The "blooming" outback!!

Lisa has just emailed her latest photos of the "blooming outback". These photos were taken yesterday, just out of Alice Springs in the Simpson Desert/Macdonnell Ranges - unbelievable colour everywhere. The background of "red" outcrops and ranges, aren't sooh red right now with so much green growth over them.

Above - Yellow, backdropped with white shrubs - and purples below

and masses of the "poached egg" wildflower below

A critter resting in the outback beauty at dusk.

Sculpture of our Outback???

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Lois - this one's for you.

Susan took this of the ole Marree Pub on her trip to Lake Eyre - she certainly wasn't surrounded by water when we were there 25 years ago. (Note the cabins on the right - Susan and co. slept in these, she said they seemed preferable to the Hotel rooms - you and I can probably vouch for that from personal experience.)

Thoughts and walks

This morning the weather had cleared up a little, though the skies still had those wonderful dark colours over the Coral Sea. We decided to try a walk we hadn't done before - from Rainbow Bay (on the Queensland border edge of New South Wales) through Greenmount Beach onto the south end of Coolangatta and back again.

Rainbow Bay

Below - the 1st Lifeguard station in Queensland

The Gold Coast hosts 35 miles of beaches, and I believe 35 Lifeguard Stands Again the boardwalk above the beaches is excellent for views and access Plenty of wildlife relaxing on rocks And we took quite a bit of time out just to stop and view what was around us. It was a quiet walk with time for thoughts about my Mum who had passed away this day - exactly 2 years ago. I had a phone call from Mum's only living friend from all those beauties of the War years, and of course family and many friends from her dance world, she is still remembered so fondly.

Birthdays - Tarrants and Co.

Friday was a lovely day, 15 of us from Mum's side of the family got together for a loong lunch at the Coolangatta Surf Club - the sun, which has been in hiding for a few days, even wandered out for a glimpse. The reason was to celebrate 7 of our birthdays, all which happen within an 8 week period.

The Humpback Whales even came out to play in viewing distance.

The youngest Birthday Babe - Ash, with his wife, Sue.

Next 2 youngest "B.B's" - Gail and Steve

Next 2, Ails and her husband, Rod. (Off to England and France for a month this Saturday).

Moi is next

And the oldest of the band of 7 is Nal's husband, Ross (if only by a few days)!!

Susan with Mum's two baby sisters - this coming Tuesday is the 2nd anniversary of Mum's death. 3 outlaws enjoying themselves, Steve, Sue and Glenda

Ash and his Mum Glenda, Ails and cousin Stephen (the other photographer) *********

Last Wednesday

Susan had invited a couple of Sydney friends over for lunch - they were staying in an apartment at Broadbeach. However, after picking them up, a young P Plater rammed into 4 cars, Susan being number 3 in this concertina. Most upsetting as she is particularly fond of this car and had just had new tires and a few other things done to it, she wasn't ready to have to replace it if the Insurance company totalled it. Anyway, to cut a long story short, the Insurance Company (AAMI), have been great - the car will be repaired back in Sydney, she will fly back on Tuesday. Photo below - the white one.

We decided to still continue with a very late lunch at home, the sky was dull , but the company was good. The Brig barbequed Salmon - which was delightful Next door neighbour Carol joined us late afternoon - very nice day considering the "smashing" start.

SWELL Sculpture Festival at Currumbin

Saturday morning we drove to Currumbin Beach for our walk - 2 reasons - we love it there, and because they were hosting the Sculpture Festival - SWELL. The day was a little hazy, but the temperature was great and we just loved our "artistic" walk.

Looking across to the Surf Club and Elephant Rock where the very moving ANZAC Memorial Service is held annually on 25th April at 5am..

The first (backdropped by the Surf Club) was a myriad of little ornate fish, with a real human kid in pink who was not going to leave this sculpture.

There were 55 sculptures in total

Built by Australian Artists

and some from abroad

They were made of many different materials

and quite incredible designs The Festival was totally free Parking et all

An interesting mob above

Some were in the sand dunes

And the finale for this year

Backdropped by the beach and it's "lifesavers"

This Festival ran for 10 days - finishing yesterday. Next year we will attend it at the beginning of the Festival, and take on their guided Twilight Walk - that would be magic with the sunset!.

Sunshine's Hinterland

We are home now, sorting out odds and ends as one does even after a tres relaxing trip, including cleaning up the van and putting her back into storage. Susan arrives up for a week or so tomorrow. Loads of family in the sunny state by the end of this week - we will be celebrating. The last couple of days at Maroochydore were relaxing - on Monday we took off to the Glasshouse Mountains and it's surrounding villages - not a perfectly clear day, but still A okay!.

This area is truly lovely and spring has really hit the valleys around the Glasshouse Mountains One of the peaks - Mount Beerwah, surrounded by pineapple plantations. We stopped for a coffee and the view at the Poet's Cafe in Montville

Montville's trees were spectacular We walked along a small stream to the Cascade Falls, very small, but a group of teenagers were enjoying swimming in the freezing pond at the end!!

Tuesday, we basically cleaned up, took a trip to Caloundra and Mooloolabah, and back in time to meet up with Chappy and Jen from New Zealand for a cup of tea and chat about their current holiday here.

Our last dusk at Maroochydore - Tuesday p.m.