Bedford's Canterbury Bells

These gorgeous Canterbury Bells appeared this Spring in our friend's garden in New Hampshire - they had been planted over 5 years ago some distance from where they broke earth this spring!!. It's obvious after years of nothing they have found their place - just at the entry to the woods!!!. Mum used to enjoy growing these along with Lupins and Hollyhocks in her garden in Bowral. When Lois sent this photo, it just reminded me of the Bowral cottage, which Mum had called "Elizabeth Cottage".

A touch of maroon!!!

Well, young Mikie might be based in Alice Springs, but his Auntie has not let him forget that he should barrack for Queensland!!!. She sent him his maroon "Queensland hat, gloves and booties" so that he was fully equipped for last night's "State of Origin" Rugby League's 2nd game. The two States who fight (and they did last night) for this title, are New South Wales (in blue) and Queensland (in Maroon).

Mikie all "decked out" for Queensland!

Yep, we won - well we actually thrashed New South Wales for the 2nd time - 34 to 6 - I think!!! Thanks Lisa for the great photos, hope you are going to dress him in green and gold for the Socceroos at FIFA - they need all the help they can get, me thinks!!!

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And to top it off - a wonderful sunrise photo in the Alice (taken by Mikie's mum, Lisa)

Queen's Birthday - Holiday!

We have just enjoyed a "long" weekend - the Queen's Birthday - I guess all our weekends are long these days - retired and all that!!!. Apart from the Horse Races on Saturday, we took time out for a good walk along Miami Beach - they have a couple of new "joggers" there now - tall and skinny - not us, we definitely only waddled!!!

On Sunday morning we drove down to Coolangatta to get involved with the "Wintersun" Festival - no where to park and literally thousands of people, so decided to give that a miss for this year. We then went to Surfers Paradise - loads of "artie" things going on.

including "pavement painting"

and for the kids as well

Then to Surfers beach, and more creativity - a "sandy" elephant!!..

Surfers Paradise beach Esplanade is under a large reconstruction - due to be finished in June 2011, it's a bit of a building site right now, so some art in Cavill Street was most welcome.

Always love a trip to Currumbin, any day - picturesque in the late afternoon when the sun is going down through the Pandanus tree, and looking back down Currumbin Beach to the Gold Coast . Sunday evening, off to the Marsh's at Tallai for a fun barbeque, we did have the gas outdoor heater up and firing though - guess it is winter - even here!!! A really super long weekend.

Fun day at the races

Yesterday was a fun day - we went to the races at the Gold Coast Turf Club. The event was a fund raiser for St. Michaels School, which Maddie, Alex and Lachy attend - we had a lovely long sit down lunch in the "Paradise Room" overlooking the Course and the Finish Line. Could put our bets on in the same room, plus there were loads of other prizes courtesy of the School's sponsors. The tables were all decorated in the School's colours - maroon, silver and white.

The Aunts and I "sans" hats!

The Racecourse The Finish Line - We won on the first race as we backed ($1 each way) Miss Madi (after one of Sue and Ash's twins) - things were looking good!

Sue studying the race form - she was the best dressed Lady in the Paradise Room.

Sue eventually took off the hat - around the same time the guys ditched their ties, and then Gail and I decided to try on the hat - Steve and Gail with hat!.

By the 3rd race Frank started to take an interest - thank goodness, as my choices for the 2nd and 3rd races were still physically running I think - and the races were over!!! Anyway he decided after some study to choose the New Zealand horses, only if they were at a high price (you get more for your one dollar then), and to be honest we started to pay our way!! A really enjoyable day.

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Last Tuesday, the twins, Maddie and Alex turned 17. To celebrate - 17 of us went to the Tallai Country Club - great dinner - and not late as it was a School night. They were both thrilled with their gifts.

Maddie dissecting her cake

Alex and Sue, and both of them with Ash and Sue below.

The lights in Macquarie

The following notes and photos are for a few overseas friends who have visited Sydney and might be interested.

VIVID SYDNEY, has also embarked on the "Macquarie Visions Experience" dedicated to Governor Lachlan and Elizabeth Macquarie (1810 - 1821) - featuring the historic buildings along Macquarie Street, Sydney. It began with a dazzling light spectacle at St Mary's Cathedral. a building for which Lachlan Macquarie himself laid the foundation stone in 1821.

