Brisbane Encore

Zoe and Tristan in front of a fountain in the Southbank Parklands (Brisbane river in background)

On Friday, June 26, we drove from our home in Macmasters Beach to New Castle airport. We left at 5am to catch a 7:50am flight. I had driven the route provided by "Where Is" a week ago and almost gave up finding the airport on several occasions. I drove back from the airport following the signs set up for new arrivals and found that much easier. We made it to the airport without incident!



Brisbane CBD, as seen across the Brisbane river

We arrived in Brisbane at 9am, collected our luggage, dropped it off at the hotel, and took the train to Southbank Parklands. What a different place in winter! It's lovely! Not steaming like we had experienced when we visited in November. We walked along the Brisbane riverwalk then got some lunch. We had intended to find a ferry that would take us to the Lone Pines Koala sanctuary, but found that it can't be done. We caught a cab.


This koala is in Kindy

The Lone Pines Koala sanctuary is fairly small, but nice. There were many internationals visiting.

Clara holding a chick

There was a small farm with sheep, goats, guinea pigs, and small horses. It was really raining when we were in the barn. There were demonstrations by sheep dogs in the paddock. We each cuddled a koala. Each of the older children had the opportunity to hold the koala and have their picture taken with it.

Zoe and Tristan at the Lone Pines sign.

We bought food for the kangaroos and wallabies. One kangaroo was forward enough to rip Tristan's food bag open.

The red kangaroos had recently been included in the enclosure and were still wary.


The emu was happy to eat out of my hand.


Here's a joey in his mother's pouch. Funny, with his hind leg sticking out too!

We really enjoyed the rainbow lorikeet feeding. The Lorikeets began gathering at 2pm for the 3pm feeding time. These lorikeets are WILD! But they come right up and are happy to sit on your arms, shoulder, or head!

Neo with with Wild Rainbow Lorikeet perched on his head!

The food was in a milk - and the Lorikeets used their tongues to lap it up!

We took the bus back to the Queen Street mall, this was a new experience. We grabbed a couple of sushi rolls, then went out onto Queen Street to make our way to Central Train station. We arrived back at our hotel a little before 6pm. We had a full apartment - two bedrooms upstairs, a living room and kitchenette. For the price of a standard hotel room. It was really wonderful.


Jo Laws, Oliver, Zoe, Clara, Tristan, Zoe, Neo and Me.

Jo Laws (from British Expats - they were also April applicants) and her family (Jon, Zoe, and Oliver) arrived a little while later with pizza. We chatted while the kids played. Zoe and Clara became friends in that short time. Amazing the wonderful people we have met on this journey.

The last days of school

Zoe with her 60 Home Readers Certificate and Bookmark

Our children really love their school: Copacabana Public School. But the last week before our departure was rough.

On the last Friday, Tristan suffered a mild concussion.

On the last Tuesday, Zoe was sent to sick bay because she had a wave of nausea at the end of the day. She did vomit when she returned home and spent Wednesday at home with me. Wednesday afternoon she was doing OK, so we went to a birthday party she was invited to for her friends Izzy and Rylee. It was a lovely party and a beautiful day....at the Copacabana surf lifesaving club.




Thursday was the last day of school. Zoe woke up late and didn't want to go to school. Her teacher had organized a party on her behalf as a special lunchtime celebration.



Clara walked to school that morning. The lagoon had been let out again - this time a trench was dug by hand and it was smaller. There was standing water when Clara arrived in the morning and the tide was high. Instead of returning home for a ride to school, Clara decided to wade through the water. She was soaked to her buttocks! She didn't ask to call me, as I would have brought her a pair of pants to wear.

When I arrived at school, I heard that there was some confusion so I went to see her. We could not find any pants in lost and found and school did not have a change of clothes. So she had to wear the new skirt that I had bought her and we had planned to return to the store for a refund. She was not happy about having to wear her skirt.

Clara's teacher had arranged for the canteen to make cupcakes for the entire class to celebrate Clara's departure.



