The last tree has fallen

Geoff, Ponyo and I visited Underhill for the day yesterday. Lo and behold the last tree from the dead ones in the dog yard had fallen in the recent winds. In falling it had clipped one small branch of the apricot tree and nothing else! This is amazing. It had been completely eaten out by termites at the base so was just waiting for a decent wind.

Ponyo just loved it and stayed close by the whole time.  She helped Geoff with some sawing and then planting some new apple trees.

After such hard work she fell asleep in a cool spot.

The apricot has lots of fruit starting. I do hope we get a few apricots when they mature. There is also a good crop coming on the peach, pear, some apples, damson and the greengage plum. I hope the birds don't take it all.

 

Gardening at Ma's is very dirty work

Ponyo came to visit on Tuesday. We did some gardening. We both got very very dirty and it was quite exhausting work.

 

We both needed to find a cool place for a nap after lunch. Eventually Ponyo found a place to sleep that was not in the rain.

 

Hamilton Island - 3

Here is a link to a fantastic video that Rod compiled of our holiday to

Hamilton Island

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH_g52vfnaI

Thanks Rod.

Smokey Haze over Sydney

I woke this morning to a strong smell of smoke in the air. The sun rose an orange pink and visibility was cut. I took this photo from my window upstairs (sorry about the fly screen but I was not going to open the window to avoid it). I think my nearest fire is about 100km away near Bells Line of Road in the Blue Mountains. If we get a breeze later this will be good for me but bad for the fires as it will fan them up again.

Here are some tips about coping with smoke from The Conversation

"There are several measures that you can take to reduce your exposure to the bushfire smoke.

• If the pollution is severe in your local area, people at particularly high risk should consider the practicalities of leaving the affected area until the air quality has improved.
• Stay indoors and close windows and doors. If you have a well-sealed house this can delay the entry of smoke particles into your home, but it is only a temporary measure and completely depends on the structure of the house. If the house is not well sealed, smoke particles indoors will rapidly equilibrate with outdoor levels.
• Avoid exercise, as this results in faster and deeper breathing and can increase your exposure to smoke up to tenfold.
• If you have an air conditioner, set it to recycle so you don’t bring in outdoor air. If you have the option of adding a filter to your air conditioner, do so.
• The best evidence for reducing personal exposure comes from the use of high efficiency particle air filters (HEPA filters). These have shown to significantly reduce particle concentrations indoors when there’s a high level of fire smoke.
• If you feel the air in your home is getting uncomfortable, consider moving (even for a short period of time) to a cleaner, air conditioned environment like a shopping centre."

Hamilton Island Holiday - 2

Rainbow Lorikeets near our balcony.

 Thursday 17 October

Up early with the boys again after a disturbed night's sleep with various noises and leg aches. Our first activity today was to have a few rounds of mini-golf. The range was beautifully shady and lots of fun for young and old.

 

Then it was time to do a few chores which meant driving to and fro (always fun). There was a game of giant chess 'tattoo' touchups for the boys.

Back home for bacon sandwhiches for lunch and down again for the family photo shoot. While they were away doing this I took the buggy and drove around exploring. I went up to see the church which is very pretty with a fantastic view over to our end of Catseye Beach.

The view from the church. Ours is the last building in the line (past the cream multistorey buildings)

 Down again to get online at the Resort Centre for a few minutes before the family returned and we went to the 9-pin bowling alley. We spent a fabulous time there. A great activity for us all.

Back home for a swim for the boys in our own little pool. The boys then went off for a little drive while Ellen and I settled in for the evening. Another easy dinner and off to bed early.

Friday 18 October

A late morning this morning with Luke having a long sleep-in. We went to the activity centre for adults to have coffeee and ehlp with a giant chess game for the boys. Then to the photographic studio to choose the final selection from the photo shoot yesterday.

Then it was time for a swim and a game with a found ball. It was a lovely shady pool where I could get away without slathers of suncream. Back for a lucky dip lunch to finish off food in the fridge.

After lunch the boys had a long rest in front of TV while Ellen and I went to the shops to look around. The weather today is quite hot with a strong breeze so afternoon naps and chats are well in order. 

Then after ice creams all round we went to the crocodile feeding session at the Wildlife Centre. This was so exciting for the kids. The two pet dingos were also brought out for their walk and pats.

Life on a tropical island is exhausting.

 

Then we were able to stroke the stumpy tail and bearded dragon. We watched the cassowary being fed and the cockatoo did his tricks for us. Before we left we watched the carpet python feeding on a dead rat. 

We then rode the glass lifts in the tall hotel to see the view before heading again to One Tree Hill for our last sunset at Hamilton Island.

Views from the top of the tallest building through the glass lift.

 

A view from One Tree Hill at sunset.

 

Entertaining Ava at sunset.

  

 

 

 

We had dinner at Sails and enjoyed ablsolutely melt-in-the-mouth pork ribs.

Our last dinner together on Hamilton.

 Back home for a bit of Horton Hears a Who before the boys fell asleep and we adults soon followed.

Saturday 19 October

Up for breakfast, packing and the last of Horton Hears a Who before leaving for the airport to hand in our keys. The last of the bread was put in at the wharf for the fish but none came. As we were able to keep our buggy till we left we drove back to the bar pool for a last swim for the family while I sat in the cool shade catching up on diary. We bought sandwiches at the Fish and Chips shop and ate them in the cool Resort Centre until we drove to the airport, returned our buggy and boarded our plane.

A smooth flight home and as we neared Sydney we were able to see all the bushfires that surrounded it.

