A Swiss Dish

Our daughter and son-in-law have been staying with us on and off for the last few weeks before they leave for Sydney to start a new episode in their lives. They love my rösti and continental franks so I obliged. I also cooked vegetables to keep a healthy aspect of the meal and keep Diane happy. She is not totally into sausages, European or otherwise. 

David loves my rösti

Carol loves her franks. Of course with Thomy mustard

Diane loves her vegetables. I love it all together.

King tides on Queensland coasts

A huge weather system is moving along the Queensland coast, causing king tides and flooding in low laying areas. Sandgate's Flinders Avenue, where we frequently go for fish and chips with David's parents has been affected by the high tides. Here are some pictures from the Courier Mail newspaper:  

Today would not have been a good day to go for fish and chips.

Children are not worried about the waves crashing over the footpaths  

Luckily it's summer and the temperatures are warm

Meg Male braves the waves in Fifth Avenue at Sandgate

This is turning into a water slide.

Fifth Avenue at Sandgate.

For children it's fun.

One good thing is that the temperatures have dropped, today and tomorrow to 28ºC (82.5 Deg.F)

Visit to GoMA

Yesterday we visited the Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane to see the 6th Asia pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT6). It was noon time so we had lunch at their fabulous restaurant.

Diane of course had her camera.

I was intrigued by this installation.

This chap got a little tired walking around.

Someone removed a couple of table legs here

The flower people are marching

A family Outing

Having the family staying with us at the moment is great. Daughter Carol-Ann and husband David returned from England and daughter Sonya with partner Bernie, came up from Sydney. At the same time, Bernie's sister Margaret and husband Jason with their children Georgia, Lauchlan and James were on holidays at Mooloolaba on the sunshine coast where Bernie's brother Steve and partner Nadine live. So we all drove up there to meet them at the Mooloolaba Surf Club for lunch.

From left to right: David, Carol-Ann, Nadine, Steve, James, Lauchlan, Margaret, Gorgia, Jason, Sonya (with expectant grandson), Bernie and Bill - (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Happy Reunion

After a few years in London, Carol and David returned back home. Mum is happy to see her daughter.

A big hug for Carol

Carol and David are returning from London

Our daughter Carol-Ann and her husband David have returned home after living seven years in London.

Carol was telling us the story about the painful process of packing and relocating to the other side of the planet during a super-freeze in the middle of winter.

Here are some pictures of their ordeal:

David hates packing

The boxes are ready to go

Waiting for the truck. Will it be able to

turn up in this cold weather?

Yes it's here!

The truck is loaded and ready to go.

We're all so happy to see them back in warm and sunny Australia

The Mary Valley Rattler is back

Reading in the Courier Mail last Thursday, I am glad to find out that the popular Tourist Steam Train is back in service on Sundays, between Gympie and Imbil. The steam locomotive was replaced with a diesel engine due to the extreme fire dangers in this dry part of the country, which proved somewhat unpopular with the tourists and bookings were down considerably. But with the recent rainfall we had, the train is back to steam.

We have done the trip a couple of times, usually when we have overseas visitors. Such an occasion was when English friends Ian and Mavis visited the parents of our son-in law, Bill and Alma. Ian is a retired steam engine driver and loved the chance to travel on this train. Naturally, when we introduced himself to the driver of the train, he was invited to travel in the engine.

The engine arrives in Gympie to join the train

On the way to Imbil

Stops at various stations for refreshments

Ian is busy stoking the fire. He loved it.

The train stops at Imbil

The train leaves Gympie at 10 AM and takes two hours to Imbil. It arrives at 12 Noon and stops for an hour for people to have lunch in one of the country pubs or coffee shops.

The locomotive is then shunted to the other back of the train and at 1PM it leaves Imbil to return to Gympie by 3 PM. All in all a very enjoyable trip.

Find out more about the Mary Valley Rattler here. Bookings are essential.