Brisbane Craft Expo

The Craft Expo was all I expected and more.  I had a lovely time surrounded by lots of stalls and likeminded people.

One of the Aisles in the Shopping Mall

  Didn't do a lot of retail therapy but just soaked up the atmosphere and enjoyed the moment.  Didn't seem to be a lot of things out there that was new.  I didn't do any of the Seminars or Workshops as I had the handbrake with me looking rather bored.  Although he was in his element stirring up some of the ladies at the show as only he does.

Ladies hard at work in the Husqvana Quilt Boot Camp

There was a Challenge Quilt display where quilters made a quilt using the fabric below and the ensuing quilts were very inspiring.

Challenge Fabric - Its a Rowan fabric designed by Martha Negley.

This is the winning quilt

Also on display was the World's biggest Hexagon Quilt.  An attempt at a world record has resulted in a quilt of mammoth proportions. The quilt is displayed at it's halfway point, a massive 60 metres long.  The finished quilt will reach 120 metres long and weighs about 120 kilos.  I have some hexagons in this quilt but I was unable to find them as there were far too many.  The quilt was dispalyed around the edge of the dining room.  It was very impressive.

The hexagon quilt on display around the room

A close up view of the hexagons

One of the Quilts on Display

Talk again soon

Clem 7 Tunnel

Hi everone,  What do you do when your bored and got nothing better to do and in another city?  Why you get in the car and drive through the newly completed Clem7 tunnel from one side of Brisbane to the other and back again.

The Tunnel Entrance

 The tunnel is 6 kms long (or one argument over the camera in our case).and is the newest infrastructure to open in Brisbane.  It is toll free for a few weeks so we decided to take advantage of this and try it out.  It is quite fast or at least it was at about 2pm I don't know how it would stand up to the peak hour traffic.

Nearly in the Tunnel

  The reports in the paper aren't very complimentary, some say that if an accident occurs the traffic is slowed to a snail's pace.  There are also reports of a lot of pollution in the tunnel.

Inside the Clem7 Tunnel

  It seemed a bit stuffy but otherwise OK.  Tomorrow I am looking forward to the Craft Expo although I will have my handbrake in tow (DH).

 Talk again soon

Caravan & Camping Show

Not much to report this week.  The weather has been a bit patchy with some days being really nice.  The cyclone affecting the north of the state is being felt here also.  We did our mole scanning on Monday and we both came up clean. We visited the school assembly on Wednesday and were honoured to see Kai receive his "Student Award of the Week Award".  Well done Kai we are so proud of you and it was great to be here to see you receive this award. I went along to the local sewing shop on Thursday to receive some lessons on the Babylock overlocker.  It is a fantastic machine and does a lot of different stitches.  It goes up to an 8 thread cover stitch.  Friday we were up early and went down to the Gold Coast to the Parklands Showground for the Caravan, Camping 4Wheel Drive and Fishing Show. (check out this link) ruralscene.com.au
Lots of exhibits and boys toys though I have to confess I was the only one who bought anything. Nothing exciting just some silicone seals for food and some shammy cloths.  Bill was tempted to buy a remote control helicopter, he's had a longing for one of these ever since he spied one in a shop at home. Finances wouldn't allow it unfortunately maybe next time. We checked out a few of the motor homes on display, there weren't very many.  There was a new Winnebago that we liked so maybe we may downsize one day to one of these, we even called into Brisbane RV Centre on the way home for another look.

  We watched our youngest granddaughter play her first game of soccer on Friday night. The only girl in an all boy team. She has no fear and is right in the thick of it and she is a good fast runner also. It must be the result of having two brothers and playing soccer with them from an early age.  Keira also had a sleepover last night our first and it went well.  We watched Nemo in bed and she fell asleep soon after and didn't wake until 9 this morning. On Friday night I was woken by my eldest dear granddaughter with the news that she was engaged.  Her beau Chris had just proposed.  I don't mind being woken up for such good news.  Congratulations Jess and Chris I wish you all the happiness in the world. 

