Spring is in the Lagoons at Seaworld

The 3rd Inshore Bottlenose dolphin calf has been born to a 10 year old dolphin called Zippa last month - all 2010 calves have been females - Zippa is reported to be an excellent Mum. This calf has been named "Melody" via a competition on the Today Show - it was chosen by a Sydney family because they believe a dolphin's song is like a melody; calm, cheerful and beautiful. Below young Melody keeps an eye on her Mum, Zippa - what a cutie she is. The Sea World dolphin breeding program is one of the world's best and showcases how the extensive natural sandy bottom lagoon systems promote social enrichment and interaction, and breeding and nursing by the dolphins. The new calves can be seen by visitors in the Dolphin Nursery pools.

Arltunga - flowers and gold!

Lisa, Daz and young Mikie took a drive out to Arltunga - 110 kms east of the Alice along the Macdonnell ranges yesterday. In Lisa's words - it was an awesome drive with all the wildflowers out at the moment, but from what I've read the last 30 kms are also awesome, loads of corrugations and the tremendous fun that comes with that!!. Arltunga was officially Central Australia's first town, born out of a gold rush after alluvial gold was discovered in a dry creek bed in 1887. Fortune seekers had to travel 600 kms from the Oodnadatta railhead, often on foot.

Arltunga once supported 300 people. Now it is just a ghost town. We would love to be in the beauty of our Outback right now.

Mikie and Lisa enjoying a break

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MORE CANDLES

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Last night Steve cooked for 11 of us to celebrate Gail's birthday - all of course done in his Weber barbeque - roast pork with all types of roasted vegies, and all the things that go with it. Auntie Beryl made the birthday cake which was delicious, however, before that we had already lashed into two of Steve's pies, lemon meringue and apple - super.

Gail cutting into her cake with young Maddie looking on, after she had assisted with the "blowing out".

When we arrived this morning to pick up the Aunts, Steve had decided to feed us once again with a great barbequed breakfast. It is still cloudy and raining, but we are very content and mighty well fed.

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!.