Aah! Family, I love it! Another week spent stationary, this time at Beadenville: the sprawling home and workplace of my cousin's (this time on my Dad's side) David and Bethley and family, at Palmwoods. Such
a struggle again!! So many lovely dinners and great company. Great fresh spring water to enjoy AND fill the van with on leaving. Picnics on the beach with the Beadens. Meeting the lovely Jane, Andy's wife. Watching the Beaden boys cane the other team at Futsal. Rides in the Beaden bus. More lego then the boys could get to the bottom of, even after many hours of good play! Walks in the rainforest. Waking to the sound of birds. You get the picture!
Highlights of this part of the trip was the day at Australia Zoo - very expensive but worth it. Lots of lovely memories and photos organised by my cousin Ben, one of the photographers at the Zoo. My favourite bit was the birds flying round the "crocoseum" especially the MASSIVE Andean Condor (one of only 5 in Australia). Another family favourite was at the elephant feeding. We all took turns lining up to collect a piece of fruit or a vegetable to proffer to Sabu or Bimbo. Bimbo was having a day off celery it turned out! She would take whatever was offered to her but if it was celery it was just chucked down at her feet. Sweet potato or kiwi or whatever - yes, please. Celery, no thanks!
Another laugh for me was when the kids walked into some dark tunnel in the kid's play area that happened to have a movement sensor in it and a speaker that let out a massive dinosaur-like roar! I was distracted with the phone or something at first but put two and two together when I saw the look on Sascha's face when he came running out! We both enjoyed Isaac and Dom's reaction when he encouraged them to check it out, also!
Highlights of this part of the trip was the day at Australia Zoo - very expensive but worth it. Lots of lovely memories and photos organised by my cousin Ben, one of the photographers at the Zoo. My favourite bit was the birds flying round the "crocoseum" especially the MASSIVE Andean Condor (one of only 5 in Australia). Another family favourite was at the elephant feeding. We all took turns lining up to collect a piece of fruit or a vegetable to proffer to Sabu or Bimbo. Bimbo was having a day off celery it turned out! She would take whatever was offered to her but if it was celery it was just chucked down at her feet. Sweet potato or kiwi or whatever - yes, please. Celery, no thanks!
Another laugh for me was when the kids walked into some dark tunnel in the kid's play area that happened to have a movement sensor in it and a speaker that let out a massive dinosaur-like roar! I was distracted with the phone or something at first but put two and two together when I saw the look on Sascha's face when he came running out! We both enjoyed Isaac and Dom's reaction when he encouraged them to check it out, also!
Not one but two visits to the Buderim Ginger Factory! One at the end of a busy school day - too short thus requiring one longer the next day. With a tour and all the trimmings!! Well worth the visit. Who knew how interesting the Ginger Story is in Australia?! I could have spent a lot more money in that gift shop. It was really quite something, lovely stuff to give away and to eat yourself!
A great night had playing trivia with Ben, Anna, David, Mark, Laura and Reece, fundraising for some local girls doing the Oxfam trailwalk at the organic cafe up the road. Great food, fun and a great cause. Of course, we were the bridesmaids yet again! Paul and I have yet to be on a winning team for any trivia night we go in, and we have only ever come second!!