Tristan with his buddies Roan and Cullen

Tristan's teacher had organized a special card for Tristan. The card is huge and attached to it are many greetings - mini cards - from each of his classmates. Tristan had also been tested in his reading earlier in the week and scored as an "independent" reader. He brought home his "Wall of Fame" and all the spots had been filled in...an accomplishment not achieved by anyone else in the class.

Thursday afternoon, I brought Zoe in to her class a little before the bell. She was greeted warmly by her classmates. We took pictures.

After the bell, we went to Clara's room where she was chatting with her teacher. We took more pictures and said good bye.

As we walked out of the school yard, the principal and vice principal came to say good bye and wish us well.


Clara and Zoe with Principal Sue Lewis


The school was wonderful. My children thrived at Copacabana Public School: academically, socially, and spiritually. The teachers, students, and parents are awesome. Copa school is where my children made many friends. I also made many friends with the parents. We were well blessed to be part of this community.


Jennefer, the first parent friend I made at Copa School

Tristan's Accident

Last Friday, Tristan was playing basketball on the playground with friends at the lunchtime recess. Someone hit him on the head with the basketball. The force of it pushed him into the support pole for the basketball hoop - where he slammed his head again. He managed to sit down on the ground, not fall down. They took him into sick bay and called me. Dave was working from home that day (we had planned to have lunch at a little beachside restaurant).

When we arrived, Tristan was back in the classroom. I checked him and brought him home. We gave him panadol and had him rest. He complained about nausea. I called the doctor's office and was referred to the Gosford hospital emergency room. Dave wasn't convinced we needed medical help at that time, so I asked him to monitor Tristan while I went to see the last school assembly (and record some of it).


Tristan in hospital

Before I could gather the other kids at the end of the school day, Dave called to say I needed to take Tristan to the hospital. I dropped Zoe and Neo off with Dave, and took Tristan to the emergency room. Clara was walking home that day.

Tristan cried in pain all the way to the hospital. Once at the ER, Tristan was examined by the triage nurse. After he had been seen, and was checked in, he vomited. The doctor tested his reflexes and memory - he passed with flying colors. It was about 5 hours after the injury. They gave him another dose of Panadol. They kept him for observation for 1 - 2 hours. He vomited again. At that, they ordered a CT scan.

After examining the scan results, they determined it was OK for Tristan to be released. We returned home after 5 hours at the emergency room with instructions to wake Tristan every 4 hours.

He has been his old self since then. We got the all clear to take him on the long flight back to the USA 1 week later.

Lagoon ready to be drained - again!

I really like the cloud/mist hanging in the hills over Cockrone lake.

It's only been 2 1/2 weeks since the lagoon and Lake Cockrone were drained but it is nearly ready to be drained again. The measure indicates 2.1 meters. Last time it was drained at 2.5 meters.



There has been an unusual amount of rain in recent days. And the tides have been higher then usual - not king tides, but very high tides.


The Lagoon is really filling in too.


The orange fence behind Dave is were a new pathway will be built. The problem is where they want to build is underwater again.

Copa School Canteen Treats

Tea cup - Clock cookie base (clock face out) with icing, marshmallow (they are different then US version), fizzy candy for handle, and chocolate topping.

On Friday 19, June, the Copacabana School was having a party! As part of this, the children were allowed to wear "party clothes" - which means a Mufti Day or no uniform! The canteen staff and volunteers made special treats for sale - 50 cents each. YUM!




Frog in Pond: This is a chocolate frog inserted into green jello (called Jelly here)


Smiley Biscuit: frosting with candy bits for face on biscuit


Hedgehog slice: broken biscuit (cookie) bits with chocolate poured over the top. No bake
Crackles (cupcake wrapper): These are like risecrispie treats with chocolate and sprinkles. Very nice!

Lake Cochrone Update - 8 days after drain

Lake Cockrone as it refills after being drained 8 days prior.


8 days after the drain, the lake bottom is still present - but more of it is covered each day. This is the section where Zoe was standing on the previous pictures.


If you compare this picture with the same one taken 4 days after the drain, you'll see how much water has been filled in.