Hamilton Island Holiday - 1

Sunday 13 October 2013

Ellen, Rod and the boys and I met at the airport after Geoff dropped me off, ready for our flight to our Hamilton Island holiday. The flight was bearable and we landed smoothly on the island at about 1:30pm. We were met by a hostess waithing with our name on a placard. She organised delivery of our bags and showed us where to collect a golf buggy that we will have for the week (C81000). The boys were so excited to have our own buggy. We just have to plug it in to recharge whenever we get back to our unit.

We found our unit in the far end block (Frangipani) and settled in. Ellen, Alex and I then went grocery shopping to stock up on supplies. This meant a drive up and over to the marina side of the island. It is all quite hilly with lots of tracks up and down but we don't always have to walk everywhere as we have our buggy.

We all then walked along Catseye Beach to see what each pool had to offer. We also found cuttlefish, pumice, coral, mangrove seeds and some beautiful sandball patterns made by crabs.

Luke found treasures as soon as we hit the sand.

 Our first swim was in the big pool (with a 'bar' in the middle which the boys thought was cool). Then we swam in the waterfall pool.

Ellen and I had lots of time to relax with a wine.

 Back home to change and head for One Tree Hill in time for sunset. What a view can be had both towards the mainland and out to sea! The water is very still and there are signs about Irukanji jellyfish (stingers) at the beach.

Ellen and I taken by Luke.

 Off then to pizza dinner at marina Cafe. Home exhausted and off to bed.

Birds I've already seen include Scrub Thick Knee, Sea Eagle, Pied Oystercatcher, Purple Swamphens, Sulphur Crested Cockatoos, Currawongs and what looks like an eagle feather.

We loved riding around in our little buggy.

 Monday 14 October

Woke early (my third time change in three weeks). Read a bit of Danny Fox to the boys then Rod and Alex went out to find coffee.

When Luke and I sat to eat breakfast on the balcony we were visited by a Rainbow Lorrikeet that actually landed on Luke's arm to steel his cereal. Then came four cockies who cleaned up the leftovers of the spill. Luke found a Kookaburra in a nearby tree too.

I drove the family down to the marina for their day trip out to the reef then spent a little time looking at shops and investigating options for other activities for us. Unfortunately, althrough there are walks to various places on the bushy end of the island there is no guided option and I don't really want to go alone.

Ellen, Rod and the boys loved their trip out to the Great Barrier Reef.Lots of time was spent snorkelling and diving.

They went out to the reef on a huge catamaran.

 Home to the cool unit and some morning tea and a bit of time to sort out my stuff and recharge things that need it. I walked to the Beach Hut to find out about more activities then returned home to do a bit of computer work. No wifi so no email or blog updates.

The view from our unit when the tide was half way.

The view from our unit at low tide

Our unit.

 I drove down to collect the very tired but excited family. A bit of shopping, a swim and then a barbeque at home for tea. The Thick Knees really make a lot of noise at night.

Tuesday 15 October

After breakfast our first stop was the Wildlife Centre for Luke to have his photo taken with a koala. A long wait but worth it for the smile. We then walked around the centre together.

Luke was thrilled to hold a koala.

 Then it was time for Rod and Luke to have a sail (Alex did not want to go) on a small catamaran.

Rod and Luke went out sailing.

 While they were sailing Alex, Ellen and I went to the pool and Alex and I practiced using our snorkels ready for our guided snorkel on the reef just off the beach. 

After kitting ourselves up we waded out with our guide. Within a few minutes we waw a medium sized green turtle grazing on the algae. This was amazing! There were zebra fish and coral perch and a lion fish (very poisonous). After a fair time just looking the guide put out some fish food and attracted all sorts of fish. As the wind was picking up we came ashore, made a quick stop for 'tattoos' for the boys then to drop our wet gear off at the unit.

The Scrub Thick Knees were all over the island.

 By the time we got to the fish and chip shop for lunch it was after 2pm. We are packing so much into this holiday!

A bit more shopping, booking tomorrow's activity, returning for another Luke-koala photo because the first one failed then back home to collapse for a while. Easy dinner of french toast, bacon and left over barbeque before finishing our first jig saw puzzle. Bed for all around 8pm, some to read and others to collapse.

Wednesday 16 October

Today was our day trip to Daydream Island. At about 8:30am we drove down to the wharf and boarded our ferry. It took about 30 minutes. We landed and headed for the main foyer, crossing over the first part of the reef lagoon (a man-made shallow lagoon that wound its way around the main building).

Our first activity was to tag along on a staff training session about the animals in the lagoon. We then joined the feeding demonstration that included the rays and sharks.

We walked down to Mermaid Beach where we found some treasures in the sand. We then had to walk the length of the island to the other end to get our lunch at the bakery. We did this walk via the 'rainforest walk' which was very dry and sometimes quite steep.

Lunch at Daydream Is

 At our lunch spot we were joined by a few Scrub Thick Knees scrounging for food. They are amazing birds.

Back to the other end of the island again but this time via the bay walk which was quite level but very sunny. We joined up with our booked 'feed the lagoon fish' tour. Luke showed no fear but Alex, when eventually convinced it was OK, had his piece snatched out of his hand by the biggest Barramundi in the pool. We also got to hold a shark which he thought was quite cool.

Alex was so thrilled to be able to hold a shark.

 We also fed the stingrays and felt their skin then held a starfish as well.

It was then time for the promised swim in the pool at Mermaid Beach before oour ferry trip back to Hamilton Island.

Back home to dinner and a reef DVD before everyone fell asleep quite early.

Geoff and Ponyo visited today

Geoff brought Ponyo to visit her grandmother today. What a great little dog she is. She already knows 'sit', 'bring it back' and the fact that you can drink water and step in it too.

She loved having such a big yard to play in.