Hot Spots in Aus - Part Two. Brisbane.

Using the rental car and  Google Maps is proving pretty successful and it wasn't long before  we were at Yaroomba where Robin and Chris are refurbishing a house on the Sunshine Coast. The pool at the back of the section has been completed, but work on the front of the house was about to begin

Beautiful pool with young plantings in place....

.....and the front of the section where the carport will become a outdoor seating area

...and a new carport makes the pool area more private.

 We take a short walk down to the beach at Yaroomba which is expansive and beautiful. Then we have lunch at a cafe before heading back to Brisbane.

Duncan and Robin

 The meal Chris cooked was superb - rolled stuffed chicken, crunchy roast potatoes, and fresh green beans and home-made gravy, followed by slow roasted peaches and icecream.
On Monday morning Robin and I went to a lovely shop where I had great fun trying thing on - especially things I probably wouldn't normally wear. I bought one expensive top.
Then Duncan and I went to Indroopilly Shopping Centre  where I bought 4 "everyday" items for less than the expensive top! We grabbed a bite of lunch as Robin had an Italian lesson.
That afternoon we drove out to Chris's work. (Chris had taken the day off, so stayed at home and planned out an overseas trip for them.) They would like to sell the business, but their business partner is 5 years younger, and not ready to sell.

Robin used to work here as accountant.

We were not allowed passed the yellow line unless we donned antistatic overalls.

There latest project is designing and building software equipment for the Australian army.

Some areas are highly mechanised, and some require careful human workers. They are running two shifts to get this latest order out.

A fire a few years ago meant that they took the decision to expand - and build two storeys.

 Hannah came round to visit late afternoon. Jim is away as he markets Wagyu Beef and has quite a few business trips to Asia.

Monty - about 5 months

Sunday is 4

Sunday and Monty

Duncan and Monty

 That night was my shout as a belated birthday treat for Duncan's birthday. We went to an excellent Spanish restaurant called Peasant and had tapas (shared platters) and some lovely - but expensive! Spanish wine.
Tuesday Morning we went for a drive up My Cooth-tha to look at the extent of Brisbane, then down to the Botanical gardens where we enjoyed a stroll around the well curated areas of different focus.

Rob and Duncan

Artwork lizard

..and the real thing!

After a quick lunch we took the rental car back to the airport, and awaited our flight to Newcastle.

Hot Spots in Aus - Part One

We were up at 4.40am so that we could check the baggage straight through to Brisbane. Our intention was to have a good breakfast in the Koru Club in Auckland, but time was short, and so breakfast was small. This was a bit of a miscalculation as for the first time we had chosen seat and bag ticket on the plane - so no meal or movies for us.
After a long delay to get our rental car in Brisbane we were ravenous, but since this car had 17km on the clock - ie brand new, - we decided to drive straight to Noosa rather than try any tricky manouevres to get on and off the motorway.
The motel is adequate but with a few design flaws!!

The long white box is the light. If you want to read while on the bed you get a very well illuminated shoulder.

After a walk, a drive, lunch, a visit to the supermarket, and a nap we head over to the bar to the first get-together of Alan Marino's 70th birthday. Lots of old Gisborne acquaintances and relatives of Alan.
Given the 3 hour time difference, by 6.40pm we have been on the go for 17hours, and we are fading fast. After a bar meal we turn in for the night.

Saturday 30th March.
Duncan heads out for a run first thing, and then we drive to Noosa Heads before looping around to the Eumundi Markets. I was surprised that Duncan wanted to go to the markets, given his usual lack of enthusiasm about shopping. When he sees the $6 parking fee and the hoards of cars and people, not to mention the onset of a shower of rain he is more than happy to push onto Yandina.

Noosa Heads looking North

Noosa Heads looking South

 We have morning tea at Yandina. Each table has a bowl of knitting on it and you are encouraged to complete a few rows. When the owner has enough strips, a friend sews them up and they usually have about half a dozen to give to the "Vinnies" to distribute to the needy.

Doing my bit.

 Next stop is the Macadamia Nutworks shop. The factory is not working, but you can see in the windows to the machines. (It is a weekend).

Duncan is checking out the Macadamia Meusli, but find out that it is $27 a bag!!!

 Across the road is the ginger factory. We try the beer - yes it is about 4.5% alcohol - and think what a great match for Asian food it would be.

The smile of approval

The small train trip has a good commentary

We wave as we go past.

Historic remnants litter this corner of the grounds.

 We travel to Coolum for lunch. The heavy warm rain starts. We head back to the motel for a nap between the long and loud thunder rumbles.
The party starts at 5pm at the hotel we are staying at. It has a Hawaiian theme.

Are we getting better at selfies??

Alan is very humbled by all that made the trip.

