Today Rod and Arlene left for home. Our gift to them was a metal sculpture of a kingfisher, similar to one Tim and I have. We also bought one for Allen, Tim's brother. The artist is Jim Peterson, the husband of a developmental psychologist in our department, Candi Peterson. We thought it was appropriate that each of the far-flug Kastelle clan have a Kastelle Kingfisher!
Now exhausted from their time with Nancy and Tim, Rod and Arlene can safely depart for home...
Today Tim lectured, and both Rod and Arlene were able to attend. Apparently it was a great lecture... :)
Today we drove to the Bunya Mountains for a picnic. On the way there we saw a koala running across the road. He didn't climb very high up into a nearby tree, so we were able to get some great photos...
It was a great day in the mountains. We saw lots of birds and wallabies, and even bought our own little bunya pine to plant at our house!
Finally, tonight we went out to dinner to celebrate Arlene's 70th, and Rod's 75th, birthdays at local steakhouse Cha Cha Char....
NEW PARLIAMENT HOUSE
All in all they packed in quite a bit of sightseeing into four days...
Today Rod and Arlene left for four days of touring in Canberra... they were quite excited and had lots they wanted to see...
Today we went to the Riverside Markets at the Eagle Street Pier to hunt for cool souvenirs. Arlene got some nice soap, some jewelry, and assorted odds and ends. After a nice lunch of German sausages at the Market, we visited IKEA, which Rod and Arlene had not been to before...
Today we had a lazy day, starting off with a great breakfast of French Toast. Denali was a very helpful cat, helping Arlene do some laundry...
Afterwards we went on a short hike around nearby Lake Manchester, where we saw lots of birds in the forest.
Today started with some very excellent news from the respiratory physician at the Royal Brisbane hospital. The oxygen exchange rate in my lungs has decreased over the period of having chemotherapy, starting from a low baseline of 70% gas exchange, dropping to near 50% by the beginning of June. At that time the chemotherapy drug responsible for lung problems (called bleomycin) was dropped from the formula I have been taking. Since then my lungs have continued to feel better.
After leaving the hospital Rod, Arlene and I made our way over to the graduation for the Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, to see my students graduate. I wore the lovely hand-made sterling silver necklace Rod made for me, of a bird perched on a branch. It was a really nice day...
Today Tim participated for the first time in the academic procession at graduation. And while he did not graduate himself (he'll probably graduate at the December graduation), he was with his colleauges as they celebrated the graduations of students and colleagues. Tim's colleague April did graduate, and her daughter Carla really loved the poofy hat...
Today we traveled to the "hinterland" inland from the Gold Coast. It is up on a plateau with spectacolar views inland as well as over the Gold Coast and the Pacific Ocean. We ate a picnic lunch at a cheese fatcory, visited the Tatra Polish Heritage center and visited the lovely Natural Arch National Park, with its lovely waterfalls and bush walks.
Rod and Arlene arrived today in Brisbane. Their flight was a bit bumpy, but they are very happy to be here at last!
