Water

In Australia water is a precious commodity. Especially so in South-east Queensland. In July 07 our combined dam levels were below 20% and there was talk that Brisbane could totally run out of water. As a consequence, the government adopted drastic measures by building a de-salination plant and  building pipelines to recycling plants. Of course very strict restrictions of water use were put in place. People were no longer able to water their gardens or wash their cars.

But the last few months have saved us, with increasing rainfall every few weeks. Slowly the water levels in the dams increased and today the levels are 47.75% and rising. For the last week it has been raining, sometimes very heavily and more rain is forecast. The predictions are that by Monday the dam levels will exceed 50% which means water restrictions will be relaxed and we'll be able to once again water our gardens and wash our cars.

Of course this rainfall has come at a cost. The small town of Kin Kin, 45 km north-east of Noosa on the Sunshine Coast copped a lot. One person drowned and property damage is extensive.

Here are some pictures from the Courier Mail.

The local hotel took the brunt of the deluge

Water is gushing in through the open windows

Roads are damaged

Is this guy trying to fish his car out of the river?

Parking spot with car-wash facility

Visiting my School Mate in the bush

This post is by request of Roland, another school mate still living in Thun, Switzerland:

In the 50s when I started primary school, in Steffisburg, Switzerland, I met Martin for the first time as we entered the class room of Grade 1 and stayed friends with him until Grade 4 when I moved with my family to the neighbouring town of Thun. I lost contact with Martin until high school when all three of us joined the same marching band. Martin and Roland were drummers and I joined the trumpet section. During our school days, all three of us were pretty close friends, often getting into mischief especially on band excursions.

After school I completely lost contact with Martin until my mother pointed out an article that appeared in the local newspaper showing a picture of Martin who had emigrated to Queensland Australia and was working as a pastry chef at Lennons, then the top hotel in Brisbane. The article mentioned that Martin had produced Swiss pastries for the President of the United States Lyndon B. Johnson, who was visiting Brisbane and staying at Lennons Hotel.

When I arrived in Australia in 1967, we met up again and have met from time to time until about five years ago, after we both retired, when we really renewed our friendship. We now meet monthly for lunch somewhere, either in his town of Beaudesert or near here at Springwood.

Well Roland has requested some pictures, so Diane and I went out bush today to have lunch with Martin and his wife Judy. After lunch, while the girls chatted (and blogged), Martin took me down to his model railway project he is working on where we had fun of our own.

Martin and Judy live at Kooralbyn,

about 70 Minutes drive from us.

They're home is overlooking the valley

They have a lovely garden and fish pond

The boys enjoying a beer in the gazebo

The Swiss chef is preparing lunch

Lovely Swiss 'Kalbsbratwürste'

In his den, Martin is building a super model railway

system which he hopes to complete in the

near future

Of course there has to be a SBB Re460 engine

The faithful Re4/4 Swiss loc pulling the train

Martin assembles a vintage steam loc with modern

carriages

Diane and BB on 'Home and Away'

On Monday morning we left Bondi Beach and headed to Epping to the 'Home and Away' set at Channel 7. Bernard Curry who plays Dive Instructor Hugo Austin in the show met us at the gate and took us into the studio complex where they shoot the show. 'Home and Away' has been going for more that 20 years and consistently rates very high in all capital cities. The show can also be seen in many overseas countries. It was interesting to watch the technicians preparing the set for the following day's shooting. The Summer Bay cafe was already set up as was the police station.

Bernard Curry and BB are enjoying a cup of coffee

Diane joins Bernard and BB in the cafe

Inside the Summer Bay Cafe

Police Sergeant BB warns a suspect

As a film maker myself, I was thrilled to watch the Editor at work cutting the scenes in his editing suite. A little bigger and faster than my own editing set-up. I could only drool.

Half Way

Hi Bloggers, Family and Friends,

We made it down to Sydney. No problems. We had a good trip and now we're enjoying visiting Sonya and Bernie.

Bernie just informs us that he is taking us on Monday on to the Set of 'Home and Away' at the Channel 7 studios in Epping. As a film buff, I can't wait.