His daughter was a a hilarious MC. His "picture parade" started with a picture of Alan at about 1 year with a homemade nappy which looked like a loin cloth!

I said a few words on behalf of other friends that couldn't make it, but who had given me a card to bring over 

 Christine, who is manager of Ronald MacDonald house was pretty exhausted as she had been coping with the arrival of many Jordanian Muslims to visit the little girl brought up from the Christchurch terror attack. It did cause some friction with the parents/family of other seriously ill children, but Chrissie is always a great peacemaker, and calming influence.
Duncan said a few words about the Marathon running days too. Then Alan started to wander around the tables serenading us.

A great night was had by all.

Little Red Colt has a big adventure.

Although the weather had cleared on Tuesday 26th Feb 2019, it was still cool and windy when we left Gisborne, and Wellington did not promise much better. Heather had stressed that Pat did not want a late night, so we dropped our bags at the Airport Motel and splashed out on an Uber which proved highly satisfactory, and we arrived at the Thai Restaurant before them. the meal was very enjoyable, and then we got the No 2 bus back - sooo cold waiting for it, but it stops just by the Motel.

Hard to get a picture with them all looking good.

On Wednesday morning  we caught the No 2 bus back to Heather's and picked up Little Red Colt. It's in for a shock tomorrow - driving so far! That'll blow the cobwebs away - quite literally! The odometer reads 3639km - all completed within  just on 10 years!!
We called at the Reserve Bank to cash in my old NZ coins. When I said I had One pound, 13shillings and 4 1/2 pence he laughed and said he could not exchange that immediately - they will lodge it in my bank account within 10 working days.
Off to Te Papa where we spent an hour at Te Papa looking st the Terracotta Army of the Qin dynasty of 221 - 206BC. The workmanship and scale of production is just phenomenal.

A Soldier with lavish armour

Showing the back of the armour done in terrecotta

The horses would have been yoked together with a wooden beam which has rotted out

The officials - not soldiers

This has been reconstructed to form a whole chariot and team of horses

The weight of this armour was 18kg - definitely only for ceremonial display - made of small squares of limestone.

A spirit to lead you to heaven.....

.....and if you get hungry on the way you can have some nice pork!

Notice the leather reins have rotted out

This maiden is noteable because there is some coloured pigmentation on this terracotta form

This army of men had articulated wooden arms and silk clothing, but are now exposed!

The short Qin Dynasty was followed by the Han Dynasty.

 We turned up quite early to the ferry terminal - and Little Red was in illustrious company as she was surrounded by Vintage MG cars - a few veterans too I think.

After a poor lunch at the terminal we were off to go below on the boat.

We had to be careful of the old cars - each side needed to be unlocked and the doors swing backward to open - with no support.

All we can see ahead is the big trucks....

 but soon we make our way out into the setting sun, and we pull the sun visors down with a cascade of cobwebs

An example - in the door hinges

Outside motel at Camping ground in Picton.

Tapas Meal

 We walked around the Marina to the restaurant to a Tapas Restaurant - served 3/5 wrong tapas to start with but we enjoyed it all the same.
On the  Thursday the 28th we set off. Little Red took to the open road with great gusto, and Duncan was pleased with how easy it was to drive. We stopped at Havelock for breakfast and Duncan chose salmon sausages and mushrooms.

Little Red takes on "Big Chill" - an articulated truck, makes 120km/hr with ease.

 Heather has not been able to get the key yet, which is a bit frustrating, but we met her at the Suter Art Gallery. Then she and Duncan empty the potplants out of the back seat so all of us can go out to lunch at Fossil Ridge Winery. They grow their own Macadamia nuts there - but not very  expertly, and many on Beaumont, which we just use for rootstock.

Is the roof alright?

 We do a little wine tasting at Richmond Plains Winery to fill in the time. After many texts and phone calls the key is finally deposited in the back shed and we go back in to look around.

This herb garden will need to be chopped back!!

 The garden is small but a bit overgrown, but with a heap of potential. Lots of good areas for outside seating or table and chairs

 The inside looked a bit bare without furniture (arriving the next day) so I didn't take any photos. And there are probably a few inside projects that Heather will want to tackle in the coming years, but its a good solid start!

"Welcome to my new house"!!!!

Duncan drives us to the Airport and we hand back the keys to Little Red - and Heather texts later to say that she has successfully navigated her way back to her motel. Mission Accomplished.
We fly back to Wellington and go to Oiko's for dinner. It has fabulous Greek food and the gentle strum of the mandolin and guitar makes it an interesting place to dine. I am watching one posh young Wellington couple enjoying the food - suddenly the woman lifts the serving plate and licks it clean!!
Next morning we fly home after this whirlwind tour - but looking forward to revisiting when all the furniture is in.