Birthdays

27 and 29th of April our two sons have a birthday, to them it's one of the most important days of their year! So on the April 27, we have two sons the same age for 2 days.

For the first born I spent 4 weeks in hospital, then the remainder of my pregnancy at home in bed which totaled 8 months being only permitted bathroom privileges.
My husband worked every second weekend, he learned to cook, do all the cleaning and washing.
My late mother lived in another city, she made me a fruit cake once a month, mum and dad came to help the same weekend.

So what did I do all those months in bed?
I read, did jigsaw puzzles, crocheted, visitors were always popping in for a chat, watched TV in the evenings, and slept a lot.

The last month of the first pregnancy I was permitted up for 1 hour each week increasing to everyday by the time I went to hospital to have our first baby.
Second baby all was well and I didn't have to go to bed.
Now my babies are grown men with little ones of their own :)

Happy Birthday my sons!

Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia

Rockhampton experiences over 300 days of sunshine each year, which lends itself to tourism activities all year round and an abundance of outdoor activities.
The city lies on the Fitzroy River, approximately 45 kilometres (28 mi) from the river mouth, and some 600 kilometres (370 mi) north of the state capital, Brisbane
The Capricorn district is the traditional home of the Darumbal Aboriginal people^.
The European history of the area began in 1853, when the area that would become Rockhampton was visited by the Archer brothers Charles and William, who were seeking grazing lands. They were acting on information from earlier expeditions by Ludwig Leichhardt and Thomas Mitchell, who had explored the area in 1844 and 1846 and noted suitable land for grazing then.

A significant gold deposit at Mount Morgan to the southwest was discovered in the 1880s, and Rockhampton became the main port through which the wealth of Mount Morgan gold was channelled. Due to the wealth of Mount Morgan, Rockhampton weathered the severe economic depression of the 1890s and many of the town's substantial brick and stone public buildings date from this period. The historic streetscape of Quay Street still displays a number of substantial historic buildings, built when Rockhampton was envisaged as being capital of a state of North Queensland. Most prominent of these is the sandstone Customs House (1900), which today houses an information centre. Other important nineteenth century buildings include the Post Office (1892), the Supreme Court House (1888), and St Joseph's Cathedral (1892)

We stayed there for about a week in 2008 and it's a very long way from Tasmania, Australia.

These photos were done in HDR - something different.

The Roundabout

The clock on the Post Office

Rockhampton Post Office

Fitzroy River

If taking a stroll along the banks of the Fitzroy River we can see this sign.

Anzac Day, Australia

Today is ANZAC Day in Australia, a day we especially remember service men and women who have served our country. ANZAC stands for Australian New Zealand. New Zealand is not a part of Australia and we here in Australia require a Passport when going to New Zealand.

ANZAC Day – 25 April – is probably Australia's most important national occasion. It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War.

When war broke out in 1914, Australia had been a federal commonwealth for only 13 years. The new national government was eager to establish its reputation among the nations of the world. In 1915 Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula in order to open the Dardanelles to the allied navies. The ultimate objective was to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul in Turkey), the capital of the Ottoman Empire, an ally of Germany.
The Australian and New Zealand forces landed on Gallipoli on 25 April, meeting fierce resistance from the Ottoman Turkish defenders. What had been planned as a bold stroke to knock Turkey out of the war quickly became a stalemate, and the campaign dragged on for eight months. At the end of 1915 the allied forces were evacuated, after both sides had suffered heavy casualties and endured great hardships. Over 8,000 Australian soldiers had been killed. News of the landing on Gallipoli had made a profound impact on Australians at home, and 25 April soon became the day on which Australians remembered the sacrifice of those who had died in the war.
Although the Gallipoli campaign failed in its military objectives, the Australian and New Zealand actions during the campaign left us all a powerful legacy. The creation of what became known as the “Anzac legend” became an important part of the identity of both nations, shaping the ways they viewed both their past and their future.

