Hair finally gaining some real length!

High Tea

Today we had high tea in the afternoon with our friends Elizabeth and Elaine at their great old Queenslander. They have an amazing collection of fine bone china tea cups.

A sad day

Today was a sad day - the funeral of my colleague and friend Kryss McKenna, a much-loved academic and occupational therapist at UQ. She was diagnosed with cancer in 2006. We worked together on this very interesting project to help older drivers cope with having to stop driving - it is called UQDrive.

Medical Update

Today went to see Kirk the oncologist at the hospital for my three monthly check-up. He said everything was looking great. In fact, they are getting so bored at the hospital that on my next visit we are checking my cholesterol...

MORE shopping

Today we were supposed to garden but rain made shopping a more attractive option. Unexpectedly, came home with a Nespresso coffee machine, which is just phenomenal! We chose the Lateissima model, which makes an excellent latte and has a nifty milk container that goes right from the fridge to the coffee machine. This is the machine that George Clooney uses... :)

a SURPRISE while Homeward Bound

Today we said goodbye to Annette and her family, as well as the mobs of kangaroos lounging in backyards all over Woodgate, and headed for home. Annette suggested a stop at a roadside shop, which was great because a found a beautiful opal ring. The ring has inlaid opal (which you don't often see...)

Visit to a Bird Park

Today Tim took time to read at the beach while Annette and I visited the Flying High Bird Park in nearby Childers. I liked the Indian Ringed-necked parakeets (pictured above) but couldn't get a good shot of one of my favorite little Australian birds, the Gouldian Finch (hence the borrowed googled photo below). To see a cute video of a Gouldian Finch dancing up a storm, click HERE.)

Off to the Beach for Easter

Today we drove up to Woodgate to stay over Easter with our friend Annette Broome and her family at their beach house in Woodgate, near Bundaberg. Bundaberg is in turn near Mon Repos Turtle Conservation Park, where we've been before to see the loggerhead turtles hatching. But this trip was all about relaxing walks on the beach and fantastic dinners and breakfasts cooked up by Annette.

More Cat Tree Fun

Raven and Denali have pretty much claimed the cat tree as their own (although Angel and Gromit sometime lounge there too...)

Excellent New Cat Tree

Today on our drive back from the Gold Coast we stopped in at the big RSPCA superstore and picked up this GINORMOUS cat tree which all the cats just love. Note the resemblance of Raven to the black cat in our Dutch poster to the right...

You can also see that our old cat trees are getting a bit ratty...

Knitting Coven

Every month I go to a knitting group led by our very fine teacher, Rian Anderson and hosted by a wonderful group of women. The group is very excited because they have just purchased the best knitting shop in Brisbane, and it looks like it will only get better. The square is one I knitted- this series of squares serves as a way for us to practice new stitches. Eventually all of our squares will be knitted together to make a large blanket, one of several the group will donate to a homeless shelter.

Gold Coast Break

Took off for a quick overnight break down to the Gold Coast. Stayed in a great new hotel in Surfer's Paradise overlooking the canals. Explored a new part of the city we'd never seen, had a massage (Nancy), read a lot (Tim) and generally relaxed...