Australian trip - 2016- Bathurst - NSW

We tried to visit with as many of our family and friends while in Australia .  This weekend we traveled to Bathurst, New South Wales, (N.S.W.) which is about a 3 hour drive from Canberra.  It is a very nice drive which takes you through some pretty little county towns.

 
 Ross did all of his schooling in Bathurst, N.S.W. and still has several dear friends who continue to live here or at least return home frequently to see family and friends.  Over many years when we lived in Australia we used to travel to Bathurst to have the weekend with his friends from the "famous" band called the Leedons.  This afternoon we were thrilled to meet up with some friends he has not seen since the 1960's.  We met up at the local Bowling Club.

The Leedon's was a band made up of Bob on bass, Ross on guitar, Paul on guitar, Pat on vocals, and Robert Donnelly, the drummer.  No one knows were the drummer is these days.   Peter was Ross's best mate at school and he and his lovely wife Jenny always make the group who also consists of Julie, Karyn and Beverley very welcome .  We all converge on their home and have a great weekend together.  The opportunity to meet with these great folks started some years ago when Pat tracked Ross down to let him know that St Stannie's was having a reunion.  This was the beginning a renewed relationship with these interesting folks.  Next November the guys will have finished school 50 years ago and their school with be 150 years old.  Couple with this is a reunion with Ross' mates from his Army days, so all being well we will make the trek back to engage in both activities.
We always enjoy great food and wine coupled with lots of laughter when we get together and here is the table set with our Saturday evening meal at Pete and Jenny's home.

Here is the group.  going from the left is Peter, Pat, Paul, Jenny, Karyn and Julie.  Beverley is the photographer.   It was a grand evening.

 As several had already celebrated their birthdays and some were still to come, a birthday cake to celebrate us all served as dessert.

For Sunday breakfast we enjoyed Jenny's delicious Eggs Benedict. 

 On return to Canberra we met up with other friends.  These photos are of the foreshore of Lake Burly Griffin.  Burly Griffin was an American who designed Canberra, our National Capital.

Around the foreshore there are lots of very expensive apartment's which start at AU $ 450k for a one bedroom apartment with a lake view.

We enjoyed a magnificent lunch with our dear friends Helen & Jack at the Wild Duck Fine Asian Cuisine Restaurant on the Kingston foreshore, Canberra.

It is very elegant inside.

We have known Jack for many years and in 2005 we went with Jack and some friends to China for a visit.   We were also privileged to attend  Helen and Jack's wedding a few years back. 

The food was fantastic. We started off with shrimp & calamari. This was followed by a duck pancakes. Next came Balmain Bugs with noodles. Finally poached barramundi .

  Here is Jack with a piccolo latte.

 Thank you Helen & Jack for a wonderful lunch.  It was so good to spend time with you once again.

 We also got to have lunch with Steve, a very dear friend from our Army days.  We met at the beaver galleries .

It has many interesting outdoor sculptures .

At the time of our visit there were many paintings of live stock.

The restaurant in the gallery is very cosy and has a a very a nice atmosphere.  Just before ate it was photo time. 

 The food was great.  Beverley enjoyed the leek and potato tart.

 Ross and Steve enjoyed the salmon.

It was such an enjoyable lunch we spent together.

More to follow.

Cheers,
B and R

Australia visit - 2016 - AWM

We never tire of visiting The Australian War Memorial which is Australia's national memorial to the members of its armed forces and supporting organisations who have died or participated in wars involving the Commonwealth of Australia. The memorial includes an extensive national military museum. The Australian War Memorial was opened in 1941, and is widely regarded as one of the most significant memorials of its type in the world.

The Memorial is located in Australia's capital, Canberra. It is the north terminus of the city's ceremonial land axis, which stretches from Parliament House on Capital Hill along a line passing through the summit of the cone-shaped Mount Ainslie to the northeast. No continuous roadway links the two points, but there is a clear line of sight from the front balcony of Parliament House to the War Memorial, and from the front steps of the War Memorial back to Parliament House.

The Australian War Memorial consists of three parts: the Commemorative Area (shrine) including the Hall of Memory with the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier, the Memorial's galleries (museum) and Research Centre (records). The Memorial also has an outdoor Sculpture Garden. The Memorial is currently open daily from 10am until 5pm, except on Christmas Day.

Many people include Anzac Parade as part of the Australian War Memorial because of the Parade's physical design leading up to the War Memorial, but it is maintained separately by the National Capital Authority.

 Looking from the AWM to Parliament House.

This  huge gum tree is located to the side of the AWM and for many Canberran's over the years at dawn on 25 April - ANZAC DAY - they stand under this tree, freezing as it is winter and remember those who have made the supreme sacrifice and those who continue to fight for the freedoms we enjoy today.

At the moment the AWM has on display images from WW1.   Following is some of what is on this display.  It is very touching and makes us very proud to be Australian.

 The AWM has many displays and following is just a sample which is on display.

Our first Nation people's support to their Country.

Peacekeepers 

Rwanda, where Beverley and her colleagues served 1994-1995.  This display is very graphic and is never shown to children.

The loss of soldiers.

 The camp names.

Simpson and his donkey. John (Jack) Simpson Kirkpatrick (6 July 1892 – 19 May 1915), who served under the name John Simpson, was a stretcher bearer with the 1st Australian Division during the Gallipoli Campaign in World War I. After landing at Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915, Simpson began to use donkeys to provide first aid and carry wounded soldiers to the beach, for evacuation. Simpson and the donkeys continued this work for three and a half weeks, often under fire, until he was killed, during the Third attack on Anzac Cove. "Simpson and his Donkey" are a part of the "Anzac legend".

 Centurion tank.

Many countries have memorials to their fallen and to those who continue to serve.  If you ever get to visit the AWM you will need lots of time and a box of tissues.  
Australia is still a young country compared to Europe, USA etc.  However, as a country which started off as a convict settlement it continues to remember those who have fought for its continued way of life.

Cheers,
B and R

Australia Visit- 2016- Arrival home.

We departed for Australia on 12 December after 21/2 years away.  We were able to fly Business Class on a Airbus A380.  Ross enjoyed a champagne before departure.

The flight was a 16 hour direct flight from Dallas and it was a real joy to see the sunrise as we approached the Australian Continent.

After our arrival in Sydney we spent a few hours at Central Railway Station and caught the Country Link train to Canberra, which is a 4 hour trip and great way to enjoy the changing landscape of the Australian countryside.

There are always somethings you miss from your home county and for us it was the flavour and firmness of the Australia prawn.

Also a need to enjoy a plain beef sausage made by our local Jerra butcher.  There is nothing like this sausage anywhere in North America.

It was so good to be back with our dear friends Debbie, John and their family.  We are all family and love these folks with all of our hearts.

It was just like old times enjoying good food, laughter and being welcomed back home by those who are so special to us.

It was also a wonderful opportunity to spent sometime with our family.  It was great to know that they were all settled and doing well.

Ross was 'like a pig in mud' as he enjoyed his first beef sausage.  The photo says it all.

Ross cooked his spicy prawns which were enjoyed by all.

We enjoyed the opportunity to sit outside to eat as it was the beginning of summer and Debbie and John have a very pretty yard with lots of greenery which adds to the fun.

The prawns were great.

As was Shannon's salad.

This was the first of many of our fun time in OZ.

Cheers B and R