No Place Like Home

I am sitting in my lounge room with Adoring Husband watching 'Gone With the Wind'.  An oldie but a goodie.

It's so nice to be home.

I started my day at the 'Seat of Knowledge' by the boat ramp.  Always a great way to start the day.

I bumped into lots of locals during the morning and it was nice to catch up with people.

Today would normally be my Saturday in The Bay with Vegan Chickie and Chicklet, but I found it difficult to get motivated enough to make the trek into town on the bus.

I would have made a bigger effort if I hadn't just spent the week with them, and they will be here on Tuesday for family lunch, so I don't feel so bad about missing our day.

While we were away this week, our Lillypilly trees flowered and this afternoon, Adoring Husband discovered it alive with bees.

We took our cameras out to the garden to try to get shots of the bees.

Adoring Husband got much better shots than I did.  He set up his tripod and put a bit more effort into the whole exercise.  His shots are very good.

The other thing I discovered on facebook today, that I want to share is this ...

And now, Gone With the Wind has a whole hour left to watch and I just don't have the stamina, so I am off to bed ... in my own bed.  There is no place like home :)

Nite all.

It's Good to be Home.

Five and a half hours to do a four hour trip!  Roadworks, roadworks, roadworks and more roadworks!

Gryphonn came over to our cottage just before 10am to say goodbye.  It was hard to leave him.  Until this week, I hadn't seen him for five years, probably closer to six.  That's a long time.

We parted company with no promises about seeing each other in the future, but with open invitations for either of us to visit each other.

Who knows what the future will bring.

It's been a while since I posted some photos of Chicklet, so here are a few that Vegan Chickie emailed me this evening, which were taken during the week.

She was a such a happy little vegemite all week, bringing smiles and laughter into our lives during such a sad time.

Vegan Chickie, the Bare-chested Chef and Chicklet all arrived home safe n sound this evening too.

It's been a long week.  It's good to be home.

RIP Phoenix

My brother was brave and strong when he stood up today and spoke of his partner, friend, lover, soul mate and rock.

While the little chapel was wracked with the sobs of friends and family who gathered to say goodbye, he held it together, spoke from the heart and tried valiantly to be the rock to Phoenix's family, that she had been to him in their years together.

His words were heartfelt and true and comforting to those who cared deeply.

Each time his voice began to quiver, I don't know where he found the strength to keep talking, but somehow he did, and he was wonderful.

Her funeral was exactly as she had wanted it.  A short and simple celebration of her life.

Friends and family gathered at another friend's house for her wake and that's where people shared their Phoenix experiences and declared their love for her.

She would have been pleased with everybody "being excellent to each other", one of her favourite quotes from a Bill and Ted movie.

I didn't know Phoenix very well at all, but I do know that she made my brother very happy - the happiest I have ever seen him, and I hope that he will carry that happiness and love with him through the challenging weeks and months ahead as he goes through his grieving process.

So I have two photos to dedicate to Phoenix.

A Coastal Sunset.

A Rain Forest Path.

I know that she loved the rain forests and the beaches (all things in nature really).

Rest in Peace Phoenix

Nite all.      

Free the Mind

I had a rough night last night and slept very poorly, so we needed to do something to free the mind today.

I fell asleep at around 3am and tossed and turned thinking and worrying about my brother.  I know that worrying about him is not doing either of us any good, and normally I have a system to free my mind of such thoughts, but last night, I forgot to use the system!

So today was a day to free my mind and focus on other things for a little while.

We went for a drive out to Yeppoon, which I felt didn't have a lot of personality, so we had morning tea there and drove on to Emu Park, which I liked very much.

At the Information Centre, we asked the lady where she might recommend we would get some good shots, as photographers.  She suggested that we try the crocodile farm which was situated about half way between Emu Park and Rockhampton.

So off we went hoping to catch the 1pm tour of the farm.

After quite a long drive, because detours sent us off in strange directions that took a bit longer than we expected, we arrived right on the dot of 1pm and JUST made it in time for the tour.

Feeding Time

I'm watching you.

It was very very interesting and I'm really glad that we made the effort to go there.

