Sunny Spring Greetings from Australia

G’day folks, I hope you and your lovely families are happy, healthy and warm. It is certainly warm in Brisbane at the moment with temperatures dancing around the top twenties / early thirties which is blissful. We had  a wetter than usual winter this year but we still made the best of all that beautiful SE Queensland has to offer. In particular trips to the lovely Gold Coast and those thrilling fun parks which the children love.

First up, were two of my personal favourites; Sea World (which features a new Dinosaur themed attraction, I cannot see the synergy myself but the Chisslets were delighted!) and Movie World.

 

       

            

Wet Wet Wet!

Olivia chose Wet 'n' Wild as part of her birthday celebrations and we were blessed with perfect weather that day.

Thank you for all the lovely cards and gifts, she is a very lucky girl indeed.

 

  

Ryan wore himself out with all the fun

       

Phil’s eldest brother Tim flew over recently and as always readily joined in with all the fun. Phil managed to get tickets for each of us see the Riverfire Spectacular from the Suncorp building located on the river. So, after a lovely afternoon frolicking on the city beach and watching the Fighter Jet and Military Helicopter aerial display swoop along the Southbank, we decamped to the 24th floor and settled in for some breathtaking views. The evening was awe inspiring and the Triple MMM radio team provided the countdown and a complimentary soundtrack. I would definitely do it this way again given the opportunity.

 

  

 

 Heading to the building and getting settled and waiting for the lights to go down……

 

     

Super Hornet Display see: http://au.news.yahoo.com/video/national/watch/d480e94c_2742_3cf9_89f8_0d5c401f1535/riverfire-underway/

 

                   

I took these aerial pictures using my smartphone as I left my SD card for my camera at home - duh!

 

Fun in the sun

Thank you for coming to us Tim, our time together is truly valued which is why the sad goodbyes are felt so very keenly. Please come back soon?

Conor’s brush with show biz went with a swing and his performance and indeed that of the entire cast would have made  Lionel Bart proud let alone Phil and I.

 

 

As part of my role as a voluntary P&C QCPCA rep, I flew to Townsville to attend an awesome conference on P&C Education topics and issues that may affect schools across QLD and indeed Australia. It was fun to network with the other reps and I got to meet some very interesting people. One of the hosts loaned us his car and I with a couple of friends had a whistle stop tour of Townsville one morning before the conference officially began.

 

       

Townsville and Magnetic Island  from Castle Rock with the lovely Robyn and Fiona.

 

Townsville Night Markets which were great fun!

 

The Met East gang heading into dinner

 

Cocktails with the Mayor of Townsville

 

    

Above, Mayor Cllr Jenny Hill and the Rt Hon John-Paul Langbroek State Minister for Education

 

 

Julie Grantham Director General of Education QLD and Margaret Sykes ‘Gonski Review’ Task Force Manager.

 

 

  

Wearing red in support of Bruce and Denise Morecombe and their child safety organisation ‘The Daniel Morecombe' Foundation’. Their son 13 year Daniel was abducted and murdered on the sunshine coast in 2003. The court trial of the alleged killer begins next month and may probably feature in the UK media too. They give a variety of support to families in similar (or worse) circumstances such as the McCann family. Donations can be made here: http://www.danielmorcombe.com.au/ I am at the second table on the far right of the picture. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/working-to-stop-a-repeat-of-every-parents-nightmare-20121027-28czb.html

 

 

Kate McColl teaching me how to to use my i-pad on loan for the duration of the conference.

 

A celebrity came to visit the Chisslets Scout troop recently to help them mark a hundred years of Scouting at the den. It was a privilege to participate in something so awesome and watch a time capsule being buried for  a future generation to find in fifty years - our future  grand children perhaps? The celeb was Costa Georgiadis a professional Landscape Gardner whom we know and love from the T.V. shows ‘Gardens Australia’ and ‘Costa’s Garden Odyssey’

 

 

Costa Georgiadis with Scout Leader Chil, Scout Conor, Cub Scout Olivia and Joey Scout Ryan.

 

The Chisslets planted wildlife friendly flora and fauna in the grounds of the den which was officially renamed in dedication to the inaugural Scout Master at a recent ceremony earlier in the month. Costa was incredibly engaging and generous with his time and stayed to participate in all the celebrations as well as the planting. http://www.baysidebulletin.com.au/story/741977/costa-turns-it-native/?cs=212

 

   

  

Above Cleveland Group Leader ‘Magpie’ (Inge) holding the time capsule with Cllr Wendy Boglary and The Rt Hon Chris Robinson MP for Cleveland who was a Scout himself in his youth.

 

Halloween 2012 was great fun as usual and we attended the annual Manly Street party as per Chissell Law. Phil again was a big hit with the crowds and even met his 'alter ego’

 

Why so serious boys?

 

  

 

Ryan sang at an event at the local library last Saturday to promote the school and to boost language and literacy techniques for pre-schoolers. He was proud to be papped by the local paper.   

 

  

 

So folks that’s all our news for now. Like you, we are heading into all the hurly burly of  planning and organising ourselves for the impending Christmas festivities. Is it me or has this year simply whizzed by?

 

Best wishes to you and all your lovely families for a happy and healthy remainder of the winter. I know some of you are jetting out for (or have just returned from) the winter sun. May the weather be kind to you all whichever side of the globe you are located. Wrap up warm and take care of yourself, especially if you are hobbling around in a designer leg brace at the moment eh Connie? xxx

 

With much love, respect and affection from Amanda, Phil, Conor, Olivia & Ryan xxx