spend two days with them, it ws so good and so easy to chat and catch up. These photos are taken from their unit, looking north to Surfers Paradise, down to Kirra Beach and south to Coolangatta. It was so easy to just sit and enjoy the view.