Anzac Ceremony:
At the Australian War Memorial, the ceremony takes place at about 5am and or 10.15 am in the presence of people such as the prime minister and the governor general. Each year the ceremony follows a pattern that is familiar to generations of Australians.
A typical Anzac Day ceremony may include the following features: an introduction, hymn, prayer, an address, laying of wreaths, a recitation, the Last Post, a period of silence, either the Rouse or the Reveille, and the national anthem. After the Memorial’s ceremony, families often place red poppies beside the names of relatives on the Memorial’s Roll of Honour, as they also do after Remembrance Day services.
Part of taken from the link

Memorial in City Park, Launceston, Tasmania.

In the Launceston City Park their is a memorial and statue to commemorate Launceston's Boer War The war was between the South African Republic (ZAR) and the British in 1880 - 1881, then in Second War (1899–1902), by contrast, was a lengthy war—involving large numbers of troops from the Empire, which ended with the conversion of the Boer republics into British colonies (with a promise of limited self-governance). These colonies later formed part of the Union of South Africa.
Wikipedia.

Sturt Desert Pea_Swainsona formosa.

Sturt Desert Pea, Swainsona formosa photo taken in Western Australia a few years ago.
It's an Australian plant in the genus Swainsona, named after English botanist Isaac Swainson, famous for its distinctive blood-red leaf-like flowers, each with a bulbous black centre.
The Pea is also a wild flower in some areas of Australia, will grow in an arid environment. 
It grows low and is very pretty in a mass.

Happy Easter & The thought of being Kidnapped!

 Happy Easter :)

There was nothing like being a Policeman's daughter back when I was an 18 year old.  I had commenced my training the year before at a Private Hospital here in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia and loved every minute of it.
I did my study, plus going on duty. Days off were filled with joy and lots of fun. I had met my future husband not knowing that he would be at the time :)

I often noticed that no matter where I went there were always 2 men that seemed to be near by, but of course I thought at that time it was a coincidence plus really didn't take that much notice and went along my merry way doing what I normally do.
One day there was rather a lot of noise as in shouting, cars screeching their tires, men running everywhere, sirens and so on.  I remember being grabbed by the arms and waist by a man, pulled away from seeing what was going on, and the friend next to me, the same.

So why all the commotion?  I was told later that I was about to be kidnapped and have my face cut/disfigured in many places.  Not good to hear, and thinking how lucky I was to be rescued.
The two men that I always saw were special policemen who had followed me everywhere I went, day and night, they were my bodyguards without me knowing it, to take care of my safety.  Seems there was no way that I was permitted to go out alone or be alone for approximately 6 months until the supposedly kidnappers were caught.

My father being a Policeman of high rank had previously been responsible for several criminals being sent to prison for several years when I was much younger.  These same prisoners were after revenge and I was the target.  Of course someone told my father so hence the 'bodyguards' for me without my knowledge.

Thank goodness this type of  'thing' doesn't happen very often, well as far as I know it doesn't here in our country.

City Park

Launceston City Park I have posted recently, so a few more photos.

A little background of Launceston from Wikipedia:
Settled by Europeans in March 1806, Launceston is one of Australia's oldest cities and is home to many historic buildings. Like many Australian places, it was named after a town in the United Kingdom – in this case, Launceston, Cornwall.

Launceston has also been home to several firsts such as the first use of anaesthetic in the Southern Hemisphere, the first Australian city to have underground sewers and the first Australian city to be lit by hydroelectricity. The city has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons.

The Rotunda and I can't seem to find when it was built.

Queen's Jubilee Drinking Fountain (1887/1897), City Park, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia

Updating the house!

We are updating some things in our home. It's been a few years since we did this, and I figure that it's a good idea as this maybe the last time except for a few things.

