Depth of Field

Tomorrow morning we meet again with the U3A Camera Club. We're discussing the subject of Depth of Field especially when taking shots of flowers. I tried some, not with flowers, but with a frog.

No Photoshop at all.

Pichi Richi Railway "The Afghan Express"

In Port Augusta S.A. recently, we jumped onto the Afghan Express to Quorn and back. It's a historic Steam Train trip, most enjoyable. I made a little video of the trip:



I love steam trains. This coming Sunday we are taking another steam train ride from Brisbane Roma Street station to an unknown destination but end up back at Roma Street.

Swiss Cookies "Brätzelis"

We visited our friends Ben and Lyn on the Gold Coast today. Ben showed me a present he received from his sister in Switzerland. It's a 'Brätzelieisen', an electric heat press used by the Swiss to make these delicious little cookies, ususally around Christmas, but hey, we decided to try it out, so while Diane and Lyn were busy on the computer, Ben and I went to work in the kitchen.

First we mixed all the ingredients in a bowl:-

 Then we split the work. I rolled the dough into little balls and Ben placed them onto the hot forms in the machine, four at a time.

Then we reversed roles and I took a turn baking the cookies.

After a few minutes, they turn golden brown. The smell in the kitchen was very pleasant. Some of the Brätzelis we left to cool on a rolling pin which gives them a nice curve.

We were very proud of our first attempt to make some of these delicious cookies.

I don't think they'll last until Christmas

Kalgoorlie Gold

On our recent trip to Western Australia, we visited the Gold Mining town of Kalgoorlie where we visited the Gold Mine Museum. There we descended down the mine shaft into the depth of the earth to see how the miners used to have to crawl through the many tunels looking for gold seams.

After we surfaced again, we were taken into the gold toom where an employee cast a genuine gold bar. Unfortunately we couldn't keep it.

Here's a little video of the experience...

Royal Botanic Gardens - Sydney

Today, Carol was taking us to the Sydney Botanical Gardens on a cool and overcast day. We had lunch in the Botanical Gardens Restaurant. 

The original 19th Century building facade is paired with sleek modern interiors, making Botanic Gardens Restaurant a beautiful location for lunch.

After lunch we took a tour of the Gothic Revival Government House, also located in the grounds.

A Lunch Outing with Family

It's good to be in Sydney with Carol-Ann and David. To mark the occasion, the four of us went to Watsons Bay to the famous Doyle Seafood Restaurant for lunch.

At Doyle's Seafood Restaurant looking over Sydney Harbour

(left to right) Carol-Ann, Diane, Bill, David at Doyles

Back in Sydney

Back in Sydney, we are staying with our daughter carol-Ann and son in law David for a few days before we fly back to Brisbane on Sunday.

Back in Sydney staying with Carol and David.