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One of the places we visited was the Ian Potter Centre in Federation Square. It is part of the Victorian Art Gallery and houses a fine collection of Australian Art mostly from the Heidelberg School.
It also has room for other exhibitions. We went specifically to see the Art Students' work. Really good. The standard was very high - some really outstanding work.
Denise inside Federation Square. Amazing architecture!
Looking from Fed Sq over the Yarra towards the Victorian Cultural Centre
Denise and me inside the buildings. Great views to be had from every window.
One of the airy spaces inside the gallery.
Denise on the walkway over the Yarra looking towards Crown Casino.
Melbourne Skyline from the walkway. A different perpective showing Flinders Street Station from the back.
The beautiful foyer lights of the Crown Hotel. No views of the Casino. Acres and acres of gamblers - quite depressing :(
- Mood:
happy
Denise at 33 weeks.
Just been down to Melbourne on a flying visit to see Denise and Adam. I wanted to see Denise in her pregnant state - 3rd Trimester. She looks lovely. We managed to get around quite a bit while I was there. Tired each other out I think.
Yours truly and new Mum-to-be.
- Location:Hampton
- Mood: content
This is one of my favorite places at home. Thought I would share it with you.
Plenty of work to be done. Plenty of fun as well :)
- Mood:busy
As well as the Marburg Show and Labour Day Parade on Saturday and my full Sunday of the Market, a Bromeliad Meeting and evening Church we also managed to take in a long walk on the actual holiday. Well not long in kilometres but long in the time it took.
So we drove to Moogerah Dam on Monday to go for our walk. Firstly I am pleased to report that the dam is quite full again and there were many campers there for the long weekend.There were even some power boats on the dam. Last time we were there it was down to a pond in the middle.
We walked over the dam wall then Hans pointed to the sign that said 3 kilometres to the lookout and said "What about it?"
I was all for it - 3 k's is not at all long. The sign however neglected to give any information about the difficulty of the walk, as is normal in most parks.
We set off merrily without realising that it was practically straight up and most of it very rocky. We got to halfway after about one hour of walking and climbing. We thought about turning back very briefly but decided after all that effort we would go to the top! We were determined to finish the walk and in the end it was worth the effort as the views were fantastic and the personal satisfaction high. The walk took 2 hours going up and 1 hour and 15 minutes coming down. Possibly it would take less time for younger and fitter folks.
The spillway 
Hans on the way up. 
Me resting on the way up 
View from halfway up 
Towards the top - a bit of flatter ground Hans contemplating whether we should go on or not.
Looking towards Mt Walker and Rosewood.
Grass Trees at the top.
Me coming down. By this time my knees were killing me!!!
Fernery and plants in a natural rockery.
Native Daisies.
The only wildlife we saw. A Grub dragging his house with him.
Pretty but evil. Lantana.
- Mood: pleased
After the Marburg Show, we got home just in time for me to join in the Labour Day march through the streets of Ipswich.
It's the first time I have done it and I had fun. I belong to the QIEU and the organisers (Shelley and, from our school, Jennifer) needed some support so off I went. We were right behind one of the pipe bands which added to the enjoyment. We started in Ellenborough St., walked along Darling St , turned right at Waghorn St , over the railway bridge by the Metropole Hotel, down Brisbane St to Bell St, along Bell St to Roseberry Parade and then back to The Timothy Moloney Oval where the celebrations went on into the evening finishing with fireworks. I missed the evening celebrations - had to get back to my men. Maybe they will come with me next year!
It was an interesting experience and we had a lot of support and well wishes from the onlookers.
- Location:Ipswich
- Mood:
bouncy
My kids tell me I am a rev-head (whatever that is).
The fact is I love all vehicles which have been restored and well looked after, or those which are just plain loved and cared for.
There were some beauties at the Marburg Show. Here they are.
Utes
Restored Holdens - very nice.