Next week the Craft Expo is on at the Convention Centre at South Bank for 4 days so I intend to go on Thursday. (check out this link craftexpo.net.au) I am looking forward to a "Crafty Fix" and to see what else is new out there.

Talk again soon

The Valley rattler

The Old Gympie Railway Station

It was a beautiful sunny day yesterday and the Mary Valley historical Railway was finally on its way again as the water had submerged enough for it to go ahead.  We left here at 6am for the 2 hour 190klm journey North of Brisbane to Gympie to catch the train.

The Valley Rattler built in 1950 at Maryborough Qld. 

We chose to drive in the Club Car

The trip commenced from the Old Gympie Station building which replaced the original in 1913.  The original station served Gympie from the 1870s. The Rattler is a steam train which travels from Gympie downgrade and crosses Deep Creek Bridge.  This structure is 30 metres above the creek bed and has not flooded during many of the Gympie Floods.  I think the recent floods were 14 metres high.

brown on the trees shows the height of the flood water

  From here the train passes through Monkland Railway Station and once the Rattler passes the Main North Coast Line, the descent is made to the Mary River.  The Rattler then negotiates its way through prime dairy country with beautiful views of the Mary Valley.Dagun Railway Station is 20klms from Gympie and on the return journey we were treated to a wine and cheese tasting and some very delicious frozen fruit slushies.  I had a Dagun Delight which was macadamia, Mango and Icecream frozen- yummee. Anamoor was the next station and this is where the Gympie Country Music Muster is held every August.

The train going around the bend in the tracks

  A long uphill grade was then endured and on the descent we arrived at Kandanga Railway Station.  Kandanga was originally a timber town and we enjoyed the local markets where fresh produce was for sale.

The Kandanga Railway Station & Markets

After Kandanga the Rattler encounters an uphill battle and rattles through Melawondi, then climbs through the to the only tunnel on the line an travels downgrade to Imbil (40klms).  We spent an Hour and half here in this lovely country town and enjoyed a lovely buffet meal on the balcony of the Railway Hotel.

The Railway Hotel in Imbil 

The buffet was very nice and cost us $12.50 each.  We then enjoyed the return journey.  The only problem is we both wore white and after the cinders from the steam landed they ended up a slight grey in colour.  We arrived home from Gympie at about 7pm.

view from a bridge just out of Imbil

 Apparently tomorrow we have to take the grandies to school.  Would you believe it is walk to school day.  We will have to get our walking boots on.

 Just a short word in rememberance for a dear pet and companion for my dear granddaughter and DIL.  Their horse, Kal passed away Friday after a short illness and they are both devastated.   He was starting to show much promise in his field a token of the work DGD has spent tireless on him.  He's been her constant companion for 7 years.  Take each day as it comes. Our love goes out to them.

 R.I.P Kal

forever united with Troy boy

Talk again soon

A casual lunch in the rain

Nothing much happening here except rain and more rain...I don't think Ihave ever seen so much water.  I have spoken earlier about not seeing rain for about 12 months I now have seen enough to last quite a while.  I feel sorry for the folks in Roma & Charleville having experiencing severe flooding but someone must be watching over us because if we hadn't opted to spend time with the grandies we would have been right in that area and up to our necks in water.  As it is we had to be towed up to higher ground as she was surrounded by slush and weighing over 17 ton we had that sinking feeling.  A tractor had to be used to pull us I only wish I thought to get the camera out while this was all happening.

  Tuesday we drove down the gold coast to Pimpana, to view a Heritage Restoration Project.  They have quite a collection of paraphalia and machinery which they are restoring.  You can also stay there for the cost of $10 per night but you are restricted to a maximum of 10 days at a time.  Close to the theme parks and plenty of room.  Nice folks running the show.