This is a new family of black swans. We saw them swimming the day before. Here they are sleeping on the edge of the water with their parents. It's surprising since they are sitting in a highly visible, popular area. Many people with dogs come along here. These are the youngest cygnets I've had the privilege of taking a picture of.


This Cormorant or "shag" is called a "white" cormorant - but I cannot find a reference for it. It's truly amazing. This bird swims with water covering his body up to his neck. Then he dives under the water coming up after 15 seconds or longer quiet a way from where it submerged. Later, it stands on the edge and raises it's wings and tail feathers like this - possibly to dry? We haven't seen this cormorant prior to the draining of the lake and lagoon.


This is the black cormorant. We've seen it plenty of times around the lagoon.

Brrrrrr! Whale Sighting!!

It's been cold here the last few days. Winter started June 1. We had temps in the high 30s at night. Our space heaters are on full blast! Fortunately we have a wall of north facing patio doors that let the full sun in during the day - and really warms the house! The temps in the day are nice - 60s - if it's sunny, things are really great.

Dave and I saw a couple of whales on Saturday morning! It was really exciting. We saw them from Captain Cook's Look Out. One even breached. The whales are on their way to the northern (warmer) waters to winter and calf. Between the hours of 7-9am, they are closer to the shore and can be seen from land.

Lands End Delivers

OK, I admit I'm having a difficult time with buying clothing here in Australia. It's expensive and the sizing is not easily converted. This is especially true for Dave. I was given a tape measure that has inches and centimeters on the same side. It's very helpful. Yet we couldn't find jeans that fit properly for Dave. And he's very choosy.

We found out that Lands End delivered to Australia! We ordered 2 pairs of jeans and a jacket from Lands End. Being long time Lands End customers, we know the quality is good. The jeans fit, they're what we expected, and the cost of the clothing with the shipping thrown in comes out to about the same as clothing purchased here - or even a little less. Great alternative!

4 days After Draining Cochrone Lagoon

Zoe and Neo walking in the lagoon bed

Four days after they moved the sand between the ocean and the lagoon/lake, we walked down to see how things are recovering. It was a lovely winter day. Sunny and bright.


Bed of the lagoon

The bed of the lake and lagoon are exposed. There are dead fish everywhere, which has brought in the pelicans. Pelicans don't mind eating dead fish. It's amazing to watch them gorge on the bounty that is now available to them. This area has attracted more sea type birds then have lived here before.

Pelicans on the lagoon

Even though there are many dead fish, there thousands of new fish hatch lings everywhere. It appears that even though the draining was initiated by humans, that it might be a natural process.


Sand that divides ocean from lagoon

The ocean has already naturally moved the piles of sand back into place. There's a strip of sand that connects Macmasters beach to Copacabana again.


This pier was submerged just 1 week ago

The waters rose and rose, then one day...

Rain clouds gathering over swollen lagoon and Lake Cochrane

It rained and rained. The waters rose and rose. The lagoon was almost touching the ocean. The measure read a hair over 2.5 meters. The high water mark was 2.6 meters. Water was standing in the trees across from our home. Water prevented us from walking around the lagoon to the beach. There was more rain then usual.


Small strip of sand left between ocean and lagoon

Then one day, Clara asked to walk home from school on Wednesday. I agreed. When I returned home with the other kids, I smelled a sewer type smell and wondered about it. About 15 minutes later, Clara called to say she couldn't get home, the lagoon had been let out.

The day before, I spoke with some very knowledgeable long time residents that had assured me that the school would be notified when the lagoon was going to be let out, so no one would be trapped trying to walk home from school. No notification was made.


Swollen lagoon in foreground with Lake Cochrane behind

The lifeguards were present. Apparently the waters going out and the waves created are a huge draw to surfers and swimmers. Someone drowned, or maybe not, I couldn't find anyone to confirm the story.

When I went to collect Clara from her friend's house, we went down to see how it's done. Here's the video that I took of the event. It was really amazing to me to see the change in Lake Cochrane and the lagoon. http://www.flickr.com/photos/25447601@N02/3602310870/

Christmas in July?

Yesterday Tristan asked, "Since it's winter, will Christmas arrive soon?"

