Noosa River

Our weekends are usually spent visiting Grandma & Grandad at Caloundra, but with Grandma away, we needed to find something else to do on a beautiful Saturday in Spring.
So we went for a picnic and play at Noosa River.

After a picnic of McDonalds, we found a gorgeous spot beside the river under a big fig tree.

 

 

As soon as Isaac saw the water he ran straight into it. He had a wonderful time running in and out and building volcanoes.

Ava sat on the sand and built very detailed castles with leaf, shell and feather decorations.

It was so peaceful surrounded by yachts.

Not even the motor boats could disturb our serenity.

My goal for the day was to photograph a bird in flight, so I was ecstatic to snap these.

I took so many photos of the seagulls, they're photogenic little birdies.

I went for a walk to take more photos of the boats.

And did some VIP spotting through the trees.

The trees near the toilet block were amazing.
I think they're also fig trees. It felt like an enchanted forest.

Ava spotted the swings and had to have a go.

And then we had to leave.

It was a beautiful day, a beautiful spot, and we had a beautiful time.

Trees No More

When we bought this house six years ago this month, the only things growing in the yard (I won't say garden, because there wasn't one!) were three cocos palms, two peach trees and a mango tree at the back.

Today we're having the cocos palms lopped!

They are pretty, but they've been driving us 'nuts' since we moved in.  They drop thousands of fleshy orange fruit that go rotten and stink and attract green ants (OUCH).  They drop loads of tiny little yellow flowers and tiny brown nuts all over the front patio.  They drop massive fronds and seed pods and we, or the kids, would be goners if we happened to be in the wrong spot at the wrong time.  They attract very noisy, screeching and chattering rainbow lorikeets, and fruit bats that poop all over everything!  And, they scratch the roof right above our bedroom on windy nights.
But after today...all that will be no more!

Why did we wait so long?  Because we thought it would be very expensive!  Last week we finally decided to get a couple of quotes just to see what it would cost and turns out it was going to be about 1/5 the price we had in our minds.  We've been putting up with all that for 6 years, for $500!!!!


So, at 7:30 this morning the tree chopper down men arrive (I'm out of my pyjamas which I'm very proud of).  There are three men, one climbs the tree with spikes on his boots and ropes, the other two collect fallen branches, and walk around with ciggies literally hanging out of their mouths.  Doesn't look very professional, they look more like a comedy spoof for TV.  But in the end they got the job done well.  Professionalism doesn't necessarily mean a better job, just means you pay more for it!


One of the things I always find amusing is the corny but cute conversation the men like to have with you.  Today's went like this -
Man 1 - "What did you think of that kids?"
Me - "I don't know how you do it."
Man 1 - "What, a fat, old man like me climbing a tree?"
Me - "NO!  How brave you are!"
Man 2 - "He's the biggest koala bear you ever saw, huh?"


Well, it took them as long as it took to me write this blog to chop the three trees down.  There are a few slightly damaged bushes in the garden and a lots of big empty spaces.  Now I think I miss them!  Oh well, I'm sure that won't last for long.

And just to add to the comedy spoof, the weight of the trees in the trailer almost tipped the truck over the edge of the driveway as they were driving out.  Ooops!