Thursday 20 July 2017

Back to the cold

Last week I woke early to prepare for our annual trip to the Sunshine Coast which has been a ritual of sorts ever since the children were little and they are now both in their mid thirties. The day dawned with a beautiful sunrise which I rarely see in winter as it is too warm under the doona to get out of bed.




We had a good trip to Caloundra with not a lot of traffic until we reached Beerwah. Driving along Caloundra Road is just crazy these days as it is so busy and I brace myself when I come to the big roundabouts on the way into Caloundra.





 It was quite gloomy for a couple of days and the wind along the Boardwalk was very chilly so we had to wear jackets to keep warm.


Going up.

In the complex where we have stayed the last few years 'our unit' on the first floor was booked and the only available one was on the third floor and there are no lifts BUT there are 48 stairs to negotiate. 


Going down.

 I would say we went up and down those stairs about six times on the first day while unpacking the car. If we weren't fit beforehand we certainly were by the time we went home.

 


One reason I like to stay in the same unit is that I know how everything works. One night I just wanted to boil and egg and toast some sourdough which I took with me. Well, the toaster broke and then I couldn't find any knobs to turn the stove on to boil the egg. I had to get the instruction book out and found out that it was a touch stovetop. Whoever heard of such a thing??? Certainly not me! We are very old fashioned in this house and still have an old electric stove that the CEO bought at a garage sale years ago. So there was no boiled egg that night as I wasn't game to fiddle with the jolly thing. I did a few nights later though as I didn't want to bring a dozen eggs home from the beach.



 Pink Poinsettias were growing in the gardens and were quite beautiful. I am only used to the red ones.



 I did a little window shopping but most of the shops are the same as the ones here and I wasn't interested in adding to the 'stuff' that we already have in this house. I did like this tea towel though.





We visited the Bulcock Street craft market on Sunday and there was a bird handler there promoting the Maleny Botanic Gardens and Bird World and he was showing everyone one of the Macaws from there. My friend had her photo taken with this beautiful bird.  It was so tame.





We had planned to walk to Moffat Beach one day and catch the bus back but decided to drive there instead. It is always a nice place to visit and there are some cafes and touristy shops not far from the beach.




I saw a couple of dolpins swimming up the Pumistone Passage two afternoons in a row but when I had my camera with me to zoom in on them the next night they didn't appear so I had to settle for pelicans instead.





The day before we left it was 25C and felt quite warm. Everything was calm and peaceful at the end of the day. 




It was even warm enough to walk back to the unit after dark without jackets on. I just love Caloundra but have decided that I would like to see Tasmania so might look into going there next year as I have a significant birthday coming up then so that would be a good way to celebrate it. 



On the way home we found some yarn bombed trees in Esk. I am not sure if they have a festival on like Warwick's Jumpers and Jazz Festival which starts tomorrow. The trees will need it in Warwick as it will be -2C on a couple of mornings. Brrr! 

So now it is back to 'normal life' (whatever that may be) once again although today was anything but normal.

 

 This little bub, my grandson, made an appearance into the world in the early hours of the morning. As mum and dad thought they were having a girl they haven't decided on a name as yet. They didn't want to know what they were having this time. Nothing like a little surprise eh? I am sure he will be spoiled by the girls and will be a good companion for his big brother who is 2.

I hope everyone is keeping well and happy. 











20 comments:

  1. Congratulations on the arrival of your grandson Chel!

    I love your photos of the beach. It's not crowded at all. Is it because this is winter?

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  2. Congratulations on the birth of your adorable grandson. Plenty of cuddles ahead I'm sure. Enjoy.
    I remember visiting Caloundra a very long time ago and can still remember the beautiful water. I love the quote on the tea towel as well. It is so true.
    My husband and I have been talking about a visit to Tasmania as we have never been. I like walking and I think there will be a lot of wonderful places for that.
    Welcome home.
    Kylie

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    1. Tasmania is beautiful, Kylie. There are many beautiful walks!

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    2. Caloundra is quite beautiful, Kylie. However it is becoming very busy now unfortunately. It used to be a lovely quiet olace for a family holiday when the children were small.

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  3. Congratulations on becoming a Nanna again Chel! Moffat Beach is one of our long time favourites too. Such a pretty spot. I'm glad you had a somewhat restful visit..apart from the 48 stairs! Tassie sounds good. We're heading down there next year too. Mimi xxx

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Mimi. I might pick your brains about where to visit in Tassie if you go before I do.

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  4. Congratulations on a new little Grandson. Such a joy. So pleased you had a lovely holiday and the photos are great.

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    1. Thanks Pauline. He has now been named....Nathaniel.

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  5. Congrats on the new Grandson!! I am still chuckling about the touch stove...seems I spent a lot of time trying to teach the boys NOT to touch the stove!!

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    1. I tell you Kathy, it was a real pain. I never thought that boiling an egg would be stressful :-)

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  6. Congratulations on the new Grandson. Apart from the 48 stair climbs and the unfamiliar appliances it looks and sounds like you had a wonderful holiday!

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    1. Yes Robyn, it was so nice just to get away to the beach for a week or so as I love looking out over the ocean.

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  7. Congratulations on the new arrival, did you knit his little hat? It was lovely to meet you last week, we enjoyed our time in Caloundra too. We decided notto go back through Esk, I'm sorry I missed the yarn bombing.

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    1. No Nanette, the hats are put on the babies when they are born for some reason. They must have volunteers knitting them for the newborns.

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  8. A new grandson, how wonderful! Congratulations! I love Caloundra but it is pretty busy place these days, isn't it. We like to have fish and chips down near Bullcock Beach on Summer evenings. You'll be much fitter after all that stair climbing, Chel. Love your sunset photo, the colours are beautiful. Meg:)

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    1. Thanks Meg. Caloundra Road is just constantly busy these days and with another new estate being built it will only get worse. It used to be so quiet up there.

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  9. Congratulations! A beautiful baby boy! I hope everyone is doing well.
    Your holiday looks beautiful. Stunning scenery! And I like the bird! xxx

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  10. Such a cute bubba. They look so shiny and new, fresh out of the wrapper! Glad you had a good visit on your holidays. Dave and I had a special suite, at the Helidon spa, which we would visit every year for our wedding anniversary. There was a bit of a mix up, one year and we couldn't get our regular suite. The room they gave us, was so awful, we were leaving within the hour. Then we dared to venture some place new. It was up on the range, and was fantastic!

    We got to dine in their restaurant with many a la carte meals we could choose - rather than the set menu, at the other place. It was only a fraction bit more expensive, but for the one night a year, we got to be without kids, it was worth it. Wondered why we didn't try a new place sooner.

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  11. Chel, your grandson is so beautiful.

    Your holiday snaps of Caloundra always bring back fond memories for me though it looks very different now and I think it was a better place to live back in the '70's.

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