  We decided to visit a nearby local for lunch and can thoroughly recommend the venue.  The Shearer's Arms Hotel in Ormeau.  Lunch was a $12 special included a free drink and a $3 Pokie Credit.  And the food was good.  We haven't been on the Rattler yet as the Mary Valley is flooded out and the trip was cancelled, however we rescheduled for next Wednesday so fingers crossed the rain will have subsided by them. 

 Talk again soon

Back in Belmont, Qld

I think I must have been a bit ambitious in saying that we would have the bus back by Wednesday, we finally were united late on Friday afternoon.  So instead of freeloading at the kids for one night we ended up spending 4 nights in total.  I think they were glad to see the back of us.  Apparently a cable was left off in Perth and after the part came up from Adelaide it was fitted and Bill assures me the bus is running even better now.  While we were away the park was invaded by a Caravan Club about 21 vans & one Motorhome from the Sunshine Coast had arrived for their monthly jaunt.  We managed to get ourselves invited to their Wine, Cheese and Trivia night, joining Patricia and John (the one Motorhome) at their table, and we won!!!!  Much to the jeers and Boo Hoos of the others, (in jest only)  the blow ins and motorhomers to be precise.  I beg your pardon.  Who Us!!!!! We only won because we quessed correctly that only Victoria could have a place called "Dented Head" We were the last table to leave, had to finish off some good wine and some liquer muscat, and it was still raining and we didn't want to get wet.  I think we trotted off to bed about 9.30 we had been there since 5pm.   No tea again!!!!! It rained all day yesterday but it was lovely and cool for a change, not like today, still showers but very humid.  I feel sympathy for all our friends and family in WA sweltering in their heat wave.  They have had temperatures in the high 40s for the past week.

This is a view of Brisbane CBD from Kangaroo Point.

They really utilise the Brisbane River, There are ferries to take you via the river to several vantage points on the river.  Kangaroo Point is a high density residential area directly opposite Brisbane CBD, only a short stint acroos the river on the River Cat.

Brisbane River from the other direction from Kangaroo Point.

While we were staying with family we visited another lovely favourite spot, Wellington Point.  There is a lovely Cafe there which has 360 degree water views  .We lunched there on two occasions, and we snapped these photos, again the photos don't really do it justice. 

 

This is the jetty at Wellington Point.

The tide is out but you can walk out a fair way

I have been feeling a little bit homesick since I have been back after going home at christmas so we haven't visited one of my other favourite spots very often as it reminds me too much of home.  That is Raby Bay in Cleveland.  A beautiful spot. Today we visited the markets at Chandler, they have some lovely fresh vegies and fruit and some very aromatic spices amongst other things.  Tomorrow is very exciting we are going to the mole scan clinic.  Wednesday we have booked to go on the "Rattler" through the Mary Valley.

Talk again soon

,

We are Homeless

I am sorry we haven't got any photos for you all to preveiw but we left the cable for the camera in the bus.  Well that's my excuse anyway.  We had a pleasant few days at theCaravan Park in Wynnum and made the big move on Sunday into the bus & Coach factory in Woolongabba near the famous ground nicknamed "The Gabba" for obvious reasons.  The Gabba is where the Lions football team play and some of the cricket matches are also held there.  Lots of one way streets, let me tell you.  We spent the night outside there, it was in an industrial area and unfortunately for us the rubbish collection was Monday AM.  About 4 am to be precise and I can tell you when they drop those bins full of steel, car parts etc into the truck its not really quiet.  We spent Monday and Tuesday with family and we will be reunited with the bus tomorrow at 6am.  We then have to drive over to Acacia Ridge so that she can have her gearbox serviced ready for another couple of months on the road.  Not sure where we are spending Wednesday night but we should be back in Belmont on Thursday.  We are planning on doing some Touristy things in the next month maybe take in a theme park and plan to do the "Red Rattler" which is a steam train ride throught the Mary Valley from Gympie to Imbil and return.  I think you visit a winery and stop for lunch anyway we will check it out and plan to do it soon. I even think there maybe some markets at Kadanga which is an old timber town.

Talk again soon