Nice to see you!

Three major events occurred for me last year (2010), all in the space of about 2 weeks. I turned 50. The following day I got married. Two weeks later, my oldest daughter became pregnant with her first child and my first grandchild.

Most middle-aged people will tell you that in their minds, they still feel 20 something. It's the same for me.

Wasn't it only yesterday that I was planning a night out with guys from the surf club? That gorgeous new perm. Flaired, cuffed denims and the red t-shirt with the off-the-shoulder frill. Corked platform wedgies. **sigh**

Suddenly I'm looking in the mirror and wondering how 30 years can flash by so damned quickly!

So here I am in cyberspace, sharing my genuine shock and horror with anyone who'll listen and maybe I'll even meet some other over 50s who find themselves in the same predicament!

Welcome to my dilemna!!

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Day 42 in a Year of my Life

Well, my Tawny Frogmouths are no longer cute little chicks ...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/8252895383/in/photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/8253947962/in/photostream/

... but the curious chick is still curious and he watched me as I walked around under the branch that he was perched on, just as he did when he was tiny.

Three weeks is a long time in the life of a bird.  It's now only their size that distinguishes them from adult Tawnies.  They are very much smaller than their parents.

I thoroughly enjoyed my coffee from the bakery this morning and even though I arrived quite a bit later than usual at the Seat of Knowledge, it was good to catch up with my boys.

On the way home, I stopped at a garage sale where Aussie H was helping out and found some colourful crockery, which I bought nice and cheap.

I've been thinking for a long time about creating a big colourful ceramic collage on the floor of our outdoor area.

This is going to take a LOT of crockery!

So while I collect a lot of inexpensive mixes of crockery from various garage sales, I'll start playing with different ideas in a sketch pad.

There is plenty of time to play with at this rate and I have lots of different ideas swimming around in my head.

Hopefully, it will all come together beautifully in the end, and it will be a work of art to be proud of!

Today, I am grateful to Aussie H for taking such good care of everything that is important to AH and I, while we had our holiday.

The psychotic dogs are happy and healthy.  The only lovely layer that we have left is looking fine.  Our home is happy and the job is still steady.

It's a huge responsibility to take on and I hope that she knows how much we appreciate her efforts.

We have lots of little ways to show her in the coming weeks how much it means to us.

Nite all.


Friday, December 7, 2012

Day 41 in a Year of my LIfe

There are no words to describe how happy AH and I are with our new Mitsubishi Outlander.

We both purred like pussy cats all the way home today and it was lovely to hear AH announce "I LOVE THIS CAR!" a number of times along the way.

There are no photos for today.

We caught the courtesy bus to the Bowls Club this afternoon and got to catch up with everybody and hear all the local news.

We are very grateful to be home safe n sound - thanks to our NEWWWWW CARRRRRR!

I'm looking forward to seeing my boys in the morning :D

Nite all.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Day 40 in a Year of my Life

And here it is ...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/8248677077/in/photostream

We drove it out of the car yard at lunch time today and almost immediately named the female voice on the inbuilt GPS "Genie".

The car feels like it's floating instead of driving and Ah and I are both still swooning over it.

We drove from the car yard to Noosaville to see Chicklet and Vegan Chickie for lunch and then a quick visit to the pirate park, before heading back to the van park, so that AH could figure out how he was going to pack the car in the morning before we drive home.

Yes, the holiday is over.

Time to go home. It will be less than a week before I return, for a couple of days with the family and then a night in Brisbane for a night shoot with the photography group, followed by the Christmas gathering on Sunday.

Today, I am grateful that 'Jimmy the Salesman' came through with the car and put a smile on AH's face and so that we can finally go home.

I'm sure that Aussie H will be grateful that she can return home to her own bed and that her duties are finally over!

Nite all.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Day 39 in a Year of my Life

http://www.bohemianbungalow.com.au/

This is where Adoring Husband and I had lunch today.

It all started when we decided that we would go searching for Wappa Dam and Wappa Falls.

For the first time, Adoring Husband didn't use the inbuilt GPS in the car and we headed towards the town of Yandina, knowing that Wappa Falls was near the town and then we would follow the signs.

We got very close, but we took a right turn at a t-junction, that should have been a left turn.

We drove for a few kilometres and just as AH decided he wanted to turn around and I told him to keep going, and we came over a rise and found the turn off to Eumundi.

AH suggested we go there for coffee.

We found a free parking spot on the main road, which was lucky because the markets were still open, and it was busy.

As we got out of the car, AH noticed some signs to a restaurant saying 'Now Open', so we walked across the road and up the steps into this beautiful new restaurant.

We didn't know it at the time, but it was their first day open.

A beautiful bohemian style decor, with both very new/expensive, and very old/vintage furnishings and knick knacks everywhere.  Bright and colourful, spacious and warm, musical and arty, friendly and comfortable, light and airy ... so many ways to describe a lovely place to spend some time.

