Mt Mee

On Thursday after we had lunch, we made our way up the mountain to the township of Mt Mee. I had not been that far up before, we had often been to the look out at Mt Mee but the township is a few kilometres further.

It is a pretty little town with stunning scenery. We were looking for something at "Birches and Churches" and wouldn't you know it, there was a restaurant called "the Birches" on one side of the road and on the other was a church and that was where the GPS was directing us. There was even a handy parking spot with bench seats to look over the surrounds.

A very easy find for the geo cache which then enable us to take in the scenery, unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me.





But thank goodness for the internet as there were some of the scenes that we saw.

What $25 can buy!

On our trip into Brisbane and getting off at central Station, there was an office for Queensland Rail and Warren said we should stop in there one day and find out about pensioner passes now that we qualify. We were walking past the office at the time.

I noticed that there was no customers and said lets drop in now while they are not busy.

Oh my Goodness, the lady at the counter was very helpful and we came away with some brochures to add to our existing pile of travel stuff.

We already get a concession for travel and I think a trip into Brisbane an hour by train, a trip on City Cat and another train in the middle of Brisbane and then finally home, cost us a grand total of $5 each.

That is local travel BUT we are entitled to two trips a year anywhere in Queensland for the sum total of $25!!!!

We could go to Townsville 1400 kms away for $25, out to Longreach about a thousand kms West for $25. We could pay a little extra on both of these and then get a sleeper compartment for $200 which includes all meals if we wanted to go that way.

Now we need to think about where and when to fit in a trip although that which still be available next year. What a lot of travel for $25, definitely going to take it up, sometime or other.

A trip to the big Smoke (Brisbane)

We needed to clarify something today and how better to do that but to go straight to the Horse's mouth so to speak. The ute was booked in for a service and was needed at 8 am so we drove it down and then walked to the train station.

We were dressed for a warm day in town and it was a bit breezy at that time of the morning on a brisk kilometre walk esp when walking in the shade but we knew we would be comfortable after about 10 am. Actually at 1 pm I was feeling a bit warm as what happens at this time of the year, cool in the mornings and evenings but warm during the day.

We got off the train at Central Station and neither had been to central in years but soon discovered what entrance we needed and walked out and down the hill. Central is on top of quite a hill, bit of a climb to get there.

Love this little church tucked away and along side of businesses houses.

This church or cathedral is on the other side of the little one, almost opposite it, I could only fit half of it in the photo, I couldn't go back any further to get it all in or I would have been in the middle of the road.

Then there is the clock tower at the Town hall, I did a tour of the Town Hall a couple of years ago but Warren had never been inside it so we stopped off to have a peak. He was taken aback at the tiny tiles on the floor and was marvelling at how long it would have taken some to lay them.

We conducted part of our task and then walked to Eagle Street Pier where we caught the City Cat and went on the River for a few stops to South bank where we had a great lunch. I had Egg plant with cheese on a tomato sauce and Warren ordered calamari, they came on serving plates and we had our own plates so it was easy to share. Yum, best calamari I have tasted for a long time.

Caught the train back and went to out second port of call walked to Roma Street and got the train home. Best thing yet, the ute was ready to be picked up when we arrived.

Morris park

Lucy and I went for a walk this morning at this park, it is about a twenty minute drive from home.

Great park, everything in it plus a geo cache! which I hadnt been able to find. we were there last week and did a walk around then some searching but decided it was one that I couldnt find. Other people had found it before and after me so it was there just not apparent to me.

This is the top end of the park, it goes from one road to the other, a skate ramp is on the right of the photo. I would say that it is about 2 kms around. last week we walked clock wise, today we went anti clock wise. Houses are on the edges mostly with big barking dogs and although Lucy was looking at them, I think she had realised that they are behind fences and cant get to her.

  A bird watching shelter and some gym equipment.

Lucy was interested in the ducks and water fowl that were on the water.

Then finally after getting a hint yesterday from a friend, a cache! Pesty little thing.

Lucy's Toys

I washed Lucy's mat and towel yesterday and they came up pretty good however she needed some coaching to sit on them again, it appeared that they did not smell the same. Her mat goes on the carpet square in the family cum dining room and looks like a big paw with extra padding in the toes part part. Sometimes she does lay her head on the thicker part and sleeps.

The towel goes over Warren's cane chair in the family room and she is allowed to jump into the chair if the towel is on it. Sometimes of an evening she will stand in front of the chair and look at it and then at us in the lounge room, waiting for it to be placed down so she can jump up.

I should have gathered her toys and washed them too but I didnt.

These are Lucy's toys, looking a bit worse for wear. The teddy bear on the left she has had for almost a year, it was the first toy we bought her. It did have four limbs and they were gradually ripped off, not all at once but every couple of months teddy would lose a limb and she would play with just that, throwing it up and chasing after it.

The cookie man was on special after Christmas and it did have a red hat but she couldn't have liked that as it didn't last long but everything else is in tact.

Chookie is the latest one, only a couple of weeks old, Warren thought its legs would not last any more than a day or two but it was the head that was ripped, we found stuffing around the yard and a plastic thing. Apparently the plastic piece was the squeaker. I stitched up the head last night while she paced in front of me waiting for it. As soon as I had finished she grabbed it and ran outside with it. She likes to play with them but showing them to us but if we go to take them she runs off with her head held high and then she will sit just out of arms reach, goading us to try to get it. funny dog.

Captain Thunderbolt

Bush ranger country. Coming up the New England Highway, there were huge boulders called Thunderbolt Rocks. I dont know the history of why they are called that but the history that I do know is there was a bush ranger in the area and he was nick named Captain Thunderbolt because the police used to lose him in these rocks. There are also caves in the area so he and his party would ride into these and fool the police.

Captain Thunderbolt was almost as famous or should that be infamous as Ned Kelly.

This is just one small area of these boulders, we didn't stay long as it was very cold and getting on to evening time. Unfortunately as often happens, people go out with spray paint. 

The boulders themselves are about three metres high and massive clumps of them. There was a signs for caves about ten kilometres up the highway but we didn't stop there as we wanted some food and a nice hot shower.

Boomerang bags

This morning I went to a sewing bee. I had heard of these Boomerang bags through an online friend, some-one that I haven't met but "know" through a forum that we are both on. I had stated that I had plenty of fabric but lacked ideas what to make with it.

I was given the website of this organisation, contacted the woman who is running the one closest to me and it was their day to meet today.

Boomerang bags started for people to be given cloth bags to use rather than plastic bags. at first it was expected that people use and bring them back but then it was decided to make them use and reuse. Fabric is donated that would other wise go to landfill so it is a good thing around.

These are the pockets that are sewn on to each one. The local fruit stall uses them and takes several each month. I didn't take my sewing machine this morning as Christine said there were other jobs to do such as cutting out and screen printing.
Luckily there was a machine for me to use as only three people were there this morning and I made three bags while I was there.

As I cant go to the next morning meet, I have brought some pockets home. I told them I had plenty of fabric to use for the bags.

I have done two with other one ready to sew up. This piece will make two and I will have to choose another piece to make the handles. looking forward to reducing my stash of material and for a good cause.