Switzerland's Bern Bear Park has new attraction

The Bärengraben (Bear Pit) has long been a top sight in the Swiss capital Bern. However, from October 2009, a new BärenPark (Bear Park) replaced the old-fashioned pit. Bears, the symbol and name-giver of Bern, will be able to roam freer in the new park and in keeping with more modern notions of humane animal care. The new Bern BärenPark is located adjacent to the bear pits at the Nydeggbrücke Bridge across the Aare River. Visiting the bears has long been very popular, especially with children, when traveling to Bern and the new bear park reflects Bern’s love of the bear better than the old pits.

The old Bärengraben (bear pit) first opened in 1857

Animal rights organisations have long complained about the way the bears had to live in these concrete pits. So in 2009 a new home was opened for the two remaining bears Finn and Björk, next door in a new bear park.

The new bear park opened in 2009

In December 2009, Björk gave birth to two adorably baby bears, named Urs (male) and Berna (female) and they are now the talk of the town, especially since they have now made appearances in public.

Urs and Berna explore their new surroundings

For more information on the Bern Bear Park - CLICK HERE

Ormiston House

Coldstream Guard captain Louis Hope, a scot, arrived in Brisbane in 1848. He established the first sugar mill specifically designed to crush sugar cane. He built Ormiston House in 1854 and married Susan Frances Dumaresque with whom he had three sons and five daughters.

Ormiston House, now a museum can be visited on weekends.

Ormiston House stands in a wonderful garden

The Hallway

The Dining Room

The Drawing Room

Mrs Hope's Sitting Room

Captain Hope's Study

The W.C.

The Laundry

The Kitchen in a separate buiilding

Captain Louis Hope, had a dispute with a neighbour who sued him for not crushing his sugar cane, when the mill broke down and needed new parts sent from Scotland. The court found in favour of the neighbour and ordered the captain to pay the man £1,200 compensation. This upset Louis Hope so much, he took his family back to the UK and settled in Derbyshire in England. 

The Carmelite Convent next door

Today, Ormiston House is now owned by the Carmelite nuns who's convent is next door.

Queensland is flooded

A big part of Queensland is flooded after heavy rain for the past week. Hundreds of Queenslanders have been evacuated to emergency centres because of flooding. 

Picture from the Courier Mail shows Farmer Sheppard with his sons splashing in the sodden paddock.

The rains will add hundreds of millions of dollars to the Queensland economy but have come at a price to bush towns swamped by some of the biggest falls in years.

One good thing is that the combined dam levels for the Brisbane area were yesterday afternoon 82.3% the best levels since 2002.

Hog's Breath Cafe - Cleveland

By special request to one of our followers, 'HB' who requested to see the food served at the Hog's Breath Cafe at Cleveland, I oblige.

A very happy couple.

My garlic mushroom prime rib with vegies and curly chips. Ah and mushroom sause.

Diane's prime rib with prawns and béarnaise sauce.

Bon Appetite next Wednesday, Colin!

Sirromet Winery - Mount Cotton

We visited the Sirromet Winery at Mount Cotton, yesterday, after lunch in Cleveland. The Lurleens Restaurant there is well known. Master Chef Andrew Mirosch who is in charge, writes a weekly cooking feature in the Courier Mail's weekend magazine.

This vat is at the entrance to the restaurant. 

David is off to the Cellar Door where we had coffee.

Some of the wine sold at Sirromet

Lunch at Cleveland

Carol and David took me for an early birthday lunch today as they won't be here next week. The place was a surprise. They entered the coordinates into the GPS and I just followed her instructions. We ended up at the  Hog's Breath Cafe at Cleveland. Their steaks are just so tender. It was great.

I know the name sounds terrible but the meals and service are fabulous.I'm sure there will be more photos on Diane's blog soon.

See more about Hog's Breath Cafes, here

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.