Today I remember those who did not return - Dick's uncle Sergeant John Hart Steel of 2/2 Pioneer Battalion who died of malnutrition and neglect on the Burma Railway in 1944, and my grandfather's brother Private Walter Charles Patterson of 52nd Battalion AIF who was killed by a shell near the front line at Mouquet Farm on the Somme in September 1916.
And those who returned damaged - my grandmother's brother Sapper Duncan McRae of 2nd Field Co. Engineers, who was shot in the spine at Gallipoli, and Dick's great uncle Lieut-Colonel T H Steel OBE of Steele's [sic] Post at Gallipoli and later in France [14th Btn].
There were many other family members affected by wars, including our own fathers and I hope that the retelling of their stories will help us avoid further military conflicts.
I made Anzac biscuits today - I have actually been meaning to for a couple of weeks so I just used the day to get it done. I also made a wartime chocolate cake and another brew of beer.
Friday, 25 April 2008
Wednesday, 23 April 2008
The lucky spot or a lurch from despondency
We were in the right place yesterday when this week's storms passed by. We scored 30mm which seems to be pretty good, and we certainly needed it.
The MJO is lost in its navel and the Elders 28 day outlook for rain is very pale, so I have planted out most of the Xerochrysum seedlings in front of the house. I also added Caesia bulblettes [what is a baby bulb?] and Bracteantha seedlings to the inner circle.
Yesterday we walked on some roads near Merritts Creek and in some forestry. We tried a road reserve with mixed weeds, vine scrub and eucalypts and also passed a flock of Yellow-tailed black cockatoos which are very impressive with feathers spread out above.
The MJO is lost in its navel and the Elders 28 day outlook for rain is very pale, so I have planted out most of the Xerochrysum seedlings in front of the house. I also added Caesia bulblettes [what is a baby bulb?] and Bracteantha seedlings to the inner circle.
Yesterday we walked on some roads near Merritts Creek and in some forestry. We tried a road reserve with mixed weeds, vine scrub and eucalypts and also passed a flock of Yellow-tailed black cockatoos which are very impressive with feathers spread out above.
Monday, 21 April 2008
Weekend by day
On Saturday I attended a workshop for the Richmond Birdwing Recovery network. It is an interesting project to arrest the demise of an invertebrate species and I look forward to spending more time with these people.
After the workshop I made grapefruit marmalade, adding a lime picked fresh from our tree. It was quite crisp and delicious.
On Sunday morning we had a set of tennis which I lost 2-6, and bought some herbs at Wilsonton market.
In the afternoon I went to an organ recital by Philip Gearing at St Lukes. Take one of Australia's best organ recitalists, who is a local university lecturer, one of Queensland's best organs, and a program of lovely French organ music, and you would think more than a few, mainly old people, would turn up to enjoy it.
Their next Sunday concert is a Cello recital on May 18th.
After the workshop I made grapefruit marmalade, adding a lime picked fresh from our tree. It was quite crisp and delicious.
On Sunday morning we had a set of tennis which I lost 2-6, and bought some herbs at Wilsonton market.
In the afternoon I went to an organ recital by Philip Gearing at St Lukes. Take one of Australia's best organ recitalists, who is a local university lecturer, one of Queensland's best organs, and a program of lovely French organ music, and you would think more than a few, mainly old people, would turn up to enjoy it.
Their next Sunday concert is a Cello recital on May 18th.
Nightlife
We went to our second subscription performance at the Empire Theatre on Friday night. I was surprised to find that Cabaret is a political tragedy in the form of a musical. It was produced by the theatre and was quite professional. I have not checked just how professional. We had seats in the front row of the upstairs and enjoyed it.
Saturday night was full moon and we had another campfire at Flemings. After sunset with Turkish bread and Mersey valley cheese with Governor's Choice Shiraz we had camp oven roasted vegetables by Ann, camp oven roasted Italian stuffed tomatoes by Sally and beef sate with Tyrrells red as the moon sailed among the gums trees. We then enjoyed their trip slideshow across the top and back through the centre.
On Sunday night the full moon again rose around dusk so we had another camp oven vegetable roast on our campfire. Our site is more open with a large sky but lacks the large trees, and is subject to wind from the same direction as the rising moon, both being to windward of the fire and smoke.
We did however have a nocturnal visitor, when a large owl alighted on the corner of our patio roof.
Saturday night was full moon and we had another campfire at Flemings. After sunset with Turkish bread and Mersey valley cheese with Governor's Choice Shiraz we had camp oven roasted vegetables by Ann, camp oven roasted Italian stuffed tomatoes by Sally and beef sate with Tyrrells red as the moon sailed among the gums trees. We then enjoyed their trip slideshow across the top and back through the centre.