Lachlan Macquarie was the first military Governor of NSW, unlike his predecesssors, who were all naval men - he actually took over from William Bligh (Mutiny of the Bounty fame - his governship ended with the "Rum Rebellion") Fortunately Macquarie had experience in urban planning and land management- Mrs Macquarie arrived with architectural and design journals that indicated her interest and subsequent influence on much of the urban design in the colony. She played a large part in the creation of the Botanic Gardens - her "chair" a carved rock ledge at the point - named Mrs. Macquarie's chair - still exists today.

When Macquarie began his tenure as Governor, "rum" was the prevailing currency of the Colony. He not only introduced coinage, but also overcame an acute currency shortage by purchasing Spanish silver coins, punching out the centres and creating two new coins - the "Holey Dollar" and the "Dump". This innovative move doubled the number of coins in circulation and increased their total worth by 25 per cent. To facilitate trade and commerce, Macquarie also established the first Bank of New South Wales.

Hyde Park's Barracks (below) presently has an electrified timeline of Governor Macquarie's achievements scrolls on the walls, reflecting hundreds of projects and achievements, in a tribute to a man regarded as the originator of the Australian value of the "Fair-Go". The Governor and his wife instilled a feeling of hope in the inhabitants of the new colony, and along with it the belief that an opportunity existed for a second chance at life. Many many convicts with specific skills, e.g. convict architect, Francis Greenway, were given opportunities to design and work for for the public works in Sydney. He dealt with an increase in the number of convicts sent to the colony by employing them in ambitious programs of public works - he saw the Colony of NSW as a settled community as well as a penal settlement. These public works still stand today, and many are "lit up" to commemorate this Governor during VIVID SYDNEY.

The Macquarie's also introduced a broader cultural life to Sydney, art, literature, education, gardens and music. Horse racing, along with farming tactics from overseas (the merino sheep) fairs, balls etc. etc. were all introduced during their reign.

One of Sydney's newer universities, named after this Governor - Macquarie University - is where Frank was awarded his "Honorary Doctorate of Science" in May 1997 - he received this because he helped the University create a Bachelor of Technology program, which succeeded in providing hundreds of new University places with a 4 year program training graduates complete with business skills ready for work (97% placement within 6 months).

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The Brig in his robes in May 1997

More photos of St. Mary's Cathedral "lit up"

Young progeny

ENGLAND I have just received photos of Frank's sister and brother's grandchildren in England - they all got together last week and the sun was really shining. Photo shows Margaret and Kevin's two, Emily and Jack (l to r - child 2 and 5) and Peter and Margaret' s three, Sophie, Cerys and Thomas (l to r - child 1, 3 and 4) Can't believe how quickly they are growing up. NEW ZEALAND Photo of Ethan and Daniel Frank - Daniel is 10 weeks old now.

and Miss Imogen on her bike

Tennis till 1 a.m.

Well last night we sat and watched a Queenslander compete against an Italian for the French Open Tennis final. Unfortunately Sam didn't win, the Italian lass was just so geared up and determined, a great match though - but going to bed a 1 a.m. was not all that smart!!! So it was a late get up for "QUEENSLAND DAY" this morning. 6th June is the day that is celebrated by Queenslanders as the day when the new colony of Queensland was established. Queen Victoria gave her approval on 6th June 1859 to separate Queensland from New South Wales. On this day Queensland became a self-governing colony with its own Constitution, Governor, a nominated Legislative Council and an elected Legistative Assembly. This is also the day young Jessica Watson chose to sail back into her home port on the Sunshine Coast - Mooloolaba. She did this on the most beautiful clear day -there was a flotilla of about 50 boats to greet her, and she docked in the Mooloolaba's magnificent boat harbour.

Spectators along the Mooloolah River to the Harbour

Above - the large pink sign reads - "Rudd's a Dudd, Jess for P.M.".

