The Big Sing

Barb joined with other singers from her Mernda group to join with at least a thousand other singers in the Melbourne Recital Hall for its 5th Birthday Celebration. The well known music director Jonathan Welsh (of Choir of Hard Knocks fame) led the whole auditorium (divided into Soprano, Tenner, Alto and Baritone). No one was there for the ride. Jonathan led this enormous group skillfully in three complicated songs, firstly by going over each part carefully then "going for it". The Big Sing was available on the internet as live streaming for anyone who knew about it. How about that!

Dried Out

The sun has been relentless over our land. Our elephant leaf plant now looks like it is a deciduous plant coming into Autumn. The heat has scarred it, has scarred our land.

Grass is no longer green. Water usage does not allow it. Powdery dry even at sunrise.

At sunset there is a smokey haze. Hundreds of fires fill the air with a foreboding plume.

Country Music

We celebrated our 37th engagement anniversary at the Whittlesea Bowls Club with fine food and fine country music, part of The Whittlesea Country Music Festival weekend program. The first set of songs were given by 13 year old Kaitlyn Thomas, just back from the Tamworth festival. The next two sets were presented by Merelyn and David Carter, also back from Tamworth. Carter & Carter had a super supporting band: http://www.carterandcarter.com.au
It was a wonderful night country music by local artists to mark the occasion.

Double Overnighter

We had great fun doing a whole load of things with our grandkids. It involved going to a swimming pool but sorry no photos of that. It also involved their discovery of some very old toys that our own children played with. One of these toys we got to work again with the help of fresh batteries and some superglue - a Motor-cross racer game of sorts, where a small motorbike is pulled up a steep incline and let to run down a track to simply start again (against the clock). We enjoyed this two night sleepover and have precious memories of our time together.

corn cobs for some and tuna and pasta for others

the room cooler was doing a fine job really

such concentration

a mask from Savers Thrift Store

guess who

yes

what a Savers find this was

Stopping for a Splash

We had planned to stop at Warrandyte, where the road crossed the Yarra River, for a picnic. This went well and the kids enjoyed the water for a few hours. While our car cooked in the car park we managed to find a shady spot with grass just by the water. So even though it was going to be tough getting back into the car the space we were in was memorable and fun.

friendly ducks

Jet on a friendly rock

Can I feed them?

picnic time on the grass, blanket or even in the water

Overnight Start

We drove to Gembrook to pick up the three grandkids for a double overnighter. They three kids were pretty excited about coming to stay with us. Bec and Gord were keeping their options open on what they do in time without their kids. Because these days were all going to be over 40 degrees plans had to be flexible. Because we were stopping at a swimming hole on our return journey Bec made sure the young ones were all covered with sun block.

Nice seeing Piper playing on the piano once Ma's

Using a leg as a swing...

The man of the house and some natural dyed fabric

It was pretty tough to have to stop on such a hot day. They're working in unsafe heat!

Thirty-Sixth

We had a very special 36th anniversary. We did it all in Carlton starting with a breakfast at Brunetti's Cafe and finishing there. In the middle we browsed Readings Bookshop for hours, found a nice card for us, and saw a movie. Later in the day we spent time with our friends: Peter to Allan's, and Barb to Yvette's. Big day, relaxing day.

Our very appropriate card

Having turns writing in it

Our exploding chilli sauce bottle at home. We did not know it had fermented, so it was a red bubbly experience to mark the year

Our movie: The Railway Man

Our cuppas