A fine hilly walk

Credit - Public Domain

Castle Hill is in essence a pink monolith situated in the heart of the city boasting views in every direction - over Cleveland Bay and out to Magnetic Island or inland to the mountain ranges. It's very popular with the locals who enjoy its offerings for fitness and training by way of its tarred road winding up 2.6kms or its goat track. During WWII the hill (rising 940ft) was used as a comms and observation post.  Anyhow back to the present.  Two days ago Spice-girl encouraged me to give it a go (I didn't believe I would even make it half way up) but put on a brave face. To quote her I 'smashed' it!

We arrived in the dark, it was decidedly chilly with a crisp wind blowing (lovely) and set off.

 We made it to the top and as we turned to make our descent, the sun was rising over Cleveland Bay and put on a lovely display.

And the day really dawned as we made our way down

Morning had truly broken as we made our final descent

HAPPY BLOGGING

NOTE: Solid proof - Official 'Hill Hikers' at the top!

A Gold Coast break Part 2

The Gold Coast hinterland is affectionately known as the green behind the gold. The entire hinterland covers a large area and we were fortunate to have the time to visit two.

Gathered from what the locals told me, Tamborine Mountain  has a population cap of 10,000 (currently at 5-7,000 and not all full-time residents, many weekenders) thus ensuring the integrity of the Mountain community and providing a sustainable environment for all creatures great and small.  It's very popular if a property comes on the market as it's only 550m (approx) up to the plateau making it an easy drive. I could easily live here.
The views are magnificent, the flora and fauna wonderful and the human infrastructure sensitive and complete. A trip down to the city at your feet only necessary if you so wished.
Enjoy the photos of my dream living environment.  Oh, did I mention it's also very cool up at Tamborine Mountain - there are chimneys and fireplaces! My kinda country!

Home to Queensland's first National Park

Charming businesses with beautiful wares for sale

Homes with breathtaking views to both the east (coastal) and west (inland)

I'll leave you with some flora on the Mountain

                      

                     

                     

Farewell from Tamborine Mountain

Rest assured that Part 3 or 4 will hold all things great, small, furry and/or wet.

I can...for cancer campaigne 2014

Last month daughter Melissa, AKA 'Spice-girl' in my posts,  was my march-buddy in the Melanoma March-for-a-cure.  On Sunday, Spice-girl honoured the 10th year of her father's passing by being involved with the 2014 "I can for cancer campaigne" and chose to have the shave. With the generosity of her supporters, donors and sponsors she raised well over $2,000 for the Queensland Cancer Council's campaigne. It was an emotional afternoon event, one that almost didn't go ahead as Cyclone Ita (downgraded to a Category 1) was literally passing overhead as we prepared for the guests to arrive.

Going......

  .......going

gone! (final swipe by 'moi')

BEFORE

AFTER

Amid the numerous events one can elect for their fundraising venture, Spice-girl chose the shave because in her words.... " I'm healthy and have the choice whether to have hair, many cancer warriors don't"

HAPPY BLOGGING

Down memory lane - are you here?

Careers, or a way of life buried in museums and historic villages......

Did this hardworking fellow ever have a 'title'?

The crafty creators of yesteryear - do you remember your first machine?

My first was a Remington -  Touch-typists, what a breed!

The local shopkeeper and his store were a favourite - those lollies for a penny!

The butcher always had a spare snag or bone for the family pooch, now a bone costs $3 

Did your Primary school classroom look like this? Mine did! I loved all of my Primary School teachers.

I have NO idea as to why anyone would want to have had this career! (shudder)

Hats off to our stay-at-home Mums of yesteryear! They had so many mod cons to get them through their day :/

The following career is by far the most admired by me, we used to leave the "Night-watchman" (as he was known) a whole carton of beer as a heartfelt thank-you for the job he did and the service he provided (regularly) [pardon the pun] - throughout the year.

Sometime after mid-night the 'service' was provided, and I clearly remember the "Night-watchman's" arrival, the clang of the pans being changed and the thump of his footsteps as he made his way up the side of the house under his heavy load hoisted onto his shoulder.  (in my time though, the vehicle had modernised to a motorised truck!)

HAPPY BLOGGING & Christmas Greetings 

Oh, you pretty things.....

Photos taken from inside Chemist's at Herberton Historic Village

HAPPY BLOGGING

Where words fail ~ and passing time

"Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation"
  Kahlil Gibran
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

We need not a calendar for reference to dates which reflect life's events; big or small, happy or sad, for they are ineradicably etched in our minds.
On this date last year, I wrote a POST - spontaneously, straight from heart, out of nowhere - the very first time I'd made mention of my beloved, and it felt right.  It was bursting to come forth.
A year later I am feeling melancholy due entirely to being somewhat despondent that on such a date; a marker of  passing time, I am considerably lacking in the ability to express, create, or even craft the written word into something amazing - something befitting the occasion.  A magnificent 10th year of passing tribute for my magnificent beloved is what I envisage. I chuckle quietly thinking how this epitomises that phrase - where words fail.

However, I am mellow and self-indulgent on this date each year so a harsh judge of my shortcomings I shall not be. No.
I will ready myself soon and go about my daily business albeit somewhat different to my life of a year ago; I shall see to all of the routine things one sees to in a day, I will not forget to celebrate life and all its blessings, but amid the day's routine I will indulge, and remember 'our story', all over again.

In Loving Memory

                                              

Silent Sunday ~ Reflections

Be like a duck, calm on the surface, but always paddling like the dickens underneath.
Michael Caine

 

The best thinking has been done in solitude - the worst, in turmoil.

Edison

Photos taken at Lake Barrine, Atherton Tablelands

HAPPY BLOGGING