On Sunday night the full moon again rose around dusk so we had another camp oven vegetable roast on our campfire. Our site is more open with a large sky but lacks the large trees, and is subject to wind from the same direction as the rising moon, both being to windward of the fire and smoke.
We did however have a nocturnal visitor, when a large owl alighted on the corner of our patio roof.
Wednesday, 16 April 2008
Oxygen African
As we were not camping last weekend, I emailed some friends to see if they would like to try the African dinner which is done at Oxygen cafe each month. The responses were nice and prompt and fortunately I booked just in time.
The entree was a nice lentil soup with some small bread things and meatballs. The mains were lamb, fish and vegetarian. The fish was very much cooked Nile perch with a nice sauce, on hand-rolled cous cous which was bigger balls than usual. There was a very small bit of salad on the side. I also tried the hibiscus flower drink which was like a sweet cordial.
We also tried the deserts - a sweet semolina porridge with some cooked fruit, and a sweet potato one with some fruit. They forgot to bring the coffee that we ordered.
The Somali girls did the cooking and waitressing and perhaps also the menus. It is a nice exercise by the Cafe, where at least one of the girls works regularly, and a full house. It was good to have a group of 6 of us but noisy and it gave an added appreciation of entertaining at home.
The entree was a nice lentil soup with some small bread things and meatballs. The mains were lamb, fish and vegetarian. The fish was very much cooked Nile perch with a nice sauce, on hand-rolled cous cous which was bigger balls than usual. There was a very small bit of salad on the side. I also tried the hibiscus flower drink which was like a sweet cordial.
We also tried the deserts - a sweet semolina porridge with some cooked fruit, and a sweet potato one with some fruit. They forgot to bring the coffee that we ordered.
The Somali girls did the cooking and waitressing and perhaps also the menus. It is a nice exercise by the Cafe, where at least one of the girls works regularly, and a full house. It was good to have a group of 6 of us but noisy and it gave an added appreciation of entertaining at home.
Ruth
Last week we lost my dear friend and aunt, Ruth. It has all been so sudden and unexpected, yet her end came peacefully, surrounded by her family. I was so lucky to spend time with her in recent years and I will miss her very much.
Going Digital
At last we have felt the need for a set-top box for our TV. I wanted to see Graeme Murphy's Swan Lake broadcast live on ABC2 so I went shopping and was talked into a high definition box by a salesman who seemed quite good. I expected to just go home and plug it in as he said but found some mail for Emily when I got home and, as she had already left for Brisbane and the flight back to UK, I drove down that afternoon, leaving the new box unopened.
On Friday at lunchtime we set about the task but could not get it to do the HD thing. Dick came home from work with the news that it was only a standard definition box, so we packed it up to return next morning.
However next morning we were off early to Mullum where we had a good look at Mum's HD box [same brand, same price].
On Monday morning I returned it and with some grumbling got the HD one for the same price. The salesman had sold quite a few of the SDs thinking they were HD, [which it actually said on the docket, so presumably also on his computer screen]. I collected a catalogue as I left and found the HD one in it, on special at that price! Limited confidence in the salesman remained.
Monday lunchtime resulted in another unsatisfactory installation experience and we decided that our TV might not be compatible and we would return to our initial intention of a cheap box.
So I returned it next day and got my money back while Dick got one at our local store at Wilsonton which seems to work well.
The ballet was very good and we also enjoyed the US Masters Golf over the weekend.
On Friday at lunchtime we set about the task but could not get it to do the HD thing. Dick came home from work with the news that it was only a standard definition box, so we packed it up to return next morning.
However next morning we were off early to Mullum where we had a good look at Mum's HD box [same brand, same price].
On Monday morning I returned it and with some grumbling got the HD one for the same price. The salesman had sold quite a few of the SDs thinking they were HD, [which it actually said on the docket, so presumably also on his computer screen]. I collected a catalogue as I left and found the HD one in it, on special at that price! Limited confidence in the salesman remained.
Monday lunchtime resulted in another unsatisfactory installation experience and we decided that our TV might not be compatible and we would return to our initial intention of a cheap box.
So I returned it next day and got my money back while Dick got one at our local store at Wilsonton which seems to work well.
The ballet was very good and we also enjoyed the US Masters Golf over the weekend.
Show holiday
Last Thursday was Toowoomba Show and we had planned to go to Mullum for Mum's birthday, but had been down the previous weekend as Ruth was very ill in Hobart.
Instead of camping, we drove north over the Blackbutt Range to Benarkin forest to have a look at the camping area and explored some of the side tracks. We stopped for a pie in Blackbutt then drove home via the Toogooloowah-Crows Nest road. On Friday we headed west, with a brief look at the Bowenville camping reserve on a waterhole on Oakey creek, then on to Dalby and south-west to Lake Broadwater. It was quiet out there as it is closed to boats due to low water levels. We had an interesting self-guided botanical drive there, then, after a picnic lunch, returned home across the Condamine to the Cecil Plains road.