I must say the more I see of this young lady the more humble she seems with her actions, yet quietly confident in herself. I should think Ella Bache are thrilled they took the chance to sponsor her!!! I did get a laugh when she stopped and signed a whole pile of autographs for the little ones, which of course kept the Premier of Queensland waiting - local kids were more important to her than the Politicians!!!!! There was an event being held at the Surf Club this afternoon for her, then it was home to one of her mother's pavlovas and her own bedroom.

******* 6th June is also a sad day - this year it is the 66th Anniversary of D Day, in Normandy. Frank and I were actually there the day after D Day 10 years ago.

Above -The British War Cemetry in Bayeaux - has over 4,000 graves, the majority British, along with some Australians, New Zealanders and South Africans.

Above -The Canadian War Cemetry at Beny-Sur-Mer near Caen has over 2,000 graves

Above - the American War Cemetry on a bluff overlooking Omaha beach has over 9,000 graves.

Jess meets Kay

Young Jessica Watson is cruising north to reach her home of Mooloolaba tomorrow morning. Whilst on route she made an unexpected pit stop in Yamba on the Clarence River on the far north NSW coast on Thursday, to refuel. By coincidence the world's first woman to sail solo and non stop around the world - Kay Cottee - was working on her boat at that Marina when Jessica berthed and the two met for the first time. I have just done a check up on Kay, she had cruised solo (189 days) on her 11.2 meter First Lady - in 1988 "around the World", she was aged 34 . On her return she wrote a couple of books, and spent some time as a motivational speaker, in fact Frank recruited her as a speaker for his Management Team. Now 22 Years later, she has a 14 year old son, she and her husband co-own the Yamba Marina, and are presently renovating an old cruiser. Kay is also passionate about her painting and skulpting, she has her own fine art gallery in Yamba. Her yacht "First Lady" is now in the National Maritime Museum in Sydney - see below.

Yesterday, Jessica along with 2 crew (her brother and Mike Perham - the young English "around the world lone sailor") headed in through the Gold Coast Seaway to the Broadwater, after they hit the sand bar (Mike was at the wheel) It was good opportunity to show her first mate where she spent some time 8 months ago - when the team from the Australian Marine Enterprises and Gold Coast City Marina worked around the clock to get her damaged Ella's Pink Lady back into ship shape for her trip around the world, after she collided with a 63,000 tonne bulk carrier in the dead of night. This team helped her keep her dream alive.

Ella in the Seaway - check out the 2 fishermen in the water on the left side of this photo!!!!

This was an unexpected visit - maybe so her "first mate" could get a good look at the Broadwater without a crowd around them. They are being accompanied by Jessica's Manager in his large Catamaran - Big Wave Rider.

Jessica had indicated that she would like a quiet arrival back in Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast, however that just won't happen. This lovely beach town are so proud of her, they will be there in the thousands - we opted to stay home. Lovely day here today, did our shopping at the Farmer's Market, had a long coffee with Gail and Steve and checked out what else they have done to the house, a good walk, with a very late barbeque lunch, and tonight we will watch the Gold Coast girl play in the French Open Tennis final - come on Samantha!!!!!.

What a find!!!

A year 10 student has discovered six vertebrae from the "Ichthyosaur" while laying out a vegetable garden at his school, the Richmond State School, in the northwest of Queensland. The curator of the local fossil museum "Kronosaurus Korner" said the ichthysosaurs were prolific in the area from the end of the Jurassic period through to the early Cretaceous period. They were the wilderbeasts of the Cretaceous inland sea. The creature looked like a cross between a dolphin and a shark and could grow to about 8 metres. They had some of the largest eyes in the animal kingdom, allowing them to dive to the dark depths of the inland sea to hunt squid! This particular find was from a mature adult ichthyosaur.

The skull of an ichthyosaur

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What an incredible find for a young student - 100 million years after the beasts roamed the inland sea. The fossils found are on display at the school, and the "vegie patch" has been relocated for now. They would really like to find it's skull. The Richmond area is famous for its fossils.

Winter Sun

Winter is here, there is a little nip in the air, but in general it is still very comfortable and the sun over the water in the morning is quite stunning. I just love the days we walk along the beach.

The Whales are right on time - Whale season starts June 1 and normally runs till October here, the first one was spotted off Surfers Paradise - yes on June 1 - the first day of Winter.