A Great Storm

Wow! It's been really stormy and rainy for this last week. Since we've lived here, there have been two other weeks where it rained off and on for 7 days. Those storms were different - this one is much more intense. The wind from this storm is so strong that there are waves on the lagoon!

This storm extends up to Brisbane. The news reported that Brisbane had received a year's worth of rain in 3 days! With that much rain, there's been flooding. There have been evacuations in towns in northern New South Wales (our state).

The winds really whip - so our Wisconsin minds think "cold". But the temperatures have been really very moderate - even warmer then weeks prior to this. This late autumn, we purchased a space heater because it's been cold at night - 50 is the low. But the coldest night temperature has been about 55 during the storm.

Macmasters Beach and Copacabana Beach Surf Pictures

My friend Jennefer took these awesome pictures of the surf from Macmasters Beach and Copacabana Beach yesterday (May 13, 2009). She has given me permission to share them with you. These pictures are stunning...in part because of the skill of the photographer and because of the beauty that surrounds us here. Jennefer took 39 pictures of the beach. To see the rest, just follow this link http://picasaweb.google.nl/BartenJennefer/Surf?feat=directlink#5335264784841144802 Enjoy!

Australian Autumn

The Brisbane Waters/Woy Woy Girls Regional Soccer Team shakes hands with their opponents after a match at Putney Oval

Sorry I've been so long away from the Blog! Once the kids got back into school, we've been quite busy with their activities.


Clara played goalie in the last game...nothing much going on - see the birds

On 30 April, Clara played 5 soccer games in a row as a representative of the Brisbane Waters/Woy Woy regional girls soccer team. She had to leave the house at 6:15am to make it to the game location in Putney, a suburb of Sydney. Her schoolmate and friend also made the team. Her mother could drive the girls there, but could not bring Clara back. So after I got the other children off to school, I drove to Putney. It was a beautiful park. Clara's team placed 3rd of the 6 teams that played. Her friend was chosen to be on the Sydney North team which will go on to play at the State level. Congratulations to Clara for making it as far as she did. We're very proud of her.


Neo inside the Sydney Opera House - Harbour side.

On 4 May, Zoe and Tristan went with their school to see "The Little Mermaid" at the Sydney Opera House. They went by bus and had to be to school by 7:20am. Neo and I took the train and met them there. It was a beautiful autumn day! The performance was not what I expected. Nothing visual for the children - just lights, occasionally, and the narrator with a scarf as a prop! There was a 13 piece orchestra to accompany. The story did not follow the Disney script either.


Inside the Harbourside of the Opera House

I've never been inside the Sydney Opera House before. The performance was in the Concert Hall - the smaller theatre. The most amazing feature of the Sydney Opera House is the bathroom! Really, it was an amazing design.

Bathroom sinks at the Sydney Opera House

Following the performance, the school children had lunch in the Royal Botanical Gardens. Neo and I caught the train to Wynnum station and had lunch with Dave. It was nice to see his corner of Sydney - and the famous Pitt Street.


ANZAC Memorial near Pitt Street, Sydney.


Tristan with the kids from Copa school performing @ Mother's Day Extravaganza

There was a Mother's day stall at school on Thursday, May 7. Each classroom was escorted to the hall where many gifts were wrapped in clear wrappings. The children could chose a gift for their mom to give her on mother's day. Each gift was $6. Gifts ranged from tea cups to teddy bears, to toe nail and finger nail kits, and of course chocolate. It was well done. I gave Zoe and Tristan money. Tristan said he didn't find anything to his liking. Zoe gave me a toenail kit - so our nails are beautiful now.


Zoe making her Mother's day craft (flower)

On Friday 8th of May, there was the Mother's Day extravaganza at school. It began with a tea and scone. The scone was delicious - but I only had 1 bite as Zoe claimed 1/2 of it and Neo claimed the other! LOL Then the children gathered together for a short performance by the Kindergarten to Year 3 students. It was very sweet. Then the moms went to the classrooms to help with a special mother's day art project. Lovely.


Tristan with his finished Mother's day craft