Lily’s 3rd birthday

(Poem courtesy of AA Milne) 

I went down to the shouting sea,
Taking Christopher down with me,
For Nurse had given us sixpence each-
And down we went to the beach.

We had sand in the eyes and the ears and the nose,
And sand in the hair, and sand-between-the-toes.
Whenever a good nor'wester blows,
Christopher is certain of
Sand-between-the-toes.




The sea was galloping grey and white;
Christopher clutched his sixpence tight;
We clambered over the humping sand-
And Christopher held my hand.

We had sand in the eyes and the ears and the nose,
And sand in the hair, and sand-between-the-toes.
Whenever a good nor'wester blows,
Christopher is certain of
Sand-between-the-toes.




There was a roaring in the sky;
The sea-gulls cried as they blew by;
We tried to talk, but had to shout-
Nobody else was out.

When we got home, we had sand in the hair,
In the eyes and the ears and everywhere;
Whenever a good nor'wester blows,
Christopher is found with
Sand-between-the-toes.

(Backup) Blog as requested

I have read around thirty thousand books this week.  Okay, maybe six.  But that’s still a lot for someone who has got used to just watching Netflix.  I haven’t climbed as many mountains, but I have a few, although the temperature has been disgusting with incredible levels of humidity.

(l-r) Tibrogargan, Beerburrum, Tiberoowuccum and the Tunbubudla Twins (I think)

In fact, it is 0730 and it is already about 30 degrees outside and I am strongly considering putting the air conditioning on.  

Let’s see, what’s new?  I got offered a job - whoopee!  It is, however, in Canberra and on the ATR, and as such I am not very enthusiastic.  However, it’s a good option to prevent me starving to death, so to speak.  Two more assessments next week... and I am truly hoping that the first one works out, as it means I would be able to remain in Brisbane.

Sunrise climb up East Beerwah with Ben - mountains featured are Coonowrin and Tibrogargan (slightly covered by a tree)

Lily got to climb her third mountain - the Coochin twins, which I could perhaps class as two.  She loved it, and would have kept going forever, I’m sure.  Wednesday night, Manda and I climbed Ngungun for sunset which was awe taking.  Just incredible, and worth the soul destroying humidity on the way up.

The child, proud of her achievement

Sunset from Ngungun (looking over Beerwah with Coonowrin in front)

Thursday morning, we took the ever so excited Lily up Tiberoowuccum again, in a sort of bid to work off some of the doughnut calories we have been eating this week - I don’t regret even one calorie - and then we came home and I studied Responsibly for my job interviews.  I don’t feel quite so responsible this morning, hence blogging.

Tomorrow, which is Saturday, I have arranged for us to go to Booloumba Creek again, which will be very exciting - or at least, it will be if the storms hold off.  It has been an epic week for storms and we don’t want the creek to get too high or it will be dangerous to rock hop up it. 

Out and about with Lilith

Next week, as discussed, is a busy one with job interviews, and Terry arrives on Thursday night!  I am veeeeerrrrrry excited about this.  It will be so good to show him around - although I don’t think I’ll manage to drag him up the Glasshouses!  

One day, I’m going to look back at the beginning of 2018 and think it just a hazy memory.  One day I’m going to look back and laugh, and say “did that really happen?” and “that was such a weirdly ridiculous period.”  That’s what distance does, you see.  Perspective changes.

It’s been a lazy week in the House of Kate.  After two days of archery last weekend, my neck reacted violently and I spent two days in bed, and have spent the rest of the week resting - add the fact that the last two days have rained non stop, and I haven’t done anything at all!  I did have a fun beach day on Wednesday... E took a photo of me walking up from the beach...

This is what happens when a) your neck is sore so you bring a camp chair to support it and b) Lily runs on the hot sand and starts yelping with pain so you have to carry her to protect her soft little paws!

I have many job applications in at the minute... and currently in that phase where all I can do is wait.  I have been invited to apply for a job in Kazakhstan... but everything within me screams NOOOOOOOO... so I don’t think that will happen!

It is now the weekend... and hopefully I will get some assessments next week, and climb some more mountains!