CONNIKA

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR GIRL

 

 

COOLUM

 

 

After Christmas we headed North to Coolum for a few days before Amanda flew back to chilly, chilly Scotland.  Our unit was air-conditioned and whenever we went outside it was "Wow!" with the humid heat enveloping us.  Great for the old bones

ALMOST HOME FROM THE MORNING WALK

 

OUTSIDE OLD JOHN'S PLACE

I've had folk asking what the elbows in the air mean.  On the first WHERE THE HELL IS AMANDA? post, I put a link to WHERE THE HELL IS MATT?.  If you haven't had a look at Matt's video, you must.   Google WHERE THE HELL IS MATT and you should find it.

When Amanda was here we took a walk most mornings - (about 5kms) passing old John's place.  John is in his 80's now, a bachelor and lives a life that is rarely seen today.  All washing is done outside in a copper with the fire burning below it.  I have to be up early on a Sunday morning to get my washing out before him!

Each year around Christmas, I pop in some shortbread and mince pies for John and his brother Francis (who comes up from Toowoomba every other day.)   I have never been inside John's house in the eight years I have lived here and Amanda was determined we would get in.  "We'll hold the plates in front of us and make no move to give them to him." she said.  It worked.  "Yoo Hoo!" we called as we went around the back.  What looked like the back door was obviously not in use as John directed us to another side door. 

It worked.  John opened the door to us.  He has recently had a hip operation and that together with his back which is now at an angle of 90 degrees, had little choice but to let us in.  Either that or the strain of standing chatting to us for hours would have been the end of him.

I'm sure he enjoyed our visit - Amanda was a district nurse in days gone by and was just wonderful with him.  He was fascinated by her descriptions of her life in Scotland - the snow she had recently left, chopping the wood for her fire etc.

John's house is built to a design of years gone by where the kitchen area was a separate building from the living area.  Access to each area is by a plank of wood.  It was a wonderful experience for Amanda coming from a wee village in the North East of Scotland which was knee deep in snow when she left to finding herself sitting in an old "Queenslander" and chatting to John about the awful drought, his cows, the heat, and his parents and grandparents who originally came from Ireland.  They all lived in this area and I have no idea what made them make their way here as it would have been one very long journey from Brisbane.  John wasn't very helpful when we asked.

Now that you're home again Amanda this visit to John must seem like a dream.  Hope this post brings back memories of the day.

WHERE THE HELL IS AMANDA?

She's gone home to the snow, ice and hail.  We're all feeling very sad but I'll put up some photos over the next few days of what she was up to before she left.  Here's a starter.

 
The Trims arriving for Christmas.

WHERE THE HELL IS AMANDA?

 

 

Still at Summerfield.

WHERE THE HELL IS AMANDA?

 

 

With her sister and niece at Summerfield.

WHERE THE HELL IS AMANDA?

 

 

Meeting a pair of lizards at Ravensbourne, Australia

WHERE THE HELL IS AMANDA?

 

 

Visiting Anny and Adrian out at Ravensbourne.

HAPPENINGS AT SUMMERFIELD YESTERDAY

 

 

Making the Christmas cake and having some water delivered!