First thing to be done is the new hotplates and oven to be installed in the kitchen. New laminex on the benches plus new tiles on the floor.  My kitchen is small because I don't need a large one, have been there and done that as we say.  Then the laundry floor is to be tiled.
Also in the past month we have replaced the fridge and the dishwasher.

En-suite, new tiles in the shower, walls to the ceiling and floor along with new basin, towel rails, vanity basin and mirror etc.
The above will be done after Easter, and we have bought all tiles though waiting on the tiles for the bathroom wall.

Have ordered drapes for all the rooms except the small lounge room, known as my office as these drapes are only 2 years old.

The small photo below is about the colour of the family room and dinning room drapes, I actually think it's lighter in reality.
The drapes for all the bedrooms are different but all the same.

Canvas photos!

I recently ordered two canvas photos online and they arrived this week. One is a photo of my husband and myself taken by eldest son, the other I took of the Nana Mouskouri Rose growing in my garden.
These canvas are done in Australia with the photo printed onto a canvas.  I took a photo to show those who pass this way what they look like if not seen before.

City Park Monkey's!

During the time of our guest staying at our house and she still is, we ventured down to City Park in Launceston, Tasmania and viewed the Japanese Macaque monkeys which came from Japan. I could watch them for hours.  Had the Audi detailed across the road so was a good place to be in the City Park till the vehicle was cleaned.

The monkey's are some distance away so I was pleased to get some reasonable shots.

I stood there for ages but neither would look at me :)

Nothing like a clean

Baby with a piece of stick in it's mouth climbing the rope

Devonport/Part of my way home!

Driving to come home from my dads or driving to go to dad in Devonport, this is what I see at Devonport, Tasmania, Australia.

There is Bass Strait which is a sea to Melbourne in the State of Victoria, and is rather shallow in places. There is a beach called Back Beach which is a beach for dogs.

Then around further is what is called The Bluff, it has a small beach, playground for children, barbecues for a picnic, a Caravan Park, a small outside Theater, a new Life Saving Club House (no photo) plus Restaurants, and a shop.

There is a bike track that goes forever along the picturesque beach from the Swimming Pool to over the Don River and on the Eastern side of Devonport.

Back Beach/Dog Beach

The Bluff

The Bluff looking the opposite way

The Music Bowl at the Bluff

Part of the Barbecue Area at the Bluff

Small part of the Children's Playground at the Bluff

A mum by the sea

Opposite the Children's playground is an Old People's Home plus a large sports area.

Birthday Girl! Wedding Anniversary!

Today is youngest grandchild's 2nd birthday. The photo I took about 2 weeks ago. It's different and I only took it off my camera this week and just had to post it..
There is a late morning party at Tail Race Park Saturday norning, there will be a barbecue lunch. I have been elected to make Rissoles/Hamburgers plus a Potato Salad.

Then today the 4th April is my eldest sister in law's 50th Wedding Anniversary, and on Saturday evening her children, their husbands and her grandchildren, my husband and myself along with my youngest sister in law are all going out to celebrate.  Way back when they were married, my husband was Bestman, and I was invited to the wedding even though I had not long been going out with my future husband at that time.

Taken at Ella's house.

Guest in the house!

My husband and I have his youngest sister staying with us, she is in between moving house, so has been with us for 3 weeks now and probably another two.
This week the 3 of us are going to her new house for a per-purchase viewing, so hence the Electrician is going to meet us there, and then the painter and hopefully before she moves in all things will be done.

Youngest sister in law is a pleasure to have as a house guest, she calls our house the 'Hilton on Trent' which has us laughing.
The other evening we had my eldest sister in law and her husband for dinner, so we had Turkey with baked vegetables plus boiled ones, I lost count of how many varieties I had. We had a wonderful chat with much laughter and a late night.

Having travelled as normal backwards and forwards to my dads house in another city, it certainly is a busy time, but I do enjoy all that I do.  The computer being a good relaxation for me.

Photo of our Guest taken last year at the eldest sister in laws house.