After we arrived home, we contacted a couple of our new 'flickr' friends and the four of us decided to meet at one of their houses and then head off to Lake Mary for a chance of some sunset photos.

It was a long and bumpy road, but it was certainly worth the effort!   It was great to catch up with the boys again too.

It's very very late and I have a funeral to attend tomorrow, which, I'm sure, is going to be pretty harrowing, so I need to be well rested.

Today, I freed the mind, now I must rest the body.

Nite all

A Cruisey Kind of Day

I actually slept in til after 8am today!!

I slept for five hours straight!  It has been at least six years since I did that ... since before my Mum died. I probably would have slept even longer except Adoring Husband accidentally woke me while attempting to turn the air conditioner off!

So I started the day with a lazy breakfast on the front verandah, surrounded by the people I love .. namely Adoring Husband, Vegan Chickie, the Bare-chested Chef and Chicklet.

We all decided to go to Stocklands for a spot of shopping before lunch.  When we arrived there, we went our separate ways and Adoring Husband and I headed straight for the camera shop (as we do), where we purchased a light box, for photographing jewellery,  and we looked at some Canon lenses to compare prices.

We had arranged to meet my brother, Gryphonn, for lunch, at our cottage at 1pm.

So Vegan Chickie and Co took the key and left before us to come home at about 12.20pm.  Adoring Husband and I went grocery shopping to get some extra stuff for lunch and arrived home at 1pm to discover ... NO Vegan Chickie and Co!!

Just as I began texting them to find out where they were, they suddenly appeared around the corner and drove up the road towards us!  They had been lost!  They were panicking because they knew we didn't have the key to get in AND Gryphonn was arriving at 1pm for lunch!!  Argh!

As they pulled up, Gryphonn drove around the corner and up the road towards us.  Whew!

We all arrived together and bustled inside with our shopping and groceries trying to hug hello and talking over the top of each other ... and so began a great lunch all sitting or standing around the island bench in the kitchen, chatting away and laughing and reaching over each other for bits and pieces to put on our bread rolls.

When it was time for Gryphonn to leave, we hugged each other tightly and he whispered to me "I loved her so much".  My heart almost broke and I replied "I know you did".  We hugged for a long time.

I want one of those universal remote controls that Adam Sandler had in the movie 'Click', so that I can fast forward to a time in the future when my brother will be happy again.

Life is so unfair sometimes.

After he left our cottage, the rest of us had a quiet couple of hours under the air conditioner and we played with happy little Chicklet, who has been an absolute joy, with her bubbly happiness.

When the Bare-chested Chef began preparing our Satay Chicken and Rice for dinner, Adoring Husband and I decided to head up to Mount Archer to hopefully catch a nice sunset with our cameras.

Unfortunately, the smog and smoke and dust smothered the sunset somewhat and we got up there too late to find the ideal location for photographs.

This is the best of a bad bunch ..

We arrived home to the aroma of our delicious dinner being prepared by the Bare-chested Chef .. and let me say IT WAS YUMMO!

Tomorrow, we hope to drive out to Yeppoon to see what it has to offer in the way of photographs.

One more cruisey kind of day I reckon.

Nite all.

It's bloody hot!

Rockhampton is bloody hot!

While waiting for my brother, Gryphonn, to finish some business this morning, Adoring Husband and I visited Kershaw Gardens.  It has waterfalls and fountains and winding paths through parkland, a mini train station, barbecue areas and picnic tables.

We had a lovely time there, but crikey, it got bloody hot!  We were pretty silly wandering around in the sunshine during the hottest part of the day, so we really only have ourselves to blame.

Now we are sitting inside with all the doors closed and two air conditioners running at 11pm.

We got a couple of nice photos in the gardens today though, so it was worth it.

Tomorrow is also the final day for our 'Splash' challenge, so we spent a bit of time on that project today too.  Here is my submission.

We hope to catch up with one of our photographer Flickr friends while we are here too.

We had a nice couple of hours with my brother this afternoon, sitting on the verandah.  He is struggling a bit, but holding it together pretty well, all things considered.  It was nice to catch up and to have a warm hug.

