Buderim Bulketin

Thought I’d try and do a summary of the week but there are no guarantees about future regularity.

This week began with a welcome visit from Dirk and Jan from Bungendore on their way home from Yeppoon where they had visited the first grandson. Great to see them and have a relaxing day around Mooloolaba enjoying the beach and the fabulous seafood.
Tennis was good on Tuesday in between showers. We have had stormy weather this week. They have big squeegees at the courts that we can sweep the water off and keep playing! (Very Queensland)
Italian lessons resumed after a break for school holidays. I go on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and I also went to the Wednesday morning ‘Travellers’ class where I know some of the people. I love learning Italian and constantly fantasise about going to Umbria or Tuscany for an extended stay where I could practise my Italian. I’m probably the longest serving student in these classes having been going since beginning of 2005. Most people come and learn a bit before heading for Italy. I’m quite good friends with Gianni, one of the teachers! Everyone always asks ‘When are you going?’ and I always reply: ‘Prossimo anno, forse’. (Next year, maybe)
Wendy and Karissa are pretty well recovered from their fortnight in New York. We keep looking at the photos on the TV and they relive the many highlights including champagne on the 65th floor Rainbow Room of the Rockafeller Centre; the naked cowboy in Times Square; seeing the art and Jane Fonda at the MOMA; Central Park; and just experiencing and discovering at an easy pace.
I still reflect on my ‘road trip’. After dropping W&K at the airport I headed south. Highlights were the Girraween NP on the NSW border and climbing the scary granite Pyramid; Manilla (Redmond/Veness family history); calling on an old Wolaroi mate, Warren Sneesby; visiting Michael and Beth on their cattle property at Coonamble; Lightning Ridge and other fabulous Aussie towns like Warwick; Hebel; Dalby; and Toowoomba
Buzzy continues to recover from the spinal operation to reverse the paralysis of his hind legs that happened when Wendy and Karissa were away. The vet is very happy with his progress and we are hopeful he will be walking normally in a couple of weeks.
Spent all day Thursday helping friends (Pete and Joy) move from Yandina to their new home in Mapleton. Mapleton is a stunning place up on the Blackall range (near Montville and Maleny). Between loads we had lunch at the Mapleton pub and the views from the deck East toward the sea were world class.
Friday evening I did long walk along Mooloolaba beach and it was just fantastic. Great sunset and about 24 degrees. The beach is slowly recovering after the extraordinary September rains (350mm).
Tennis again this Sunday morning. Wow! Some of these oldies sure can play tennis (and I mean substantially older than me!)
Looking forward to visits soon from Luke and niece Emma
Howard finally called the election today. His cynicism this week has been breathtaking. $2billion on Tuesday for the Pacific Highway and then this was trumped with Thursday’s ‘new reconciliation’ and the proposed constitutional referendum. Why wasn’t this done in 2000 when there was mass support as shown by the bridge walks? Or in May this year on the 40th anniversary of the watershed 1967 referendum? And this from the man who dismantled the 1994 Native Title Act and Wik.