- Location:Marburg
- Mood: excited
THE AXE MAN, Steve Lehmann, and THE TOOL GUY, Hans Brunner .
What would a country show be without a blacksmith display and a working one at that.
- Location:Marburg
- Mood: happy
European Cattle
Aussie Cattle
Calvary Christian College with their travelling sheep display. The sheep were also judged.
Beautiful horse at the stables.
My favorite guys, about to be judged. These are the first things I would buy if I lived in the country.
Another one of my favorite guys. What a great stature!
Jumping fun.
Sideshow Alley.
Some of the beautiful art and craft display.
Western artifacts display - all hand made.
Pumpkin display. A friend of ours, Robyn Steinhardt, won many of the first prizes here.
Scenes from another era. Steam engines at work.
What would a show be without horses :)
A great event. The kids trotting races.
Very nice outfit.
This one was a real stayer.
All in all a very good day.
- Location:Marburg
- Mood: cheerful
I have a lot of catching up to do with my journal, so I thought I would start with Denise's visit while Corinne and Ben were here. Many thanks to Adam for giving her the trip as a birthday present.
It was lovely to see her and the visit just went by too quickly. I miss her so much when she leaves (as I miss Corinne and Ben too), especially now that she has a little sweetheart growing inside her. Visit her blog to see Ultrasound pics of the baby.
Denise and I went to see Ben and Corinne while they were at Mooloolaba for a week's beach holiday. We went up on the Friday and stayed overnight returning on Saturday afternoon. The water was fantastic and I had a marvellous time splashing about in the surf. It has been about 2 years since I have swum in the ocean. I must have spent about 4 hours in the water while we were there and have vowed that I won't wait so long again. Just have to get Hans to come with me!!
We were very lucky in our timing for our visit as in the next few days after we returned home,the bad weather from Cyclone Hamish hit the Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay. We had wonderful weather - it was a very good break for us.
My happy kids in C and B's unit at Moolooaba. Enjoying an ice-cream after dinner at Mooloolaba.
Denise on the Moolooaba foreshore.
Mother and daughter. Maroochydore.
Boating on the Maroochy River.
Denise beside the river at Maroochydore. A great place for a bit of quiet after the surf and a great place for young families.
- Location:Sunshine Coast
- Mood:
crazy
A family get-together with a barbecue. Always fun and lots of catching up to do.
Corinne and Ben
This one was for everyone to catch up with Corinne and Ben who are here for 7 weeks to see family, have a holiday and to buy a farm! (which they have done). 
It was also to farewell James, who is off to the UK to play lead guitar in the show "We will Rock You", touring Britain and possibly Europe.l
Mike and Keegan 
Laleen and John with Stella 
Sisters, me with Laleen. 
Happy boy - Reuben 
Mother and son, Sian with Conan Last but not least, one of the better-looking guests, Stella.
- Location:Brassall
- Mood: grateful
Corinne and Ben have come home from the UK for a seven-week holiday. It is already at the halfway mark. I can’t believe how the time flies. It is so lovely to have them here, just wish it was longer.
They had a good flight out and much to their joy were upgraded to business class for the last leg of the journey. Look at their blog to see the delicious food they were served - a bit different to cattle class.
They have been so busy while they are here, catching up with family and friends and most important of all buying a property out near Toowoomba at a district called Derrymore. They are now proud owners of a 160 acre farm set in beautiful countryside just below the ranges. For some fabulous pics and a good description of the farm just check out their blog.
- Mood: content
Of course the cars on show at the Swap Meets are just fabulous. Here are just a few of the classic and vintage cars which were at Toowoomba for you to enjoy. I don’t know all the makes but will find out.
Thunderbird 
Chevrolet Truck 
Every girl’s dream. A pink Falcon 
Sweet
Yet another cool car
Beautiful
And more 
Cars for sale
And just when you thought you had seen it all, along comes this guy with his self-made trolley. I love the solar panel
- Mood:enthralled
The Toowoomba Swap is very big. It has approximately 2000 stalls and covers a huge area at the showgrounds. It takes a good half-day to walk around and see everything. And then you have to go again to make sure you haven't missed anything !!