Not long after he left, Vegan Chickie, the Bare-chested Chef and Chicklet arrived, after a long drive from home.

The funeral for Phoenix will be held on Thursday afternoon, but hopefully, Gryphonn will catch up with us all again tomorrow.

So now I'm off to  bed.  Today was bloody hot.  Tonight is bloody hot.  Tomorrow is predicted to be bloody hot as well.

Nite all

What a Day

We had a much later start this morning than originally planned, but we finally drove away from our house at 9am and headed north to Rockhampton.

The sign outside Howard stated 356 kms to Rocky, which equates to about four hours if you take it easy and have a short break or two along the way.

Well!!  It was almost 3pm when we finally drove into our cottage driveway and began unpacking the car.

It must be one of the worst stretches of road in Australia!

For most of the drive, there were no overtaking lanes.

We followed three 'oversized' trucks carrying what looked to be portable offices.  I would guess they were being transported to a mining site, considering the hundreds of mines established in Queensland, and the 'hundreds' more that have been approved for development in the coming months and years.

These offices were much wider than the usual 'Coates Hire' jobs and they were balanced over the back of the trucks and took up a lot more space than a single lane of the highway.

Their pilot cars were driving with their yellow flashing lights and one of the drivers even had a glowing wand that he was waving out the car window to alert on-coming traffic to move over.

So we were,  on a few occasions, stuck behind slow wide loads, slow elderly gentlemen wearing hats, slow caravans and a slow or 'fluctuating' (as I like to call them) female driver who appeared to be more engrossed in her conversation with the passenger, than the road.

By 'fluctuating', I mean that their speed fluctuates between 70kph and 100kph.  Very annoying.

There were minimal safe places to overtake, although there were a number of 'P' platers who seemed to think that overtaking on a hill was safe AND overtaking a truck and two cars at a time on a hill was also safe.  **rolls eyes**

There was lots of roadworks, so we had to stop for those two or three times.

I have a condition that requires frequent urgent bathroom stops.  There were LONG distances without any rest areas or service stations with bathrooms.  VERY frustrating, and scary at times, especially when there would be a sign stating a bathroom was ahead 12 kms, but we were stuck behind a truck travelling at 80kmh or slower!!

We finally found a stop after travelling quite a long distance, and as we came around the corner, there were about 200 motor bikes parked along the road next to the bathrooms!!  I thought for sure, I would have to stand in a long queue and I didn't think I was capable of doing that!

Poor Adoring Husband copped a mouthful for that one ... not his fault of course ... but my frustration and desperation took control of me.  Sorry darling.

Finally, we arrived in Rocky, and at our destination, unpacked the car and settled into our charming little cottage.  It's a small two bedroom high set Queenslander with a lovely front verandah overlooking a pleasant little garden with trees and flowers and the usual north QLD vines and succulents and lush greenery.

Unfortunately, it is quite close to a main road, so even though the traffic noise is not extreme, for people like us who hear nothing but the soft twittering of Willy Wagtails during the night, this will possibly disturb our sleep.

We also seem to be in the airport flight path.  The noise doesn't rattle the window panes, but is enough to make us look up when the plane flies overhead.

Last, but by no means least, there is a rail line very close by.  I haven't heard a train yet, but we haven't been at the cottage for the whole time .. we left for some grocery necessities and then to the local club for dinner, but Adoring Husband seems to be quite excited about the prospect of seeing/hearing a train so close!

Despite all of this, there is a lovely whicker lounge suite on the front verandah, and I made my way out there this afternoon.

The birds were singing and there was a lovely breeze that made the palm fronds rustle as it blew through the trees.

It reminded me of times, long ago, when I was a child, at my grandparents house in Queensland.  The same style house, with the same kind of verandah, same high ceiling and the same smell .. I can't describe the smell .. but it's very distinct for these houses.

It was just lovely and I sat there and enjoyed the feeling.  No books, no computer, no phone, just the peace and tranquility and I soaked up the ambience.  Reliving some long ago memories.

