A "Barbie" at Burleigh

Yesterday morning a group of us met at Burleigh Heads beach to celebrate Mother's Day with a breakfast barbie. Ash, Sue and kids got there early to hold their special spot, think we arrived around 7.30 am and the rest before 8 a.m. There were 5 couples, Auntie Beryl and 6 teenagers in total. Weather was a little suss to start with, few spots of rain etc., however we still took on a walk along the beach.

Frank, Sue, Maddie and Lachy.

Then the boys hit the barbeque, and the end result was bacon, eggs, mushrooms and tomatoe with OJ - really delicious!.

Sue barbequed the croissants

And the clouds departed, and the sun started to shine,

We then did a bit more walking or talking, the kids went for a swim, the sea was really warm, and then some of us finished back at our place for coffee - lovely morning for all.

A year later!!

Well, it is exactly one year since we packed up and left the Bay, we were not sure how this area would work for us, but as Mum had died, we decided we could give the Gold Coast a chance. To be totally honest, we are so thrilled to have moved here, yes there have been some small problems, but we are working on overcoming these few with more assistance than we would've been able to get in the Bay. We love it here. Anyway. last night we had a group of neighbours around, some new ones, to welcome them !! This morning we took off to the Farmers Markets at Mudgeeraba, and purchased good stuff for tomorrow morning's Mothers's Day Breakfast with my family at Burleigh, and will meet Keith flying in from Victoria tomorrow arvo , and then this afternoon we went over to Gail and Steve's to check out their new work on the house.

"Mothers Day" tomorrow!

Tomorrow is my second Mothers Day without Mum, doesn't make it easy, but then I have had time to contemplate how she did things, and succeeded, bringing up 2 kids, basically without any financial and emotional support from our father. BUT, I guess what is incredible are her successes, she was one of 11 kids, when times were tough with my Dad , she just got on with it. She worked 2 jobs, travelled all over Australia and the World, - judging Dance (the planes weren't flash in those days - 'specially in the Outback) , she was awarded a British Empire Medal in the mid 70's, and apart from the World and British Championships her pupils won over the years, they danced at the Sydney Opera House in her name, she also supplied and trained over 100 dancers for the first British Military Tattoo in the 1960's in Australia -( I was one of those dancers). She received her last award when she was 81 in Las Vegas - again for her Contribution to Dance. She was a clever and creative little duck as all who knew her realised. I do miss her, and that's okay!.

Mum, many years ago with Miss (Ruth) Burnie from British Ballet in England. Mum and Miss Burnie with the Scottish kids.

Mum with the "Dorothy Kerr Highland Dancers" - They travelled the world performing Mum's choreography!

In flower

Our Camelia Sasanquas are in flower, though after 7 heavy inches of rain yesterday it is a wonder they are still standing. Hopefully this time next year they will have grown and bushed enough to hedge along, and hide our fences.

Nalda and Ross flew up here yesterday for a couple of days - caught up on a lot of chat last night. It looks like they have sold their house at Batemans Bay as well, they were also our neighbours down there.

This morning we went for a walk down to the Golf Club - all the ponds were full from yesterday's downpour and there was a black swan proudly showing off her cygnets to us.

The Coral Sea

Last Saturday morning we went to the Cavill Memorial Park in Surfers Paradise to attend the Commemoration Service for the "Battle of the Coral Sea". This particular service was organised by the Australian-American Association - Gold Coast Division which we are members of. ..It was truly an excellent memorial. The Battle of the Coral Sea took place from 3rd to 8th May, 1942. This battle was a turning point for us in World War II - it stopped the advance of the Japanese Imperial Navy and kept the lines of supply and communication open between the United States and Australia during the War. This was the first time aircraft carriers were used, the United States and Australia did quite a bit of damage to the Japanese Fleet, in fact this damage assisted in the Battle of Midway one month later - the Japanese had been weakened. The aim was to stop them taking the air bases in Port Moresby, New Guinea - where many Australians were serving against the Japanese, including my father and some of my uncles. Our combined forces with the USA lost 543 Servicemen and the Japanese lost 1,074 in this battle The map below shows how far down the Japanese had moved, the red shows Japan and its Empire in December 1941, and the pink where Japan had occupied between December 1941 and May 1942. Very close to Australia!! The speakers were excellent - a Rear Admiral from the US Amphibious Force attended (he is actually based in Japan now) and a female Commander from the Australian navy, they layed their wreaths together. There were excellent presentations by 3 elderly veterans who served in Battle of the Coral Sea 68 years ago. One was from the USA and the other 2 were Australian, ages 89 and 90. Here the 3 lay their wreaths.