The food was amazing, the service warm and friendly, the prices reasonable and on our way out the owner introduced himself and asked us if we had enjoyed our meal/experience.

He told us that he frequents 'Fratellinis', where the Bare-chested Chef is currently working!

So, thanks to a wrong turn earlier in the day, we got to enjoy another excellent 'foodie' experience.

We've been so lucky with our eating experiences on this holiday!

Here are a couple of photos from where we sat.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/8247199710/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/8246132551/in/photostream/

We did eventually find Wappa Dam and Wappa Falls.

There were no 'falls' due to recent dry weather.  The Dam was old and fenced off with warning signs posted everywhere, although there were nice little barbecue and picnic areas nearby.

So today, I am grateful for travelling adventures that take you where you least expect.  Wrong turns.  Getting lost.  Taking a risk, by not turning back.  Finding holiday gems and creating happy memories together.

Nite all.


Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Day 38 in a Year of my Life

S O   H O T!!

Today, my iphone weather app told me that it was 32 degrees.  I could have sworn it was hotter and I kept looking at the app, waiting for the temperature to rise.  It didn't.

Then the news this evening reported that it was 38 degrees here today!  I KNEW IT!!

I've been trying to think about what to write in tonight's post, but my mind is blank.

I received an email from Fergies wife an hour ago telling me that he lost his battle and passed away on Saturday.

I'm sad, but I am grateful that Fergie is no longer suffering.  May he rest in peace.

Nite all.

Day 37 in a Year of my Life

The temperature is gradually rising here and I don't know if it was the heat or if the holiday has suddenly caught up with me, but this morning at around 11am, I needed to sleep.

Sleep I did, not soundly, due to all the activity in the park, but I dozed on and off for about three hours!

When I finally raised myself from the comfort of my bed, Adoring Husband went for a drive to the fish markets and came home with a huge feed of sand crab, Morton Bay bugs and prawns.

When I woke up, I found a couple of texts from The Nikonian suggesting that storms may develop this afternoon, or perhaps a nice sunset, so we got together at 4pm and drove to a beach at Coolum.

We got coffee and walked down to the beach to take in the sights and enjoy the salt sea air.

There were two other photographers already on the beach.  One on a pregnancy shoot and the other on a romantic couple shoot, which also included the three children at the end.

So we watched them for a while and then grabbed our cameras and began snapping away at all the activity going on down there.

Surfers on the waves, people walking their dogs, a young woman stretching on the rocks, kids skipping stones, reflections in the water, clouds stretching across the sky ... so many things happening ... every time we turned around, we found something new to photograph.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/8241714880/in/photostream/lightbox/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/8241715304/in/photostream/lightbox/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/8241715702/in/photostream/lightbox/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/8241716354/in/photostream/lightbox/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/8241716712/in/photostream/lightbox/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/8241717124/in/photostream/lightbox/

Neither the storms or the sunset eventuated, but we were both happy with our shots for the afternoon and went home feeling pretty pleased with ourselves.

What a nice afternoon.

Today I am grateful for the chance to rejuvenate.

Even with the hot weather, the breeze blowing through the windows of our van, was cool enough to allow us to sleep comfortably in the middle of the day and I woke up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

Our holiday continues for a few more days.  I am ready!

Nite all.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Day 36 in a Year of my Life

We took a drive south today for 90 minutes to visit the 'other' granddaughter 'Poppit' whom I met for the very first time.

She is a gentle little soul, perfectly at ease being placed in the arms of whoever her parents choose to pass her to.

It's noticeable, as she is placed in your arms, how she relaxes into your body and at times even rests her head against your cheek or your shoulder.

She has the biggest bluest eyes and a little strawberry birthmark on her left cheek (or right cheek as you look at her).  Thin brown hair, that her Daddy reckons is turning grey and an apetite that apparently is sending them broke.

She takes short 30 minute catnaps during the day and according to both Mum and Dad, she has a very short attention span.

She was a delight to spend time with, and Poppy (aka Adoring Husband) sat down and fed her at the table.  Shredded chicken then pureed peaches and then pureed blueberries.  Milo, the Jack Russell, sat under the table and enjoyed the meal just as much as little Poppit.

After Poppit finished her lunch, we all drove to the local Tavern and had a delicious lunch ourselves, on the deck, overlooking the marina.

Here are a few little happy snaps of Poppy and Poppit.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/8237770930/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/8237758974/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/8236692341/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/8236692795/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/8236693403/in/photostream/

So today, I am grateful that Adoring Husband got to spend some quality time with his little 'Poppit' and that his son and daughter-in-law are so relaxed about sharing her with us.  It was a lovely day and Poppy drove home feeling very proud and happy.

Nite all.