It didn't matter about the traffic or the planes or the trains.  I was in my own little world.

So the day has been long and drawn out.  We are so happy to finally arrive safe n sound.  So far it feels like a little patch of paradise away from our little patch of paradise.

I will, however, make myself perfectly clear ... I am not a fan of the city of Rockhampton (sorry Rockhampton) so my description is a hell of a compliment to Goldston House and neighbouring Goldston Cottage.

http://www.goldstonhouse.com.au/

If ya gotta be here ... then this just might be the place to try.

Nite all

A Wedding

On a happier note than of late, today, our local hairdresser got hitched at the bush chapel on the beach!

For weeks, this wedding has been the talk of the town and the locals have been abuzz with anticipation.

Finally, the big day arrived!  There were about 80 guests and about 20 uninvited, but welcome, locals in attendance.

I wasn't invited to the wedding, but last week I asked 'Little Miss Fabulous' if I could take my camera to the chapel and try to get some good wedding shots during and after the ceremony.

She was very agreeable to my suggestion, so today, I packed all my gear in the trike basket and headed off to the other end of town, with Aussie H to accompany me!

The same Celebrant who married Adoring Husband and I, was setting up at the chapel.  She looked at me, pointed and said "The Lions Park!" (which is where we were married).  I thought that was very nice that she recognised me, considering that she is booked to do weddings every weekend for a year in advance.

She said "What a great wedding!  So relaxed and happy and fun.  I'll never forget it."

I have to agree.  Our wedding was the best wedding I've ever attended!

Anyway, here are a couple of shots from today's wedding.  There were two other official photographers and another with a video camera, so my space was very limited.

I had to cut shots tight to avoid photographing the other photographers.  Mostly, I had to hover in the background and try to squeeze a shot in, here and there, or try from strange angles to keep out of the way.

A smile from the bride through her tears of joy.

Number one bridesmaid.

Number two bridesmaid.

The wedding party with the tall trees in the background.

I did quite enjoy it, and I think I would like to do a wedding and have photographic control over the event.  It would be nice to put people in the right position and the challenge of making a nervous bride smile, would be pretty cool.

Her boys walked her down the aisle.

How nervous does she look?

The groom seemed so relaxed and happy.

I knew he would get a smile out of her!

The happy couple through the crowd.

This practise has shown me what to look out for, what NOT to do next time, different angles to look for and background stuff to avoid.

Signing the register.

The theme was black and white.

The flowers and her head piece were to die for.

Very overcast and very windy, made it difficult with some shots.

It was a lovely wedding.  The bride was very emotional from the minute she arrived in the car, so it was difficult to get smiling photos between the tears.

It's all over ... time to celebrate!

The obedient wedding party.

A mostly happy group shot.

Anyway that's a few of my shots.  Hopefully, I will have a couple of shots that the other photographers don't have and can share them with the bride and groom when they return from their honeymoon.

Tomorrow we head off to Rockhampton for a much sadder occasion.

Nite all.

Final photo5

Today was the last day for the submission of the final brief in the Canon photo5 competition.

The theme for the brief was 'ribbon' (panning), which meant there had to be movement in the photo.  Either movement of the ribbon, or another subject in the photo, or of the background in the photo.  The ribbon didn't have to be main subject but it had to be part of the photo.

Here is my submission ...

I pinned 5 ribbons to the cane ceiling fan and set it to high.  Then I took the photo on a slow shutter speed.

This has been an interesting and fun experience, although not too successful, especially since I missed the cut off time for the third brief, which was themed 'sequins'.

Next year I will be better prepared.  I will read the instructions properly AND I will remember that daylight savings makes a difference to us in Queensland!

Ah well.  You live and learn.

Today was Adoring Husband's birthday.  He turned 54 years young.  We had a pleasant evening at the Bowls Club and stayed for dinner with a few friends afterwards.  A nice quiet affair and quite a few free birthday beers.

Happy Birthday my darling :o)

Nite all.

Discombobulated.

First of all, let me get the photos out of the way.

A Fig Bird.  Already eaten my mulberries and now starting on the peaches!

