Greensborough Pool Makes Way

This pool was opened 45 years ago and is thus relatively new. It became an icon of Greensborough and a mecca during the hot days of each Summer. Because it was an open air pool its business always fell away in Winter. Victorians began to lose their thick skin for taking to the cold water that they were once known for and have voted with their feet to frequent the heated waters of indoor swimming centres that have increased around Melbourne. The Greensborough Pool must be one of the last surviving outdoor pools and it to has met its end. The council has decided to yank it all up and make a modern ($33 million) aquatic and recreational centre in its pace. To be honest, though we have walked passed this pool on countless occasions we never got into it. We are not really water people but we feel sad at its removal none the less.
Peter found a blogspot story by someone who has many precious memories of the old pool and her link is added below for your interest. Swimming with the family at night in the old days must have indeed been fun.
http://joeyludders.blogspot.com/2007/12/greensborough-pool.html

Biking at the Lakes II

This time Joy took Peter and Barb on the route. It was one of those Autumn perfect days... again. Barb was able to come this time and Craig was not well and so had to give it a miss. So it was three of us again riding by the lakes at The Lakes.

This time we stopped at the Lakes Cafe for a cuppa. In time the people here could make it a more attractive place to break their bike ride. There were too many parked cars and we were the only bikes at the time.

What happened here? What could have transpired? This is our secret. We enjoyed the ride and will have to make it a more common occurance.

Family Times

We drove up last Saturday to spend some time with members of Gord's family out from Canada. They would be on a pretty busy schedule following this so we made the best of it while we could. What goes well with family are times when we eat together. This was no different. First the lunch.

Then the supper. We made use of the last few weeks of daylight saving to have it outside and prepared a meal on the new decking. John barbecued the steak. He was glad that Gord had failed to find kangaroo meat. He was not looking forward to that. So it had to be steak. Phew.

Later the Piper and Jasper got about Bill for a story. Bill was great with them. It had been a big day. The women and kids had gone to an animal sanctury and the men had gone four-wheel driving. The day had been so just right.

A Horse Cake!

We don't really need to say too much here. This is yet another birthday celebration for Piper who is lapping it up. Jasper looks on patiently hoping that when his birthday arrives he will get something of a similar deal. Already there is discussion about what his cake will look like to help him to wait well.

The extra celebration is to share the birthday with Ann and John and Evelyn and Bill. Ann made the horse shaped cakes and iced the larger one, while Piper worked on the smaller one. Bec had found the horse shaped cake tins at IKEA.

Bec lit the candles and Piper is pretty chuffed. Again Jasper looks on and notes the ritual that he will soon experience when his own day arrives. The body language seems to say it all.

Then there comes the special moment that most kids like. It did not matter how many breaths were needed. It was pretty fun and we all shared a 'Piper cut' piece in all shapes and sizes.

Special Cards

Piper has a nice collection of birthday cards, each one a special memory for her. But that is not all this blog is about. Both Piper and Jasper held up a large welcome card on a stick at the airport to attract and encourage their Opar and Grandma (Gord's parents), and Uncle Bill and Aunty Evelyn (Gord's uncle and aunt).

Green Peter

Because St. Patrick's Day had just passed there were green fancy dress outfits on sale for half price at Spotlight. Since Zone was having a fancy dress night a few days later, this was well timed indeed for Peter who snapped up a bargain and went as a leprechaun (a very tall one).

Zone is mostly games. The last one was on the Winter Olympics and this was random fancy dress. Next time it is all to do with dots. The picture above shows the small devotion time after the games and the supper. They are a great bunch of kids.

Timber!

Peter dropped into the Gembrook Retreat and found Steve clearing one of the trees that need to be removed to allow better growth for those trees around it. The tree had grown up and not out and would eventually begin to block the distant views. It was tougher than usual to cut. It fell just where Steve had hoped, missing everything on the way down. Well done Steve.