More later,

All the best and be kind to each other,

BB and Diane

We're hitting the road

Diane and I are driving to Sydney to see our daughter Sonya and partner Bernard Curry who live in Bondi Beach.

We have friends looking after the house so it is opportune for us to get away for a few days.

Click to enlarge

Here is our itinerary:

Monday 16th - Brisbane to Stanthorpe 

(1 night overnight stay in Stanthorpe)

Tuesday 17th - Stanthorpe - Armidale

(1 night overnight stay in Armidale)

Wednesday 18th - Armidale - Windella

(2 nights overnight stay in Windella)

Friday 20th - Windella - Sydney

(3 nights overnight stay in Sydney)

Monday 23rd - Sydney - Harrington

(1 night overnight stay in Harrington)

Tuesday 24th - Harrington - Nambucca Heads

(1 night overnight stay in Nambucca Heads)

Wednesday 25th Nambucca Heads - Brisbane

We'll have the laptop with us so we can be contacted by mobile phone or email

Where we live (Brisbane Region)

For our overseas friends, I thought I'd show you the part of Australia where Diane and I live. Brisbane and surrounding areas are the fastest growing region in Australia with virtually thousands of people moving here from southern parts and overseas every year. We have the best weather on the continent and Brisbane has won the title of 'most livable city in Australia' on many occasions.

The Brisbane river flows through the heart of the city and is a very popular waterway for commuting and recreation alike.

The city centre

The view of Brisbane city from Mount Coot-tha

The Treasury building, now the Treasury Casino

City cats are used to commute within the city

Fireworks on the Storey Bridge

Fortitude Valley is an inner-city shopping area and popular entertainment precinct with many night clubs and great restaurants.

 

China Town is in Fortitude Valley

Southbank is where in 1988 Brisbane hosted the World Expo. The area which used to house wharves and factories was totally cleared before the Expo and is now an exciting area with parklands, apartment buildings and many restaurants. A great place for families to gather on weekends and to socialise.

The Brisbane river flows into Moreton Bay, a great fishing and boating place and a migratory place for whales on their annual travel between the Antarctic and tropical waters. Whale watching is a popular pastime for tourists and locals alike.

The University of Queensland, one of three universities in the Brisbane region.

In walking distance from where Diane and I live in Daisy Hill, is the State Koala Centre, where visitors can observe and learn all about Australia's favorite marsupial.  The centre is in the Daisy Hill State Forest, a popular recreation area and where Diane and I walk most mornings.

The Koala, our favorite marsupial

Wallabies in the State Forest

A short ride down the road is the Gold Coast, with Surfers Paradise at the centre. Many surfing championships are held on the Gold Coast every year, as well as the annual Indy Grand Prix, a street race right through the middle of Surfers Paradise.

Surfers Paradise

Jupiter's Casino on the Gold Coast

The monorail from the beach to Jupiter's casino

Q1, the tallest residential building in Australia

A little further south is Tweed Heads on the border between the states of Queensland and New South Wales. Tweed Heads is well known for its clubs. Overseas artists visiting Australia, usually perform at one of the Tweed Heads clubs, as part of their Australia Tours.

 
Fraser Island at the other end of Moreton Bay is a sand island and popular holiday area for locals because of the fishing and surfing activities possible. Many visitors from overseas stop there in one of the resorts.

Noosa Beach

An hour or so north of Brisbane is the Sunshine Coast. Noosa is one of the towns up there, preferred by many including Diane and myself because it is not as commercial as the Gold Coast and has no sky scrapers. Building restrictions are limited to 6 floors. As a consequence, the beaches have fewer people and the lifestyle is more tranquil.

Hastings Street in Noosa houses many first class restaurants

In the hinterland of the Gold Coast are the pristine areas of the rain forests, popular walking and hiking areas. Such a place is Springbrook

Waterfall at Springbrook

Another waterfall near Springbrook.

Now you know a little more about the greater Brisbane area and you can probably see why we like living here.

Until next time, take care and be kind to each other.

A slideshow of some funny pictures I found on the net