Who can blame him for wanting these delicious looking peaches?

Orange Lilies just blooming in the front garden.

Hand of Man - a sculpture in the Bunya Mountains.

A Wallaby trying to escape the papparazzi!

Wallaby and Joey in the pouch.

I'm feeling a little discombobulated tonight.

My brother, Gryphonn, lost his partner, Phoenix, to a brain tumour today.  She was diagnosed just two months ago.  Surgery removed some of the large tumour, but they couldn't get to all of it and the prognosis was not good.

In two short months, the tumour grew bigger than it's pre-op size and today at 11.15am Phoenix lost her battle.  She was surrounded by family and friends who loved her.

I'm feeling a bit like the protective older sister without a job to do right now.  So many thoughts entering my head and leaving just as quickly ... I recognise the same thought processes that I experienced when my mother passed away six years ago, only to a lesser degree.

As I said to Vegan Chickie tonight, I know that time heals most wounds, but sometimes, time moves so bloody slowly and the healing takes so damned long.  I want to fix my brother now.  I want to take his pain away.  I want to bring new happiness into his life immediately.

But I know that he has to go through his own grieving process, however long or how painful it may be.  It's just the way it is.

So in the meantime, I must stand aside and let him be comforted by the people he needs most, around him, and attempt to be his safety net, should he need one in the near future.

For now ... to my brother ... I love you.  I am here.  In the coming months, our home is your home, should you need it.  If necessary, just arrive and my arms will be open to welcome you and protect you  for however long you need them.

I know that my discombobulation will pass, much sooner than my brother's hurting heart.

Nite all.

The Next Challenge

Our photography group has been set the next challenge for October.

The theme is 'Splash'.

I haven't even thought about it yet, except to perhaps fill our birdbath with water and wait for a bird to go for a bath.

I have an old photo of a Willy Wagtail splashing about in the birdbath from about three years ago, that I just love!  But the photo has to be taken after the challenge was set, so I can't use that photo.

I'll work on 'splash' over the weekend.

Meanwhile, Adoring Husband and I spent a good hour trying to create an acceptable photo of 'powder' for the Canon photo5 competition today.

The final result was not as I'd hoped, but at least I was able to submit it JUST in time!

I missed the cut-off point for the last brief, which was 'sequins' because I thought it closed at midnight, when in actual fact, it closed at midday AEDST, which is 11am here in Queensland!  Ugh!

For powder, we combined the two different coloured powders that were sent to us and heaped it like a little mountain, then dropped a cherry tomato into the middle of it and captured the powder spraying everywhere.

I tried, unsuccessfully, to set a mousetrap off with powder on it, but after about 8 attempts, I had to give up on that idea because we were running out of time and I couldn't get the composition right.

I admit, that I was panicking with the time constraints!  The mousetrap idea had so much potential .. if only I had started working on it earlier ... like DAYS earlier, instead of leaving it to the last hour before submissions closed!

Now there is only one more brief left.  'Ribbon' using the panning method of photography.  I have two days to get this one right, but half of tomorrow is already out, because Adoring Husband and I have previous commitments.

We might get to spend the afternoon on it.

Still trying to come up with some ideas for my 'Art Deco' exhibition next year.  Instead of getting bogged down in specific Art Deco ideas, I need to open my imagination to the era from 1900 - 1930.

After speaking to my partner in this little enterprise, The Artist, she has given me lots of ideas and we will be spending a day in Maryborough, checking out the exhibit space and looking at some ideas and locations in that area to photograph.

I am nervous, but excited, about all of this, which is new to me.  It's going to be a real challenge and a bit of an adventure, but, my partner's health permitting, it's going to be a hell of a ride!

There is always a new challenge, and the next one for me is 'Ribbon'.  I have two days on that and then there will be four days left of the 'Splash' challenge.  Gotta get that mind of mine working!

Nite all.

Short and not so sweet.

Tonight I am posting a few more photos with a few less words.

Tonight I'm thinking about my brother and the hurt in his heart, as he watches his 'rock' lose her battle with illness.

So this post is short and not so sweet.

Nite all.