There is a lot more to explore in the 100 km radius from here.
Instead of camping, we drove north over the Blackbutt Range to Benarkin forest to have a look at the camping area and explored some of the side tracks. We stopped for a pie in Blackbutt then drove home via the Toogooloowah-Crows Nest road. On Friday we headed west, with a brief look at the Bowenville camping reserve on a waterhole on Oakey creek, then on to Dalby and south-west to Lake Broadwater. It was quiet out there as it is closed to boats due to low water levels. We had an interesting self-guided botanical drive there, then, after a picnic lunch, returned home across the Condamine to the Cecil Plains road.
There is a lot more to explore in the 100 km radius from here.
Walks
Last Tuesday we walked at Murphy's Creek. It is a nice gentle climb from the broad grassy creek bed, through prickly Daviesia to emerge on top of Red Rock, a cliff above a winding narrow creek with views north to White Mountain and Hampton. We had our picnic lunch at Spring Bluff.
Yesterday we walked at Mt Prosper at the head of Ma Ma Creek, through partly cleared native pasture hills and valleys and had lunch at the Lions Park at Hodgsonvale, which is rapidly becoming surrounded by houses.
Yesterday we walked at Mt Prosper at the head of Ma Ma Creek, through partly cleared native pasture hills and valleys and had lunch at the Lions Park at Hodgsonvale, which is rapidly becoming surrounded by houses.
Hibiscus
This small native hibiscus has been flowering in the past month and I managed to catch it this morning.
Wednesday, 2 April 2008
Combine fruit and sugar
I have made two batches of lilly pilly jelly before Easter, the second one including some green apple. Last week I made cumquat marmalade with fruit from Mullum and today I will cut up the grapefruit I brought back, ready for another cook up tomorrow.
Liz brought up two jars of Mikes Plum Jum in February, and Ann has given me two jars of her fig, rhubarb, ginger and sherry jam.
This is a sweet life.
Liz brought up two jars of Mikes Plum Jum in February, and Ann has given me two jars of her fig, rhubarb, ginger and sherry jam.
This is a sweet life.
Walks
Instead of walking, we went to church on Sunday to hear Haydn mass and the organ at St Lukes.
Dick and Em had a long walk at Cotswold Hills in the late afternoon while I turned and emptied a compost heap. It was lovely to be outdoors at dusk.
On Monday morning Em and I visited Ann and Keith to see their vegie garden, quilt and bead projects. We also had a look at the progress of plantings on their hill then had a nice walk on Mt Peel until after midday.
After missing two Tuesday walks, it was good to be back with my friends yesterday. We walked near Palm Tree on a gazetted road leading through some nice trees to the old Munro tramway then had lunch at Hampton.
Dick and Em had a long walk at Cotswold Hills in the late afternoon while I turned and emptied a compost heap. It was lovely to be outdoors at dusk.
On Monday morning Em and I visited Ann and Keith to see their vegie garden, quilt and bead projects. We also had a look at the progress of plantings on their hill then had a nice walk on Mt Peel until after midday.
After missing two Tuesday walks, it was good to be back with my friends yesterday. We walked near Palm Tree on a gazetted road leading through some nice trees to the old Munro tramway then had lunch at Hampton.
Beautiful Autumn weather
Rainfall for March was only 41 mm but we choose to look merely at the superficial and enjoy the growth that has occurred over recent months. It was a relief to have a cool and overcast summer and I was fortunate to plant so many tubes, which are all doing well. While things remain green after our rain last week, we remain positive. Leeks and ruby chard seedlings have been planted out, coriander and carrot seeds sown, and I have been given some rocket, chives and strawberries. The broad beans are growing well and we have corn to harvest. Beans continue to be picked from our screen.
I have also picked a couple of bunches of paper daisies - Xerochrysum and have more seedlings coming up, so we may get an earlier flower display this year.
Sunny Boy has reached 476.2 kWh by the end of March and we have had interesting news of a new Queensland Government initiative, whereby we will be paid 44 cents per kWh of electricity fed into the grid, about three times the current tariff. We meet the eligibility criteria and have registered our interest.
I have also picked a couple of bunches of paper daisies - Xerochrysum and have more seedlings coming up, so we may get an earlier flower display this year.
Sunny Boy has reached 476.2 kWh by the end of March and we have had interesting news of a new Queensland Government initiative, whereby we will be paid 44 cents per kWh of electricity fed into the grid, about three times the current tariff. We meet the eligibility criteria and have registered our interest.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