There were members from the US Consulate - a message from President Obama was read, and of course the Australian politician who also read a message from our Prime Minister. The ceremonial detail was provided by Cadets of TS Southport.

and the music came from the "Clearwater Wind Orchestra" from Benowa High School.

Both flags were flown

Both Anthems were sung A very fitting Memorial to both the USA and Australian forces who gave so much to stop the Japanese moving fully into our country and halting all communication and supplies across the Pacific Ocean.

OBE !!!

Auntie Beryl's 85th birthday went on for three days, Gail (her daughter) and Steve held a party last night to celebrate, with eldest son, Wayne and his wife Ann, flying up from Sydney on Thursday night, and of course her younger son, Ashley and his wife Sue, live on the Gold Coast.

Steve had the honour of presenting his Mother in Law with an OBE, (which normally means - Order of the British Empire) He awarded her the medal and the letter from the Queen - HOWEVER, this "OBE" was for those "OVER BL..DY EIGHTY" instead. In fact he then added a "W" to it, announcing she was "WELL OVER BL..DY EIGHTY". Auntie wore her medal with a huge grin ALL NIGHT.

Auntie's 3 kids (L to R) Wayne, Gail and Ashley - receiving a little help from his daughter, Maddie.!!!

Below - The "Outlaws",

Auntie certainly lucked out with these 3 and note her OBE medal.

And with her closest friend - her sister Auntie Nalda, the Brig and me!

Super party - 'specially as Gail and Steve only moved into this house on the Gold Coast on 8th April - Gail's two sister-in-laws were right into the party preparations as well.

High Tea

Auntie Beryl turned 85 yesterday, and today 7 of us (all female) took her to a High Tea up in the Hinterland - name of the cafe "Tea and Niceties" in Mount Tamborine.

Auntie Beryl with her daughter, Gail (Right) and daughter in laws, Ann (centre) and Sue (Left).

Our "High Tea" - this number was shared by Ailsa and I!

Cousin Ailsa with her mum, Auntie Nalda and Auntie Beryl. Ann and I with the now rather bare platter shared by Ails and I. A delightful day followed up with a touch of retail therapy for the girls!.

OUTBACK SPECTACULAR

ANZAC Day was Col and Den's wedding anniversary, so to celebrate both our "A" days, they took us in the evening to the "Outback Spectacular - Tribute to the Australian Light Horse" Seeing it on ANZAC night, made it even more special.

*****

Yep, we even subjected ourselves for the "mandatory" photograph in our new straw akubras (given to everyone on entrance).

During the show we were served a very good 3 course dinner, and of course prior to the show had time to do a little retail therapy for a couple of kiwi grand kids.

*****

Digger stood guard at the entrance to the Theatre!

*****

The Australian Light Horse Brigade in World War 1 had an amazing affinity with their horses, some took their own, others broke in new mounts, looking after them while travelling overseas and keeping them all through the desert campaigns. They rode Australian Stock Horses, a mixture of Thoroughbred, Arab, Timor pony and wild Brumbies. Known as Walers, because the first one came from New South Wales....they had a reputation for grit, sure-footedness and stamina.

The tradition of the Light Horsemen wearing emu plumes in their slouch hats, started with the Queensland Mounted Infantry back in the 1890s. Mounted troopers used to test their skills by racing after wild emus. When they caught one, still at a gallop, they would pull out a couple of the bird's feathers and proudly tuck them into their headbands.

The Light Horsemens' finest hour came on 31st October 1917, with one of the most audacious actions in modern warfare....the charge at Beersheba. In a last ditch effort to save the attacking British Army from disaster, they were to attempt the near impossible, a cavalry charge across five kilometres of open desert, against 4,000 entrenched infantry, supported by machine guns and artillery - surely a suicide mission.

Three lines of Light Horsemen a mile wide, thundered across the dusty plain. Screaming, like banshees and brandishing bayonets that glinted in the dying sun, they were terrifying, unstoppable. The Turkish lines were breached and the day won. Amazingly, only 36 out of those gallant 800 Light Horsemen lost their lives in that incredible charge.

There was some wonderful and clever riding, fabulous scenery and simulated pyrotechnics /strobe lighting, and finished with the Australian Flag on horseback accompanied by the appropriate music.

To top it off, we had the best seats in the house for this wonderful evening ! Thanks guys.

Our 34th

Anniversary last Saturday - The day was a good one, Frank and I went to a great little farmers market at 7 a.m. - super fresh food there, we then picked Col and Den up from their apartment, then some relaxation, the boys read on the patio, Col took photos, and I was occupied doing something or other. Late afternoon it clouded over a bit, however we still decided to walk to the Golf Club for an anniversary toast - this we did!

Then back home for a barbeque, and to try out the great looking apple pie and a few other goodies which we had found at the markets that morning.

The pie was delish as was the company.