This is just a part of the main oval where we had our stall. Another view of the oval.
Not often you see a line-up at the men's loos.
It's usually the women who have to line up :)
Inside the Clive Berghofer Pavilion. Can you spot Laleen? Laleen checking out the China.
Another view of Lal and John selling.
Steve packing up his truck. He very kindly took lots of
our gear up plus two more marquees and trestles.
.
- Mood: cheerful
Hans and I, and Laleen and John together with friends Steve Lehmann (the axe man) and Ron Devin (the blacksmith) went to the Toowoomba Swap and had a great time selling tools and all sorts of good stuff, catching up with old friends and making new friends.
The weather was perfect - not so hot for a change. We had heaps of customers especially the first day. We sold plenty and bought plenty. Hans cooked brekky and tea. We downed a few wines and ales and generally had a good time. We even managed a good night's sleep.Hans and I slept in the van. Lal and John slept in their 4WD. Steve and Ron slept in their swags under the marquees. A very good night disturbed only by the sound of some extraordinary snoring reverberating from one of the swags!! I'm not mentioning any names, but it starts with S!
Arriving in the dark hours of the early morning.
Hans at work at our stall.
Laleen at work at her stall.
Hans cooking.
- Location:Toowoomba
- Mood: chipper
- Mood: pleased
Christmas was a very relaxed affair this year.
We had just our immediate family, Hans, Michael, Denise and Adam, and me, sitting down to lunch/dinner on Christmas Day. There was turkey and ham with the usual trimmings, and for dessert we had fruit salad and a Christmas ice-cream cake. Just enough and very good. Not too much drinking because, as you may or may not know, Hans and I decided to cut down our alcohol consumption earlier this year. However I have to admit that I have fallen off the wagon (badly at times) over the Christmas Period.
New Year’s Resolution – back on the wagon. We both feel much better for not drinking!
My sister, Kerry, and her family the Barbers, daughter Tara with Ethan, Keegan and Reuben, and son James with Sean and Stephanie came over for Christmas Eve. We had snacks, drinks , opening of presents and general fun. Very enjoyable :)
Missing this year were Laleen and John who have travelled north to spend Christmas with John’s family, Corinne and Ben who are still in England, and Connor who spent Christmas with his father’s family.
- Location:Lounge room
- Mood: jubilant
Denise has joined a knitting group in Victoria this year and is progressing very nicely with her knitting.
One of the presents I gave her for Christmas is a knitting compendium. One of those large books full of "how to's" , and then some patterns. Of course, first thing we did was check out the baby items.
We decided to start some bootees - what else : D
Using just what I had at home here, this is what we came up with.
D's is the mauve one and mine the orange.
- Location:Brassall
- Mood:creative
As you know from my last post, Hans and I will become Grandparents for the first time in early July.
Denise is pregnant, and she and Adam are expecting their first child in early July. They are so happy and full of plans. The whole family is very excited of course, and without wishing the year to speed by, as this year has done, we can hardly wait!!
Next happy event will be the arrival of Corinne and Ben back in Oz for their 7-week holiday :)
- Location:Brassall
- Mood: happy
They gave us early presents and insisited we open them straightaway. I opened mine - it was a mug which said "World's greatest Grandma". I didn't take it in at first and then the penny dropped. We are going to be Grandparents!!!
Hans got a mug saying "World's greatest Grandad ". We are just so pleased and proud. A fantastic Christmas present.
- Location:Brassall
- Mood: ecstatic
The daytime temperatures are reaching 35C and more here. I can't help thinking about Corinne and Ben coming into a cold English winter and even Denise and Adam down in Melbourne where Denise tells me she is still wearing a pullover more often than not. I wouldn't mind a bit of a chill every now and then :)
- Location:home
- Mood: happy
