This is January - Week 4

 21st to 28th January

And what a week it has been with unexpected discoveries, extreme heat, a little cold, and continued good times with friends!

A niece had mentioned to me recently that she had been given a small box of letters and photos, that had belonged to her Dad, and my brother who had passed away in October last year. On Sunday morning I collected this box with the intent of scanning and editing them all for her. On my return home I was soon lost in a world of forgotten memories and family history. The letters are precious and have kept well, but the handwriting in some, quite illegible. The oldest was written in 1900 and was my Great, Great Grandfather writing to his son. Another is my Father writing to my Mum in their courting days. I have made little progress with scanning the photos but they will be my chore in the comimg week.

Can you spot me on the trailer and as a baby, in 'Blastus'?

Monday dawned hot from the start. The forecast was for extreme heat of 36C, plus humidity. We were having a friend for lunch. My husband suggested we eat out and not have a hot house from the cooking.  A fantastic idea. From there I went to my medical centre for a skin check and Covid booster. It is a busy centre so I filled in a couple of more hours in air conditioning. I always know there will be a wait so take my laptop and edit and sort photos. By the time I reached home, 4'ish a cool change had unexpectedly blown in. Bliss!

Tuesday is Gaiter Girl day and we had chosen to take a walk on Mt Tamborine and then support one of the local businesses still suffering from the Christmas disaster.

 We arrived at 7am and couldn't believe the drop in temperature. Mary immedialtely reached for her coat. I might add that it was 22 C, but for us, along with a breeze, that is cold. The first trail was, not unexpectedly, closed and will be for some time. 

The valley is so green.

We drove to the very popular Curtis Falls Circuit of just 5 kilometres. We had the trail to ourselves humanwise, but the cicadas were were out in full volume for the entire walk. 

Except for the cicada noise, we enjoyed a blissful couple of hours slowly walking and soaking up the intense beauty of this rainforest. Lilly Pilly fruit, fungi, tiny birds, bats, the cascading Curtis Falls and its stream tumbling over boulders, all beneath the canopy of soaring palms and magnificent trees. AND it was so pleasantly cool. The first day of January where we weren't sweating form our excercise.

A member of the ginger family.

To complete the circuit, we had to cross here, but we deemed it wiser to return to the starting point to then walk and enjoy the opposite bank.

Wednesday is Hungry Hiker Day. The temperature rose to a pleasant 28C. We planned an afternoon walk at The Spit. [GG's walked there last week.] Unfortunately the traffic delayed us and it was already 5 pm when we set off, beneath skies totally opposite to last week. The beach was busy with people strolling and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of waves gently rolling in. [My photos haven't cpatured the numbers walking.]

The beach was soon in shadow as the sun sank in the west. Its dying rays however, emphasising the frothy, white beauty, of the waves gently rolling in.

Someone mentioned that there was a possiblity of a near full moon rising. Google then informed us that it should have been already up. We scanned the horizon for several minutes in hope, and then disappointment, until Leanne shouted, "There it is!" 

The horizon was hazy so it still took a little while to spot. As we completed the last few kilometres however, we were thrilled to watch it grow against the soft pink and blue colours of twilight.

Can you spot it?

Back at the car at 7pm, we thought we would only have a short drive to the nearest BBQ. The sky was colouring in the west, and it would have been wonderful to have been sitting on the bank of the Broadwater, watching it set. Alas, this beautiful parkland had not one BBQ! The photo below was taken from the moving car.

Jayne navigated us to a park overlooking Main Beach. Joc took the image below, as Leanne and I cooked the Lamb Kebabs.

My image as we left at 9 pm. It had been an extremely pleasant summer's afternoon and evening.

Thursday the temperature was a little highter, but the humidity bearable. I was kept busy with various chores and my regular task of taking carless friends to do their grocery shopping.

In north Queensland, Cyclone Kirrily crossed the coast at Townsville at 10 pm. Thankfully, as a category 3 event, she rapidly down graded and headed west. The prediction had been that she would become a major rain event and head south like the destructive Debbie in 2017. I was relieved to hear from my brother that they were safe and with power, unlike 50 000 others. Trees had been downed, but overall the damage far less than anticipated.

Friday - Australia Day and the heat was back! I read that there were a 150 000 people enjoying the Gold Coast beaches. I imagine there were many sunburnt bodies at the end of the day!

 

Spotted on my sweaty morning walk, yesterday.

Our family celebrating.

Friends joined us at 11 for lunch. The plan was to initially relax under the pergola, and then move inside to eat. We soon realised that this was going to be another 'extreme heat' day. Consequently the dining room table was moved to the lounge to make the most of our one air conditioner. 

A good decision. A thoroughly enjoyable meal and afternoon was spent together.

The night was warm but bearable. I looked out at 5 to see a golden sky, so decided to get going on my walk. So, so lovely, before the crippling heat of the day.

The Corellas were already having breakfast.

Further on, I found a group taking their morning excercise. They love to play on ropes and flagpoles.

The mowers were busy on Mt Warren Oval to get the job finished, that was started several days ago. The oval is now again water logged.

Yes, Saturday proved a scorcher! At 10 am, it was already 33C under our pergola and reached 38C, feeling like 40 plus with humidity. The pool was often visited and we didn't move far from the air conditioning.

We were invited to an outdoor event with friends last night. Great company, but with the temperature still at 30C at 9 pm, it took the gloss off the evening. 2am saw storms roll through bringing heavy rain, but more importantly, a pleasant day. I've happily sat under the pergola writing this, this morning. Another 120 ml have fallen. The ponds are full. More is expected to follow in the week ahead. This was to be the summer of drought. Thankfully it has not been so.

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